Wrangler came to us in 2017 and has had to be in turnout by himself because he was so rambunctious that he didn’t really fit into any of our turnout groups. He was always turned out next to “friend” like Sir Guy but never with anyone else. Mr. Moon was his stable buddy, but still, there was always a run fence between them. Mr. Moon recently turned 32 years old and developed a condition that required that he be put down. Wrangler’s “stable buddy” was now gone.
With the empty stall and run next to Wrangler, we now had space to consider getting him a new companion. I checked with my friend in Oklahoma and we found Chasity! What a lovely “Lady!” I was told she was a really FORWARD moving jennet with a lot of independence and enthusiasm. We thought she would be the perfect companion for Wrangler!
Chasity was delivered on 3-30-20 and the introductions began while she was in quarantine in a space where she could see Wrangler, but they could not reach each other. They played with excitement back and forth along the fence line for a bit! They were clearly VERY interested in each other! Love had begun to blossom!
The next day the vet came to do a health check on Chasity. She will need a lot of core strength work, but it will be a good thing to keep her occupied while she is in quarantine. Wrangler looked on with interest as the vet surveyed her condition. Two months passed before Chasity was finally put in Mr. Moon’s stall and run next to Wrangler…they eyed each other suspiciously…this was a lot closer than they had previously been!
Wrangler stuck his head through the panels to sniff and Chasity looked interested, then decided to play shy!
This only frustrated Wrangler and he began some very active male donkey antics which spooked her away from him.
She returned only to be spooked away again while Wrangler continued his antics and embarrassed himself by tripping!
Chasity thought maybe NOW he would calm down and Wrangler started up AGAIN! She thought…REALLY?!!!
I called Wrangler over and had a little talk with him about good manners and being polite to young ladies. He seemed to listen and said he was sorry. Chasity wasn’t sure if she believed him!
But after receiving their crimped oats reward for settling down…all was GOOD!!!
In case you missed Grace’s update yesterday, we wanted to remind you that RIGHT NOW is your last chance to make sure your voice is heard by the Bureau of Land Management Southern Nevada District Office before today’s comment period deadline.
This summer, the BLM plans to round up and remove more than 5,000 wild horses and burros from public lands beginning on July 1st and ending September of 2020. At the same time, they’re laying the groundwork for these roundups to continue into the fall and next year. One of the large roundups still in the planning stages is in the Nevada Wild Horse Range; a more than 1 million acre Herd Management Area that is on land used by the military for warfare testing and training.
TODAY is our last chance to submit comments to the BLM’s 10-year management plan that would see over half of the wild horses in the Nevada Wild Horse Range rounded up and removed. In addition, wild burros living in the area would be completely eradicated.
All comments must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. PST TODAY.
It is estimated that only 800 wild horses live within the more than 1.3 million acres of public land in this area. Our wild horses, burros — and their tiny vulnerable foals — are depending on us now more than ever… and we have only hours left to speak up for them.
Last Saturday marked the official first day of summer, and with it, the beginning of a season that places our iconic wild horses and burros in the cross-hairs of a particularly cruel and inhumane roundup by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
This weekend, I know so many of our hearts, heads and screens are saturated with grief, fear and worry. I want you to know, however, that it’s not all bad news on the wild horse front. In fact, there’s cause for hope as we rally together like never before to protect and preserve our beloved wild horses.
I want to share a couple of these hopeful stories with you, but first to ask that you join me in getting your comments in this weekend in opposition to the BLM’s plan to round up over 400 wild horses and burros from the Nevada Wild Horse Range – the nation’s first protected habitat area for mustangs.
URGENT: TWO days left to speak up
This summer’s assault on wild horse and burro herds will be particularly cruel and inhumane — helicopter roundups in the sweltering desert heat will involve tiny, vulnerable foals who risk being literally run to death after miles-long helicopter chases. The BLM plans to round up and remove more than 5,000 federally-protected wild horses and burros from public lands beginning July 1 and ending September of 2020.
At the same time, the BLM is laying the groundwork for the roundups to continue into the fall and next year. One of the large roundups still in the planning stages is in the Nevada Wild Horse Range, a more than 1 million acre Herd Management Area that is on land used by the military for warfare testing and training.
We have only two days left to submit comments to the BLM’s 10-year management plan that would see over half of the wild horses in this range rounded up and removed. In addition, wild burros living in the area would be completely eradicated.
So far, more than 5,700 of you have submitted comments on the BLM’s plan. Now is the time to keep up the pressure, and turn up the volume.
Will you take three minutes now to do these three things? You can take these actions from the safety of your home right now:
If you haven’t already, TAKE ACTION now to demand that the BLM change its unsustainable, inhumane management plan for the wild mustangs of the Nevada Wild Horse Range.
Make sure your friends take action also! Nevada’s wild burros and horses need as many voices as possible to speak up before Monday.
Or, forward this email to a friend!
Donate to our Roundup Fund: Today’s donation will keep our team in the field during roundup season, and give us the resources necessary to ensure that our legal team can challenge any attempts to block public observation:
UPDATE: Our Rescue Fund at Work
Good news stories may seem a little scarce these days; but they DO exist, and we want to share some silver linings (and some VERY adorable foal photos) with you. This will be a tough summer for our vulnerable foals, but in the Virginia Range, where we operate the world’s largest wild horse fertility control program, we’re working with a local coalition of organizations on the ground, and our tireless volunteers to ensure orphaned and injured foals receive the critical care they need so they can be adopted into forever homes.
Your generous contributions to the AWHC Rescue Fund are making this work possible, so thank you.
Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to provide volunteers in the field with life-saving emergency foal kits (see above). We’ve instituted a “red tag” system that keeps the kits stocked with critical medicine and supplies. Foals can crash rapidly, so being fully equipped with Equine IgG Seramune Oral colostrum, saline, Foal Lac milk, antibiotics, Vetericyn wound treatment and enemas often means the difference between life and death on the range. Thank you for helping us support the work of Wild Horse Connection, Least Resistance Training Concepts, LBL Equine Rescue and other local organizations by providing supplies they need to save precious foals in need!!
We are thrilled to announce that thanks to your grassroots support, AWHC was able to present local Nevada group LBL Equine Rescue, with a matching grant that helped them to meet their fundraising goal for a new foal nursery! The nursery will be fully equipped to provide round-the-clock care for foals in critical condition, and will even include sleeping quarters for volunteers working overnight shifts (young foals need to be fed every two hours).
The Least Resistance Training Concepts Large Animal Rescue Team is the busiest in the country. They’re on call 24/7 for every type of emergency, from rescuing horses stuck in cattle guards and barbed wire to coming to the aid of orphaned foals.
We were pleased to make a grant to LRTC from our Rescue Fund that supported the retrofitting of a decommissioned ambulance donated by a kind fire department. Now modified, the ambulance serves as an anchor and transport vehicle for foal rescues, a water rescue unit, support unit for complex large animal rescues and much more. We’re proud to support LRTC with this one-of-a-kind project that is setting the standard for large animal rescue worldwide!
These initiatives — made possible by you and your generous support of the Rescue Fund — have enabled AWHC and our team of volunteers to make life-saving interventions for foals, wild horses and burros.
Finally, allow me to introduce you to some of the fuzzy, thankful faces you’ve helped save this foaling season:
Rustler, Leela, Sinclair, Carte, Stitch, Goliath and all of us here at AWHC want to say a huge THANK YOU, and wish you a safe and happy weekend.
Grace Kuhn,
Communications Director
American Wild Horse Campaign
Last Saturday marked the official first day of summer, and with it, the beginning of a season that places our iconic wild horses and burros in the cross-hairs of a particularly cruel and inhumane roundup by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
This weekend, I know so many of our hearts, heads and screens are saturated with grief, fear and worry. I want you to know, however, that it’s not all bad news on the wild horse front. In fact, there’s cause for hope as we rally together like never before to protect and preserve our beloved wild horses.
I want to share a couple of these hopeful stories with you, but first to ask that you join me in getting your comments in this weekend in opposition to the BLM’s plan to round up over 400 wild horses and burros from the Nevada Wild Horse Range – the nation’s first protected habitat area for mustangs.
URGENT: TWO days left to speak up
This summer’s assault on wild horse and burro herds will be particularly cruel and inhumane — helicopter roundups in the sweltering desert heat will involve tiny, vulnerable foals who risk being literally run to death after miles-long helicopter chases. The BLM plans to round up and remove more than 5,000 federally-protected wild horses and burros from public lands beginning July 1 and ending September of 2020.
At the same time, the BLM is laying the groundwork for the roundups to continue into the fall and next year. One of the large roundups still in the planning stages is in the Nevada Wild Horse Range, a more than 1 million acre Herd Management Area that is on land used by the military for warfare testing and training.
We have only two days left to submit comments to the BLM’s 10-year management plan that would see over half of the wild horses in this range rounded up and removed. In addition, wild burros living in the area would be completely eradicated.
So far, more than 5,700 of you have submitted comments on the BLM’s plan. Now is the time to keep up the pressure, and turn up the volume.
Will you take three minutes now to do these three things? You can take these actions from the safety of your home right now:
If you haven’t already, TAKE ACTION now to demand that the BLM change its unsustainable, inhumane management plan for the wild mustangs of the Nevada Wild Horse Range.
Make sure your friends take action also! Nevada’s wild burros and horses need as many voices as possible to speak up before Monday.
Or, forward this email to a friend!
Donate to our Roundup Fund: Today’s donation will keep our team in the field during roundup season, and give us the resources necessary to ensure that our legal team can challenge any attempts to block public observation:
UPDATE: Our Rescue Fund at Work
Good news stories may seem a little scarce these days; but they DO exist, and we want to share some silver linings (and some VERY adorable foal photos) with you. This will be a tough summer for our vulnerable foals, but in the Virginia Range, where we operate the world’s largest wild horse fertility control program, we’re working with a local coalition of organizations on the ground, and our tireless volunteers to ensure orphaned and injured foals receive the critical care they need so they can be adopted into forever homes.
Your generous contributions to the AWHC Rescue Fund are making this work possible, so thank you.
Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to provide volunteers in the field with life-saving emergency foal kits (see above). We’ve instituted a “red tag” system that keeps the kits stocked with critical medicine and supplies. Foals can crash rapidly, so being fully equipped with Equine IgG Seramune Oral colostrum, saline, Foal Lac milk, antibiotics, Vetericyn wound treatment and enemas often means the difference between life and death on the range. Thank you for helping us support the work of Wild Horse Connection, Least Resistance Training Concepts, LBL Equine Rescue and other local organizations by providing supplies they need to save precious foals in need!!
We are thrilled to announce that thanks to your grassroots support, AWHC was able to present local Nevada group LBL Equine Rescue, with a matching grant that helped them to meet their fundraising goal for a new foal nursery! The nursery will be fully equipped to provide round-the-clock care for foals in critical condition, and will even include sleeping quarters for volunteers working overnight shifts (young foals need to be fed every two hours).
The Least Resistance Training Concepts Large Animal Rescue Team is the busiest in the country. They’re on call 24/7 for every type of emergency, from rescuing horses stuck in cattle guards and barbed wire to coming to the aid of orphaned foals.
We were pleased to make a grant to LRTC from our Rescue Fund that supported the retrofitting of a decommissioned ambulance donated by a kind fire department. Now modified, the ambulance serves as an anchor and transport vehicle for foal rescues, a water rescue unit, support unit for complex large animal rescues and much more. We’re proud to support LRTC with this one-of-a-kind project that is setting the standard for large animal rescue worldwide!
These initiatives — made possible by you and your generous support of the Rescue Fund — have enabled AWHC and our team of volunteers to make life-saving interventions for foals, wild horses and burros.
Finally, allow me to introduce you to some of the fuzzy, thankful faces you’ve helped save this foaling season:
Rustler, Leela, Sinclair, Carte, Stitch, Goliath and all of us here at AWHC want to say a huge THANK YOU, and wish you a safe and happy weekend.
Grace Kuhn,
Communications Director
American Wild Horse Campaign
UPDATE – We have 2 orphan foals safe at Mel’s, and have enough money to save ONE of the 4.
I am hoping the Pandemic is not the reason and that this will NOT be the first time we couldn’t save the kids we are fundraising for.
It takes roughly $3,000 to save the 3 remaining geldings. (Apparently they are closer to 4 years old.)
This includes Bail, Vetting, Transportation, and that just gets them to safety. They still need care and feed until they are adopted, and I have to pay board on them once they are rescued until they are picked up.
I am praying this will not be a situation where I need to choose who lives or who dies. I cannot “pick” one or two to save and leave the others to die. This has never happened before. I know things are tight and the world is upside down. I just wanted to let everyone know where we are.
I was told if we are lucky we may have until Tuesday. It can change in a moment. If they are not saved they can be loaded at any time. We were asked to help save them, so that is what we are trying to do.
Thank you everyone who donated to save the others.
So much for a break…. (I apologize if you get this twice – having computer issues)
UPDATE – So far we have 2 babies and have been able to raise enough money to save 1 out of the 4 geldings. We got a reprieve, and still have a couple days to raise funds for the last 3. I know I certainly don’t want to have to pick which ones we save and who dies.
TRAPPER AND SHIPPER CALLED TODAY! These 4 youngsters’ need saved now! “TIME HAS RUN OUT”. Once again I need to act on faith. We simply cannot let them ship to slaughter. They are babies, approximately 2 years old?
(Sorry for the poor quality of the photos, but that was all I had.) I was notified that they will be shipping asap.
On top of that there are orphan foals coming in tonight.
Again, we are on the front line and have to save them now. Thank you for helping us continue saving lives.
These horses and the babies need help now!
Thank you.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:
WIN (WILD HORSES IN NEED) is a 501c3 IRS EIN 55-0882407_
If there are ever funds left over from the cost of the rescue itself, the monies are used to feed, vet, care for and provide shelter and proper fencing for the animals once they are saved.
Though the Heritage Rides had to be postponed, you can help support the fundraising efforts of the Colorado Horse Council (CHC) by making a “ride donation” to the The Equine Heritage Foundation.
The work of CHC in acting as the voice of the equine industry in our state must go on 12 months out of the year. The education and promotional efforts are essential to the continual growth and development of our equine organization. So your support is very important for us to continue our work and maintain the our efforts.
Your support to the Equine Heritage Foundation is an investment in Colorado’s vibrant horse industry, a gift that brings you measurable returns in services and opportunities that enhance your equine experience. We strive to benefit the horse industry, regardless of the participants’ discipline affiliation or breed preference, business type or recreational pursuit.
Currently are efforts are associated in building a fund to support the operations of the 2021 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo. This 29 year annual event is in need of funds to maintain our planning process and marketing efforts. Though the commencement of 2020 Expo was able happen, the attendance was lower than expected due to the start of the Covid 19 pandemic. The loss in the ticket sales and the lack of The Heritage Ride fundraising means that we need to ask the equine community for financial assistance, Your support will allow us to maintain the planning and contractual processes necessary for 2021 Expo.
Microchipping your horse is more important than you may think. The grain-of-rice-sized chip can prevent theft, help recovery after disasters and gives your horse a permanent ID and is registered in national databases.
An estimated 40,000 horses a year are taken from their owners either by strangers or opponents in civil or legal disputes. Microchipping your horse allows you to report he/she as stolen and help authorities find your horse much easier.
After the chaos of a natural disaster, a microchipped horse is much easier to locate and return to you. As Colorado residents, we face the threat of fires, floods and tornadoes. Your horses could go missing in these disasters and an unchipped horse could be impossible to return to the correct owner.
Finally, it’s affordable. The microchip and lifetime registration is $20 through the Colorado Equine Microchipping program. From there, you can call a veterinarian at your convenience to insert and register the microchip. A horse microchipped through the Colorado Equine Microchipping Program will meet all the required criteria to register for events and races.
Looking for a unique way to support Colorado’s equine industry?
Purchase a “Support the Horse” license plate for $30. All proceeds fund statewide research, education and promotion that enhances the equine industry in Colorado.
This year we are making it easier than ever, the process is now online. This makes the program more secure and easily accessible. Here are the simple steps to get started:
So much for a break…. (I apologize if you get this twice – having computer issues)
TRAPPER AND SHIPPER CALLED TODAY! These 4 youngsters’ need saved now! “TIME HAS RUN OUT”. Once again I need to act on faith. We simply cannot let them ship to slaughter. They are babies, approximately 2 years old?
(Sorry for the poor quality of the photos, but that was all I had.) I was notified that they will be shipping asap.
On top of that there are orphan foals coming in tonight.
Again, we are on the front line and have to save them now. Thank you for helping us continue saving lives.
These horses and the babies need help now!
Thank you.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:
WIN (WILD HORSES IN NEED) is a 501c3 IRS EIN 55-0882407_
If there are ever funds left over from the cost of the rescue itself, the monies are used to feed, vet, care for and provide shelter and proper fencing for the animals once they are saved.
Thank you so much for your wonderful love and support. Your donations have saved so many lives and make it possible to keep our “special needs” critters safe and happy.
Y’all have made such a difference for so many innocent animals.
I wanted to take a quick minute (while I had a chance before the next big emergency), to just stop and say “THANK YOU” for all you do!
I realize I am always sending out “911”s, but that is what Chilly Pepper deals with. We never have time to calmly plan out our rescues. Time is ALWAYS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, and I cannot thank you enough for always stepping up and making sure we can save these beautiful souls.
Above is Destiny. Thanks to you, a lot of prayers, TLC and the magical French Clay, she has only the tiniest scar!
Big hugs and appreciation!
Palomino
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:
WIN (WILD HORSES IN NEED) is a 501c3 IRS EIN 55-0882407_
If there are ever funds left over from the cost of the rescue itself, the monies are used to feed, vet, care for and provide shelter and proper fencing for the animals once they are saved.
“Great American Outdoors Act” Gallops Toward the Finish Line!
As states re-open public lands, Congress has an opportunity to pass important trails legislation that will get Americans outside while promoting the health of recreational riders. Thanks in large part to continued advocacy from the horse industry, the Senate voted June 17 to pass the “Great American Outdoors (GAO) Act of 2020” by a vote of 73 to 25. Now that the Senate has passed this important lands’ bill, the House must take the next step and send it to the White House to be signed into law.
When you think of wild stallions, you might imagine power, ferocity and strength… risking all to protect their families. What you might not know is that stallions are also great dads. When it comes to foals, stallions are patient and nurturing, as they keep their young foals safe, teach them about the bonds of family, and show them how to survive in the wild.
It’s not easy being a wild stallion, and one stallion on the Virginia Range in Nevada has his work cut out for him keeping his three new foals safe and making sure they don’t wander off.
Dante is a member of the wild horse herd that is part of our groundbreaking fertility control program. These photos of Dante and his foals Alex, Davin and Elle were taken yesterday by AWHC team member Steve Paige, a photographer and fertility control darter on the Virginia Range.
We love seeing wild horses being wild and free, and we thank all of our supporters every day for making it possible to do the work necessary to keep them that way.
Happy Father’s Day to all the great dads out there — thank you for working to make the world a better place for all!
—The AWHC Team
P.S. Learn more about our Virginia Range fertility control program here.
Management (BLM) Southern Nevada District Office to protect hundreds of wild horses and burros from roundups within the Nevada Wild Horse Range Herd Management Area. We must act now to demand that the BLM manage Nevada’s wild horses humanely!
Only 800 wild horses are estimated to live within the more than 1.3 million acres of public land in this area, which is part of the Nevada Test & Training Range used by the Air Force. Due to military restrictions, the BLM actively manages wild horses on 484,000 acres of the range. According to the agency’s proposed 10-year management plan, over half of the wild horses in this range would be rounded up and removed. In addition, wild burros living in the area would be completely eradicated.
The BLM is currently accepting public comments on the management proposal and its environmental consequences. Now is the time to weigh in against the agency’s plan to reduce the population to an unscientifically low population limit that will leave just one horse per 3,250 acres and eliminate wild burros from the area entirely!
Key aspects of the BLM’s destructive plan include:
Removing all wild horses deemed “excess” over a 10 year period to achieve and maintain a population of just 300-400 horses;
Removing all wild burros from the area;
Applying untested IUDs for wild mares and other methods of fertility control after the low population limit of 300 horses is reached;
Maintaining an unnatural population of 60% stallions, 40% mares; and
Gelding a portion of the stallions, making them non-reproducing and destroying their natural behaviors.
The wild horses and burros of the Nevada Wild Horse Range HMA need you to speak up for them today! Thank you for taking the time to act in their defense.
They are in a safe, temporary place while their custom facility is being finished. Pick up should be in about 10 days.
Our AC (adoption coordinator) received a call from a wonderful and very “horsey” family that was looking for a mare & foal.
God blessed this pair with our amazing donors and their wonderful new home. A far cry from Mama and baby being ripped apart n Mom being brutally slaughtered.
THANK YOU FOR SAVING THEM.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:
WIN (WILD HORSES IN NEED) is a 501c3 IRS EIN 55-0882407_
If there are ever funds left over from the cost of the rescue itself, the monies are used to feed, vet, care for and provide shelter and proper fencing for the animals once they are saved.
Last year, Congress awarded the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program a $21 million budget increase – but specified that the funding would not become available until 60 days after the BLM submitted a report to Congress outlining its plans for the future management of America’s wild horses and burros.
That report was delivered five weeks ago, and it’s as bad as we feared: Roundup and removal of 18,000-20,000 wild horses and burros per year… tripling the number of wild horses and burros warehoused in off-range holding facilities… reducing wild herds by 70% to near extinction levels….use of dangerous and gruesome sterilization surgeries as a management tool.
And the kicker? A billion-dollar price tag just for the first five years!
Please join House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl Grijalva and several of his House and Senate colleagues in demanding that Congress step up to require the BLM to prioritize the use of humane, scientifically-recommended fertility control over cruel roundups and stockpiling wild horses and burros in holding facilities.
Please contact your Senators and Representative today and ask them to support language in Fiscal Year 2021 spending legislation that puts the brakes on BLM’s mass roundup plan by requiring the agency to implement humane fertility control and prohibiting it from performing barbaric sterilization procedures on wild horses and burros.
In a little less than a month, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will unleash helicopters to begin its summer assault on wild horses and burros living on public lands in the West. In the BLM’s crosshairs: wild horse and burro herds in Utah, Colorado, and Nevada.
The largest roundup of the summer will take place in Nevada’s Shawave Mountains Herd Management Area (HMA), just 50 miles northeast of Reno. The HMA is part of the 1 million-acre Blue Wing Complex, where the BLM allows just 333 to 553 horses and 50 to 90 burros while authorizing 1,200 privately owned cattle and 2,700 sheep to graze year-round.
This is just the beginning. If the BLM has its way, as many as 18,000-20,000 wild horses and burros will lose their freedom each year… if Congress decides to fund the agency’s mass roundup plan.
Summer roundups are particularly inhumane due to sweltering desert temperatures and the presence of tiny, vulnerable foals, who are sometimes literally run to death in miles-long helicopter stampedes.
This summer, this cruelty could take place out of public view, as the BLM is already signaling that it may use COVID-19 restrictions to block the public from witnessing these brutal capture operations and documenting their terrible impacts on wild horses and burros.
AWHC is gearing up for these summer roundups, both to document them and to fight back if the BLM attempts to crack down on public observation.
At the same time, we’re working on Capitol Hill to shelve the BLM’s plan to massively scale up roundups and force the agency to prioritize humane fertility control to manage wild herds and keep them wild.
Your help is needed on all fronts! Here’s what you can do today:
Donate to our Roundup FundToday’s donation will keep our team in the field during the roundup season and give us the resources necessary to ensure our legal team can challenge any attempts to block public observation.
Ask them to put the brakes on BLM’s mass removal plans, require the use of humane fertility control as an alternative to roundups, and prohibit the conducting of helicopter roundups in the absence of public observation.
WIN (WILD HORSES IN NEED) is a 501c3 IRS EIN 55-0882407_
If there are ever funds left over from the cost of the rescue itself, the monies are used to feed, vet, care for and provide shelter and proper fencing for the animals once they are saved.
Another phone call – ANOTHER 911. Shipper called and there are babies on the feedlot and more coming this week.(?) We need to get them asap or it will be too late.
I am packing the trailer tonight and heading out in the morning. WILL YOU HELP ME SAVE THEIR LIVES?
As I write this my heart is broken into a million pieces.Instead of Batman heading to his new home, I had to bury him. He needed surgery for his inguinal hernia. During the surgery he ruptured, and had to be euthanized. I can’t hardly breathe, but Batman would want us to keep saving as many lives as we can. He himself was one of our rescues that y’all helped save.
PLEASE HELP ME HONOR HIM BY SAVING THESE LIVES! As usual, there is no time to grieve, but we are the only chance these new babies have, so I have to stop the tears and focus on saving them.
Please donate if you can – we need transport funds, bail, money for vetting and milk and supplies. Milk and medicines have gone up substantially with the whole virus situation and we are getting hit where it hurts. We need to buy hay. No matter what is going on in the world, rescue never stops.
We need your help now to save these lives. (From the information I received, there are more expected this week.)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:
WIN (WILD HORSES IN NEED) is a 501c3 IRS EIN 55-0882407_
If there are ever funds left over from the cost of the rescue itself, the monies are used to feed, vet, care for and provide shelter and proper fencing for the animals once they are saved.
We want to be very cognizant of the reality facing our country. For many, this is an incredibly stressful time, financially and emotionally, as well as very painful, difficult, and upsetting.
We also know that many of you are using your platforms, resources, and time to address injustices and support your communities in a time of need.
All of us at AWHC continue to be inspired and amazed that, despite these hardships, so many of you continue to stay involved, stay engaged, and support not only us but America’s wild horses and burros. This is so important because the Bureau of Land Management continues its assault on these iconic animals and is even stepping it up during this crisis, when the public’s attention is directed elsewhere.
That’s evident in the BLM’s newly unveiled roundup schedule for the Summer/Fall, which we discuss below. But for this newsletter, we don’t want to share only the bad news. There’s some uplifting news as well, and we’ve included a few photos and videos that might brighten your day.
BREAKING: Bureau of Land Management Outlines Largest Removal Of Wild Horses In a Decade
Last month, the Bureau of Land Management submitted a report to Congress that outlines a plan to conduct mass roundups over the next 18-20 years and slash wild horse and burro populations on public lands by 70%.
The agency is planning to launch Phase 1 of its assault next month, with the roundup and removal of 5,000 federally-protected wild horses and burros from BLM lands between July 1 and September 30.
This means that, for Fiscal Year 2020 (Oct. 1, 2019 – September 30, 2020), over 12,000 innocent wild horses and burros will lose their freedom. To put this in perspective, that’s the largest number in the last decade.
If the BLM has its way, that is only the beginning. In its new report, the BLM is proposing to use helicopters to capture and remove 18,000-20,000 wild horses and burros from public lands EACH YEAR for the foreseeable future.
The roundups that will begin next month will have an added component of brutality. Using helicopters to drive wild horses and burros for miles in punishing summer temperatures often results in fatalities. Summer roundups are particularly tough on the tiny foals that are on the range this time of year.
These vulnerable babies have been literally run to death in past roundups, collapsing and dying as their mothers look on helplessly. The BLM lists the cause of death as “capture myopathy,” defined as “muscle damage that results from extreme exertion, struggle or stress.”
According to the BLM’s new roundup schedule, Nevada and Utah will be the epicenter of the summer roundups, the largest of which include:
Shawave Mountains Herd Management Area, Nevada: 1,600 wild horses and 200 wild burros targeted for removal.
Diamond Complex, Nevada: 1,200 wild horses to be removed.
Sulphur Herd Management Area, Utah: 600 wild horses to be rounded up
AWHC will be onsite to document these roundups and we’re prepared to fight back if the BLM attempts to use the coronavirus pandemic to restrict public access. (Social distancing is not a problem out on the range.)
UPDATE: Wild Horse Champions in Congress Stand Up To The U.S. Forest Service
During April and May, AWHC and our partners at the Animal Welfare Institute sounded the alarm about the lack of critical safeguards and transparency associated with the U.S. Forest Service’s selling of wild horses from the Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory in California. (The horses were captured last fall in a helicopter roundup.)
The Forest Service has been selling these federally-protected wild horses for as little as $1 a piece, without meaningful limits on the number of horses a buyer can purchase at one time, and no adequate vetting procedures to ensure that buyers have the resources and facilities necessary to safely care for horses.
This lack of safeguards places the horses at higher risk of abuse or slaughter.
We brought our concerns to Congress and we’re pleased to announce that a bipartisan group of wild horse champions has taken action for the Devil’s Garden horses.
Representatives Ted Lieu, Brian Fitzpatrick, Steve Cohen, Joe Neguse, Jan Schakowsky, and Dina Titus sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, requesting that it adopt policies for its sales and adoption program to ensure oversight, transparency and protection, including measures to prevent federally-protected wild horses from ending up in the hands of kill buyers or others who might abuse and neglect them.
Additionally, these Congressmembers have called on the Forest Service to cease sales until these reforms are in place and pandemic restrictions are fully lifted.
We will continue to build on this important action to hold the Forest Service accountable for the welfare of the wild horses it is mandated under federal law to protect.
A Great Way To Stay Up To Date With Our Team In Nevada On The Virginia Range
AWHC is incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work of our staff and volunteers on the Virginia Range in Nevada.
We also know that many of you have reached out, asking if there is a better way to stay up to date with our team there: And there is!
Our team operates the Facebook group “Stay Wild! AWHC Nevada” where we post and share photos, videos, and updates on a near-daily basis to provide supporters with the opportunity to see and hear what they see in the field each and every day.
A perfect example? One of our volunteers, from a safe distance, captured an incredible moment on video: The first steps of a wild foal with her mother.
Especially in these uncertain and difficult times, little videos like these can help lift our spirits and improve our mood. And they serve as a powerful reminder about why we do the work that we do.
If you would like to learn more about our program on the Virginia Range (the largest in the world!) you can read more here.
We are all in this together — thank you for being part of our herd!
These fundraising rides must be postponed because of the uncertainty as to when we can hold these rides due to various constraints with trail usage, social gatherings and travel restrictions. We are confident we’ll get programs started to help support the work of the Colorado Horse Council.
This fundraising program is necessary for the Council to continue its work in the state of Colorado.
Work is currently in process for the development of the Equine Heritage Foundation.
The Equine Heritage Foundation
Mission and Purpose
Promote the Heritage of the Horse, which is rich and meaningful in our state and requires continual education in the areas of welfare, training, legal responsibility and the cultural understanding.
Protect the Heritage of the Horse, which encompasses the rights of individuals to enjoy, own and actively use the natural resources and the manmade infrastructure our state has to offer for equestrian activities.
Develop the future Heritage of the Horse, which has a meaningful human and financial impact in our state which includes quality of life components that is inherent in the reasons why people live, work and play in Colorado.
Make a startup contribution to the
Equine Heritage Foundation,
These startup donations will help with the planning and the development of promotional and educational programs for the Colorado Horse Council which includes the
Rocky Mountain Horse Expo
(Remember to build an account at the Equine City Hall, if you do not have one)
YOU DID IT! You saved 41 babies, a gorgeous stallion, 1 pregnant mare, a possibly pregnant mare and Grandpa Gus, the aged Mule.
(Above are some fun, random pix, of some of the babies you saved; yes, there are probably a couple duplicates lol.) We had a heck of a time matching up their paperwork. Some of them are identical except for a few of the hairs on their stars.
THANK YOU to each and every one who donated, prayed or shared the information.Most of the babies have already been adopted, and we actually have folks waiting for the more to come in. (Something we seldom see.)We still have several needing surgery or specialized care and we will be adopting them out once they are deemed healthy enough to do so.
Our adoption teamed rocked these latest rescues. Kari Robie, Emily Nes, Mama Mel, Danny & Danniell Dustin, and our Adoption Coordinator Helen Ardire, all came through to get these babies to their new homes.We incurred the rescue, vetting costs etc., but everyone working together is what makes this work. So THANK YOU TEAM! We could not do it alone.
However, today we need help back at the rescue in NV ! (We also need help for the Hernia surgery on one of our babies in Idaho.)
Big Matt, Texas Triumph, Tatiana and BatMan all need your help with some urgent veterinary care on Wednesday. Our colt in Idaho has his surgery the next day. He has an inguinal hernia?
We have been working on the drafts’ feet, but they are both having severe pain issues when it comes to lifting their back feet.Both of them have issues with their rear legs, Big Matt’s hocks are a mess, and we are still trying to diagnose all the issues Tex is having. If Tex stands still very long his back legs start shaking and he has trouble standing on them. (This was one of the reasons he needed to be shipped straight to slaughter and was on the “do not adopt or rescue list.”)
So after talking with Doc, they will be coming out on Wednesday and we will be getting a much better handle on both of the big guys’ feet. We were told very clearly when we rescued Big Matt that the issues with his hocks combined with his weight would be a “thing” when he needed hoof care. We have been working on his feet all along, but simply need to lay him down fully to really assess and do the complete job. (The issue with Big Matt’s hocks, feet etc. was discussed as to whether it was a reason not to keep him alive. Since he LOVES his life, the answer is obviously YES.)
Batman is getting ready to go to his new home. Wahh, sucks for me, but wonderful for him and his new family. However, he has recently developed a hernia that is continuing to get larger and larger and Doc thinks his intestines are coming out. So he needs surgery asap!
We are looking at close to $1500? on Wednesday to get Batman his surgery and the other 3 taken care of. Special needs children are not cheap, but they have all been through so much they deserve whatever care they need to have the best possible “rest of their lives”.
So please help us get them the care they need on Wednesday. If you would like to donate directly to the vet, please call Zimmerman Veterinary Clinic at 775-623-0981.
You can donate directly for milk or Texas Triumph’s grain at J & J Feed at 775-625-1200. Texas Triumph cannot eat anything but mash. He has damage to the lower muscle(s) in his esophagus. Let me tell you that boy can eat. He has lots of issues but is such a happy camper. Vet still says to be ready to walk out there someday and find him “aspirated with a possibly deadly case of pneumonia”. So we love him every day we have him.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED MILK, WIPES & VASELINE! WE SO APPRECIATE IT, but there is no name showing who sent it when it is delivered!!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:
WIN (WILD HORSES IN NEED) is a 501c3 IRS EIN 55-0882407_
If there are ever funds left over from the cost of the rescue itself, the monies are used to feed, vet, care for and provide shelter and proper fencing for the animals once they are saved.