Doc is coming out today, and it will be close to $1000 to get the horses vetted and ready to cross state lines. The temperatures are dropping like crazy. It is supposed to be about 20 degrees tonight, and all of the horses are eating double from what they ate a week ago. We need hay, and we need it quickly.
We have some pending adoptions, which means we need to get Coggins, Health Certificates and Brand inspections so they can leave the state. This will get the adopted kids off the feed bill, but they cannot leave until we have them vetted.
Please help us raise the $3500 for vetting, coggins, and hay. With the weather ALREADY in the 20’s, it looks like it is going to be a rough year.
We have been running on Faith and Fumes, as always, and I so appreciate any and all help with the much needed hay. As of now I have 2 big bales left, and that will last the rest of this week.
The horses say THANK YOU!
We still have a huge vet bill at Goldendale Veterinary. We didn’t quite cover the costs for setting Stormy free from her pain, and I just trapped the last wild cat “Crazy” and had him neutered. Appreciate any help with the vet bills as well.
PLEASE HELP AND SHARE THIS FAR & WIDE! THANK YOU to everyone who has already donated.
THANK YOU, MY CHILLY PEPPER FAMILY, FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE! YOU ROCK!!!
You can donate to Goldendale Veterinary – 509-773-0369 You can donate to Zimmerman Vet – 775-623-0981
New Venmo – @WIN-dba-ChillyPepper New CashAp – $ChillyPepperMM (Win dba Chilly Pepper)
THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, FOR BEING SO AMAZING FOR THESE PRECIOUS SOULS! YOU are the reason so many lives are saved! I appreciate every single one of our Chilly Pepper Family. God has truly blessed this rescue!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:
PLEASE NOTE – Paypal shows Wild Horses in Need, as we are dba- Chilly Pepper if you would like to help these horses
>You can donate via check at:
Chilly Pepper PO Box 233 Golconda, NV 89414 You can also donate via credit card by calling Palomino at 530-339-1458.
Venmo – @WIN-dba-ChillyPepper
NO MATTER HOW BIG OR HOW SMALL – WE SAVE THEM ALL! SAVING GOD’S CRITTERS – FOUR FEET AT A TIME Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang, WIN Project – Rescue & Rehab
We are now part of the WIN Organization 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.
Meet the latet kids. They are super sweet, and so happy to be safe and sound at Chilly Pepper. THANK YOU!
Some heartbreaking news. Our beautiful Stormy, the filly with the horribly damaged jaw, was too badly injured to save. Doc had to let her go and end her suffering. We tried to give her a bit of time so we could have as much info as possible, but the bone growth just kept increasing. Both vets agreed that there was zero alternative but to end her pain.
I couldn’t bear to dump her in land fill, so I went out on Faith and we had her buried on a ranch, with the others who have gone before her.
I realize it is expensive, but I have been doing this too long and I simply do not have it in me to dump one of my precious babies in the garbage. I know she wasn’t there, but I wanted to be respectful. I hope y’all support that and will help us with our big vet bills.
Both vet bills are really high. Misty was extremely sick and needed an emergency visit. She needed all sorts of meds and tests, but thankfully she is doing much better now. However, the farm calls are expensive. Just the last geldings, Coggins and meds were $1500 plus in NV. Stormy’s appt, euthanasia and burial was also very expensive. I could feel her suffering, and she deserved so much better. I hate it when I get them too late, to help.
I so appreciate all of my beautiful Chilly Pepper Family. I’m sorry this is so late, but my silly computer is working “sometimes” at random intervals, and honestly I am simply exhausted. My leg is very draining and raising funds and fighting the injuries just takes it out of you. Happily, we still have 26 kids right now who are happy and healthy, and say THANK YOU for letting me order more hay.
We can really use some help to get set for winter. With 27 on site right now, they are eating us out of house and home. Good news – there are some potential adoptions happening. PTL!
You can donate to Goldendale Veterinary – 509-773-0369 You can donate to Zimmerman Vet – 775-623-0981
New Venmo – @WIN-dba-ChillyPepper New CashAp – $ChillyPepperMM (Win dba Chilly Pepper)
THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, FOR BEING SO AMAZING FOR THESE PRECIOUS SOULS! YOU are the reason so many lives are saved! I appreciate every single one of our Chilly Pepper Family. God has truly blessed this rescue!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:
PLEASE NOTE – Paypal shows Wild Horses in Need, as we are dba- Chilly Pepper if you would like to help these horses
>You can donate via check at:
Chilly Pepper PO Box 233 Golconda, NV 89414 You can also donate via credit card by calling Palomino at 530-339-1458.
Venmo – @WIN-dba-ChillyPepper
NO MATTER HOW BIG OR HOW SMALL – WE SAVE THEM ALL! SAVING GOD’S CRITTERS – FOUR FEET AT A TIME Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang, WIN Project – Rescue & Rehab
We are now part of the WIN Organization 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.
Just this past week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wrapped up another brutal helicopter roundup targeting the wild horses, including many young foals, who call the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area along the California-Nevada border home. More than 900 animals were captured and removed, and four tragically died.
As with nearly every federal roundup, American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) observers were on the ground with the goal of documenting the cruel reality these equines face in real time, but here’s the unbelievable truth: The public observation is often abysmal.
The trap site, where wild horses and burros are driven at the end of a helicopter chase, is the most dangerous part of a roundup. It’s here where severe injury and even death are most likely to occur.
Despite public observation of a government operation being guaranteed under the First Amendment, AWHC observers are frequently positioned up to two miles away from those trap sites — so far they can’t see them at all. Even with the most powerful camera lenses, observers can see and document only a small fraction of the dangerous moments unfolding during a roundup.
Is that what transparency looks like?
These pictures were taken by roundup observer Darlene Smith when she was deployed to the Sulphur roundup in Utah.
Photos by Darlene Smith at the Sulphur roundup in summer 2024.
Our observation teams are doing their best to document what’s happening to these iconic animals, but there’s only one way to guarantee no BLM atrocity goes unrecorded: Cameras on helicopters.
BLM roundups already take place in some of the most remote regions of the West — outside the public eye. Limitations on observation only further shroud the BLM’s irresponsible, unscientific management practices from the American people.
BLM roundups targeted more than 16,000 wild horses and burros last fiscal year— and more than 200 have died. These numbers include thousands of foals born mere months or weeks before being senselessly chased down and locked up, often separate from their mothers. AWHC is fighting every day to end costly, inhumane helicopter roundups. But until we can stop them for good, we need to ensure that we hold the BLM accountable for the cruelty wild horses and burros face during these tax-funded operations.
There was a time before the industrial age when one-third of all fifteen million mules on earth were being utilized by the United States. Mules worked in the fields, carried our packs, pulled heavy barges on the canals, plodded through darkness in the mines, guided supply wagons and streetcars about the cities, carried tourists to exotic places like the Grand Canyon and transported army supplies and light artillery for the government. And to help with all the back-breaking labor he faced, man’s invention of the hybrid mule was truly a stroke of creative genius. “No cultural invention has served so many people in so many parts of the world for so many centuries with energy, power and transport as the mule.”
During the surge westward, heavy Conestoga wagons laden with all the possessions one could carry were often pulled by teams of mules that were either leased or owned by the early settlers. When cattlemen developed breeds like Texas Longhorns that could endure the harsh climate of the Great Plains, their mules pulled the chuck wagons that followed the large herds as they were driven the long distances to market. Improved farm equipment beckoned farmers to tame the West and what else could manage the vast land and long work hours save the mule? During these times, little thought was given to the possibility that this coveted land was already occupied by numerous Indian tribes.
The soldiers were caught in an impossible situation. They were bound by duty to protect and serve the early ranchers, miners, farmers and their families, but were unable to derive any profit from their duty. Indian attacks raged at every turn and mules helped carry the artillery and supplies the army needed to protect its citizens. The armies had been used to fighting in an entirely different climate and, when faced with the gale winds, plunging temperatures and blizzards on the Great Plains like they had never seen, it was often the mule that provided the perseverance and determination to see it through. On rare occasions, the mule served as the only source of food, saving the lives of desperate families and often – hungry Indians.
People are generally surprised to learn of the loyal and affectionate nature of the mule. For some reason, they want to believe in a stubborn and vengeful character, but when one reads accounts from individuals, one finds mules to be quite the opposite. In the mid-1800s, the U.S. government, in its infinite wisdom, recognized the value of the mule, yet made foolish provisions for its soldiers in their regard. It was clear that they did not fully understand this animal that resembled the horse but acted nothing like it.
In training mules to harness, they often cut traces to the harness so short and hung so low that the mule’s heels would be clipped by the swingle trees when they walked forward. Not wanting to injure itself, the mule would stop when it became sore. This act was acknowledged as laziness. It was only through the good sense of the real mule teamsters that these kinds of errors were corrected. Swingle trees were hung higher between the hock and the heel to allow for a full stride, and traces were subsequently invented with larger chain links at the ends of the drawing-chains to allow for adjustments in length.
The American government purchased many mules that were two and three years old—entirely too young for use. If they had purchased mules all over the age of four, it would have saved a lot of heartache and expense. Contractors and inspectors seemed to be more concerned with the numbers they could sell to the government than the quality and usefulness of the animals. When purchased for use, this invariably resulted in the mules being put onto a train with teamsters who knew nothing of their character. Those who know mules know the deep affection they develop for human beings with whom they spend much time. Thousands of young mules were rendered useless by the government’s incompetence and ignorance as to their maintenance and training.
Harvey Riley, author of The Mule, published in 1867, recounts, “While on the plains, I have known Kiowa and Comanche Indians to break into our pickets during the night and steal mules that had been pronounced completely broken down by white men. And these mules they have ridden sixty and sixty-five miles of a single night. How these Indians could do this, I never could tell.” Maybe it’s as simple as, “You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar!”
Packing was of great importance to government mules, as they were required to carry a wide variety of heavy items over treacherous terrain. In the Northern and Western territories and in Old and New Mexico, nearly all business was done with pack mules and pack donkeys.
The Indians adopted the Spanish way of packing, as the Spaniards were noted experts. The Americans developed their own American pack saddle, but it was abandoned soon after its creation.
“While employed at the Quartermaster’s depot at Washington, D.C. as superintendent of the General Hospital Stables, we, at one time, received three hundred mules on which the experiment of packing with this saddle had been tried in the Army of the Potomac. It was said this was one of General Butterfield’s experiments. These animals presented no evidence of being packed more than once; but such was the terrible condition of their backs that the whole number required to be placed at once under medical treatment…yet, in spite of all his skill, and with the best of shelter, fifteen of these animals died from mortification of their wounds and injuries of the spine,” Harvey Riley remembers.
In 1942, while in the service of the U.S. Army, Art Beaman became familiar with mules in a most curious way. He was working as an Operations Sergeant for a Headquarters in Northern California that determined whether troops were ready for combat. The troops consisted of 204 enlisted men, two veterinarian officers, four horses and 200 mules. Being a non-rider, Art was on and off his horse three times in the first ten minutes of the trip into the mountains. The First Sergeant finally decided to put him on a mule and open his eyes to the redeeming qualities of his mount. The next day, Art was able to say, “That mule and I were really a team…by this time, I trusted my mule so completely that I could have stood up and sang the national anthem as we slipped and skidded along!”
The aftermath of this story is really funny. About a week before his pack troop was to be deployed to the South Pacific, some sideways thinker in the Quartermaster Corps sent 200 green-broke replacement mules for his troop. Not wishing to trade the now fully broke mules for the green-broke mules, Art left the 200 mules on the train overnight while he pondered this dilemma. When he returned the next day, he told the men in charge, “There are the old mules and we have the new ones! Evidently, they believed me, or they didn’t care one way or the other, and the green mules were on their way back to Washington!”
Those who have experienced the spiritual connection with mules all have their own individual stories to tell. From The Black Mule of Aveluy, by Charles G.D. Roberts, comes one of the most amazing World War I battlefield stories I’ve ever heard. It is the story of a man and a big black mule on a rain-scourged battlefield. “The mule lines of Aveluy were restless and unsteady under the tormented dark. All day long a six-inch high-velocity gun firing at irregular intervals from somewhere on the low ridge beyond the Ancre, had been feeling for them. Those terrible swift shells, which travel so fast on their flat trajectory that their bedlam shriek of warning and the rendering crash of their explosion seem to come in the same breathless instant, had tested the nerves of man and beast sufficiently during the daylight; but now, in the shifting obscurity of a young moon harrowed by driven cloudrack, their effect was yet more daunting.”
A second shell screamed down into the lines, scattering deadly splinters of shell ropes, tether-pegs and mules. When it was all said and done, one lone black mule stood back, still tied to the picket line, unable to free himself. With eyes wide in terror, he sought respite from the onslaught, but was unable to find any. Suddenly, a man with tousled, ginger-colored hair appeared at his nose and put his arms around the mule’s neck, as the mule coughed and sputtered, still stunned from the blast. The man quickly untied the black mule and another that was left from the blast and got them to safety.
After the attack at Aveluy, the black mule and his new driver were given the job of carrying up shells to the forward batteries. Early that next afternoon, they were plunging deep into rugged territory along a sunken road, muddy from perpetual rain showers, when suddenly the inexplicable happened and there was an array of star-showers that blinded the mule. “When he once more saw daylight, he was recovering his feet just below the rim of an old shell-hole. He gained the top, braced his legs, and shook himself vigorously.” His panniers were still heavily loaded and his driver was not in sight. He soon saw his driver clinging to the far edge of the shell-hole, sinking rapidly in the mud. “He reached down with his big yellow teeth, took hold of the shoulder of Jimmy Wright’s tunic, and held on. He braced himself and, with a loud, involuntary snort, began to pull.”
Jimmy Wright remembered the blast and saw where he was. He was afraid his shoulder had been blown off, yet he could move both arms and discovered something was pulling on him. “He reached up his right arm—it was the left shoulder that was being tugged at—and encountered the furry head and ears of his rescuer! Reassured at the sound of his master’s voice, the big mule took his teeth out of Wright’s shoulder and began nuzzling solicitously at his sandy head.”
For centuries the mule loyally traversed the course of history with man, though he was never given credit for his valuable contributions. In fact, men perpetrated stories to the opposite and the mule’s legacy became one of laziness, stubbornness and disobedience. Only those humans who were of a character to willingly explore the spirit of the mule were there for its redemption. We are thankful that their stories have withstood the test of time. Throughout history, man believed that he was making progress with each new age, but the blind farmer will tell you, “There’s no such thing as a seeing-eye tractor, and while I am farming with my mule, I can hear the birds sing. I never could with a tractor!” Perhaps we should take note and stop to smell the roses and give credit where credit is due.
Yesterday, we told you about the productive meetings our team had with lawmakers in Washington D.C. to make sure the voices of wild horse and burro advocates were heard loud and clear. The response was encouraging, but we all know this is just one step in the journey to create real change.
Now, we’re ready to turn those conversations into action by advocating for key pieces of legislation that could transform the future of these incredible animals. And we need your help to keep the momentum going strong! Here’s a quick look at some of the bills we’re supporting. But first, will you chip in to support our government relations work?
1. Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2023-2024
This bill aims to end the inhumane use of helicopters in wild horse roundups – a practice that causes tremendous stress and injury to these innocent animals. Thanks to our grassroots supporters, over 20,000 letters have already been sent to Congress urging them to back this essential legislation. We need to keep the pressure on to ensure this bill becomes law!
2. Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act
Each year, tens of thousands of American horses are brutally slaughtered for human consumption in Canada and Mexico, and the meat is then exported to foreign countries. That’s why we’re advocating for the SAFE Act, which would permanently ban horse slaughter plants from operating in the U.S and prevent the shipment of these innocent animals to slaughter plants across the border.
3. Ejiao Act
This bill focuses on protecting the global donkey population from the brutal practice of slaughter for the production of ejiao, a gelatin used in traditional Eastern medicine, by outlawing the sale or transportation of ejiao in the U.S. The United States is the third-largest importer of ejiao, with $12,000,000 in annual imports each year. That means passing this legislation would have a huge impact on the fight to end the international donkey skin trade.
American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is fighting on all fronts to protect our nation’s wild herds – in the fields, in the courts, and on Capitol Hill!
AWHC team with Rep. Ciscomani
Last month, our very own Amelia Perrin and Fernando Guerra traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with members of Congress about how to protect these iconic animals. They highlighted the devastating impacts of helicopter roundups on wild horses and burros, the harmful effects of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), and humane conservation solutions that can be implemented right now.
Many lawmakers, like Representative Juan Ciscomani, are committed to addressing the myriad of issues facing our wild herds. But as you know, real change doesn’t happen overnight. We need to keep this momentum going, and we can’t do it without you.
What a month it’s been for American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC)! From our unforgettable annual Stay Wild event in sunny Los Angeles to participating in the Homes for Horses Coalition Conference, our team has been hard at work fighting for wild horses. Keep reading to discover the highlights from these inspiring events and learn how you can take action against the cruel and costly practice of helicopter roundups!
Our annual Stay Wild event took place in sunny Los Angeles this year, bringing together wild horse lovers for a truly unforgettable celebration. The event featured music, inspirational speeches, and beautiful art, all in honor of our shared love for wild horses and the community that stands united in their protection. Be sure to check out the photos and learn more about our 2024 Freedom Award recipient, Jenni Kayne.
Last month, AWHC team members Amelia Perrin and Fernando Guerra spoke at the Homes for Horses Coalition Conference in Washington, D.C. They also met with members of Congress to discuss humane conservation solutions for wild horses. A highlight was meeting with Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who showed up wearing his Stay Wild hat! A strong advocate, he has pushed for reforms to the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program. Click here to watch AWHC’s presentations!
Tomorrow, the United States Forest Service will host a virtual public hearing on the use of helicopters in wild horse roundups in the Modoc and Inyo National Forests. This is a crucial opportunity to speak up against the harmful practice of helicopter roundups. Take action and make your voice heard here!
Across the West, our nation’s iconic wild horses and burros are rounded up at an alarming rate. These helicopter chases cause deep trauma – and the impacts on survivors left behind on the range can be devastating.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) claims that roundups are necessary to maintain healthy wild horse and burro populations, but the facts don’t support this. Beyond the immediate suffering that mustangs and burros face during helicopter roundups, these operations actually threaten the long-term viability of America’s wild horse and burro herds.
Photo by Tandin Chapman
Family bands – critical social structures for wild horses – are torn apart by roundups as new generations are stripped from the wild, separating them from their families and weakening essential bonds for survival. Older, experienced horses are often removed, and with them, the wisdom needed to thrive in the wild is lost. Additionally, the BLM often sets the Appropriate Management Level (AML) of wild horse and burro herds below the standards recommended by equine geneticists to maintain herd genetic viability in the long term.
The fact of the matter is that roundups are not an effective way to maintain healthy populations of wild horses and burros. Here at American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), we’re fighting for more humane and effective alternatives to roundups, such as PZP fertility control, which keeps horses and burros safe and in the wild where they belong.
On October 10th, 2024, from 3:30-4:30 PM PST, the United States Forest Service (USFS) is holding a virtual public hearing on the use of helicopters in wild horse roundups in the Modoc and Inyo National Forests. This is a crucial opportunity to speak up for a more humane way of managing our wild horses and burros.
On October 10th, 2024, from 3:30-4:30 PM PST, the United States Forest Service (USFS) is holding a virtual public hearing on the use of helicopters in wild horse roundups in the Modoc and Inyo National Forests. This is a crucial opportunity to speak up for a more humane way of managing our wild horses and burros. If you agree, can you attend this meeting and give public comment?
World Animal Day is an annual international day of action to promote animal rights and welfare. While people around the world are standing up for animals of all kinds, we’re calling special attention to the plight of America’s wild horses and burros, who need our help now more than ever.
Wild horses and burros hold an iconic place in American history, but tragically, their future is uncertain. Year after year, federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have removed tens of thousands of mustangs and burros from Western public lands by way of cruel and dangerous helicopter roundups.
Stripped of their freedom, they are then crammed into overcrowded government holding facilities where they often spend years confined away from all they hold dear; their family and their freedom. Worse, many are at risk of ending up in the slaughter pipeline through the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), which has funneled thousands of horses and burros into kill pens.
These roundups not only result in severe injuries and even deaths, but they also destroy family bands and disrupt the delicate ecosystems of the Western rangelands that wild horses and burros call home. It’s a crisis that we simply cannot ignore, Meredith.
That’s why, on this important day for animal welfare advocacy, we’re asking for your help to protect these beloved beings. American Wild Horse Conservation is fighting in the field, in the courtroom, and on Capitol Hill to end these inhumane roundups and ensure wild horses and burros can remain free on our public lands where they belong. But we can’t do it without you.
As we track mules through history, we find there is a reoccurring theme that paints the mule as both a companion and adversary of man. Those of a certain temperament seem to be able to befriend the mule and those who would be combative suffer at his mercy. Man would rather blame stubbornness on the mule than to claim this stubbornness as his own. Clearly, there is no doubt that the mule is and always has been a hard-working and valuable beast of burden throughout history. His ability, intelligence and judgment are unmatched.
George Washington was a fairly well educated man and, “the copybook which he transcribed at fourteen years of age a set of moral precepts or Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation was preserved.” Practical experience was the foundation for his best training in outdoor occupations and not books. He was a successful tobacco and livestock farmer early in his teens and mastered the art of surveying to plot the fields he inherited. It is no accident that George Washington became not only the father of our country, but also, the first organized mule breeder in America.
George Washington tried to buy some Spanish donkeys to use for mule breeding at Mount Vernon, but found that their exportation from Spain was against the law. Most who have studied mules and donkeys know that King Charles III of Spain then gave Washington the gift of an Andalusian jack and two jennets from Malta. The jack, named Royal Gift, became the foundation sire of Washington’s farm at Mount Vernon and he popularized mule breeding for farm work. Blending the Andalusian and Maltese donkeys produced finer donkeys than those that had been imported for still better quality mule production. Eventually, the law in Spain was changed. George Washington was not the only one who recognized the economical value of mule and donkey power for the growth and prosperity of a new empire. Henry Clay and others began importing numerous donkeys and breeding for mule stock.
George Washington was not devoid of the sense of humor needed to work with mules and donkeys. In a 1786 letter to a neighbor concerning Royal Gift’s failure to perform stud service (as can often happen with donkey jacks, as they are quite particular about their “ladies”), Washington wrote, “Particular attention shall be paid by the Mares which your Servant brought and when my Jack is in the humor they shall desire all the benefits of his labours—for labour it appears to be. At present, tho’ young, he follows what one may suppose to be the example of his late royal master, who cannot, tho’ past his grand climacterick, perform seldomer, or with more majestic solemnity, than he does. However, I am not without hope, that when he becomes a little better acquainted with republican enjoyments, he will amend his manners, and fall into a better & more expeditious mode of doing business. If the case should be otherwise, I should have no disinclination to present his Catholic majesty with as good a thing as he gave me.”
Respect for donkeys and mules is the only way to motivate them to action. Their rugged individualism will tolerate no less. The mule exemplifies the “All-American,” as set forth by the colonists. The colonists were thought to be stubborn in their quest for individual freedom by the British Crown that super-imposed itself upon their individual liberties. Like the colonists, mules will challenge anyone who challenges their individual liberties! It is only fitting that the mule would be fully revered and appreciated by a man of such distinction as George Washington.
In 1803 Thomas Jefferson completed the Louisiana Purchase. “Over the next 75 years, more than two million square miles revealed their secrets to an army of hunters, soldiers, naturalists and other adventurers.”
While perusing the pictorial archives of history, you will see that men and their partners, wives, children, dogs and horses were always front and center. But what about their mules? You read about their many perils and victories, but you rarely hear mention of the one humble animal that worked silently, relentlessly in the background—the mule.
In May of 1804, after the official transfer of the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark began their expedition up the Missouri River. They soon learned to despise the muggy territory, with its humid climate populated by numerous mosquitoes, gnats and other creatures. Even their dogs would howl in pain from the intrusions of this unexpected onslaught. Conditions were tough and it was not unusual for mules and donkeys to be used as pack and draft animals in this rough country. Desert-born donkeys and the hybrid mule are born with the characteristics necessary to endure such strenuous conditions. They are stronger and sturdier than the horse. They require less to sustain good health, need less water and are more resistant to parasites and disease. Without mules and donkeys, the westward migration would have been much more difficult.
The Erie Canal was the longest canal built in the shortest amount of time for the least amount of money. It had continued success for many years because of the use of donkeys and mules to pull the barges along the tow path. “In the annals of the Erie Canal, we find little credit given to the mules; yet, by virtue of their strength and endurance and sagacity, the western wheat reached New York City in due time and industrial products moved west.”
The mules plodded slowly along the canal, pulling the heavy barges of goods, as did the “mule drivers,” who were most often young boys. Occasionally a mule would fall into the canal, but it was quickly and safely guided back to shore by the lead around its neck. Where the walls of the canal were too steep to climb back out, the villagers installed ramps at intervals along the canal to serve as an easy escape from the water, should the mules fall in. These ramps were covered with a heavy planking containing thick slats, or “cheats,” where a mule could get traction coming up the ramp. In the off-season, the planking could be removed and held over for the next season.
George Washington wrote that he “crossed over to Wood Creek which empties into the Oneida Lake and affords water communications with Ontario. I shall not rest content until I have explored the western country and traversed those lines which have given bounds to a new empire.” The building of the Erie Canal, the development of New York as the “Empire State,” and the opening of the West owes its success almost single-handedly to the hybrid mule and horse as upon any other single contribution.
In 1849 the California Gold Rush saw men racing westward to make their fortunes. Many were not prepared for what they would find. The West was a tough and unforgiving country. Those who had mules and donkeys fared far better than those who did not. One of the most famous donkeys in history was “Brighty” of the Grand Canyon, who befriended a miner and made his way into folklore and modern-day children’s books. As mining was further developed, mini mules bred from small donkeys and pony mares were used in the mines to haul out coal and ore. They worked well under these adverse conditions and were small enough to easily manage the low-ceiling passageways.
After the Civil War, farmers were again at a loss for man-power and mule-power. Tennessee joined Kentucky as another leader in the breeding of mules and donkeys. During the war, much of the stock had been destroyed or starved to death, so, from 1883 to the end of the 18th century, there was a surge of asses imported from Spain to replenish the stock. This all but depleted the good stock for sale left in Spain.
Missourians, who still love their mules, became the hub of mule power. Mules would eat poor feed, work in blistering sun and live longer than horses. Mules came in a variety of sizes and colors with a multitude of uses. One Missouri Muleskinner from Springfield chuckled and said, “I’d never used more continuous bad mouth words in my life until I started to work with mules.” Muleskinners themselves are allowed by proxy to use some pretty rank terms, yet no outsider would ever be allowed to address their mules the same way.
From 1883 to 1889, the 20-mule teams moved 20 million pounds of borax from the Death Valley floor in California over the mountains to the Mojave Desert, 165 miles away. They traveled roughly 15 to 18 miles in a day, crossing the steep Panamint Mountains to the railroad. During this 20-day round trip, temperatures could be expected to rise as high as 130 degrees. Still, these remarkable animals plodded relentlessly along, doing their jobs with little or no complaint, except when an impatient muleskinner would inadvertently interfere.
Terrors of Death Valley seemed to arise from only three causes: extreme heat, excessive dryness of the atmosphere, and lack of water. The president of the Eagle Borax Company, Mr. I. Daunet, was forced to kill his animals so he could drink their blood to survive, as blood can replace water. After this devastating near-death experience, and finding the daunting heat unbearable, Mr. Daunet was happy to remain, thereafter, in his office.
Mules and donkeys have been a great friend of man. There is no more useful or willing animal on earth to aid man in his endeavors. “He has had to plod and work through life against the prejudices of the ignorant. Still, he has been a great friend of man, in war and in peace serving him well and faithfully.” Should we not give mules and donkeys the respect, admiration and credit they so richly deserve? In doing so, would we then enrich our own lives as our country has been enriched by them? Think about it.
Chasity was very stiff and compromised through her whole body when she first arrived. She was extremely rigid over the top line and could not flex from the poll at all, much less through her entire spine. The “Elbow Pull” self-correcting restraint and work in the Hourglass pattern has helped her to be more flexible in her head and neck, and has produced some flexion through her back. Now we are going to ask her to extend that flexion the whole length of her spine. She has been learning how to stay erect around turns while bending through her rib cage, and easily flexes her neck and back when squared up at the halt. These subtle actions have reshaped the body fat evenly over her body and reduced the size of her enlarged neck by 50% in just one month! Her posture is already greatly improved!
Chasity began by leaning on the “Elbow Pull” to keep her reasonable good equine posture. After a month of work, she is now able to sustain her own self-carriage a good part of the time. When she leans on the “Elbow Pull,” it is taut and when she is in self-carriage with good postural balance, it is loose. She started over the first pole and it was loose, then caught her balance on the second pole and it tightened…
On the third pole, she regained her balance and the “Elbow Pull” became loose again, but stepping over the last pole she allowed her balance to be too elongated and had to lean on it again.
As Chasity walked away, she again resumed her good equine balance and self-carriage and the “Elbow Pull” was loose again. We repeated the poles a little later in the Hourglass Pattern and she was then able to sustain her balance and self-carriage over the first pole…
…over the second and third poles, in good equine posture and not leaning on the “Elbow Pull”…
…and finished over the fourth pole with no loss of balance at all! As she is strengthened in good posture, her core muscles, ligaments and tendons will gain strength with symmetrical development and her time in self-carriage will increase. Ultimately, the “Elbow Pull” will remain loose at all times. She now walks in a rhythmic and cadenced fashion, matching every step that I take and halts easily upon request with no anxiety, or excess movement.
I asked her to square up and this time, instead of just flexing at the poll, I asked her to lower her head and stretch her entire spine from head to tail. Then we proceeded with more work in the Hourglass Pattern in the opposite direction and she practiced bending through her rib cage while staying erect around the corner cones.
Next, we negotiated the gate into the obstacles area, halted and squared up. I gave her a reward and asked her to stretch down again.
Chasity has been doing very well with breaking the bridge down into small steps. She halts easily, squares up and holds her balance in several new positions, with the front feet up, back feet down…
…with all four feet on the bridge and with front feet down and back feet up. She did very well at stretching her spine in all of these odd postions that added to her symmetrical core development.
Then she squared up again off the bridge and did one more deep stretch. Chasity was surprised to see the tarp where the tractor tire used to be and took exception to this “new” obstacle. The silly thing was that she side-passed the rail with her front feet on the tarp and her back feet in the sand. I thought, “Okay, now I know how to get her to side pass when I am ready! Silly Girl!” LOL!
We went back and tried again. She was hesitant, but realized what it was this time. I have to remember, Chasity has cataracts in both eyes and cannot see very well…trust is everything! There was no problem at all with the familiar smaller tires!
We reinforced her bending with the barrel exercises and practiced backing through the Back-Through “L.” She is still a bit “stuck” in reverse, but it will loosen up in time. She needs to learn to manipulate her body in a good postural balance and it is awkward for her now. It will just take patience and moving slowly. Speed will come with practice.
A nice deep spinal stretch relaxed and prepared her for the final obstacle! Chasity had been doing “Evasion Therapy” on me when I placed the tractor tire obstacle with too much open space around it. Boy, was she surprised to find out it was right there in front of her with no where to go but forward!
Chasity only put one foot inside the tire as she danced along the edge with her other three feet, so I opted to do it again the other way. This time, she put two feet into the center of the tractor tire… PROGRESS! Coming back through, she finally agreed to step through it with all four feet!
Finally, SUCCESS! My patience had paid off and our relationship was still intact! We finished with another REALLY DEEP stretch. Chasity’s flexibilty and elasticity were improving rapidly! Doing obstacles in confined spaces in the beginning promotes success and I am all about setting up your equine for SUCCESS!
Yesterday, we told you about some of the great work we’ve been doing to educate Americans about the dangers facing wild horses and burros. Thanks to our Awareness Fund, we’re bringing the issue of wild horse conservation to the forefront – and we’re translating this awareness into direct action for our wild herds.
We mobilized our supporters to call for an end to the Adoption Incentive Program (AIP)’s disastrous cash incentives, which are funneling wild horses and burros to slaughter, leading to over 10,000 letter submissions;
We spearheaded a campaign resulting in over 50,000 total letter submissions calling on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to install cameras on helicopters used for roundups;
We called on our advocates to help end the donkey skin trade in the US by asking their representatives to cosponsor the Ejiao Act, resulting in over 31,000 total letters in support of this important bill;
We led a Day of Action in honor of National Horse Protection Day that mobilized our grassroots community in support of Rep. Dina Titus’ Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2023, which would BAN cruel and costly helicopter roundups. This day led to over 20,000 letter submissions.
This is how we make change.
Every action you take – whether it’s sending a letter, signing a petition, or sharing the story of our wild horses and burros with others – helps push us closer to the day when these magnificent animals are free from the threats of roundups, slaughter, and government mistreatment. And the more people we bring into our herd of advocates, the louder our voice will be.
That’s why it’s critical that we power our Awareness Fund to ensure that even more people learn about the plight of wild horses and burros and join us in the fight to protect them. We’ve seen the impact that awareness can have – and with over 11,000 wild horses and burros at risk of roundups next year, we need to keep pushing.
By supporting our Awareness Fund, you’re helping us reach millions of people with powerful campaigns, news stories, and actions that directly influence policy and public opinion. Every dollar fuels outreach efforts that create real change, and we simply cannot afford to slow down.
Together, we’re showing the world that America’s wild horses and burros deserve to remain free, wild, and protected on our public lands. Thank you for standing with us and for all you do to support this cause.
Each year during our annual Boots & Bling event, we emphasize a vital need for support at All About Equine through our Fund-A-Need (FAN) effort.
This year, as a result of increased hay costs, general inflation, and the ongoing demand to support more horses-in-need, our FAN is focused again on supporting our general operations.
Last night, hundreds of fellow supporters celebrated All About Equine’s 11th Annual Boots and Bling and 15 years of helping horses-in-need. During the event, we shared a video featuring some of the incredible work made possible by your support over the past year.
At AAE, we’ve seen firsthand the heartbreaking reality of horses that have been neglected, abandoned, or abused. We’re not just here to reflect on their stories; we’re here to rewrite them. Every horse that comes into our care represents a second chance, a new beginning; your support makes this lifesaving work possible.
With your donation to our FAN, you’ll be making miracles by supporting costs for essential medical care, food, shelter, and more for future horses who have nowhere else to turn. Though you couldn’t be with us in person, we’d still love for you to be part of this FAN team! Your generosity will make a significant impact for horses-in-need.
Every gift, no matter the size, helps create a brighter future for horses who need us most.
Together, we’ve already accomplished so much, but the need is still great. Please give with your heart, and know you are making a difference.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to support AAE! You are a vital part of this community.
PS. There are still a few items available in the Virtual Silent Auction! If you’d like to bid, the second round of the auction will remain open until Monday, September 30 at 7pm PT.
Tomorrow night we will join together for a cause that’s close to all of our hearts – helping horses who need us most. Horses like Clyde.
Clyde is an intake from a nearby law enforcement agency. He and another horse were left on a property to fend for themselves. He had a cancerous eye tumor, and once he was in stable condition, his eye was removed (before coming to AAE). Clyde is a big, gentle soul, most of the time, and we’ve already seen him improve in the short time he’s been with us.
Boots & Bling isn’t just about good food, great company, and lively bidding – it’s about making a difference for horses-in-need. Here’s how you can help change lives:
Attend Boots & Bling: If you haven’t already, you can still purchase a ticket and join us! There are a limited number of tickets available, so act quickly!
Silent Auction: The Silent Auction is virtual, so people far and wide can participate, all in the spirit of helping horses-in-need! It’s a HUGE auction with something for everyone. If you haven’t registered for the auction, there are instructions, below, plus some bidding tips. If you don’t win, consider making a donation to AAE!
Fund-A-Need: Whether you’re with us in person or in spirit, you’ll have a chance to directly support horses. Stay tuned for more information.
Imagine the difference we can make together!
Thank you for your support this weekend and always!
Some important auction information:
You do not need to register to view, but you need to register to bid.
· Check the auction offerings often because we will be adding more items right up to the event tomorrow evening.
· Bidding for most items will close during Boots & Bling on Saturday, September 28 at 5:30pm. Bidding will remain open until Monday, September 30 at 7pm for some items. The closing date and time will be listed in each item’s description.
· Please share the links with friends, family, and co-workers – the horses need everyone’s support!
BIDDING TIPS
· Anonymous Bidding: If you would like to bid anonymously, select that option during the registration process.
· Viewing: If you’d like to see all items, click on the filter option, Show ALL items; alternatively, items are displayed by category. Click on the category to see all items in that category.
· Notifications: You will receive a notification via text and email when someone has out-bid you on a specific item. You may increase your bid, if you’d like.
· Winners: If you win an item in the silent auction, you will an email notification with an invoice. The card in your Givebutter account will not automatically be charged. You must initiate payment if you wish to pay online with a credit card. You may also pay at the auction check-out table with credit card, check, or cash, then pick up your item(s) before going home after Boots & Bling. You may also pay with cash if you are picking up your item(s) at the AAE Used Tack Store.
· For winning bidders attending Boots & Bling: Items from Auction Group 1 (ending 9/28/24 @ 5:30pm) should be picked up at the end of Boots & Bling. Items from Auction Group II (ending 9/30/24 @ 7pm) will be available for pick-up after 10/3/24 at AAE’s Used Tack Store.
· For winning bidders not attending Boots & Bling: Items from Auction Groups I and II will be available for pick-up after 10/3/24 at AAE’s Used Tack Store. Items may be mailed at winning bidder’s expense.
· Live: The only LIVE auction we’ll feature at this year’s Boots & Bling event is the dessert auction. You must be in attendance and partying in person to bid on the yummy desserts.
Bid high and bid often!
Each item you win isn’t just a prize – it’s a lifeline for horses waiting for rescue!
In recent years, the plight of wild horses and burros has become more prominent in the public’s eye. This is, in part, thanks to our recent awareness efforts. American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is the nation’s leading organization in the fight to keep wild horses and burros wild, so it’s our job to educate the public and build the grassroots army necessary to rise up and advocate for these iconic animals.
If we’ve learned one thing as an organization, it’s that once people learn about the suffering of wild horses and burros, they are upset, frustrated, and ready to take action to protect them. That’s why over the past several years, we have greatly ramped up our awareness efforts to inform Americans about this important issue.
This year alone, we’ve placed over a dozen impactful stories in the media highlighting the dangers wild horses and burros face, including government mismanagement, the inhumane use of helicopters for roundups, the Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) slaughter pipeline—which is threatening the lives of hundreds of wild horses and burros—and more:
And last winter, we made one of our biggest media moves ever. We launched a billboard in Times Square from Thanksgiving to New Years Eve – New York’s peak tourism season with an average of five million visitors!
This work wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of folks like you. Your contributions enable us to continue shining a light on what’s happening to our wild herds, and with over 11,000 wild horses and burros in danger of roundups next year, it’s critical that we continue to push the issue of wild horse and burro conservation into the forefront. Can you make a contribution to power our Awareness Fund today and help us continue this important work?
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently released its proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 roundup and removal schedule.
This proposed plan calls for the roundup of over 11,000 wild horses and burros, permanently removing over 10,000 from their homes and placing them in overburdened federal holding facilities.
Currently, there are already over 62,000 wild horses and burros held in federal holding, while the BLM estimates that there are approximately 73,520 horses and burros left on public lands in the West. That means the BLM’s FY25 proposed roundup schedule could potentially result in more wild horses and burros being kept in federal holding facilities than there are in the wild.
To make matters worse, the agency is planning to continue the use of helicopters for the majority of these roundups – operations that often cause severe injuries, and can even result in the deaths of these iconic animals. That’s why American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is planning to send observers into the field to document every roundup possible to hold the BLM accountable for its actions and to educate the public on what’s happening to our wild horses and burros.
Our observation efforts are critical to shining a light on the true reality that wild horses and burros face at the hands of the BLM. The evidence they collect helps us establish an irrefutable pattern of cruelty to prove to members of Congress, the media, and the public that change is desperately needed.
Look, we know this news may be hard to hear, but we can’t let this discourage us. This issue is a marathon, not a sprint. It took two decades for Wild Horse Annie to ensure the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. The work we do every day is paving the way for the change these majestic animals desperately need.
Our wild herds are counting on us to continue the fight, which is why we mustn’t stop advocating for them. Together, we can and will achieve a future where wild horses and burros are safe from government mismanagement once and for all.