In Nevada’s Virginia Range, AWHC operates the world’s largest humane management program for wild horses. We recently celebrated our two-year anniversary of the establishment of this historic initiative to prove to the world that THERE IS a humane way to manage wild horse populations that doesn’t require mass roundups, crowded holding corrals, dangerous sterilization surgeries, or slaughter.
We’re fighting back against the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) massive herd removals in court and on Capitol Hill — and the success of our PZP program in Nevada has been critical in our fight to protect wild horses.
In roughly a month, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is scheduled to resume helicopter roundups. And over the next 5 years, the BLM is planning to round up an estimated 90,000 wild horses and burros!
What’s worse, is that the BLM is accelerating roundups over the next five years, which is projected to cost taxpayers nearly $1 billion dollars. Now we don’t have to tell you that a $30 fertility control treatment is a MUCH MORE cost-effective option compared to these costly roundups!
Tens of thousands of wild horses and burros will lose their families and freedom because of these roundups, and because the BLM doesn’t have the capacity to store all of the horses they capture, it’s already leading to slaughter for too many of these cherished animals.
The Biden Administration just released its proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget for the U.S. Department of the Interior. It contains an astounding increase of $36.8 million for the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program, and continues the Trump Administration’s accelerated, mass roundup plan and scapegoating of wild equids.
Remember what that plan includes: the removal of nearly 90,000 wild horses and burros from their homes on our public lands, the tripling of the number of wild horses and burros in holding facilities, and a cost to taxpayers of nearly $1 billion in the first five years! And, as the New York Times recently reported, this is already leading to the slaughter of these protected national icons.
It’s shocking that Interior Secretary Haaland has put her seal of approval on this plan. As a member of Congress, she opposed additional funding for wild horse and burro roundups, advocating instead for humane birth control. Clearly, at the helm of the Interior Department, she’s now prioritizing livestock industry interests over the protection of wild horses and burros.
But remember, this is only a budget request. It does not mean that Congress will fund it.
So, it’s time to fight back … And it’s already happening!
Increasing numbers of environmental organizations are speaking up against the scapegoating of wild horses for damage caused by massive livestock grazing. In fact, the Sierra Club recently adopted a policy calling for the elimination of livestock grazing in wild horse and burro habitats!
Support for humane, in-the-wild horse and burro management is growing on Capitol Hill. Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) were recently joined by over 40 of their House colleagues in requesting Congress to fund humane fertility control and other on-range methods as a priority over removing wild horses and burros from their homes.
AWHC is working with key members of Congress to support a humane, environmentally-focused and scientific approach to wild horse management that would drastically reduce the removal of wild horses and burros from their habitats.
We really need you to take action too.Here’s what you can do:
Protest this budget request on the Interior Department’s Facebook page by downloading the below graphic and uploading it to this post.
Email Secretary Haaland at exsec@ios.doi.gov. Suggested message: “I strongly oppose your cruel plan to remove tens of thousands of wild horses and burros from our public lands. I’m especially disappointed that you blame wild horses and burros for environmental damage and climate change while you continue to ignore livestock grazing, which is the real contributor to these issues. Humane on-range management alternatives — including birth control and removing livestock — are available, scientifically-recommended, and cost-effective. I’m very disappointed that you are prioritizing livestock interests over the interests of the 80 percent of Americans who want wild horses and burros protected, not rounded up, penned, and slaughtered.”
The Onaqui wild horses of the West Desert in Utah just gained a powerful voice in the battle to save the iconic herd from a brutal helicopter roundup planned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) this summer. What’s at stake: the fate of 300 of the 500 Onaqui wild horses targeted for removal by the BLM.
Actress Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy), is using her platform to join AWHC in speaking out for this beloved herd, known for its striking colors, unique social dynamics, and acclimation to photographers and other visitors from all over the world.
A growing chorus of celebrities and activists is speaking out against the BLM’s inhumane mass roundup and removal of thousands of wild horses and burros every year from the public lands they call home. As was revealed by our investigation and confirmed by a New York Times exposé — far too many captured wild horses and burros are adopted then dumped at slaughter auctions across the country.
Katherine makes a great point: Why are we spending so much time and money to round up the Onaqui wild horses, separating their family groups, terrorizing or even killing them, when there is already a humane fertility control program in place to control the population?
CATCHER CALLED – Can we take horses Sunday? I have 48 hours to let him know if we can take them. I know folks are stretched thin, but it is in your hands. I will do the work if we have the funds.
Sadly, Little Warrior came in with excruciating and deadly injuries from a coyote attack. Although it breaks my heart to lose them, I am grateful I could manage his pain, and give him a chance. Sadly Doc said his joint was septic and with the additional injuries he simply had no chance. I held him in my arms and we set our Little Warrior free. He fought and escaped the coyote, and also fought to live. I would have given anything to be able to save him. Seems like the tears just don’t stop.
I know the pictures are hard to look at, but imagine actually having to take care of them. Cleaning them is so hard. It is not only totally gross, but HAS to be done and is painful for the babies, even with pain medication. I just wanted y’all to know how badly he really was injured and have a tiny picture of what rescues deal with.
Our beautiful little Caramel Cookie had no chance either. Her ankle was NOT FUSED and I can’t even imagine the pain she was in. All that weight on that broken, shifting foot. Then add the injuries to her back leg. You could literally feel the pain leaving as she was sedated and then set free. EVEN KNOWING IT WAS THE RIGHT THING, MY HEART IS STILL ONCE AGAIN SHATTERED! The worst part is knowing someone deliberately left her like that.
It is killing me to have to clean up the mess left by uncaring owners and that I have to make the decisions they should have. However, I know God is putting them in front of me so they do get taken care of. So as long as we can afford to keep doing the work, I will continue to fight for these precious souls.
Even as I am once again reeling from the loss, I have 8 babies, 3 of which are struggling to survive, and Chica here to take care of.Now I am standing by for more on Sunday, and it is just starting.PLEASE HELP MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO SAY YES!
We so appreciate ALL YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT! There are more babies coming and it looks like it is going to be a really busy year. I cannot do this without you. Please say a prayer and let’s keep saving lives! It’s up to you!
If you would like to help with our ongoing vet bills,
HARRAH VETERINARY 509 848-2943
GOLDENDALE VET CLINIC 509 773-0369
If you would like to order FOAL LAC & send milk, (Or baby wipes, vaseline, gloves, Foal Response, Foal Lac Pellets, syringes, Probios etc.)
This is the link to our Chilly Pepper’s Wild Horse & Orphan Foal Adoption Page,where you can see the progress and new lives of the horses YOU HAVE HELPED SAVED! (I can’t believe I didn’t do this years ago, but it is so fun to see the horses, babies and critters that are enjoying and thriving in their new lives.)
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.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently released its final decision to round up and remove ALL of the wild burros in the Centennial, Panamint, and Slate Herd Areas (HAs) in California.
These Herd Areas are made up of roughly 1.73 million acres of public and private land and are currently home to roughly 1,000 wild burros!
The BLM changed the Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the burros in the three HAs to 0, even though these animals call this area home. NOW, the BLM is planning to conduct brutal helicopter roundups to remove every wild burro from this area over the next 10 years.
The BLM just announced that the first roundup is scheduled to take place next week, on May 28, and 300 burros are at risk of immediate removal, so we need your help now.
Send a letter to the BLMand tell them that this final decision to remove ALL of the burros from the Centennial, Panamint, and Slate HAs must be revised. You can use the letter we provided to tell them that you oppose this decision.
Contact your members of Congress and tell them that you strongly oppose the BLM’s decision to remove these burros from the land they call home!
We sent a letter to the BLM months ago asking them to reinstate these HAs, and they ignored us. Not only will these roundups be traumatic for the burros being removed — this is another unnecessary removal action by the BLM at the expense of American taxpayers.
Recent research has shown that these burro species have made a positive impact on the lands where they live. Without burros as part of the ecosystem, the BLM could potentially impact the environment beyond repair.
The New York Times article published last weekend has resulted in A LOT of buzz for wild horses. Thanks to our partners who helped us uncover the unethical operations that were happening through the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), we now have a means to fight against the AIP on Capitol Hill.
As we speak, we are working with members of Congress to put a halt to the AIP program, pass federal legislation to help keep wild horses wild, and we’re fighting back against a dangerous bill that would strip away federal protections for wild horses and burros.
Our Government Relations team is relentless in their legislative fight to protect wild horses and burros, but they have been working especially hard since the New York Times article came out. They’ve been working around the clock — holding meetings with legislators, mobilizing supporters to contact their elected officials, and working to help develop policies that will protect wild horses and burros.
Our Government Relations team has been integral in the legislative victories we’ve had to date. Just this year, AWHC helped put an end to SJR3, a Nevada bill that called on Congress to fund the removal of 40,000 of Nevada’s wild horses, and mobilized supporters like you to contact your legislators and push for Congress to support the confirmation of Secretary of the Interior Deb Halaand, who supported wild horse protection when she was in Congress.
BABY UPDATE – I will be getting 9 or 10 either late tonight or tomorrow.
I am grateful the babies had a few more days with their Mama’s, and at the same time my heart breaks for what is happening today.
MEET CARAMEL COOKIE. This beautiful girl is killing me. She was horrendously injured. As you can see her face was clearly broken, and her front left ankle/leg was also clearly broken and appears to have fused.
Her rear leg is a hot mess, and she is THE SWEETEST little filly you could ever meet. Her little lungs are very congested and yet she has more heart and “want to be here” than most healthy horses have.
This morning, much to my surprise, she was running and bucking!!This little girl has heart. I need to get her to the vet and get x rays. I know her life will not be long, but I would love to give her a chance if the vet thinks she could have any amount of quality time.
OUR BEAUTIFUL CHICA is doing very well. Her leg is improving and we are making baby steps in alleviating her belief that she will be beaten and hurt every single time someone approaches.
We so appreciate ALL YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT! There are more babies coming and it looks like it is going to be a really busy year. I cannot do this without you. Please say a prayer and let’s keep saving lives! It’s up to you!
We finally are caught up on the vet bills, THANKS TO Y’ALL!However, I have to call Doc when these babies come in and *I need to take Caramel Cookie in to Goldendale Vet Clinic for X-rays to make sure it has fused and to see what is the best course of treatment for her.*
If you would like to HELP WITH upcoming VET COSTS,
Harrah Veterinary 509 848-2943
Goldendale Vet Clinic – 509 773-0369
If you would like to order FOAL LAC & send milk, (Or baby wipes, vaseline, gloves, Foal Response, Foal Lac Pellets, syringes, Probios etc.)
This is the link to our Chilly Pepper’s Wild Horse & Orphan Foal Adoption Page,where you can see the progress and new lives of the horses YOU HAVE HELPED SAVED! (I can’t believe I didn’t do this years ago, but it is so fun to see the horses, babies and critters that are enjoying and thriving in their new lives.)
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 wanted to say thank you — after this weekend’s New York Times article was published, we have received an outpouring of support for our work.
If you haven’t yet had a chance to read the article from the New York Times uncovering the wild horse-slaughter pipeline that has emerged as a result of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) — you can check it out at the link here.
In coordination with our partners, we spent significant time searching for and accumulating tangible evidence to document the connection between this program and the slaughter of hundreds of cherished wild horses and burros — leading to the New York Times exposé. Your support made this work possible and it will carry us through our efforts to use legal, legislative, and grassroots channels to shut this program down. Can you make a donation today to help us shut down the AIP?
A key part of our research was using our Rescue Fund to help our partners rescue wild horses and burros from kill pens. Not just saving these innocent animal’s lives, but also giving us access to information — including titles and brand numbers — that helped us connect the dots.
Now that this story is out, your support is critical. Thousands of America’s wild horses and burros are at risk because of this program and the BLM’s mass roundup plan that is resulting in their slaughter. They need our help.
She went in for treatment last week for a large, deep ulcer her right eye. She has also been treated for uveitis in the left eye, and while at the clinic, they found a pinpoint-sized ulcer on the left eye. On Saturday morning, we got the call that the eye with the ulcer ruptured, and before long, Zena had surgery to remove her right eye. Fortunately, the ulcer in the left eye resolved quickly!
We’re happy she’s home, and we hope she’s happy to be back with her AAE family.
We’re not sure! Well, she’s her big, beasty self, but she seems a bit nervous and agitated. She’ll settle in and adapt soon. Losing vision is not something anyone wants to experience. Fortunately, horses can do very well with one eye. Many of you remember Ralphie, and some even remember Angus? Zena will get better, so continue to send more of your healing energies her way.
Heartfelt thanks to all that have donated and shared in support of her treatment and care costs, and now surgery costs.
Not only do we need your support, we need your help to spread the word.
Share our Posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
BOOTS IS BACK!!!
We are so excited our 8th Annual Boots and Bling event is scheduled (in-person), Saturday August 21st at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. This event will feature a BBQ dinner, DJ music, and live, silent, and dessert auctions. We hope you will be able to join us! Stay tuned for more information to come!
Would you like to help? We are looking for volunteers to help with event planning, decor, ticket sales, sponsorship, auction item donations, and more.
Grooming is an important facet of your equine’s management. How you take care of his hair coat will greatly affect his health. How often you groom and what tools you use can positively affect your equine’s behavior and comfort.
Over the last several months, the American Wild Horse Campaign — with assistance from Evanescent Mustang Rescue, Skydog Ranch and Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary — has been conducting an investigation into the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), leading to today’s New York Times report exposing this federal program as a subsidized pipeline to slaughter for federally-protected wild horses and burros.
The BLM’s AIP pays individuals $1,000 to adopt a wild, unhandled horse or burro. As AWHC predicted when the program was implemented in 2019, the initiative has been a disaster for these animals.It is now clear that the BLM is laundering horses to slaughter through the AIP and evading the long-standing Congressional slaughter ban.
This program is a predictable result of the BLM’s inhumane and costly mass roundup program and the agency’s efforts to empty holding pens to make room for the tens of thousands of horses and burros targeted for removal over the next five years.
Our investigation, as affirmed by the New York Times, has documented:
Wild horses and burros are being sent to slaughter through the AIP.
Adopters are collecting the payments then sending horses to livestock auctions known as “kill pens” where they are purchased by kill buyers and shipped across the border for slaughter.
Adopters are routinely violating their BLM adoption contracts, which they sign under penalty of perjury, prohibiting the sale of these animals directly or indirectly to slaughter.
Groups of related individuals are evading the four-horse adoption limit by adopting multiple horses each using the same location on their applications, then collecting as much as $30,000 in AIP payments and sales of the horses at kill pens.
The AIP additionally has resulted in severe neglect and abuse of horses and burros by adopters unqualified or uninterested in providing adequate care.
The AIP should not be allowed to continue. The BLM must stop rounding up wild horses and burros and start managing them humanely in the wild. Thousands of America’s iconic wild horses and burros are at risk and need your voice.
Please take these three actions to make change for them right now:
Sign our petition demanding an end to the AIP and to mass roundups that send too many wild horses and burros into the slaughter pipeline.
We got some not so good news this morning. Zena’s right eye, the good eye, lost the battle with the ulcer; her right eye ruptured. As a result, she needed surgery to remove the eye. Fortunately, everything went well, and she’ll be coming home soon.
We will be happy to have her back at the barn soon to help her adjust to a new world. Her left eye is doing much better and will likely require ongoing treatment for uveitis. Fortunately, uveitis can me managed long term if it doesn’t resolve.
Please send Zena some healing thoughts!
Need to catch up on Zena’s health situation? Read about it here.
Thank you to the supporters who have already donated towards her care. We are so grateful for our community!
If you’re able to help with her surgery and additional care costs, Zena and everyone at AAE would appreciate your support.
Not only do we need your support, we need your help to spread the word.
Share our Posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
BOOTS IS BACK!!!
We are so excited our 8th Annual Boots and Bling event is scheduled (in-person), Saturday August 21st at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. This event will feature a BBQ dinner, DJ music, and live, silent, and dessert auctions. We hope you will be able to join us! Stay tuned for more information to come!
Would you like to help? We are looking for volunteers to help with event planning, decor, ticket sales, sponsorship, auction item donations, and more.
On the eve of Burro Awareness Month, our rescue partner Evanescent Mustang Rescue and Sanctuary alerted us about 12 burros that were dumped in an Oklahoma kill pen. The burros were rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and were ready to ship to slaughter any day.
These burros are likely victims of the BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program, which pays a $1,000 incentive for individuals to adopt wild and unhandled horses and burros. The program is resulting in many of these beautiful wild animals being “flipped” to kill pens.
We knew we had to help Evanescent rescue these innocent animals and get them to safety ASAP.
AWHC’s Rescue Fund paid the bail for all 12 burros, and Evanescent rescued them and is providing a safe landing place where they can rest and heal until they are ready for adoption!
This victory wouldn’t be possible without the support of donors like you. The resources you help to provide the AWHC & our Rescue Fund are integral in helping our rescue partners save wild horses and burros.
NOT EVEN TIME TO GRIEVE the loss of my little Jackpot. It’s GO TIME!
THIS MORNING’S CALL- ANOTHER 8 (YES EIGHT) BABIES NEED US TO SAVE THEM. WILL YOU HELP ME DO THAT?
Thank you SO MUCH for helping with these rescues. We have almost enough to pay off one of the smaller vet bills or to buy supplies. Like everything, the ENTIRE costs of rescue, fuel, bail, medical supplies, milk, etc. have gone up substantially.
I have a couple of days to let him know if I will be able to afford to save the babies. That means vet bills paid (or hopefully mostly paid), and much needed milk & supplies purchased and restocked.
THERE ARE MORE COMING AFTER THE 1ST GROUP! Let’s save these beautiful lives!
Off to sterilize the nursery and be ready for the new ones if we can afford to save them.
Quick update – The mare’s leg was much worse than I was told, although it wasn’t too surprising after seeing it. She is the ONLY horse out of 1000’s that I have ever seen “AIM” when she kicks. I know that is only because of prior handling and her fear. She has not one mean bone in her body.
It’s pretty clear it had to be painful when I was treating her. She is such a nice, although terrified, mare.
If you would like to HELP WITH VET COSTS,
Harrah Veterinary 509 848-2943
Goldenddale Vet Clinic – 509 773-0369
If you would like to order FOAL LAC & send milk, (Or baby wipes, vaseline, gloves, Foal Response, Foal Lac Pellets, syringes, Probios etc.)
This is the link to our Chilly Pepper’s Wild Horse & Orphan Foal Adoption Page,where you can see the progress and new lives of the horses YOU HAVE HELPED SAVED! (I can’t believe I didn’t do this years ago, but it is so fun to see the horses, babies and critters that are enjoying and thriving in their new lives.)
As of right now, Firefly, aka Stella – is still with us and fighting for her life. I can’t even believe she survived the wreck in the first place. Please say a prayer for our precious little girl.
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.
_My heart is once again in a million pieces. Doc was just here and we had to set Jackpot free from his suffering. He fought so hard!
“Bart”, the beautiful stallion, is also at peace. When he ran his leg would flop around. He was suffering horribly and now he is finally pain free in Heaven!
Again, I acted on sheer Faith as I still need to pay for him etc. I know you would want me to end his suffering.
This has been the most horrible rescue I have ever been on. Whatever it is that is out there has taken a huge toll on these precious lives.
_26 babies total, 2 lost to internal injuries they came in with. 6 lost, (including Jackpot) at our various ICU nurseries to a deadly virus. So far none of the tests are showing exactly what it is. There were thoughts it could be Salmonella, but tests on one of the babies showed no. However, it did show an unknown pathogen.
There have been outbreaks of Salmonella in 6 states, and tests are still being run to find out the exact issue. These newborn or week old babies have zero to fight with._ In spite of being under CONSTANT vet care, receiving fluids, tube feedings, 2 shots a day and oral meds twice a day, there was nothing else we could do. My team & I are beyond devastated. Whatever it is, the babies will be playing, running, eating and looking like the picture of health. Sometimes as soon as 2 days later they are gone.
I had to stop my update and take care of the stallion & the injured mare Chica.I am running on complete faith, as we still owe $3,000 for the balance of the emergency visits. I HAVE to pay them right away. We are out of pretty much everything, and have already been notified to expect LOTS more babies.
Supplies were wiped out with the 26. It is amazing how much you go through when you have sick and dying babies. I am praising God for the ones who are still here and who made it.
I kept asking WHY, WHY ARE WE GOING THROUGH THIS??? Well, when I was quiet, God answered. EVERY SINGLE BABY THAT DIED would have died an agonizing death out on the range. Most likely they would have been eaten by coyotes WHILE they lay suffering, scared, alone and waiting to die. So I am TRULY GRATEFUL, even though I can’t breathe. It is a gift to be able to help these little ones. A very painful and excruciating gift, but a gift none the less.
I am also running on faith because I know how tight things are for folks. However, I simply cannot take on babies and lives if I cannot take care of them. So I am having faith that God will provide and my Chilly Pepper Family wants to KEEP SAVING LIVES!
If you would like to HELP WITH VET COSTS,
Harrah Veterinary 509 848-2943
Goldenddale Vet Clinic – 509 773-0369
This is the link to our Chilly Pepper’s Wild Horse & Orphan Foal Adoption Page,where you can see the progress and new lives of the horses YOU HAVE HELPED SAVED! (I can’t believe I didn’t do this years ago, but it is so fun to see the horses, babies and critters that are enjoying and thriving in their new lives.)
As of right now, Firefly, aka Stella – is still with us and fighting for her life. I can’t even believe she survived the wreck in the first place. Please say a prayer for our precious little girl.
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.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the US Forest Service, and the National Park Service have long treated these long-eared equids with disregard and deliberate misinformation campaigns. Cattle grazing, road-building, big game hunting, gold and lithium mining and other commercial uses erode their habitat and damage their access to water.
With Deb Haaland as Secretary of Interior, there’s a chance to change this harmful pattern. But it may not save their skins unless awareness leads to concerted action — and pronto.
In the spirit of Burro Awareness Month, we would like to share with you a guest blog about these incredible animals written by advocate and burro-extraordinaire, Charlotte Roe. After you read it, follow the link at the bottom to support America’s burros.
You may be familiar with the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area (HMA) in Colorado because of the world famous stallion, Picasso who called this 157,000-acre public lands habitat home, and who died wild and free on this very land. Unfortunately, the surviving members of his herd may not be so lucky.
The BLM is currently planning to roundup and remove over 80% of the Sand Wash wild mustangs, leaving only a population 163 — about 1 horse per every 980 acres!
Adding insult to injury, the local organization, Sand Wash Advocate Team (SWAT) has worked tirelessly to implement a PZP program to humanely manage the Sand Wash mustangs — and it’s working. Instead of a costly and cruel helicopter roundup, the BLM should invest more time and resources to support SWAT’s efforts and expand the PZP program in the HMA. This would be more humane for the horses and more cost-effective for the American taxpayers.
It’s unfortunately more bad news for the wild horses and burros that reside within the Calico Complex in Nevada. The BLM is targeting the estimated 1,700 wild horses and 70 wild burros for removal in this nearly 600,000-acre area.
The agency is also considering extreme manipulation of the wild horse and burro population remaining on the range by implementing unproven IUDs over scientifically proven PZP fertility control, unnaturally skewing the sex ratio in favor of males, and managing a fourth of the population as non-reproducing, including by castrating stallions.
The elbow pull will stop your equine from raising his head to the point where he hollows his neck and back, and will keep him in reasonably correct posture.
To recap, if you didn’t catch last week’s email, Zena, our 26-ish year old Percheron mare, has been experiencing eye issues. She’s been experiencing chronic uveitis in her left eye. It has been managed with meds/treatment, but not resolving. It is very painful!
A couple weeks ago, she developed a large and dangerously deep ulcer on her right eye, which is also very painful! Sadly, this put her vision at risk.
After several days of treatment, the ulcer was not improving, so she was hospitalized at Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center for a procedure to support her right eye and to provide treatment every two hours.
During an exam, a pinpoint-sized ulcer was also found on her left eye.
More frequent treatment did not improve the right (good) eye, so on Friday, Zena had a procedure called a Tarsorrhaphy. I can’t say it, but it’s a surgical procedure in which the eyelids are partially sewn together to narrow the eyelid opening to protect the cornea and keep it moist. (If you zoom in on the photo of Zena above and look closely, you can see her sutures) However, it’s not without risk! The dilemma is, it provides good protection, but the ulcer is covered and not visible to monitor. The sutures will be removed in a few days to see how the eye is progressing, but thankfully so far, so good.
The other good news, the ulcer on the left eye has resolved, but sadly, the uveitis flared again, so she’ll continue with treatment of the left eye, too.
Zena is expected to stay at LBEMC for at least a few more days.
Thank you to the generous donors that have helped support some of the costs for her care. As you can imagine, the costs for hospitalization and treatment continue to grow.
If you’re able to help, Zena would appreciate your support. If everyone that can will help a little, it will make a big difference for this sweet, big gal.
Not only do we need your support, we need your help to spread the word.
Share our Posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
BOOTS IS BACK!!!
We are so excited our 8th Annual Boots and Bling event is scheduled (in-person), Saturday August 21st at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. This event will feature a BBQ dinner, DJ music, and live, silent, and dessert auctions. We hope you will be able to join us! Stay tuned for more information to come!
Would you like to help? We are looking for volunteers to help with event planning, decor, ticket sales, sponsorship, auction item donations, and more.
We got some not so good news this morning. Zena’s right eye, the good eye, lost the battle with the ulcer; her right eye ruptured. As a result, she needed surgery to remove the eye. Fortunately, everything went well, and she’ll be coming home soon.
