Wow. In less than one day, you shattered our goal of $8,000 to get an ad up in Alaska this weekend. As of this morning, we’ve raised over $20,000 thanks to your help. The ads will run this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in Anchorage — and we’re planning additional advertisements in the coming weeks.
We also learned early this morning that the U.S. Senate “markup” is delayed yet another week. We’re now expecting these critical votes to take place sometime around October 10th.
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) will officially unveil the GOP template today at 2:15 PM EST. To view today’s event via livestream, please go to the following link:speaker.gov/live.
On September 27, 2017, GOP leaders released a “template” laying out key elements to characterize comprehensive tax reform legislation. The nine-page document identifies significant tax breaks for individuals and corporations, and includes a special focus on tax relief for small business. Below are highlights that will have the most significant impact on the equine sector, among other corporate and individual taxpayers:
Business Reform
Small Business : The framework establishes a maximum tax rate of 25 percent on small businesses operating as “sole proprietorships, partnerships and S corporations.” With an increasing number AHC members filing as sole proprietorships and partnerships, this can potentially provide significant tax relief. Under current law, small businesses (pass-through entities) can pay federal taxes at rates as high as 39.6 percent.
Corporate Tax Rate : The plan proposes to lower the corporate rate to 20 percent, down from the current 35 percent corporate tax rate.
Expensing: The GOP framework “allows businesses to immediately write off the cost of … depreciable assets” for five years or more.
Business Interest : The plan imposes “partial limits” for deduction of business interest on C corporations. The tax writing committees will review interest deductions for non-corporate taxpayers during the legislative process.
Estate Tax : The GOP proposes to eliminate the estate tax and the “generation skipping transfer tax.” This is positive news for family-owned operations.
Streamlined Tax Brackets: The plan consolidates the number of individual brackets from seven to three. Under the proposal, the IRS will create three tax brackets at rates of 12 percent, 25 percent and 35 percent.
Standard Deduction: The plan will double the standard deduction to $24,000 for married couples filing a joint return, and $12,000 for single taxpayers.
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) – The GOP proposes to eliminate the unpopular AMT, which doubles the amount of time taxpayers must endure to calculate their tax liability within any given year.
Itemized Deductions : While GOP leaders state that many of the deductions that “riddle the tax code” will go on the chopping block, the plan keeps deductions for mortgage interest and charitable contributions.
Next Steps
AHC is conducting meetings with congressional tax writers in conjunction with major agriculture stakeholders, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, among others. So far, the coalition has focused on repeal of the estate tax and the need to expense capital investment as pillars of the tax reform process moving forward, two messages which are clearly laid out in the GOP template. To view a copy of the GOP framework, please click HERE.
To learn more details about the tax plan, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) will officially unveil the GOP template today at 2:15 PM EST. To view today’s event via livestream, please go to the following link: speaker.gov/live.
IRS Releases New “Winnings” Rule
Also on September 27, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published final rules in the Federal Register (FR) to reform federal withholding and reporting requirements for pari-mutuel winnings. The new rule arises from a notice of proposed rulemaking issued in late 2016, on which the equine industry submitted comments, laying the groundwork for the new regulatory flexibility. The tax rules will effectively exempt large numbers of winnings from the federal definition for “amount of wager.” The new threshold effectively exempts a large number of bets from triggering the imposition of a 20 percent withholding on winnings, thereby reflecting a consumer trend toward “exotic wagering pools” in modern betting. To view a copy of the final rule, which will be effective 45 days following today’s publication in the FR, please see the following link: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-09-27/pdf/2017-20720.pdf.
Save the Date for the AHC’s 2018 Annual Meeting & National Issues Forum
The AHC is pleased to announce that its 2018 Annual Meeting and National Issues Forum will take place from June 10-13, 2018 at the Capital Hilton in the heart of Washington, DC.
The Capital Hilton is a new venue for the AHC’s Annual Meeting, as the past several years the meeting has been held at the Washington Court Hotel just a few blocks from Capitol Hill. In 2018, the AHC decided to give meeting attendees a glimpse of a different part of DC with a hotel that is just two blocks from the White House. Additonally, some changes have been made to the schedule to ensure attendees are able to attend the meetings that they would like to.
Historically, the AHC’s Annual Meeting, when all AHC Committees and the Unwanted Horse Coalition meet, has taken place on Monday. While the AHC’s five main committees will still meet on Monday, the Unwanted Horse Coalition meeting will now take place on Sunday.
With the growing industry and public interest in aftercare and retraining/rehoming, the UHC felt it was best to shift the 2018 meeting schedule around to allow more time for a robust discussion during the UHC’s meeting.
The National Issues Forum, sponsored by Luitpold Animal Health, will take place on Tuesday, June 12th. The agenda is still being finalized, but at this time topics include a Youth Panel, Tax Reform, Data Insights and Implications, Immigration, and Aftercare.
Please check the Events tab on the AHC website for information as it becomes available. If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting and National Issues Forum, please contact the AHC at 202-296-4031 or info@horsecouncil.org.
With our movement battling on so many fronts, I wanted to send around a quick update:
U.S. Senate Vote Coming Soon
The Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee is now expected to mark up its spending bill next week, with full committee consideration of the legislation the week after. Since the House passed a spending bill that lifts the longstanding prohibition on the destruction of healthy wild horses and burros, it’s critical that the Senate maintain these protections. These votes will likely determine what the final budget language is — and the lives of tens of thousands of wild horses literally hang in the balance.
If Congress fails to protect wild horses, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has said it would like to “dispose” of so-called excess wild horses and burros by killing them. So it’s no surprise the agency is already rounding up wild horses with renewed gusto. BLM-contracted helicopters have returned once again to the Wyoming Checkerboard, where 46 wild horses were captured and removed from their homes on the range yesterday. The roundup will continue until 1,500 wild horses lose their freedom and their families. Other roundups pending in Wyoming and Nevada will remove 10,000 more wild horses from the range.
Several weeks ago, we exposed what we dubbed the Salt Lake City Slaughter Summit. Pro-slaughter politicians, bureaucrats and lobbyists gathered in Salt Lake City, excluding members of the humane management community. Despite their spin claiming a scientific and humane approach, the truth came out this week: A survey released by summit organizers shows that 99 percent of participants support eating horses. Of the top six “highly-supported options” for how to address horse and burro issues, three involved eating horses, one involved killing horses, and two involved selling horses to be killed. Protecting wild horses didn’t make the cut. What a sham.
With key U.S. Senate votes coming soon, roundups increasing, and our opponents pulling out all the stops, our movement is activating on all fronts. We’ve gathered more than 300,000 petitions signatures, we’re holding meetings with key members in DC and in home offices, our latest round of billboards are live, and we’re planning new advertisements to be released soon.
Our opponents have a lot of power and a lot of money. But we have the opinion of the American people and an incredible movement behind us. Together, we can win this.
I have to say that this is probably the hardest update I have ever had to write. For over a year we have been working with a rescue in Naples Idaho. Everything was great for about a year, until it was not, and then it was beyond horrible and the devastation was heartbreaking. There is no worse feeling than knowing you have spent so much time and money and worked so hard to make sure a horse is safe and then you find out something like this. So we picked up all of ours who are not being held for evidence in the court case.
Matt and I had been to the rescue in question numerous times and the horses were all fat and happy. There was lush pasture and we wanted to live there. The horses were all doing well and we received updates via photos and videos. We also shared our visits and how awesome things were.
We visited the horses remaining in Idaho as “evidence”. Although it was beyond heartbreaking, they are under great veterinary care and the lady providing them with the care while the case gets under way is like a ferocious mama bear and I so relate to that. So now the healing starts… (immediately for the horses, and hopefully some day for our hearts.)
As I write this, we have 8 horses in our trailer (7 that we are bringing back to the rescue), 1 whose frantic Mom is on her way to get her, and Mel is babysitting the 9 “slaughter babies” we were in the middle of picking up.
So while we are waiting for the final paperwork to bring our horses home, Little Man Gypsum was enjoying all the attention. He is doing well and our vet is very hopeful is leg will heal well. He had been our newest “critical care orphan”.
As I went out to check the wild horses I noticed a miracle. The horses had been abnormally agitated last night, and the answer lay on the floor. There in the midst of 24 wild horse hooves lay a teeny tiny little foal. HOPE was perfectly formed and I couldn’t believe she was alive.
Her mama had “done her job”, and had nothing left to give. She showed no interest in her beautiful baby, although by some miracle she had kept her from getting squashed on the trailer floor. She watched as Matt picked up Hope and brought her to me. (there was an amazing amount of stress and work to make that happen lol). Her mama is emaciated and has no bag. It is absolutely amazing that she had a healthy baby. SO Far, Hope seems very healthy and has had her Colostrum and is receiving critical care. She is feisty and bouncy and hanging out with Gypsum.
What happened to this rescue really made me stop and think. It is terrifying how everything could be so “good”, and then someone just stops caring or even feeding the critters. I don’t understand how you can hurt any animal. It is beyond heartbreaking. It really makes you want to hang up the towel and walk away.
Then comes HOPE. God gave us a huge blessing in the midst of despair and chaos. So we have something even more to fight for.
But the reality is that we are bringing 7 more horses to the rescue that need special feed and care and some of the slaughter babies. We are needing funds to do Coggins and Health Certs so we can bring the 9 babies, and now we have 2 additional orphan foals, ages a week plus and 8 or 9 hours old who are really enjoying their milk.
At this point we are beyond grateful that it appears that the “weanlings” we were standing by to pick up, are going to be held (to my understanding) through the winter so they can be adopted. Thanking God for that one.
Some of the 9 babies will be placed on the way home, thanks to folks having prepped to help the weanlings.
Thank you for ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT – Especially during hard times like these. As always, we will do everything we can to make sure the horses have good homes. Although it doesn’t change anything for the horses, there were lots of folks who believed in that rescue, and we are all shocked and horrified. When I found out about the situation, Ted Bundy flashed in my mind. We lived in fear for many a year as he poached women at our lake. He is a perfect example. Someone everyone trusted; well liked and oh so personable. Who knew a monster hid inside.
But there is never a rest. This teeny tiny little one needs the critical care we specialize in, so back to work we go. She is the start of the healing and of looking forward to better times. As of now we are waiting on paperwork so we can get back to Yakima and get the babies ready. Thank you for making this happen.
Oh yeah – and a great big thank you to Willis Lamm for helping us plan our approach to safely getting this baby out of a trailer filled with so many anxious hooves. So many times in what we do the Large Animal Rescue training comes in to play. The chances of getting a baby out of a trailer filled with stressed out wild horses without her getting stepped on are not really high. But with God’s grace and the training we have had (and the luxury of having Willis to help us come up with a viable plan), it all worked out in the parking lot. (Not always my favorite place to move wild horses about.)
“CAM” feeding Gypsum his bottle.
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee will mark up the Interior Department budget as early as next week. As part of this process, they will decide whether wild horses keep or lose their protections from mass killing and slaughter. It the vote goes the wrong way, as many 92,000 of these cherished and innocent animals could be killed.
We need you to call your Senators right now and kindly ask them to tell the Appropriations Committee to ensure that 2018 Interior Department spending legislation INCLUDES prohibitions on the destruction of healthy wild horses and their sale for slaughter.
The bill reported out of Committee will form the basis for negotiations on final budget adopted in December. So, even though the budget is unlikely to be confirmed until December, next week’s debate could very well be the deciding factor in whether America’s wild horses roam free or are destroyed.
Since Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) re-introduced the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act of 2017 (H.R. 1847) in the spring, more than 250 Democrat and Republican lawmakers – or nearly 60 percent of the entire House of Representatives – have signed on to co-sponsor this important legislation. Thanks to your continued advocacy, your representative has heard your voice and agreed to co-sponsor the PAST Act. As Congress convenes for the fall session, please be sure to take advantage of the momentum you have created by contacting your House lawmaker to thank him for his support, and encourage final passage of H.R. 1847.
As you know, H.R. 1847 will strengthen the Horse Protection Act and finally end the soring of Tennessee Walking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses, and Racking Horses. The American Horse Council, along with most major national horse show organizations and state and local organizations, supports the PAST Act. To send a letter to your House lawmaker urging final passage of the bill, please click below.
The U.S. Senate appropriations committee is voting as early as next week on whether to continue protections for wild horses. The final vote could be used in December’s budget package and lead to the mass slaughter of America’s wild horses.
This is no time to rest. Tomorrow we’re launching a new billboard right outside the airport in Las Vegas. Nevada voters, political leaders and tourists will see our message loud and clear: #NoHorseSlaughter. Since Nevada has over half the nation’s wild horses living within its borders, it’s important to know where its Senators stand.
This comes on the heels of our petition drop last week — when we delivered more than 300,000 petition signatures to Sen. Heller’s Las Vegas office. We were there with nine boxes of signatures, and the local media was there to report on our movement in action.
Tomorrow, we’re also launching a billboard in Phoenix. But with votes expected as early as next week, we’re hoping to expand our advertising and grassroots pressure.Please donate now, and we’ll be in touch with you in the next 48 hours with other ways you can help during this critical stretch.
Last week, President Trump reached a deal with Congress to provide a short-term, 3-month budget extension.
Good or bad news for horses? The answer is neither. The final votes to allow or stop slaughter are now delayed until early-December.
This delay does NOT mean we can let up between now and then. The Administration is still pushing for a policy of mass slaughter of America’s wild horses. The appropriations debates in Congress are ongoing. Given the House bill’s inclusion of horse slaughter language, it is absolutely critical that the Senate produce a bill that protects horses from mass killing and slaughter. Then we’ll have a fighting chance of prevailing when the House and Senate negotiate final spending legislation.
The Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee could vote on the Interior spending bill as early as next week.So NOW is the time to contact your Senators to weigh in to protect wild horses and burros!
Tell them to OPPOSE any 2018 spending legislation that would allow for the killing or sale for slaughter of healthy wild horses and burros.
Let’s keep up the pressure. Our petition has more than 300,000 signatures, and today we’re delivering it to Senator Dean Heller’s office in Las Vegas. We’re placing stories in publications across the country, and our team is in Washington D.C. meeting with legislators. You can support us right now by following up your call with an email to your Senators.
Keep it up!
-Suzanne Roy
P.S. We’re now also facing the reality of a longer campaign. Our hope is to sustain the same size and intensity of our campaign through the December votes. Your donations are needed to help us do it. Please contribute now.
Well they just keep coming. I received an urgent call last night about 5 foals ready to ship up in Washington State. I spoke with the gentlemen this morning and he will be calling in the next few days to arrange a time for us to pick them up. (Providing we can raise the funds necessary to keep saving these lives.) We are also on standby from our other folks in WA as well.
The larger number of babies, which at this point is 30 – 60 weanlings, will need to be picked up in CA, by September 17 or around that time. As usual in our world, there are no “for sures” with the exception of the fact that there will be a very large number of babies to save. We won’t know how many or how much help there will be. These babies lives will be at stake so we are hoping that y’all are on board to save them. At this time, we are really strapped from the last batch of 49 Yakama kids and the orphans from NV.The gelding of the stallions was not quite covered and the total bill was around $3300+. This included Nya’s vet visit and her blood draw.Unfortunately the wilder ones generate so much adrenaline that they require larger amounts of medication, and that medication is extremely expensive.
On the plus side of success however, you have once again “done the impossible”. ALL the stallions (now geldings) will be heading to Idaho and many of them already have their forever homes lined up. This is only possible due to the love and support y’all have showed for these amazing animals.
What will happen with the larger number of foals: We will be able to commit to as many as we can afford to transport, get blood work done, and be able to care for. These babies will need special munchies, and some of them may still need milk supplements. That is really expensive. However, many of them are older and will simply need some good grain and hay. But winter is coming and we cannot commit to horses we cannot properly care for.
It is not a space issue, but a financial one. We simply cannot fund this rescue from our rescue without lots of help.
The option for these babies if they are not adopted is not a very happy one. From what I understand they would be released back into the wild but without their moms or a band to protect them. Coming right before winter I believe that would be a death sentence. There is also a possibility that ALL the babies would come to Chilly Pepper in NV on their way to other rescues. However, that has to be fully funded as we cannot feed them “air” if funding did not come through.
Unfortunately, there are more horses than homes right now, but if everyone who had the ability stepped up and was willing to take on one or two, it would be a minimal task.
“The Plan’. IF, WE CAN RAISE ENOUGH FUNDS TO RESPONSIBLY SAVE THESE BABIES, the following will happen. (As Far As We Know LOL)
Matt and I would pick up the babies and take them to our old place in CA. We still have the nursery and the outside foal room as well as lots of shelter available for these babies. Then we would have to get a blood test for “Coggins” prior to bringing them to NV. It would take approximately 4 trips from the pick up point to Shingletown and about 2 hours each one way trip when loaded.
Then all the babies would need to be vetted and have their blood drawn.
Once the blood test results were in, we would begin transporting the babies to our facility in NV. However, again we simply cannot take any of these foals on without having a realistic and responsible budget to work with.
Worst case scenario, we would be looking at approximately 5,000 + miles to pick up the kids in WA and to pick up the babies. If we are close to the max number, we would take 4 round trips to Shingletown and then once we had blood work, health certificates etc. we would head back to NV. We are down to an older “back up truck” and we can haul 15 babies per load, give or take depending on size and health.
So it is once again AN EMERGENCY SITUATION for these babies. We are praying many of them are adopted prior to the pick up date, but have been asked to be standing by to help as many of the ones that we can.
So we are looking at up to 60 lives at stake. I am hoping folks want us to save them and are willing to help. We need adopters, sponsors, donors and lots and lots of prayers. Once again this is an overwhelming task that could be considered a logistical nightmare. OR, it can be a task where everyone steps up and together we get it done. After sorting all the 900+ kids in SD and so many people coming together to take on one or two, this seems like it should be so much easier. If 60 people stepped up each and every baby could have a wonderful home.
PLEASE, let’s save these beautiful little lives and give them a chance to actually have a life.
We can not take on all the babies if there are no other rescues in line to help out. We will take the max we can based on the ability to provide care, feed and what they need until they find their new homes.
This really is an emergency and with so many little lives at stake I am confident that we can come together and make this happen. God bless and thank you from all the little ones waiting for their trip to safety.
I really do not enjoy fundraising, but it is for the horses and the only way we can save them. It will cost thousands, but together we CAN “git ‘er done”!
I honestly was hoping to not even be involved, but once again God put it in front of me so we will do our best, as once again we come together with our Chilly Pepper Family.
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
Last night, the House Rules Committee defied the overwhelming will of the American people and voted to block an amendment to stop the slaughter of America’s wild horses.
Our team is tracking every possible legislative path forward. In short — it’s complicated. We could block this in the U.S. Senate, or the entire appropriations process could be abandoned for what’s called a “continuing resolution.” Trust that we’ll be tracking every possibility, and activating our movement to pressure Congress to the right targets and at the right moments.
The House Rules Committee sided with the BLM and the special interests, defying sound science and the will of 80% of Americans who oppose the slaughter of America’s wild horses. But we do want to thank our champions who stood with us in the fight, including Rep. Dina Titus for her leadership in offering this amendment, Reps. Peter King and Carlos Curbelo for adding bipartisan support, Rep. Michalle Lujan Grisham for her steadfast opposition to horse slaughter, and Rep. Jared Polis who persisted as our opponents tried to bury the vote.
While this setback stings, our broader efforts are gaining momentum. We’re meeting with swing legislators on the Hill, getting more and more press attention, and launching ad and advocacy campaigns in swing states. We can win this.
Congress Must Address Federal Funding Before Moving to Major Agenda Items
As Congress returns from their August recess, they will immediately consider a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government beyond September 30, which marks the end of the current fiscal year
American Horse Council Makes Changes to Governance Structure
American Horse Council (AHC) President Julie Broadway and the AHC Board of Trustees are pleased to announce two governance changes to the AHC’s Board effective 2018.
The current 15-person Board of Trustees of the AHC is made up of individuals representing organizations that hold AHC Organizational Memberships at the “Strategic” level*. These organizations include The Jockey Club, American Association of Equine Practitioners, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, US Trotting Association, US Equestrian Federation, Thoroughbred Racing Association of North America, and the American Quarter Horse Association. Starting in January 2018, the AHC Board will add two “at large” seats.
The first “at large” seat will be filled by the current Chair of the Coalition of State Horse Councils. The second “at large” seat will be determined by applications.
In January the AHC President will call for applicants for the second “at large” seat from current AHC member organizations to serve a maximum two year term on the AHC Board. Only member organizations paying dues at the level designated for their size organization are eligible. Applicant’s organization must be willing to commit to the time needed to serve on the board and cover expenses necessary to attend meetings, etc.
In March the Board will review all applicants and elect a trustee based upon: 1) the need for that sector of industry to have a voice not currently represented by sitting trustees, and 2) the individual’s background and knowledge of the equine industry.
As part of the AHC’s strategic plan, a task force was formed to review the organization’s overall governance structure and ensure relevancy and best practices. Based upon their research it was recommended that additional voices and perspectives would be beneficial. The AHC is looking forward to these additions to the board and would like to express its appreciation to the Governance Task Force and Membership Task Force for their research and input.
As the national organization representing the equine industry in Washington, DC, the AHC strives to be inclusive while ensuring the board is a manageable size and the trustees are strongly committed to AHC’s mission. The AHC feels these additions will serve us well as we look ahead at challenges facing the equine industry.
To learn more about the AHC’s governance and opportunities to participate on ad hoc committees, task forces and standing committees go towww.horsecouncil.org/goverance.
*to view the organizational membership levels available, click here
If the current Appropriations bill is passed unchanged, America’s wild horses could drop to near extinction levels. The bill, as written, would lead to the mass killing of healthy wild horses and burros in holding and on the range.It would be a tragic and unprecedented mass slaughter.
Thankfully, a bipartisan amendment has been offered to stop this cruel policy before it begins. With a vote expected as soon as tomorrow, we need you to contact your Congressperson right now:
When you call your Representative, tell them:
Vote YES on the Titus/King/Polis/Curbelo/Lujan Grisham Amendment to protect wild horses
Vote YES on the Buchanan/Roybal-Allard/Royce/Blumenauer Amendment to stop horse slaughter
Votes this week may very well decide the fate of wild horses and burros in this country. If the amendment votes go against us and the appropriations bill passes, we could see horse slaughter plants opening and new mass killing of wild horses and burros beginning on the range and in holding pens. It’s unthinkable. And we have to stop it.
P.S. Your donations help us expand and sustain our campaign to protect wild horses, as we put up TV ads and billboards and intensify our advocacy and education efforts. Please donate now.
It seems as though summer is in a hurry to leave. This morning was downright chilly. Fall is definitely in the air. The donkeys and mules feel it too. There has been a lot of running and bucking and farting happening in the pasture today. I have been getting calls from folks who are going to be needing to surrender their animals before winter comes. We have had a good summer for adopting out animals, with three donkeys and the adorable mini horse we have going to their new home shortly.
We have five animals in the rescue currently, four standard donkeys and a hinny, who all need a lot more training/handling/behavioral work done with them before they will be ready to be put up for adoption. We work with them almost daily, but it’s been slow going with this group. I am confident that they will come around in time, but in the mean time they need to eat and have their feet trimmed and receive veterinary care and it’s putting a strain on our bank account.
Those of you whom have been getting this newsletter for any amount of time, know how much I hate having to ask for help. I try not to do so unless we are in a pinch. We are not there yet, but heading that way, so if anyone can make a financial donation of any amount it will be very gratefully appreciated. Once the animals can no longer be on pasture our feed bills go up and I don’t feel right if we don’t have a “cushion” in case of an emergency veterinary issue arising. Our cushion does not have much stuffing in it right now. I thank you in advance for any help you might be able to offer. All donations are tax deductible.
Our annual Donkey and Mule Benefit Fall Festival will be held in Alstead at Millot Green again this year. The date is October 7th. I hope to see a lot of you there. It’s such a fun day. We will be having a big booth at Equine Affaire again this year as well. The dates for that are November 9th-12th. I hope to see many of you there as well. Both gigs are like an old home day reunion. I love seeing folks that I only get to see during these events. Equine Affaire comes on the heels of the Donkey Welfare Symposium again this year so hopefully I’ll be able to answer everyone’s donkey questions with new found knowledge!
Meet “Nya”, our latest “critical” orphan. We picked her up on Tuesday in Fernley, NV. I have to say she might win the contest for “worst physical condition” since Honeybandit. She is an absolute love, but starved to the point where she could have organ damage.
However, she is improving a teeny tiny bit every day. She did not leave the nursery or her air conditioner for the first several days, and is fighting some sort of internal issue. She has a cough and is here fighting for a chance to survive, thanks to Anne Hall and Anna Orchard, who pulled her in the nick of time.
Her temperature was all over the place, including a fever of 103+ when she came in to a low temp of 97. But we are watching her like a hawk and what we are seeing so far is positive. She needs lots of prayers and special groceries obviously.
We placed 9 of the 15 orphans we had, and then received an emergency call to pick up up 2 4-year old mares, prior to picking up Nya.
The wonderful news is that we have a place for ALL 14 of the stallions at a friend’s in Idaho who helps us adopt out these precious kids. She is ready and waiting for the 14, after they are gelded.
We are going through about $1000 worth of hay every week and a half, so unfortunately the boys are trying to eat all of the gelding funds.(Could they have a master plan? lol). But we have an appointment with the vet on Tuesday and we will geld as many as we have funds for. The minimum charge will be $200 per horse, (and a few of them are pretty big so they may take more meds.) So if we were fortunate and had enough funds to fully cover all 14, it would be a minimum of $2800, just for the gelding.
But the great part about that is once they are gelded we get to take them to their new place. This will be a huge and very much needed reduction in our hay bill. It is also imperative that we get these boys where they are going as I am already on standby for another group of mustangs who will be headed straight to slaughter.
I will keep y’all posted when I know more, but right now we do not have enough funds to save more while we feed these kids. So once again (as always), the decision will be out of my hands as far as how many we can save.
So far, y’all have pulled a miracle every time and we have not lost one. But again, these boys need to get gelded and off of our books so we have space to put additional rescued kids in.
So we went from 39 horses down to 30, but had the emergency call for Nya and the other two 4 year olds, so back up to 34 :( As usual, we are trying to make sure we place the horses as safely and quickly as we can. It is so much work feeding and taking care of nearly 40 horses with just myself and my hubby when he is here. So I can promise you we will never ever “hoard horses” lol.
If you can help us get these kids gelded and safely transported to their new homes, it will give us a chance to save some or all of the next batch that we are currently standing by for.
Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang has now joined forces with WIN (Wild Horses in Need). We will be operating under their 501c3 (ein number shown below) while we continue our rescue efforts.
We still work with LRTC, but per Willis Lamm, “You guys have really outgrown our operation and hopefully by reorganizing under WIN, you will be able to perform at the next higher level.”. So although logistically it worked out better for all involved for us to join up with WIN, we didn’t grow that much on purpose lol. This started out with us just providing critical care for orphan foals. But God has sent us all over the place and apparently His plan was bigger than mine. (Mine involved time off, but apparently I don’t really need that.)
The only difference this change brings is that any donations made from Sept 1, 2017 onward will be filed under our new tax id number. All donations are still tax deductible and so very much appreciated.
Below are two of our orphans who are now 4 years old. Due to a death in the family and the loss of the family home, we went and picked them up. Pistol has an injury to her leg from a roll of fencing that a worker inadvertently left in the field, but we are hopeful everything will turn out well.
So as always, there is never a dull moment. Thank you everyone who is part of our Chilly Pepper family. You are so appreciated and you make this happen. We truly appreciate each and every penny donated as they all add up to provide life saving feed and medicine for these kids.
God bless and thank you for helping us help these beautiful souls. Please share and if you cannot help with the gelding please spread the word. the sooner they are placed, the sooner we save on our hay bill and will be ready to save more lives.
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
