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Kyle Davidson

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Take A Stand Against Barbaric BLM Sterilization Experiments

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The following post come from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

Please take action on our petition to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, which is asking its members to oppose the BLM’s dangerous plan to conduct painful and risky surgical sterilization experiments on wild mares.

The experiments will subject mares to the risk of death from hemorrhage, evisceration and infection, and will cause pregnant mares to abort their foals. If implemented in the field, this sterilization method (“ovariectomy” – surgical removal of the ovaries) would take the wild out of wild horses by destroying their natural free-roaming behaviors and causing social chaos on the range.

We will be delivering these signatures in just three days and need to make sure our voices are heard. Will you please help by sending a message to oppose this horrific plan?

American Horse Council Tax Bulletin – April 2016

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The following post in an excerpt from the American Horse Council’s Tax Bulletin.
Circuit Court Affirms Lower Court Finding Horse Activity Not a Business for Profit

By Thomas A. Davis, Esq., Davis & Harman LLP, Washington, DC

The taxpayers, wife and late husband, bred Tennessee walking horses on their farm in Tennessee. They incorporated the horse-breeding operation as LSA, Inc. and claimed substantial losses as deductions from LSA on their personal tax returns. (The husband died in a fire at their residence in January of 2003.)  The IRS determined that the horse-breeding operation was not an activity engaged in for profit and therefore assessed taxes and penalties against taxpayers.

Tax Court Finds Horse Training Activity Not Engaged in for Profit

By Thomas A. Davis, Esq., Davis & Harman LLP, Washington, DC

During the taxable years in issue, 2010 and 2011, the taxpayer, Linda Kaiser, operated a financial consulting and insurance business from her home called “Kaiser Consulting/Insurance Sales.” The taxpayer also conducted a horse training activity known as “The Forty Carrot Wisdom Co.” Previously, she had operated a small business, worked in real estate and insurance, and was a sales manager at a multinational financial services company.

Attorneys’ Fees and Other Costs in Tax Cases: Opportunities Exist for Taxpayers to be Reimbursed Their Costs
By Douglas P. Romaine, Esq., Stoll Keenon Ogden, PLLC, Lexington, KYTo date myself, I remember when a rate of $100 per hour for an attorney was a big deal.  Today it is not unusual to find hourly professional fees in major metropolitan areas have broached $1,000 per hour and beyond.  This article is not intended to examine the vagaries of hourly rates or their steady march up the scale but to make the observation that in the federal tax system where taxpayers generally bear the burden to prove that the determination of the IRS is not correct, it is often an expensive proposition for a taxpayer to contest an assessment.
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MULE CROSSING: Making History with Mules Part 1

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By Meredith Hodges

Many people ask me when the first mules appeared on this earth. Historically, mules have their roots in the Bible. Contrary to the popular belief that mules are so lowly and stubborn that they would have to be the mount of serfs, they were—in the beginning—the mount of kings!

“So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.” (I Kings 1:38)

Another Bible passage recounts how Absolom, the son of King David, had a rather unfortunate encounter in which he was clunked on the head by a tree branch while his mule, using common sense, ducked underneath. Those of us who know and love mules can certainly relate to their ability to instill humility in their human counterparts, and everyone can appreciate that, even back then, mules were noted for their completely natural and indubitable humor.

“And Absolom met the servants of David. And Absolom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the Heavens and the earth, and the mule that was under him went away.” (II Samuel 18:9)

Mules are not only psycho-therapists, but they are the true geniuses of slap-stick humor! When you get into an altercation with a mule, you will seldom get hurt, but you will surely be set straight in a most humiliating way.

“And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, ‘What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?’ And Balaam said unto the ass, ‘Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.’ And the ass said unto Balaam, ‘Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee?’ And he said, ‘Nay.” (Numbers 22:23) Mules and donkeys will always be compelled to let us know when our actions are careless and thoughtless—it is in their nature. Whether or not we choose to listen and alter our approach is entirely up to us.

The highest intelligence residing in animals is that of the mule. He inherits athletic ability and “horse sense” from his mother, the horse, and incredible wisdom and strength from his father, the jack. Perhaps the kings of yore finally tired of being publicly humiliated by their superior mules, or perhaps they just couldn’t muster the patience or humor to deal with them anymore, but mules were eventually replaced by horses as the mount of choice, and were subsequently used primarily for packing and draft work.

Strong and durable animals, mules also played a significant part in Greek and Roman transportation. The mule can travel more than three mph and can easily cover 50 miles in a day. Their usefulness is unmatched, even by oxen, as they can cover more distance much more quickly.

The mule’s ability to survive is truly uncanny, given that he is the hybrid offspring of a jack and a mare and does not produce offspring. On rare occasions, mare mules (or mollies) have been known to reproduce by a jack or stallion, but for the most part, mules are sterile and cannot propagate themselves.

There is a volunteer organization in Israel called HAI-BAR, (an Israeli word meaning “wildlife”). This organization was established to protect animals that had thrived in the Holy Land during the Old Testament years, but that are now dangerously close to extinction, due to reckless use of land resources. HAI-BAR South, established in 1964, opened 3000 acres to the general public in 1977 for the express purpose of protecting herds of wild species from Biblical times. A second reserve, HAI-BAR Carmel, was established in the center of Israel near Haifa on Mount Carmel, where 2000 acres were fenced off to accommodate and protect even more Biblical animals. These reserves are still in operation today.

The closest ancestral link to the mule is the Somali Wild Ass, found in Northeast Africa. Only a few were still living in the Danakil Desert of Ethiopia when a number of them were captured and brought to HAI-BAR, where they began to once again propagate. The Somali Wild Ass has incredible strength for its size and subsists on desert shrubs as its only food. This explains why our modern-day mules and donkeys can stay healthy and strong on much less feed than today’s horse requires.

The unique personality traits of the mule come from the ass. Unlike horses, mules are naturally curious, but are also suspicious and require time to size up a situation before acting. For this reason, it usually takes time for people to warm up to mules and time for mules to warm up to people. Because their judgment of people is unmatched, it is wise when buying a mule to allow him to pick you! A lot of the mule’s so-called“stubbornness” is really a sense of self-preservation. If he has a negative experience, he is not likely to repeat it. His memory serves him well and he never makes the same mistake twice. For this reason, it is important that the personality of the mule and his handler are compatible and that they actually like each other.

The old myths, “stubborn as a mule,” and, “a mule will wait for the opportunity for revenge” are just those…myths. I would suppose these opinions arose from those who were probably impatient when dealing with mules. When left to their own devices, mules will learn from their experienced peers and from those who truly care about them. And people who are confrontational with mules will meet with undeniable stubbornness and resistance.

It makes sense that mules and donkeys have become so economically important to Third World countries. They are generally sedate, humble and hard working animals with an intelligence that enables them to learn their job quickly. They can go anywhere man can go, and do the work of many at far less expense—which is more than can be said of any motorized vehicle. Mules and donkeys are still an important part of third world economies. There are educators from The Donkey Sanctuary in Great Britain and other sanctuaries who visit these emerging countries, with the expressed purpose of teaching people how to work more efficiently with their longeared counterparts, since the very existence of many third world nations depends upon this partnership.

To learn more about Meredith Hodges and her comprehensive all-breed equine training program, visit LuckyThreeRanch.com, MEREDITH HODGES PUBLIC FIGURE Facebook page, or call 1-800-816-7566. Check out her children’s website at JasperTheMule.com. Also, find Meredith on Pinterest, Instagram, MeWe, YouTube and Twitter.

© 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2023 Lucky Three Ranch, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.

Chilly Pepper: Update on Big Girl

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The following post comes from Chilly Pepper Equine Rescue.

Vet check yesterday. Heart is good, lungs are good, pain level not too high. We are managing that on an as needed basis.

Scheduling specialized farrier to meet us at Vet’s for hoof clean up (not really a trim as Doc says not enough to trim), and to see how bad the thrush is. X rays will be taken while under sedation and we will be able to make informed decisions about the best care for her hoofers.

Doc is hopeful we can actually get some hoof wall on her and have a much improved hoof after 6 months or so with specialized care, treatment and supplements.

Weight is approximately 1350 pounds and at least 20 years old, (probably a bit older)

Sad news, Big Girl has cancer. She has melanomas under her tail, (and they are not exactly small), and some (lumps) on her underside. This is not uncommon with white and grey horses, but this does have the potential to be deadly and can go really fast or it may not be an issue at all. Her lumps have the potential to cause issues with her anus if they grow larger.

Doc said the cancer can be very unpredictable and she has seen it go very quickly and seen other equine with small melanomas live out a very happy life.

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Our plan is to keep her with us and help her enjoy life until it is her time. She is home now :)

LITTLE MISS VELMA is thriving and learning how to be a horse. Thank you for all those who are helping us do what we do. You rock!!

Lacy and Cowboy are scheduled to be at the following event with Lacy J Dalton to raise money and awareness for the plight of the mustangs.

https://www.suttercreektheater.com/home/event/lacy-j-dalton-countrys-queen/

40+ WILD ONES – keeping our fingers crossed. Looks like we will have homes for some of these guys coming up soon.

If you want to help You can go to You caring – https://www.youcaring.com/let-em-run-foundation-for-55-wild-horses-orphaned-foals-415297 to help us save these horses.

You can go to Paypal – Palominodancer@yahoo.com or go to our website
www.chillypepper.org if you would like to help these horses.

You can donate via check at Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang, 34694 Sidebottom Rd., Shingletown, CA 96088

530 474-5197 If you are interested in visiting or adopting one of these beautiful horses.

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Tell BLM Advisory Board: Say No to Dangerous Sterilization Experiments!

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This post comes from American Wild Horse Preservation.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will meet on April 13, 2016 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and April 14, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Redmond, Oregon.

Please take a moment to sign the petition asking this citizen advisory board to oppose the BLM’s barbaric, risky and invasive sterilization experiments, proposed to be conducted on captured wild mares at the BLM’s corrals in Hines, Oregon. These painful experiments will expose mares to risk of death by bleeding, infection and evisceration (a deadly condition in which the intestines protrude through surgical incisions). The majority of the mares used in the experiment will be pregnant and the procedure will cause many to abort their unborn foals. We have one week to gather as many petition signatures as possible, which AWHPC will hand deliver to the Advisory Board. Help us take a strong stand against this cruelty by signing and sharing today!

                     

Emergency Help Needed for Latest “Critical Case” at Chilly Pepper

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The following story comes from Chilly Pepper Equine Rescue.

Matt and I had to do an unexpected rescue today. “Big Girl” is a 20+ (?) year old Percheron who weighs about 1600 pounds. She was for sale as a “riding horse” and we were told she just needed her hoofers trimmed. We were also told that even if you used a crop or whip, she would not canter. But it was fine to trot her.

As panic welled in my gut, we handed over the cash to “bail her” and bring her home. Did she even have enough back hooves to have a chance? Her front hoof was bare sole with the hoof wall well above where it should be. I cannot begin to imagine how uncomfortable it is for her to have to hold all that weight on such broken feet.

We are praying that there is not too much damage done for her to heal. When you think of the saying “NO HOOF – NO HORSE”, PURE PANIC COMES TO MIND!

We are asking for prayers and any help you can give to save this beautiful girl. She will need to be sedated to have her feet worked on as it seems to be too painful and hard for her to stand on 3 feet. We were told it takes 3 men and medicine to do her front feet, but you “cannot do her hind feet”. I lifted her rear hoof up today to try and see what damage had been done, but it was apparent that she was really uncomfortable and after that she was very wary of me.

She is settled in with Magic and tomorrow we will contact the vet and try to get her some help. No horse deserves this, and we can only pray we got to her in time. This is overwhelming, disheartening and simply devastating. But when God puts one of His creatures in front of you, there is no choice, you do whatever you can to help, so once again we are asking folks to join us so we can help this beautiful soul. Any prayers and help you would like to give and what you can comfortably do for “Big Girl”…. are so very much appreciated.

You can go to Paypal – Palominodancer@yahoo.com or go to our website
www.chillypepper.org if you would like to help Big Girl, the horse with no hooves :(

You can donate via check at Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang, 34694 Sidebottom Rd., Shingletown, CA 96088

530 474-5197

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MULE CROSSING: From Mules to Riches

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By Meredith Hodges

Long before the Founding Fathers drafted our constitution, America began as a religious nation under God, and the mule has his roots in religion just as does the country he has helped to build. The mule of today’s ancestor is the donkey, mentioned in the Bible numerous times as an animal respected by God and blessed by Jesus Christ. The donkey was even chosen to bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and, later, acted as the mount Jesus himself used for his ride into the city of Jerusalem.

Here is an ancient story, quoted directly from the Bible, illustrating the mule’s wonderful sense of humor: “So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.” I Kings 1:38

“And Absolom met the servants of David. And Absolom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the Heavens and the earth, and the mule that was under him went away.” II Samuel 18:9.

Mules are the true professionals of slapstick humor and professional psychotherapy! When you get into an altercation with a mule, you will seldom get hurt, but you will surely be set straight in a most humiliating way.

In the early days of what was to become the United States of America, mules and horses perpetuated the expansion of the colonists into the Western territories of America. Since these early times, the American mule has acted not only as a pack animal for miners and fur traders penetrating the West, but it has also played an important part in our country’s defense, being able to cross terrain not accessible by any other means, and carrying and pulling heavier loads of weaponry than horses could even begin to carry.

When the fight for freedom from England’s rule was launched with the American Revolution, donkeys and horses were used in varying capacities to help win the battle for our country’s liberty.

Freedom was won as a result of the combined efforts of humans, animals and faith. One need only examine the humble traits and character of mules and donkeys to see that they indeed possessed the faith and the strong constitution to make some very important contributions to this country’s independence.

Drivers and mules, Gary, W. Va., Mine, where much of the mining and carrying is done by machinery. Location: Gary, West Virginia.

As they say, an army “marches on its stomach,” so it was a natural for Americans to progress further and delve into agriculture. Because of the extraordinary ability of mules to work for longer periods of time in sometimes harsh and unrelenting climates, their surefootedness and resistance to parasites and disease and with their ability to work long hours, the mule became the gem of agriculture. He learned his job quickly and put his heart and soul into every task.

When American coal mining was booming, the mule was such a valuable member of the mining process, that a good mining mule was considered to actually be more valuable than a human miner. Mining has always been a dangerous business, and the mining mule’s innate sense of self-preservation was well known. “Mules are very smart…They know what they can do and would never do anything they couldn’t or would not want to do. Mules were known to pull at least three full mine cars full of coal. If you hooked up a fourth car they would balk at any commands and just stand there. No way would they pull the fourth car!” 1

“Mules are the living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West. Mules were the pack animals of Spanish padres and grizzled prospectors. These animals have a dominant place in frontier history. From 1883 to 1889, the 20-mule teams moved 20 million pounds of borax out of Death Valley, California, to Mojave—165 miles away—traveling 15 to 18 miles a day. The 20-mule teams, the dramatic solution of a transportation problem, soon became a world-famous symbol, the trademark first of the Pacific Borax Company and, today, of the many products made by U.S. Borax.” 2 So began the mule’s vital contributions to industry and the economy.

Man and donkey out on Tanner Ledge, Grand Canyon, Arizona

In 1976, under the direction of the North American Trail Ride Conference, the Bicentennial Wagon train became a notable event in American history. Commemorating the trek West that was made so long ago by brave and adventurous pioneers, the Bicentennial journey went from California east to Valley Forge, retracing the steps of these first U.S. settlers. The outriders brought back scrolls of signatures signed by enthusiastic citizens to reaffirm their belief in the principles upon which America was founded. State by state, wagons met up with the main train and joined the trek. No doubt, many of these Bicentennial wagons were pulled by our beloved mules. “Going through my deceased folks’ stuff, I found an ‘Official Souvenir Program’ of the Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage. It’s interesting reading about the program in 1995–‘96, to have a Conestoga wagon or Prairie Schooner from each of the 50 states across the country on historic trails, ending up at Valley Forge on July third.” 3

Although some Americans have become concerned about the impact donkeys may have on the environment and, in particular, on our state parks, there is no evidence that the burro will reproduce at a rate that will threaten the ecosystem, especially that of the Grand Canyon. In fact, it is possible that the burros have already been in the Grand Canyon for centuries. There is evidence that the erosion attributed to the burros is more often due primarily to other invasive forces, such as humans and the natural erosion that occurs from geological forces and the canyon’s climate. There is also some concern that the donkeys pollute water holes, but the defecation of burros (and mules) has never actually been proven to pollute anything in their environment. Currently, there is an effort to prevent mules from being used in the Grand Canyon, but they are clearly the safest way to traverse and enjoy the beauty of this American natural wonder. Mules and donkeys learn their jobs well and cannot be dissuaded from their purpose of carrying inexperienced tourists to the bottom of the canyon and back up again—with a remarkable safety record. Their smaller hooves do little damage to the trails, and their handlers have the integrity to maintain the trails just as they maintain their precious mules. Cyclists, hikers and motorized vehicles in the parks have the potential to do much more irreparable damage to the environment than any mule or donkey. In truth, it is the human element, rather than mules and donkeys, which does most of the damage to our delicate ecosystem.

America’s journey has been one of courage, determination and great faith. It has been defined by its sequential growth phases of religion, defense, freedom, agriculture, economics, industry and ecology. We have worked alongside mules and donkeys for centuries and have often taken their generous contributions for granted in the course of our fast-paced growth. But the mule and donkey are likely to remain with us as long as they can find a way to make their contributions to society.

Those of us who attend Bishop Mule Days every year and many Longears lovers across this country are very well-acquainted with the incredible assets of the mule, and look forward to singing his praises every year on October 26th, when Mule Appreciation Day rolls around. Let us never forget to thank our trusted equine companions for all they have done to make possible this great country of ours!

To learn more about Meredith Hodges and her comprehensive all-breed equine training program, visit LuckyThreeRanch.com, MEREDITH HODGES PUBLIC FIGURE Facebook page, or call 1-800-816-7566. Check out her children’s website at JasperTheMule.com. Also, find Meredith on Pinterest, Instagram, MeWe, YouTube and Twitter.

Covered in TRAINING MULES & DONKEY: A LOGICAL APPROACH TO TRAINING, TRAINING WITHOUT RESISTANCE, EQUUS REVISITED and A GUIDE TO RAISING & SHOWING MULES at www.luckythreeranchstore.com

© 2012, 2016, 2024 Lucky Three Ranch, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1Mine Stories, The No. 9 Mine & Museum,Lansford, PA

2Mr. Longears, Volume 6, Number 21, Summer 1979

3ruralheritage.com email thread

WY Wild Horse Wipeout Continues – Take A Stand!

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The following post comes from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

Take A Stand Against BLM’s Illegal Wyoming Wild Horse Wipeout!

The BLM is accepting public comments on a proposal to remove all the wild horses from the Checkerboard lands within and outside of the Great Divide Basin, Salt Wells Creek, and Adobe Town herd management areas (HMAs) in Wyoming at the request of ranchers. 

If allowed to stand, this action will place the fate of wild horses living on public lands throughout the West in the hands of private landowners who want them all removed. We have mounted a significant legal challenge to the BLM’s illegal Wyoming wild horse wipeout, and our case is currently being considered by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. While we battle the BLM in court, we need you to show the agency that “We the People” want our wild horses protected on our public lands. . . . Please take action today! 

                     

Help NV Mustangs & Thank AZ Congresswoman for Pro-Wild Horse Stand!

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The following post comes from the American Wild Horse Preservation‘s eNews roundup.

Weigh in for Humane Wild Horse & Burro Management in Nevada’s Blue Wing Complex

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public scoping comments in the development of a ten-year management plan for the wild horses and burros in the Blue Wing Complex in northern Nevada. Under pressure from area ranchers, the BLM is likely to develop plans for perpetual roundups and removals of hundreds of wild horses and burros from the public lands in this area — unless they hear from you! Now is the time to weigh in for humane management of our wild horses and burros on our public lands. Please act today!

   

Arizona Congresswoman Takes a Stand for America’s Wild Horses

As the first American woman to fly in combat, U.S. Congresswoman Martha McSally (R-AZ), a retired Air Force Colonel, is a military hero. And now she is a hero for America’s wild horses as well!. This week, Rep. McSally asked the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee to incorporate language in the 2017 budget bill that would prevent the BLM from turning over captured wild horses to other federal, state and local agencies for use as “work animals.” Rep. McSally is concerned, as are we, that this will provide a potential backdoor route to slaughter.

When our elected officials take action to protect our wild horses and burros, it’s important to let them know that we appreciate it. Please call Rep. McSally’s office at 202-225-2242 to thank her for acting to protect wild horses and burros from slaughter. 

 

Newest Arrival at Chilly Pepper: Miracle Mustang!

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The following post comes from Chilly Pepper Equine Rescue.

EW-velma

As I write this, I am remembering how quickly you get “baby brain”. The time when your brain turns to mush from lack of sleep.

Wow – it seems like the Rolling Foal Hospital never stops. We are so very pleased to be able to let folks know just how important this trailer is, and that it is constantly being used to save the lives of our beloved horses.

We left last Tuesday to take Seanna, Cicero and Go Go Boots to their new home in Idaho. We had to meet with Doc on Wednesday in NV to procure the proper paperwork and off we went.

We arrived to a stunning property and an amazing woman waiting for the babies. God has once again blessed us with the help we needed for these young horses. They have a wonderful place with a river, many streams, a clean and clear pond and wild life all around. They have space and will have folks to continue their training.

They have settled in well and although there was the usual heartbreak as we drove away, all was well and it was the best scenario we could hope for.

All the way there, and even prior as we were prepping the trailer, something kept telling me we would not be coming back empty. So I made sure we had our “new baby kit” well prepped. On our way back home, we received an emergency call. Shirley (my friend in NV who was caring for Velma), was in the hospital and we needed to come and pick up the baby. We are blessed as I am Shirley’s back up and she is ours if we have emergencies.

So we picked up Velma, (whom I had had quite a bit of time with the night prior to our vet visit with Doc), whose world was once again upside down. Although pretty scared at first, she traveled beautifully, and as always we took our time and gave her lots of rest stops. Here is the link for a short video of her enjoying one of her bottles. (Beware – this is cuteness over load at it’s finest.)

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Velma is eating very well, and she eats every two hours round the clock. She has never been around any horses, as after she was born in the puddle she was immediately rushed to Shirley’s after her mama pretty much ignored her and continued eating. She will go through approximately a 40 pound bag of milk and then some every two weeks. She is healthy and although she was a tiny bit colicky after we picked her up she is doing well and settling in nicely.

Much to her initial dismay, we put Belafonte (our mini goat) in with her. She has no real manners as of yet as she had no chance to learn natural boundaries. But he will help her and is gentle, yet firm. She was very pouty after he gave her a tiny little headbutt when she was being inappropriate. She stood there with a look on her face like she could not believe what had just happened.

As always, things happen quickly. We took 3 babies and came back with 1, but that is the reason we do what we do, and why it is important to find homes for these kids once they are doing better and ready for the next chapter in their lives.

We are still looking for homes for the 40+ wild ones, and are so very grateful we have managed to keep them safe thus far. Please share far and wide so we can find them their forever homes.

We so appreciate everyone who is part of this rescue and helping us keep these horses safe. Please share far and wide so we can continue to find forever homes for these horses. We also have a possible home for more of the wild ones in Virginia. We are working on that – who knew there were angels everywhere? With so many people in the United States, we only need a few to step up and help us place the remaining horses. Together we CAN do it!!

If you want to help keep milk in that little bottle or with all the rest of the expenses, You can go to You caring – https://www.youcaring.com/let-em-run-foundation-for-55-wild-horses-orphaned-foals-415297 to help us save these horses.

You can go to Paypal – Palominodancer@yahoo.com or go to our website
www.chillypepper.org if you would like to help these horses.

You can donate via check at Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang, 34694 Sidebottom Rd., Shingletown, CA 96088

530 474-5197 If you are interested in visiting or adopting one of these beautiful horses.

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Angels in Idaho

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The following update comes from Chilly Pepper Equine Rescue.

WE WANAngels in IdahoTED TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS! 

Exciting news – We received a message yesterday that our new “Angels in Idaho” will be taking three babies. Seanna, (shown in photo), Boots and Cicero will all be heading to their new home this week.

Matt and I will be transporting them. We will need roughly $375 fuel for transport and a little for Health Certificates and needed blood work for transport. So we are looking at between $400 – $500 to secure these three great homes.

(Unfortunately it won’t reduce our monthly board as they have been at Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang and we do not receive any funds for “boarding” even though they were part of the 55)”. ) But it will certainly be a reduction for feed expenses and leave me more time to help gentle other wild ones and care for the upcoming orphans.) Finding them homes is the biggest blessing ever :)

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IF we don’t get a call to Yakima or OR for orphans while we are out, it will be about 1600 miles round trip. We normally average around 10 miles to the gallon with a little less efficiency in the mountains, sometimes closer to 7 or 8 mpg. when pulling the heavy trailer. As always, we will be “camping” on the way whenever possible and cooking out of the trailer for the most part. The average fuel price in NV is about $2.25 a gallon for diesel, and although it is more here, we will be doing most of the driving going through NV.

EVEN BETTER NEWS – Our Angel (Kim) in Idaho is planning to take 10 of the Wild Ones that we are currently supporting in NV. This move is planned for approximately 2 months down the road, after they beef up their fencing on the large acreage. Then Kim told me of a rescue she did and it left me in tears.

“I drive truck, and while driving in North Dakota for the oil fields I parked at an auction where they were unloading a trailer full of horses. There were 5, one pregnant with a foal by her side. I walked up and said so they are auctioning off these horse today? and the man said yes, for 23 cents per pound. So I bought them all and leased 5 acres until I could make arrangements to get them here. Here’s where the rescue started. They were what started it all for me.”__

They have rescued and re-homed many horses since that day.

So you can imagine how excited I was when she said we could bring the babies now and 10 more in a month or two. This is what we need. To move these horses down the road to safe and loving folks.

Of course I have my own tears too. It is so heartwarming to find someone with such a beautiful heart, but once again I am taking my babies and leaving them with someone else. No matter how wonderful it is for them, it still breaks your heart when you have spent the time with them and have grown to love them so much. So it is bittersweet as always. You just can’t keep every one that you save, and this is what we do – find homes for them so they can have the future they deserve. But it still breaks your heart each and every time – even knowing that there will be more around the corner. How wonderful it will be when the day comes where there won’t be more around the corner, and we can all rest easy. That would be the miracle.

We so appreciate everyone who is part of this rescue and helping us keep these horses safe. Please share far and wide so we can continue to find forever homes for these horses. We also have a possible home for more of the wild ones in Virginia. We are working on that – who knew there were angels everywhere? With so many people in the United States, we only need a few to step up and help us place the remaining horses. Together we CAN do it!!

If you want to help You can go to You caring – https://www.youcaring.com/let-em-run-foundation-for-55-wild-horses-orphaned-foals-415297 to help us save these horses.

You can go to Paypal – Palominodancer@yahoo.com or go to our website
www.chillypepper.org if you would like to help these horses.

You can donate via check at Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang, 34694 Sidebottom Rd., Shingletown, CA 96088

530 474-5197 If you are interested in visiting or adopting one of these beautiful horses.

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Chilly Pepper Rescue: Bad weather postpones the roundups

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The following is an excerpt from the latest Chilly Pepper-Miracle Mustang Rescue Newsletter.

Hi, Sending out a quick update to keep everyone informed. We are in a “hurry up and wait” state, but thanks to y’all we are ready for that call.

I am happy to share some good news. Thanks to the wet weather, the roundups in Yakima, WA have been postponed. This is good for all the babies as they have a better chance of spending more time with their moms. Of course we are praying the roundups simply do not happen, but at least the older the babies are, the better chance they have of surviving.

So far, we have not heard any news about the Warm Springs roundups having started yet either. Once again, the weather is a big factor. PTL! So for now, we have been blessed. Please send your prayers that the roundups don’t start.

On the home front, we are still prepping for babies. Things can change in a heart beat, and you have to be ready to go. Prior to last year, our babies came locally in CA or from NV off the range. So although that is our normal source, we are now on board for the “slaughter babies” once again this year. We are trying to establish a “direct relationship” with the auction yard. Once these horses are brought in, they go straight to Canada as the gentleman running the operation has a direct contract with Bouvry Exports, in Alberta Canada.

In the meantime, we are also gentling and training the wild ones that are here. I am so happy to report that Lacy has made a huge break through and she is bonding up nicely. Prior to this she would bite and was very unsure and unhappy with any type of touching. She is going to make an amazing partner for someone and will be available for adoption. If you would like to see Lacy’s progress, you can follow the attached links. :)

“Seanna” has also made huge strides and her training is coming along nicely. “Go Go Boots” is just a tiny bit behind her, but we will be needing homes not only for these girls, but for Cicero. Cicero is from Yakima Washington and is coming on a year old. He will need someone with experience, but promises to be an amazing horse. He is very spirited and intelligent (shown below).

We so appreciate everyone who is part of this rescue and helping us keep these horses safe. Please share far and wide so we can find forever homes for these horses.

If you want to help You can go to You caring – https://www.youcaring.com/let-em-run-foundation-for-55-wild-horses-orphaned-foals-415297 to help us save these horses.

You can go to Paypal – Palominodancer@yahoo.com or go to our website
www.chillypepper.org if you would like to help these horses.

You can donate via check at Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang, 34694 Sidebottom Rd., Shingletown, CA 96088

530 474-5197 If you are interested in visiting or adopting one of these beautiful horses.

We Can’t Let This Happen

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The following is a post from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

Earlier this month, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) director Neil Kornze told Congress that his agency was heading toward “spaying and neutering” wild horses on the range. 

It sounds benign, but it’s not.

Using never-before-seen footage, AWHPC has just released a video that shows the type of risky, invasive and archaic sterilization procedures the BLM is proposing to conduct on wild mares. 

It isn’t pretty, but it’s necessary to show the American public exactly what the BLM has in store for our iconic and federally-protected wild horses and burros. 

We can’t let this happen. Here’s how you can fight back for wild horses and burros:

►  Watch the video and become educated about the BLM’s barbaric plans.

►  Share the video far and wide to spread the word.

►  Sign the petition and share it with your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors. These are ourwild horses, they live on our public lands, and the American public overwhelmingly does not want our national icons treated in this horrific manner!

Stop BLM’s Brutal Sterilization & Slaughter Plans

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The following post comes from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

Our wild horses and burros need your help, and they need it now.

The federal government is trying to hand off captured wild horses and burros to states and local governments, which will be able to do whatever they want with these national icons. That means one thing — slaughter!

Nearly 50,000 wild horses and burros in government holding  are at risk right now!

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) director Neil Kornze admitted in Congressional testimony this month that his agency’s 2017 budget proposal contains no protections from slaughter for the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of horses the BLM wants to turn over to other agencies, ostensibly for use as “work animals.”

Don’t let the federal government move captured wild horses and burros out the back door….and strip them of the legal status that currently protects them from slaughter.

Kornze also told Congress that “it looks like” BLM is heading toward wide-scale sterilization of wild horses on the range. The BLM wants to subject these animals to risky and invasive surgical procedures that will endanger their lives and destroy the very essence of what makes them wild — their natural behaviors! 

As step one of its sterilization plan, the BLM is poised to conduct barbaric, invasive and dangerous sterilization experiments on over 200 captured wild mares — most of whom will be pregnant — at its Burns Corrals in Oregon. The experiments will cause many of the mares to suffer abortions and others to bleed to death or die from infection. 

We are fighting back with all we’ve got, and we need your help to defeat the BLM’s devastating budget proposal.

We’ve hired a lobbying team that includes a former Congressman. We’re mobilizing the grassroots through a powerful public education and social media campaign. And our top-notch legal team continues to wage the battle against sterilization and slaughter in federal court .

This is happening RIGHT NOW on Capitol Hill. Please click below to help us stop the sterilization and slaughter of America’s wild horses and burros. Thank you!

Chilly Pepper Babies are Coming

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The following is an excerpt from the latest Chilly Pepper-Miracle Mustang Rescue Newsletter.

Baby season is here, and all around the country mares are giving birth to their new little ones. Meet VELMA, the newest baby in Shirley Allen’s nursery in Dayton NV. The following is her update:

VelmaPLEASE Keep Her in your prayers. She’s doing so well it sort of scares me. She came in just a few hours old and the first 3 days to a week are ALWAYS very stressful with watching and monitoring every single little thing she does and move she makes. As always we’re praying that NOTHING unforeseen raises it’s ugly head. We are in the so far, so good mode and SHE is nothing but a TOTAL JOY. She was born in the very early morning and because of the rains and weather we had she was unfortunately born basically in a puddle. She was totally wet and shivering with hypothermia setting in fast. Her Mom, although interested in her didn’t seem to have that motherly instinct and went back to eating. Thank goodness, the girls happened to be out there that morning or we wouldn’t have the little sweetie. We had rain, snow and wind coming in again that morning and she would not have made it much longer in those conditions being wet and no way to get her dry. Mom sort of tried a couple of times to get her up to nurse apparently but basically gave up and went back to eating her breakfast. Velma at that point was unable to get on her feet because her little legs were too cold and wet already to make her muscles work. It took a little while to get her dry and warming slow to get her up so circulation could get to those tiny legs. Now that she’s doing well, she has just started yesterday running and playing a bit. We had a play session this morning at 3am right after her 2:30 feeding. Please send good energy for Velma, we’re holding on and doing our best to get this little kid happy and healthy. Will try to update soon. HUGS ALL !!

THIS IS THE HAPPY SIDE OF FOAL RESCUE. HOWEVER, I LEARNED SOME UTTERLY DEVASTATING NEWS THIS LAST WEEK.

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American Horse Council Tax Bulletin Update

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AHC Tax Bulletin
Tax Court Finds Riding Arena Repairs Not Deductible

The taxpayers, husband and wife, purchased in 2006 a 10 acre parcel of land in Santa Ynez, California, on which they built their residence and various other structures. These structures include three barns and a horse riding arena used in a horse boarding and sales business operated by Santa Ynez Valley View Farm, LLC, a California limited liability company the taxpayers formed and at all times wholly-owned.

Construction of the riding arena was completed in early 2007 at a cost of $150,000. As it turned out, defects in the construction of the riding arena required taxpayers to expend more than $100,000 in 2007 and 2008 in order to remedy the defects. They sued the original contractor for defective construction and in 2009 settled the lawsuit for a payment of $50,000. The taxpayers reported on their 2009 tax return an itemized deduction of $69,100 as a casualty loss deduction resulting from the repairs to the riding arena.

The IRS disallowed the casualty loss deduction taken by the taxpayers on their 2009 return on the grounds that it was not a “casualty” as that term is used in the tax code. The taxpayers did not agree and took the disagreement to the U.S. Tax Court. The husband represented himself and his wife at trial.

The Court noted that to be deductible a casualty must be from “unusual and unexpected events *** caused by sudden or destructive force.” Accordingly, the court found that expenses paid or incurred to correct damage caused by faulty construction methods are not deductible as a casualty loss.

State Bill in Arizona Amended: Now Protects Salt River Wild Horses

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A new legislative update from the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign brings good news regarding the Salt River Horses.  

A bill in the Arizona State Legislature to protect the famed Salt River wild horses has been amended and now has the AWHPC’s full support. Previously they opposed HB 2340, because it asserted state ownership of this cherished herd, which resides on federal land in the Tonto National Forest near Phoenix. However, the bill’s sponsor, State Representative Kelly Townsend, amended the legislation to remove the state ownership provision and better protect the horses. Last week, the bill passed the Arizona House of Representatives and is now in the Senate.

Action Alert: Dangerous BLM Budget Request Opens Door for Slaughter

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The following is an Action Alert from the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Neil Kornze testified before Congress regarding his agency’s budget request, which includes language that opens the door to sterilization and slaughter of America’s wild herds. The BLM wants to turn over captured wild horses to local and state government agencies, many of whom lobby for the mass mustang removal and slaughter. In his testimony, Kornze confirmed that his agency’s budget proposal will not include protections from slaughter for these horses. Alarmingly, he also indicated that the BLM is poised to implement a broad-scale sterilization program on the range.

This is a grave threat to our remaining wild horse and burro herds, and we, the people are are quite literally the only line that stands between our wild horses and burros and doom. . . . Now is the time to demonstrate massive grassroots opposition to the BLM’s catastrophic plans. If you have already signed the petition to Congress – thank you, now please share it widely. If you have not yet signed, please add your signature today. The budget process is underway and there is not a moment to waste. If you want to save wild horses and burros, please take action now!

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Not Just the Mustangs but Our American Heritage as Well.

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The following is an excerpt of an Op-Ed by Christopher Ketchan for the New York Times titled “The Bison Roundup the Government Wants to Hide”.

THE National Park Service is set to begin its annual roundup of wild bison in Yellowstone National Park today. A portion will be slaughtered to reduce the number of animals that migrate beyond the park’s borders.

This culling is done largely outside of public view. Journalists have been barred in the past from watching the roundup, though it takes place on public land. The reason, according to the park service, was “for the safety of the public and staff” and also for the bison’s welfare.

This year, in response to litigation, the park service will allow a glimpse of what goes on. But only a glimpse. Access for journalists will be severely limited.

Let’s be honest here. This isn’t about “safety and welfare.” The real reason the park service doesn’t want journalists to view the roundup in its entirety is that the brutality of the cull would be revealed.

The buffalo is perhaps the iconic American mammal. More than any other animal, it is emblematic of the American frontier.

It also symbolizes the savagery with which we have treated the natural world. Tens of millions were slaughtered in a few brief decades during the 1800s — for their hides and fur and, not least, to subjugate restive Plains Indians by eliminating their food supply.

By 1900, out of a population once estimated at as many as 60 million animals, as few as 700 bison remained in private herds, and only 23 at Yellowstone.

Under the protection of the park service for almost a century, the bison have multiplied to an estimated 4,600 animals in Yellowstone.

So why would the park service, whose mission includes preserving “native wildlife species and the processes that sustain them,” opt to help kill one of its most historically and ecologically important wildlife populations?

I’ve covered the controversies over bison management in Yellowstone for almost a decade. The explanation, I’ve concluded, has nothing to do with ecology and everything to do with politics.

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In 1995, the state of Montana sued the park service to control bison that roam outside of Yellowstone’s boundary. Montana stockmen feared that bison could infect local cattle populations with the disease brucellosis, which can cause cows to abort their calves. For years, the Montana Department of Livestock had killed bison that left the park.

In 2000, a court- mediated settlement resulted in the Interagency Bison Management Plan, which remains in effect today. It basically requires the park service to do the bidding of Montana stockmen. The park service, in cooperation with the state livestock department, captures bison inside the park and ships them to slaughterhouses. This effort has cost an estimated $50 million since it began 15 years ago. Ninety-five percent of that funding has come from the federal government.

Animal epidemiologists have long noted that the risk to cows of brucellosis infection from wild bison is remote. Not a single instance of transmission has ever been documented.

When I reported on the brucellosis question for Vice magazine last year, even the park service acknowledged to me that “there is recognition by both disease regulators and wildlife managers that the risk of brucellosis transmission from bison to cattle is minute.” A retired park service biologist, Mary Meagher, who studied bison for 37 years, told me then that “brucellosis is a smoke screen.” She added, “The real issue is that ranchers don’t want bison out there on the land.”

Federal bison policy, in other words, has been captured by the politically powerful livestock industry.

Last month, represented by lawyers at the University of Denver Law School and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, I filed a lawsuit with Stephany Seay, media coordinator of the nonprofit Buffalo Field Campaign, to compel the park service to allow journalists and the public to have reasonable, nondisruptive access to the capture and cull.

In response, the park service has agreed to allow us to observe the activities on four days of the service’s choosing. But this is wholly inadequate for a culling operation that takes place over several weeks. We’re skeptical about how much we’ll be allowed to see.

Bison should be managed like so many other populations of wild animals — with seasonal hunting. Let them roam beyond Yellowstone’s boundaries year-round in Montana. Scrap the Interagency Bison Management Plan. Repeal the authority of Montana’s livestock department to slaughter bison. Get cows out of the way and allow wild bison to restore themselves — through their ancient instinct to migrate — on their native landscape.

In December, Montana took a long-awaited step in that direction. Gov. Steve Bullock proposed allowing Yellowstone bison to roam in certain areas beyond the park’s boundaries throughout the year. This modest move must still be approved by various state and federal agencies. Hopefully, this will lead to broader changes in way the animal is managed.

Despite this progress, the annual cull will still take place. The sad irony here is that in order to allow Montana ranchers to graze their cattle, the park service is helping to slaughter a native animal so iconic that it is emblazoned on the park service’s own logo.

Read the story at the New York Times website.

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Horse Deaths Related to Endurance Rides

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The following is an except from recent article by by Nancy S. Loving, DVM for thehorse.com.

The best ways a rider can reduce the risk of fatality is to be in tune with their horse, manage him properly through the ride, and voluntarily withdraw when their horse is not performing as expected, Schott said. Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

“Endurance” is an aptly named riding discipline. The sport requires horse and rider to complete more than 50 to 100 miles of trail in a single day. Depending on the competition type, terrain, and climatic conditions, horses might be actively working anywhere from six to 24 hours. Because of the nature of the sport,dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and heat stress can arise, sometimes leading to fatalities.

To investigate causes of fatality in endurance horses, Olin Balch, DVM, MS, PhD, of North Fork Veterinary Service, in Cascade, Idaho, and Hal Schott II, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of large animal medicine at Michigan State University, reviewed 13 years of endurance ride veterinary reports. Schott presented their findings at the 2015 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 5-9 in Las Vegas.

For their study, Balch and Schott compiled results from American Endurance Ride Conference post-ride surveys and veterinary reports from 2002-2014. During this time there were 96 fatalities out of 270,070 horses entered in endurance competitions—that’s 0.32 fatalities per 1,000 starts. Of the fatalities, 69 were euthanized and 27 died. Eighty-seven had participated in the ride, while nine others died or were euthanized due to injuries sustained by escape from an enclosure, kick injury, or colic unassociated with the demands of endurance exercise. There were no differences among sex or age and the number of fatalities did not differ over the years studied. Although there were no statistically significant regional differences, the Southwest had more fatalities than the West, which had more than the Mountain region, which had more than the Northeast.

“Despite veterinary oversight, which is arguably the highest of any equestrian sport during competition, fatalities do occur,” remarked Schott, who presented their findings. During endurance rides, horses must stop at mandatory rest points for examination by a ride veterinarian to determine that they are “fit to continue.” At the finish line exam, horses must again be examined and deemed fit to continue in order to receive a completion and placing.

Balch and Schott’s study included all fatalities that occurred over the four-day period from check-in the day before the race to two days following the competition. If a problem developed at the ride, then they investigated that horse’s outcome beyond those four days. “An increase in ride distance often leads to gastrointestinal problems and metabolic compromise,” Schott explained.

They determined that 26 deaths (30%) in competing horses were not fatigue-related. These resulted from falls, catastrophic injury, gastrointestinal disorders, or sudden death, and one horse was lost and later found dead. There were 61 fatalities (70%) attributed to the demands of endurance exercise, including consequences of severe muscle cramping and exhaustion.

“Exhaustion was commonly associated with decreased intestinal function due to a long period of decreased blood flow to the intestinal tract, as blood was diverted to the exercising muscles during exercise,” Schott explained. “Affected horses showed a poor appetite and colic signs, attributable to ileus (poor intestinal motility). A disastrous consequence was stomach rupture in several horses, with no apparent relation to stomach ulcers, while others developed renal failure and/or laminitis.”

Another important finding, he said, was that 20 of these 61 horses actually finished the ride and received completion awards, yet developed signs of exhaustion after the ride with fatalities developing over the next couple of days.

“This finding emphasizes that riders must monitor their horses closely after the ride and seek veterinary attention when any concern over recovery arises,” he said.

“Finally, it warrants mention that owners of 19 horses that ultimately died or were euthanized declined fluid therapy and/or referral to a hospital for further care when recommended by veterinarians at the ride site,” Schott added.

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