Another 911!A stock trailer full of starved, injured, wild/domestic horses heading to slaughter.WILL YOU HELP ME SAVE THEM??
We don’t have the funds, the time or the space, but God put them in front of me.
Please help me save them. I already had to postpone my surgery until December, but how do I walk away from a trailer load sitting in front of me.
I am exhausted and overwhelmed and completely worn out. However, once again I will suck it up and do the work if y’all will help us save them.
The injuries are horrific and a couple may have joint infections which could be deadly. They are both in excruciating pain and need our help asap!
Molly the mule is in the hospital for a bad case of colic. The good news is hopefully I will get to pick her up tomorrow and she has a wonderful new family waiting for her.
The truck is still broken, but God has always blessed this rescue, and I know we can save these horses! Thank you for all you do!
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.
Join us as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act — the foundational law that protects these cherished animals on Western public lands.
The virtual event will include inspiring pieces on America’s wild horses and burros, special appearances including celebrity ambassadors, like Kaitlynn Carter of MTV’s The Hills, shoe designer Chloe Gosselin, and musicians like the award-winning pop duo Aly and AJ!
The event also includes a knock-your-boots-off Silent Auction featuring items like a beachfront vacation in beautiful Santa Barbara, a trip to see wild horses on Nevada’s beautiful Fish Springs range, VIP tickets to a night of grand illusion at David Copperfield’s Las Vegas show, incredible wild horse photography, and so much more!
We wanted to make sure you got Suzanne’s email yesterday! To those of you who have already chipped in and helped us fund these needs for wild horses — thank you!
We’re less than two weeks away from our fourth annual Stay Wild event. That means now is the time for us to get a head start on fundraising for the event.
This is our only big-ticket event of the year, and it plays a huge role in how many resources we have available to protect wild horses and burros.
The American Wild Horse Campaign’s (AWHC) fourth annual Stay Wild VIRTUAL event is just a few short weeks away!
This is our most important — and only — big-ticket event of the year. To make the event extra special, we’re pulling out all the stops. The online event will bring together celebrity ambassadors, like Kaitlynn Carter of MTV’s The Hills and shoe designer Chloe Gosselin, musicians like the award-winning pop duo Aly and AJ, and the public to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
The Gala will raise funds for our lifesaving programs that ensure America’s wild horses and burros stay wild for generations to come.
Each of these areas is critical to our work. From the dart guns we use to carry out the world’s largest wild horse PZP fertility control program, to the video equipment we use to document each roundup, to the legal funds we need to continue to defend wild horses and burros in court — we wouldn’t have the reach or ability to protect and preserve America’s wild horses and burros without these necessary resources.
The American Wild Horse Campaign’s (AWHC) fourth annual Stay Wild VIRTUAL event is just a few short weeks away!
This is our most important — and only — big-ticket event of the year. To make the event extra special, we’re pulling out all the stops. The online event will bring together celebrity ambassadors, like Kaitlynn Carter of MTV’s The Hills and shoe designer Chloe Gosselin, musicians like the award-winning pop duo Aly and AJ, and the public to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
The Gala will raise funds for our lifesaving programs that ensure America’s wild horses and burros stay wild for generations to come.
Each of these areas is critical to our work. From the dart guns we use to carry out the world’s largest wild horse PZP fertility control program, to the video equipment we use to document each roundup, to the legal funds we need to continue to defend wild horses and burros in court — we wouldn’t have the reach or ability to protect and preserve America’s wild horses and burros without these necessary resources.
Earlier this week we shared an exciting win with you. On Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee released their fiscal year 2022 bill for the Department of the Interior.
In this bill, $11 million was reallocated away from the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) roundup funds towards implementing “a robust and humane fertility control strategy of reversible immunocontraceptive vaccines” for America’s wild horses.
While we have some other objections to the bill’s allocated funding for the BLM, this is a big step in the right direction for America’s wild horses and burros.
We’re grateful for the help of AWHC supporters who contacted their members of Congress and advocated on the behalf of wild horses and burros. Your help provided our Government Relations team with the necessary support to work with Congress to get a meaningful funding provision passed.
This $11 million in funding is crucial in furthering protections for America’s wild horses and burros. The Senate Appropriations Committee took a historic step towards reforming the Wild Horse and Burro Program by including this language. While there is still more work to do, this provision will help keep wild horses in the wild, where they belong!
The horses just keep coming. However, EVERY SINGLE HORSE in the photo would have shipped to slaughter if you had not helped save them.
On top of the “normal” emergencies, Clifford, our rescue truck, is down. It is being “assessed” today. It broke down on the way to WA and is sitting in OR. I need funds to get that truck fixed asap to get these ponies home. We were warned it could be bad and that he might have “thrown a rod”.
There were 42 horses here a few days ago. Sadly, we had to end Uncle Fester’s suffering. He was starved beyond measure, 25 plus years old and his blood work showed signs of cancer. He was miserable and ready for peace.
We need your help now!!Standing in front of all the horses going through the chute, I said YES to way more than I should have. However, every single horse I said “no” to, shipped to slaughter. I am literally sick.
I did not have anywhere close to enough funding to pull so many horses, but I am running on faith and trusting that everyone will come through so we can afford to get these horses vetted and safely home to NV until they are adopted. I need to buy more feed and milk pellets as well.
It is a new and horrifying world for me. However, If I don’t “pick and choose”, they will ALL ship. So please say a prayer I can keep doing it and that folks will step up and help me save them.
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.
Featuring items like a beachfront vacation in beautiful Santa Barbara, a trip to see wild horses on Nevada’s expansive Fish Springs range, VIP tickets to a night of grand illusion at David Copperfield’s Las Vegas show, incredible wild horse photography, and so much more! Our silent auction is sure to knock your boots off!
Met with the catcher yesterday. There are LOTS of milk babies.
IF we don’t save them, they literally have no other chance. They will not survive on their own.
Logically I should walk away. However, this is God’s rescue and it runs on faith and your love and support.
Do we save these tiny lives or let “nature handle it”? It is so heartbreaking. I am heading over there this afternoon to say “yes” or “no” as they are run through the shoot.
It’s up to you – do they live or die?
I know everyone is tired of these emergencies, but the cold fact is that if I didn’t ask y’all for help, every single one of the horses we have saved together would be dead. I will do the work but I need your love and support to make it happen!
THANK YOU for all the wonderful donations of milk pellets, syringes, gloves etc. The babies are devouring the pellets and their milk. THANK YOU!
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.
Most equines can be taught to carry a rider in a relatively short time. However, just because they are compliant doesn’t mean their body is adequately prepared for what they will be asked to do and that they are truly mentally engaged in your partnership. We can affect our equine’s manners and teach them to do certain movements and in most cases, we will get the response that we want…at least for the moment. Most of us grow up thinking that getting the animal to accept a rider is a reasonable goal and we are thrilled when they quickly comply. When I was first training equines, I even thought that to spare them the weight of the rider when they were younger, it would be beneficial to drive them first as this seemed less stressful for them. Of course, I was then unaware of the multitude of tiny details that were escaping my attention due to my limited education. I had a lot to learn.
Because my equines reacted so well during training, I had no reason to believe that there was anything wrong with my approach until I began showing them and started to experience resistant behaviors in my animals that I promptly attributed to simple disobedience. I had no reason to believe that I wasn’t being kind and patient until I met my dressage instructor, Melinda Weatherford. I soon learned that complaining about Sundowner’s negative response to his dressage lessons and blaming HIM was not going to yield any shortcuts to our success. The day she showed up with a big button on her lapel that said, “No Whining” was the end of my complaining and impatience, and the beginning of my becoming truly focused on the tasks at hand. I learned that riding through (and often repeating) mistakes did not pose any real solutions to our problems. I attended numerous clinics from all sorts of notable professionals and we improved slowly, but a lot of the problems were still present. Sundowner would still bolt and run when things got a bit awkward, but he eventually stopped bolting once I changed my attitude and approach, and when he was secure in his core strength in good equine posture.
I thought about what my grandmother had told me years ago about being polite and considerate with everything I did. Good manners were everything to her and I thought I was using good manners. I soon found that good manners were not the only important element of communication. Empathy was another important consideration…to put oneself in the other “person’s” shoes, and that could be attributed to animals as well. So I began to ask myself how it would feel to me if I was approached and treated the way I was treating my equines. My first epiphany was during grooming. It occurred to me that grooming tools like a shedding blade might not feel very good unless I was careful about the way I used it. Body clipping was much more tolerable for them if I did the hard-to-get places first and saved the general body for last. Standing for long periods of time certainly did not yield a calm, compliant attitude when the more tedious places were left until last. After standing for an hour or more, the animal got antsy when I was trying to do more detailed work around the legs, head, flanks and ears after the body, so I changed the order. Generally speaking, I slowed my pace and eliminated any abrupt movements on my part to give the equine adequate time to assess what I would do next and approached each task very CAREFULLY. The results were amazing! I could now groom, clip bridle paths and fly spray everyone with no halters even in their turnout areas as a herd. They were all beginning to really trust me.
There was still one more thing my grandmother had said that echoed in my brain, “You are going to be a sorry old woman if you do not learn to stand up straight and move in good posture!” Good posture is not something that we are born with. It is something that must be learned and practiced repetitiously so it becomes habitual for it to really contribute to your overall health. Good posture begins at the core, “the innermost, essential part of anything.” In a human being, it lies behind the belly button amongst the vital organs and surrounded by the skeletal frame. In a biped, upon signals from the brain, energy impulses run from the core and up from the waist, and simultaneously down through the lower body and legs. The core of an equine is at the center of balance in the torso and energy runs primarily horizontally from the core in each direction. Similar to bipeds, they need the energy to run freely along the hindquarters and down through the hind legs to create a solid foundation from which to allow the energy in front to rise into suspension to get the most efficient movement. When their weight is shifted too much onto the front end, their ability to carry a rider efficiently and move correctly is compromised. To achieve correct energy flow and efficient movement, the animal’s internal supportive structures need to be conditioned in a symmetrical way around the skeletal frame. People can do this by learning to walk with a book on their head and with Pilates exercises, but how can we affect this same kind of conditioning in a quadruped?
The first thing I noticed is when we lead our animals with the lead rope in the right hand, we drop our shoulder and are no longer in good posture. When we walk, our hand moves ever so slightly from left to right as we walk. We inadvertently move the equine’s head back and forth. They balance with their head and neck and thus, we are forcing them off balance with every step that we take; and since movement builds muscle, they are being asymmetrically conditioned internally and externally with every step we take together. In order to correct this, we must allow the animal to be totally in control of his own body as we walk together. We are cultivating proprioception or “body awareness.”
During the time you do the core strength leading exercises, you should NOT ride the animal as this will inhibit the success of these preliminary exercises. It will not result in the same symmetrical muscle conditioning, habitual behavior and new way of moving. The lessons need to be routine and done in good posture from the time you take your equine from the pen until the time you put him away for the best results. Hold the lead rope in your LEFT hand keeping slack in the lead rope, keep his head at your shoulder, match your steps with his front legs, point in the direction of travel with your right hand and look where you are going. Carry his reward of oats in a fanny pack around your waist. He’s not likely to bolt if he knows his reward is right there in the fanny pack.
Plan to move in straight lines and do gradual turns that encourage him to stay erect and bend through his rib cage, keeping an even distribution of weight through all four feet. Square him up with equal weight over all four feet EVERY TIME you stop and reward him with oats from your fanny pack. Then wait patiently for him to finish chewing. We are building NEW habits in the equine’s way of moving and the only way that can change is through routine, consistency in the routine and correctness in the execution of the exercises. Since this requires that you be in good posture as well, you will also reap the benefits from this regimen. Along with feeding correctly (explained on my website at www.luckythreeranch.com), these exercises will help equines to drop fat rolls and begin to develop the top line and abdominal strength in good posture. The spine will then be adequately supported to easily accept a rider. He will be better able to stand still as you pull on the saddle horn to mount.
When the body is in good posture, all internal organs can function properly and the skeletal frame will be supported correctly throughout his entire body. This will greatly minimize joint problems, arthritis and other anomalies that come from asymmetrical development and compromises in the body. Just as our children need routine, ongoing learning and the right kind of exercise while they are growing up, so do equines. They need boundaries for their behavior clearly outlined to minimize anxious behaviors and inappropriate behavior, and the exercises that you do together need to build strength and coordination in good equine posture. The time spent together during leading training and going forward slowly builds a good solid relationship with your equine and fosters his confidence and trust in you. He will know it is you who actually helps him to feel physically much better than he ever has.
Core muscle strength and balance must be done through correct leading exercises on flat ground. Coordination can be added to his overall carriage with the addition of negotiating obstacles on the lead rope done the same way. Once familiar with the obstacles, you will need to break them down into very small segments where the equine is asked to randomly halt squarely every couple of steps through the obstacle. You can tell when you have successfully achieved core strength in good balance when your equine will perform accurately with the lead rope slung over his neck. He will stay at your shoulder, respond to hand signals and body language only and does what is expected perfectly. A carefully planned routine coupled with an appropriate feeding program is critical to your equine’s healthy development.
The task at the leading stage is not only to teach them to follow, but to have your equine follow with his head at your shoulder as you define straight lines and gradual arcs that will condition his body symmetrically on all sides of the skeletal frame. This planned course of action also begins to develop a secure bond between you. Mirror the steps of his front legs as you go through the all movements keeping your own body erect and in good posture. Always look in the direction of travel and ask him to square up with equal weight over all four feet every time he stops and reward him. This kind of leading training develops strength and balance in the equine body at the deepest level so strengthened muscles will hold the bones, tendons and ligaments and even cartilage in correct alignment. Equines that are not in correct equine posture will have issues involving organs, joints, hooves and soft tissue trauma. This is why it is so important to spend plenty of time perfecting your techniques every time you lead your equine.
The equine next needs to build muscle so he can sustain his balance on the circle without the rider before he will be able to balance with a rider. An equine that has not had time in the round pen to establish strength, coordination and balance on the circle with the help of our postural restraint called the “Elbow Pull” will have difficulty as he will be pulled off balance with even the slightest pressure. He will most likely raise his head, hollow his back and lean like a motorcycle into the turns. When first introduced to the “Elbow Pull,” his first lesson in the round pen should only be done at the walk to teach him to give to its pressure, arch his back and stretch his spine while tightening his abs. If you ask for trot and he resists against the “Elbow Pull,” just go back to the walk until he can consistently sustain this good posture while the “Elbow Pull” stays loose. He can gain speed and difficulty as his proficiency increases.
Loss of balance will cause stress, and even panic that can result in him pulling the lead rope, lunge line or reins under saddle right out of your hands and running off. This is not disobedience, just fear from a loss of balance and it should not be punished, just ignored and then calmly go back to work. The animal that has had core strength built through leading exercises, lunging on the circle and ground driving in the “Elbow Pull” before riding will not exhibit these seemingly disobedient behaviors. Lunging will begin to develop hard muscle over the core muscles and internal supportive structures you have spent so many months strengthening during leading training exrecises. It will further enhance your equine’s ability to perform and stay balanced in action, and play patterns in turnout will begin to change dramatically as this becomes his habitual way of going. Be sure to be consistent with verbal commands during all these beginning stages as they set the stage for better communication and exceptional performance later. Although you need to spend more time in his beginning training than you might want to, this will also add to your equine’s longevity and use-life by as much as 5-10 years. The equine athlete that has a foundation of core strength in good equine posture, whether used for pleasure or show, will be a much more capable and safe performer than one that has not, and he will always be grateful to YOU for his comfort.
To learn more about Meredith Hodges and her comprehensive all-breed equine training program, visit LuckyThreeRanch.com or call 1-800-816-7566. Check out her children’s website at JasperTheMule.com. Also, find Meredith on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
My heart is breaking as I write this. I am so full, but the only chance for any of these horses is us, our Chilly Pepper Family. My funds are low, but my Faith is high!
IF there is a chance for me to pull any, I need your help. Even with the wonderful donations from some of our treasured donors, the vet bills still linger close to $5000+. (We just had 2 euthanasia and burials, and bunches of coggins). Blood work for Uncle fester was covered by our wonderful angels Jan and her crew.
I HAVE to be able to support and care for ALL the horses. We need to raise funds for bail, vetting, transport, and to feed and care for them through winter, at the very least.
I have to go pick tomorrow! This is an emergency situation. I truly hope we can at least pull some of them.
I have to start transporting the un-adopted to NV in between my pre-op and the surgery. This is an urgent situation!
THANK YOU for all the wonderful donations of milk pellets, syringes, gloves etc. The babies are devouring the pellets and their milk. THANK YOU!
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.
Catered BBQ dinner, no host bar (beer and wine), DJ Music and dancing, and fabulous live, silent, and dessert auctions.
We are grateful we can celebrate together in person this year!
Thank you for your support – We can’t wait to see you all tomorrow!
Due to the Caldor Fire postponement,
we MAY have a small number of tickets available for walk-in guests,
but no guarantees at this point
Boots & Bling Silent Auction!
If you aren’t able to attend in person, but still want to join the fun and support AAE, the silent auction is open in person AND online this year! We have some wonderful and exciting items available! The live auctions are exclusive to attendees.
Registration for the silent auction is open now. Once registered, you can preview items until the auction opens. Bidding starts at 4p (PST) tonight, Saturday, October 16. The auction closes at 6p (PST).
We look forward to celebrating with everyone tomorrow and raising more funds to help more horses into 2022. Horses like Maisy and Trace!
Maisy
Sweet Maisy is getting better every day. She’s got a few more days of treatment to go, and so far, so good. We’re looking forward to learn more about this gal. Keep your fingers crossed all continues to go well.
Trace
This guy, Trace, is healing well and feelin’ good. He’s gone from nearly losing an eye and resulting limited vision to an incredibly positive outcome. He does NOT have cancer, he will not lose his eye, and he will be coming out of retirement to go back to work serving the community. Look how well that incision is healing! High five to Trace and the docs at LBEMC!
We did it! We saved 11 lives. Once again I went on Faith, as we had enough to save them, but need more help to get them home safely.
We had enough funds to purchase the horses, and now I need to pay for the hay that has been delivered. I have 27 horses with me at camp, not including the ones back in NV. I needed $1500 worth of hay delivered to “camp”, and this was definitely not in the budget.
Sadly, Jan had to be euthanized due to a horrific injury she has suffered with for a very long time. (I tried to treat her but knew immediately she needed emergency vet care.) She literally had a broken bone sticking out of her side. What a horrible feeling to try and remove something that was actually her broken bone. Doc pulled out numerous pieces of bones that were floating inside her. It was horrible and devastating. I thank God that you all made it possible to give her the help she so deserved. She is finally pain free and running free in Heaven. I just can’t do this sometimes. It’s too hard!
As you know, I do all of the vetting I possibly can. I deal with mass amounts of pus, have to remove chunks of dead flesh etc, but when I try to remove what looks like a scab and find out it is literally her broken bone, it is not only sickening, heartbreaking and devastating, but it is way beyond my ability to care for properly. We have had horribly high vet bills due to the number of devastating injuries we have had.
The vet bills are in the thousands, or close to at both places. I have another batch of Coggins scheduled for Friday, but need to pay off Harrah prior to that. Harrah Veterinary – $1364.58 is what is needed BEFORE Friday. If I don’t get that paid, I most likely can’t get the Coggins on the new batch and I won’t be able to go home in time for my surgery.
The total for Goldendale Veterinary stands at $3524.87, and that does NOT include the starved “Uncle Fester’s” recent visit and specialized blood work.
We are in desperate need of help for these vet bills. Having so many lives saved brings a serious need for help. Thank you for keeping them off the truck, but these horses are still in need of your help!
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.
As humans, we tend to complicate our lives—filling them with people, things, goals and tasks, until we’re too busy to think. For a mule or donkey (and even other equines), it’s different. The equine has no “to do’s,” no “ought-have’s,” or “ought-to’s.” He takes things as they come, considers his response in the moment, and stays open to possibility. This year, why not resolve to be more like your mule or donkey? Consider your priorities and look at your relationship with him from his perspective. Stop to smell the roses, and during those inevitable challenging moments, put yourself in your mule’s shoes. Think like he does and you may be surprised at the response you get.
No doubt, this is a tall order. After all, we humans tend to begin with the end in mind, and the process is just a means to that end. Training, for example, is a process. We attempt to train with a goal in mind. Our goal at the Lucky Three Ranch is to improve the equine’s performance as well as our own. Most of us train with the expectation that improvement will occur, and most of us add the self-imposed pressure to improve within a certain amount of time. The notion that the training—the process itself—could be the goal is foreign to many of us. But consider it. What if we trained for the pure pleasure of spending time with our equine while using the values we hold dear like respect, kindness, consideration and consistency in our behavior? How different would the experience be for us and for him?
Today’s general horse training techniques do not generally work well with mules and donkeys. Most horse training techniques used today speed up the training process so people can ride or drive sooner and it makes the trainers’ techniques more attractive, but most of these techniques do not adequately prepare the equine physically in good posture for the added stress of a rider on his back. Mules and donkeys have a very strong sense of self preservation and need work that builds their bodies properly so they will feel good in their new and correct posture, or you won’t get the kind of results you might expect. Forming a good relationship with your equine begins with a consistent maintenance routine and appropriate groundwork. Most equines don’t usually get the well-structured and extended groundwork training on the lead rope that paves the way to good balance, core muscle conditioning and a willing attitude. This is essential if he is truly expected to be physically and mentally prepared for future equine activities. With donkeys and mules, this is critically important.
No matter how old or how well trained the equine, they still need time doing the simplest of things to get to know you before they will learn to trust and have confidence in you. The exercises that you do should build the body slowly, sequentially and in good equine posture. No human or equine is born in good posture. It is something that needs to be taught and practiced repetitively if it is to become a natural way of moving the body.
When the body is in good posture, all internal organs can function properly and the skeletal frame will be supported correctly. Just as our children need routine, ongoing learning and the right kind of exercise while they are growing up, so do equines. They need boundaries for their behavior clearly outlined to minimize anxious behaviors and inappropriate behavior, and the exercises that you do together need to build their strength and coordination in good equine posture. The time spent together during leading training and going forward builds a good solid relationship with your equine and fosters his confidence and trust in you because you actually help him to feel physically better. A carefully planned routine and an appropriate feeding program is critical to healthy development.
I have found that equines, especially mules and donkeys, bond to the person who trains them. When they go away to other people, they do not get the benefit of this bonding and can become resistant over time when they return home. After all, you wouldn’t ask someone else to go out and make a friend for you, would you? This is the primary reason I put my entire training program in books and videos, in a natural order like grade school is for children, for people to use as a resistance free correspondence training course instead of doing clinics and seminars.
I embraced this philosophy long ago. Through a painstaking process that involved a fair amount of trial and error, I determined that my ambitions as a competitor made little impression on my equines and that it was the level of respect, compassion and empathy that I brought to my relationship with each one that served us best in the show ring. My animals would do anything for me, but not because they had the same lofty performance goals I had. It’s because we truly enjoy being together regardless of what we’re doing or working on. Really, it’s because we’re friends, and that’s what friends do for each other. It’s a very unselfish relationship.
My friendships with my equines are as integral to their outstanding performance and versatility as their physical training. In my training series, Training Mules and Donkeys, and the complementary manuals and DVD series, Equus Revisited: A Complete Approach to Athletic Conditioning, I explain how to build that relationship even as you develop your equine’s physical foundation. Just as he learns to move in balanced frame day by day, moment by moment, your equine also grows to trust you and take pleasure in your mutual effort. In fact, training for the pure pleasure of it is what your mule does. He’s not thinking about the next show, or how much better or worse so-and-so is. He’s not even pondering what happened yesterday or what might be coming down the pike tomorrow. He’s out there, with you, experiencing what’s going on right now, period. In that respect, he’s no different from his ancestors who spent their days roaming and grazing. So why not join him? Why not assume a degree of responsibility and respect for him that says: I will set my goals and work to achieve them, but never at the expense of our friendship.
We love our animals, but sometimes we forget to enjoy them! It’s my ultimate goal, to learn from them. I believe it’s our ultimate responsibility to let them be who they are and give them the care, love and respect that they so richly deserve.
To learn more about Meredith Hodges and her comprehensive all-breed equine training program, visit LuckyThreeRanch.com or call 1-800-816-7566. Check out her children’s website at JasperTheMule.com. Also, find Meredith on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
We’re less than a month out from the American Wild Horse Campaign’s (AWHC) annual Stay Wild event! Are you coming?
On November 4, celebrity ambassadors, top philanthropists, conservationists, and members of the public will come together for our annual virtual event streamed live from San Francisco.
This is our ONLY big-ticket event of the year, so we can promise you won’t want to miss this!!
The fourth annual event will be an action-packed adventure, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act — the foundational law that protects these iconic animals on Western public lands.
We’ll take guests on a journey through time, stopping at landmark years to see how AWHC’s initiatives are working to end decades-old issues — for good.
Don’t get colt feet … join us on November 4th for this awesome event!!
The largest roundup in history has officially begun. The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) helicopters have descended on five Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in the Wyoming Checkerboard, and are targeting 4,000 wild horses for capture.
The roundup is SO massive that it is scheduled to continue through February of 2022. Approximately 3,555 wild horses will be permanently removed from 3.4 million acres of land. Given the mortality rate associated with roundups, at least 50 horses are expected to die as a result of the months-long helicopter stampede.
The survivors — wild animals who roam 10-20 miles a day — will be confined in feedlot pens that provide just 700 square feet of space per horse. Many will be adopted through the BLM’s cash incentive program that’s sending “truckloads” of wild horses into the slaughter pipeline, according to the New York Times. The “lucky ones” who escape this grim fate will never experience freedom or family again.
All for what? Livestock special interests have lobbied for decades for the removal of these wild horses so that their cattle can graze on our public lands. Now, the lives of thousands of Wyoming’s wild horses hang in the balance as the BLM begins this devastating roundup that will cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
We’re fighting back against the BLM’s efforts. That’s why we just launched our campaign, Keep WY Wyld. Earlier this week, we started a national petition in partnership with the Animal Welfare Institute to demand a halt to these roundups. Now, we’re announcing the next steps of our campaign >>
This roundup is just a precursor to the pending BLM plan to eradicate horses entirely from most of the HMAs in this area. If successful, this action would result in the loss of 52% of the state’s wild horse habitat.
We refuse to allow that to happen. So we’re using every resource at our disposal to fight for the rights of Wyoming’s wild horses. The livestock industry is well-funded and we expect them to fight back.
Learn about the planned roundup including background and history on the special interests that play a role in why this roundup is happening;
Hear more about our national campaign, Keep WY Wyld and our plan to fight back for the horses of the Wyoming Checkerboard;
Get inspired and learn more about how you can help in our fight to protect these wild horses!
Roughly 4,397 wild horses living in five herd management areas across the Wyoming Checkerboard will be rounded up as part of this action, so it’s critical that supporters like you join us in this fight. The proposed roundup will reduce the wild horse population across these areas to just 1,550 wild horses — leaving just 1 horse for every 2,217 acres of land.
We hope you’ll join us to hear more about our national campaign and get inspired to join the fight to protect these cherished icons.
Update – I met with the catcher yesterday. Sadly, as you can see, folks are starting to dump their domestics. So now Uncle Fester is in the mix.
I have until tomorrow night to fully commit to saving these precious souls. One of them has a horrible injury/infection and I need to pull her for sure.
We have received some amazing donations, but I need to know I can provide the care and feed needed.
I’m hoping to pull 10??, but have nowhere near enough funds to provide what will be needed. So I am hoping for a miracle between now n tomorrow night.
So please let me know what we can do.
Please help me keep saying YES, to saving these 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.
Catcher called AGAIN this morning! Who and HOW MANY can we save?
Thank you to all of you who donated for the weanlings.
Sadly, the Catcher called me this morning and wants me to go over and see if there are any others I can “save”. This is the most painful and horrific part by far of doing rescue. To stand in front of a corral filled with precious lives and know you cannot save them all. To look into their beautiful eyes and know what fate awaits them if you don’t choose them.
I’m sure folks are extremely tired of all the 911’s and the emergencies, but think about this. I have to live this every single day. I get no breaks, (except for my broken femur – arghh), I have to lay in bed every single night seeing their haunted eyes begging me for help, It’s as if they know. Instead of hiding and turning away, they all face me, many never taking their eyes off mine. It is horrible. I am already physically ill just knowing I have to pick and choose.
I seriously need to at least have $1500 per horse to save them. This time of year is the slowest for adoptions and I can be pretty sure that I will have to feed and care for most of them throughout the winter. That amount won’t even begin to cover expenses after I bail them, get them coggins and have them hauled back to NV to feed this winter.
I CANNOT only “choose color”. I CAN’T! So I already have 5 “brown horses” that will most likely be traveling back to NV with me. The old stallion will no doubt live out the rest of his life at Chilly Pepper, (unless we get a miracle). It’s so hard, because color adopts out the fastest, and you need to get them placed. However, no horse deserves to die because it isn’t “fancy”.
So once again I am reaching out. I know I can’t save them all, but I have to go and see who we can pull this afternoon. I was so happy because the weanlings were supposed to be delivered to me. (My trailer won’t do the steep driveway). But apparently there is a chance to save more, and I can’t in good conscience not try.
So please let me know what we can do.
Please help me keep saying YES, to saving these 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.