This is the most important week in our campaign to save the famed wild horses of Onaqui in Utah.
We’ve got a lot going on – and we need your support. Whether it’s on the ground in Utah or from afar, every action you can take this week will make a difference.
Friday is our rally at the BLM office in Salt Lake City, UT. Please join us as we protest the round-up of 80% of one of the most famous wild horse herds in America, and tell the BLM that their plan of action is unacceptable.
Also on Friday, we’ll be holding a Digital Sit-in to #SaveOnaqui. Support the movement by sharing on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with the #SaveOnaqui hashtag. More on this later.
You can help show your support for the Onaqui wild horses by purchasing our Onaqui Apparel, proceeds of which will go directly to saving the Onaqui herd.
A majority of Americans oppose rounding up wild horses and using taxpayer money to put them in holding pens for life. And while the BLM has come after so many of America’s wild herds, the Onaqui wild horses hold a special place in our nation’s hearts.
As one of the most viewed wild horse herds, they not only offer a unique opportunity for people to witness the magic of horses roaming free in the wild, they also contribute to the local community by bringing in thousands of tourists every year.
Kimerlee Curyl is a renowned fine art photographer who has been working amongst the Onaqui wild horses since 2009. She is one of many artists who has come to know the herd very well, in a place that now feels like home.
We can’t let these beautiful horses, who have roamed Utah since the 1800s, lose their families and their homes in a BLM roundup.
Kimerlee explains just how important these horses are:
“My first journey to the area was in 2009. While numerous visits have followed, I will never forget the magic and mystery of that initial trip. The Onaqui horses have called the historic Pony Express Trail in Utah home for generations. To remove them from this territory – one they once helped man traverse in the name of special interest – is a betrayal to our past, especially when access to cost-effective solutions have been offered and declined by the BLM. They are woven into the fabric of this landscape and deserve solutions to be expanded upon. They deserve to be here.”
Photographers like Kimerlee come from all over the world to visit and photograph these wild horses. But in a few short months, 80% of the herd could be gone forever.
Funds raised at Boots & Bling supports a large portion of AAE’s annual budget ensuring we continue saving and serving horses and humans throughout the year.
Check out our adoptable horses. Available horses are current with dental and hoof care, vaccines, and deworming. They have microchips in place, and their DNA has been tested.
Click on the horse’s name to link to their page so you can learn more about each horse!
(tentative date based upon meeting room availability)
El Dorado Hills Fire Department
1050 Wilson Boulevard
El Dorado Hills, CA
AAE’s Quarterly All Volunteer Meeting is an opportunity for all volunteers to come together for an update on current happenings, upcoming events, and updated volunteer needs. It’s also a good time for anyone interested in getting involved to learn more about AAE. Bring family or bring anyone interested in volunteering or otherwise supporting our cause.
“BANDIT”, shown above, needs your help today!!. Although we are on standby for more babies, I couldn’t ignore this beautiful boy. Seeing the despair in his eyes, and knowing that we can not only change that, but keep him off the slaughter truck sent me running to the computer. (Ok, so I can barely walk, but y’all know what i mean.) In all seriousness though, the clock is ticking…
I had to make an immediate decision, so once again I based it on faith. Faith that my Chilly Pepper Family will step up and make it possible to save not only him, but the 3 year old pony who was also scheduled to ship to slaughter. However, we can’t do it without y’all making it happen. Our budget is tapped out, and at this point, we simply don’t have funds to save these kids
Please help us save them. It is absolutely “baby time”, but every single life matters, and when God puts a certain one in front of us, I have to try and do everything I can to help.
So Please, help me, help him. Can you imagine how horrible just the trip to the slaughter plant would be in his condition? And then what would be waiting for him? It isn’t right, and since he and the little pony are “in front of us”, let’s save their lives too.
The babies are all hanging in there. Most of them have had scours and been sick at some point, and Goldilocks is still really struggling, as some of the others are. I have another vet bill for about $1500+, and between all the babies, there have been lots of vet visits. We are going through milk at a crazy pace, and so appreciate any and all help with these ongoing expenses.
The BLM is full steam ahead with plans to round up and capture 80% of the famous Onaqui herd in Utah. But we can’t let up.
We still need 5,318 more signatures to reach our goal before April 5, when we are delivering our petition and holding a rally outside of the BLM’s Salt Lake City office. We need your help.
There are only 486 wild horses in the Onaqui herd. If the BLM gets their way, only 120 horses will remain on over 240,000 acres.
There are humane ways to manage wild horse populations that the BLM is just not using. Instead, the agency wants to move forward with an inhumane roundup, using helicopters to chase the horses for miles. Once captured, the horses will be forced to spend the rest of their lives in holding pens and pastures, adding to the millions of dollars taxpayers are forced to spend on this ineffective and mismanaged federal program.
The Onaqui horses are irreplaceable – not just to America as a symbol of our freedom and our heritage, but to the local communities who benefit from the tourism dollars brought by wild horse admirers and photographers.
The BLM is full steam ahead with plans to round up and capture 80% of the famous Onaqui herd in Utah. But we can’t let up.
We still need 5,318 more signatures to reach our goal before April 5, when we are delivering our petition and holding a rally outside of the BLM’s Salt Lake City office. We need your help.
There are only 486 wild horses in the Onaqui herd. If the BLM gets their way, only 120 horses will remain on over 240,000 acres.
There are humane ways to manage wild horse populations that the BLM is just not using. Instead, the agency wants to move forward with an inhumane roundup, using helicopters to chase the horses for miles. Once captured, the horses will be forced to spend the rest of their lives in holding pens and pastures, adding to the millions of dollars taxpayers are forced to spend on this ineffective and mismanaged federal program.
The Onaqui horses are irreplaceable – not just to America as a symbol of our freedom and our heritage, but to the local communities who benefit from the tourism dollars brought by wild horse admirers and photographers.
Remember Barney? He came in back in January from a family distress situation. He was sickly when he arrived due to a respiratory issue and chronic diarrhea.
Barney was slowly transitioned from a hay diet (2 flakes am and pm) to a pellet diet. Today, he’s eating about 56 pounds of senior pellets per day.
Today, he’s feeling much better,
especially after his spa day!
Barney is grateful for everyone’s support in making his way back to good health.
Barney’s story is made possible, in part,
by all who support our annual fundraiser…..
Will you join us to assure we can share more stories like Barney’s?
Funds raised at Boots & Bling supports a large portion of AAE’s annual budget ensuring we continue saving and serving horses and humans throughout the year.
Check out our adoptable horses. Available horses are current with dental and hoof care, vaccines, and deworming. They have microchips in place, and their DNA has been tested.
Click on the horse’s name to link to their page so you can learn more about each horse!
(tentative date based upon meeting room availability)
El Dorado Hills Fire Department
1050 Wilson Boulevard
El Dorado Hills, CA
AAE’s Quarterly All Volunteer Meeting is an opportunity for all volunteers to come together for an update on current happenings, upcoming events, and updated volunteer needs. It’s also a good time for anyone interested in getting involved to learn more about AAE. Bring family or bring anyone interested in volunteering or otherwise supporting our cause.
On Friday, April 5, we’re holding a rally in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah at the BLM State Office to save the Onaqui wild horses. We need a huge showing to make sure the BLM hears our voices loud and clear – and we hope you’ll join us in taking a stand against the BLM’s planned roundup that could wipe out 80% of the herd.
This rally is our chance to speak up for the beloved Onaqui wild horses – one of the most famous herds in the West that draws thousands of eco-tourists to the area every year. With a great showing of support, we’ll be able to get the attention of the media and generate the national grassroots pressure on the BLM to spare this historic and unique mustang herd.
This week, we launched a campaign to save the Onaqui wild horses in Utah. To truly understand how special these horses are, you have to see them for yourself.
The BLM plans to round up 80% of the herd and put them in holding pens for life – because they say the horses are overpopulating the area. But it’s not true and it doesn’t have to be like this. Cattle and sheep grazing consumes the majority of the resources on these public lands, and we have safe and humane solutions to control wild horse populations that the BLM has failed to implement adequately. Instead, millions of dollars in taxpayer money will go toward cruel roundups and confinement.
These horses deserve to be with their families and to roam free in the wild where they belong. This is an incredibly unique, tightly-knit society of horses. We can’t let the government destroy their herd.
These iconic wild horses need all of the teammates and fans they can get right now. Watch and share our video, and help us spread the word to save the Onaqui mustangs.
Thank you for helping save these national treasures. Let’s #SaveOnaqui.
Blue sends huge thanks for everyone’s support in helping him with the growth removal and the long series of treatments and procedures. It’s been a long road, but gratifying in the end to be able to see it through and never give up!
Funds raised at Boots & Bling supports a large portion of AAE’s annual budget ensuring we continue saving and serving horses and humans throughout the year.
Check out our adoptable horses. Available horses are current with dental and hoof care, vaccines, and deworming. They have microchips in place, and their DNA has been tested.
Click on the horse’s name to link to their page so you can learn more about each horse!
(tentative date based upon meeting room availability)
El Dorado Hills Fire Department
1050 Wilson Boulevard
El Dorado Hills, CA
AAE’s Quarterly All Volunteer Meeting is an opportunity for all volunteers to come together for an update on current happenings, upcoming events, and updated volunteer needs. It’s also a good time for anyone interested in getting involved to learn more about AAE. Bring family or bring anyone interested in volunteering or otherwise supporting our cause.
There are so many emergencies, but THIS IS BEYOND AN EMERGENCY. The babies have been dying left and right, and we need to know right now if folks are going to step up and help us save them.
It’s hard to know where to start. I was contacted and asked if Chilly Pepper will take on these fragile foals. However, due to the extremely dangerous conditions the folks are catching in, the price is $300. (We pay more than that for horses all the time), but there could be up to 16? or MORE???? coming in by tomorrow. So just for bail I would need $4800. Each baby will take a minimum of $300 in milk powder the first month, and that does not include anything. So milk powder alone will be close to $5,000. and that is just the start.
I HAD TO COMMIT to the newborns strictly on FAITH!! But after 11 of the first 12 we were on stand by for died, I cannot in good conscience say no. So I have committed to another 4 that will be here shortly. But if folks want us to have a chance to save the other 10 they have seen stranded in the snow, with their starving families and moms with no milk, we have to raise enough funds and quickly. IF they bring another 10 tomorrow, that is $3000 we have to have, or the babies won’t survive. Again, we pay more than that for a horse/baby all the time. It is just so scary when they are coming all at once.
So I need folks to step up now and let me know if we should try and save the 10 tomorrow, and I need desperately for folks to help us purchase,vet and take care of the ones we will have tonight.
It is so hard to have to keep asking for help, but we simply cannot do this without y’all.
Yesterday I was called to help a mare that was tangled in barbed wire. I went with another guy who had also been asked to help. He and his buddy went ahead of me, and I got all the medical supplies. The biggest heartbreak was that she was so starved it was worth fighting a barbed wire fence to try and find food that SIMPLY DOES NOT EXIST OUT THERE. Her injuries were not the worst of it. She lay for too long in the freezing snow and ice, and it was too much for her. So she had to be “dispatched”.
We have never ever had to deal with a situation like this. So I need to know, do I say YES for tomorrow? At this point I cannot risk anymore funds than I already have tonight. We are getting into hay money, but I can’t let two new babies freeze to death when I know that y’all are so amazing and would want to save them.
So Please Donate Generously. As always, I do this for free, but the babies need money for feed, care and vetting, not to mention getting them to safety.
I leave this in your hands, and am praying we can save the others that are stranded out there..
Cinderella, shown above, was rescued from a very likely snowy grave. She is here now and receiving the care she needs.
PLEASE HELP NOW!
Below you can clearly see how much snow is around. It is covering many of the barbed wire fences, and that shows not only how deep it is, but one of the reasons these rescues are so dangerous.
If you want to go see wild horses, chances are you’ll find yourself just outside Salt Lake City, visiting the Onaqui wild horse herd of Utah. They’re among the most famous (and most photographed) wild horses in the country.
Now the Bureau of Land Management is about to destroy the herd and roundup more than 90% of these iconic horses.
This is a fight we have to win. Sign the petition now and demand that the BLM preserve the Onaqui wild horse herd.
This is the beginning of a multi-week campaign to stop this devastating roundup. We’ll be rallying supporters, lobbying lawmakers, and activating the local community that treasures these horses.
We have to stop this roundup:
Utah would lose an important ecotourism resource. The horses attract thousands of tourists and photographers a year. Several of these horses have become so well-known, they’ve been given names – like the beloved “Old Man,” a 28-year-old stallion enjoying his elder years with the herd.
The roundups are devastating and cruel — using helicopters to run horses, including foals (babies), for miles until they’re exhausted. Many are injured, breaking their legs and necks, crashing into fences. Some die from their injuries and from exhaustion.
Taxpayers shouldn’t spend millions on this unnecessary abuse.Proven, humane, and cost-effective management solutions already exist. In fact, the American Wild Horse Campaign has offered to work with the BLM to expand and fund a proven fertility control program to reduce population growth without removing horses from their homes on the range.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public comments on a plan for the Warm Springs Herd Management Area (HMA) in Oregon. This HMA was recently the site of a large roundup that removed 100 percent of the wild horses living there, including 100 mares who were slated to be used in an experimental surgical sterilization study. That plan was dropped after a federal judge issued a Preliminary Injunction in response to litigation by filed AWHC, The Cloud Foundation, and the Animal Welfare Institute. The BLM’s new plan is to return just 66 of the 846 horses removed from the HMA and treat all released mares with PZP fertility control. Bottom line: The BLM is releasing too few horses to maintain a healthy, genetically viable population in the Warm Springs HMA. Please take action with us below!
For the last several months, our team has been investigating how livestock interests in northern California’s Modoc National Forest took control of U.S. Forest Service policy regarding the management of federally-protected wild horses. Our reporting shows a trail of money, extremist politics and junk science leading to the current situation in which the Forest Service intends to sell federally-protected wild horses without limitation on slaughter for the first time in history. Read more about the situation and the disturbing precedent it sets for special interest takeover of public lands policy by clicking below.
When we learned in April 2018 that five Virginia Range mustangs who had been adopted to a small sanctuary in Alabama were sold to a notorious kill buyer, we sprang into action. Just days before they shipped for slaughter, we rescued them. Thanks to supporters like you — and to Chilly Pepper Mustang Rescue and Freedom Reigns Equine Sanctuary — this small family is safe. Just four years ago, these mustangs were roaming free in Nevada. When we reached them in Alabama, they were in rough shape — neglected, traumatized and very thin. Today, they’re back home in the West looking happy and healthy. Watch their story in our latest video, and then share with your friends and family!
Funds raised at Boots & Bling supports a large portion of AAE’s annual budget ensuring we continue saving and serving horses and humans throughout the year.
For more information or to make a donation, please contact dani@allaboutequine.org. All donation are needed by 4/21/19
Most importantly, we need VOLUNTEERS to help with the event. If you can help with set-up, clean-up, dinner prep or service, auction support, or anywhere needed, please contact wendy@allaboutequine.org.
We can’t wait for our fun-filled night raising funds to support horses and AAE ! We hope you’ll join us!!
Daily Horse Care, especially pm shifts needed now
(Daily 8a-12p or 3p-6p)
Used Tack Store Support, all areas needed now
(Fri – Mon, 12-4p, other days possible)
More opportunities:
Barn/Facility Maintenance
Foster Homes, Long-Term Foster/Sanctuary Homes
Capital Campaign Support
Board Members
Fundraising/Events
Grants – Writing and Research
Volunteer, Project, and Activity Coordinators
Outreach Activities
Youth Programs
Therapy Programs
Veteran Programs
Special Projects
Admin Support
Marketing
Graphics
Social Media
Bloggers
Photographers
Media and/or Photo Librarian
More, more, more
Interested in volunteering or volunteering in other areas?
The BLM is accepting public comments on a Herd Management Area (HMA) and roundup plan for the Fifteen Mile HMA in Wyoming. The plan calls for removing over 300 horses to reduce the population to the low “Appropriate” Management Level (AML) of 70 horses, skewing the sex ratios in favor of males, and maintaining the population number in the future with more roundups and removals.
The BLM plans to significantly reduce the existing horse population even though the agency acknowledges that the horses are healthy at their current population level of 404. Additionally, little active livestock grazing is occurring in this HMA so conflicts with ranchers are minimal. Instead of continuing the same failed approach to wild horse management, the BLM should maintain the Fifteen Mile wild horse population at a healthy number by implementing a robust fertility control program to humanely manage the population of wild horses in the wild. Tell the BLM to implement a humane and sustainable plan for the Fifteenmile horses – Take Action today!
Wild horses captured from the Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory in the Modoc National Forest near Alturas, California last fall are still in need of homes. These are the horses that the U.S. Forest Service wants to sell without limitation on slaughter, but our lawsuit has so far blocked this action. Currently 43 horses age 10 and over are for sale with limitation on slaughter, and 20 horses age 9 and under are available for adoption for $125. Meanwhile, our partner sanctuary, Montgomery Creek Ranch (MCR), has six halter trained two-yea- olds also from Devil’s Garden available for adoption. If these beautiful youngsters get adopted, MCR will be able to take in additional Devil’s Garden horses in need of homes. Learn more below.
AWHC is fighting for New Mexico’s wild horses by opposing state legislation that would put the fate of non-federally protected wild horses in the hands of the New Mexico Livestock Board, which has a documented history of anti-wild horse actions and support for horse slaughter. Although the bill has been amended to prevent the Livestock Board from killing wild horses removed from the range, it allows the board to make decisions about removal of wild horses from public and private land, a situation that would spell the end for free-roaming wild horses in New Mexico. Read more below, and if you are from New Mexico, be sure to oppose the legislation here.
My heart feels like it’s bleeding as I write this. Our beautiful baby, Star Fire, crashed again yesterday morning, and this time it was clear she was finished fighting to stay with us..
When we were at the vet in CA, it was clear that we could “end her fight” based on the cost, her chances etc. _It reminded me of the 907 horses we sorted in South Dakota and how some folks kept telling me to “euthanize”, (in my book “kill”) the ones that needed extra help, might not be easy and would take a lot of time and effort, _
However, that is not what we do. One look in her eyes and I knew that we had to keep fighting with her. As we were leaving, the vet gave us a 50/50 chance.
I made a promise when I started this. If God placed an animal in front of us, no matter what species, I would never fighting, because it was inconvenient, or might need some medical care. I promised to fight along side that critter as long as he or she wanted to fight.
(Sadly, I do realize that there are times when my job is simply to provide comfort, love, and round the clock care.)
This is one of the reasons we are asking for help today. We still had not covered the entire $2000 bill in CA. Add yesterday’s emergency call, and due to some of the kids up in WA being sick, we have had additional costs due to numerous vet visits and those are still an issue.
There were some wonderful folks who pledged generously and then for reasons I call “life”, were unable to send the funds. So that was a little bit of a shock, and now the budget is much tighter than is comfortable. Between the unexpected costs, we are about $5000 short of where we should be, and that leaves no extra for setting up for the babies.
We had to move the babies out of Mama Mel’s, because we have simply not had enough funds, or time, to properly set up the nursery. (This is supposed to be our off season.) Although Mama Mel was fabulous in caring for the 11 weanlings, the weather has been brutal, to the point where cattle in the area have been dropping like flies from the weather, and we could not provide enough shelter etc.
So we also have a bill for the babies being picked up and transported to where they are being boarded. Once again weather is an issue, but Matt will be heading back up in a couple days.
The 2019 BABY SEASON is nearly upon us, and we simply are not ready. We need more shelter, pens and to start purchasing the milk, medicine and supplies that we will need. There is a huge chance that this year is going to be especially brutal. Folks are seeing the horses starving to death, as there has been so much snow. Pregnant moms are starving while carrying their foals. It is a big mess, and NOW IS THE TIME to get ready.
Thank you for being there and for making it possible to save so many lives. As always, YOU are the reason we keep doing what we do. So please help us get caught up, and get ready for these precious babies.
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt. Strength, courage, and confidence defined Calico Girl. This brave filly stood strong one last time after suffering a catastrophic injury late yesterday afternoon. Although we’re not sure how it happened, the herd had been frolicking in the pasture, and we’re guessing she took an awkward fall on slippery ground. She fractured the head of her right femur beyond repair. There were no options for her but to ease her pain.
Calico Girl came to AAE with her mom, Gypsy, in April 2018. They traveled the road from She was just weeks old. She was an incredibly confident and proud little gal. Her every move was bold and brave. Calico Girl protected her mom from the fierce humans at AAE in the cutest way. She’d stand tall and proud, the half-pint she was, and give a look that said “Stay back Mom, I got this”. Really, it took her a long time to trust humans, even though she met them very early on. She wanted, but resisted in such a sassy way.
Really, she was a clone of her mom. She looked, she acted, she oozed of Gypsy. Ironically, Calico Girl came to AAE DreamCatchers Wild Horse and Burro Sanctuary for safety from the harsh winter elements. These things aren’t supposed to happen here, and not to such a young life. Calico Girl has so much love and life to give.
Only recently was she really letting go and proudly enjoying human interaction. Today, we’ll all grieve for what could have been, an exceptional, athletic, bold and brave life…that will never be. How? Why? We’ll never know. We only know this sweet girl was loved by many and will be missed by more.
Many of you know our horses that arrive without a name are given Country artist inspired names. Calico Girl’s name didn’t follow that tradition. There’s a reason. Cali’s mom, Gypsy, was adopted from the Broken Arrow (aka Indian Lakes) holding facility in Fallon, Nevada, in May of 2010 and placed at DreamCatchers to live out her life as a mustang. Gypsy had lived in Warm Springs Canyon, one of five Herd Management Areas in the Calico Mountains of Nevada, collectivey called the Calico Complex. In late 2009/early 2019, BLM captured 1,922 horses in “the Calico Gather”. Because we learned of Gypsy’s history (thank you, Maya), and she had to leave DreamCatchers, we wanted baby’s name to be special. Gypsy’s adopter, Elyse, decided “her name is “Calico Girl” in honor of, and to help us all/her future people all know and remember the wild horses. She is a proud descendant of hearty, lovely horses.”
Run free, bold and beautiful girl. You weren’t supposed to leave us so soon!
We’ll miss you, Cali Girl. You will be remembered in our hearts, youngest one.
Another special friend to remember!
Many of you have followed our version of “Where’s Waldo?”. Cupcake was AAE’s version of where ever you are, there she was. Cupcake came to AAE back in 2008, before AAE was AAE…before horses…before just about anything else. She was about 3 or 4, and one of three goats that brought life to a dead pasture and new life to a once shuttered barn.
Cupcake had her castle in “The Farm”. She’d sit upon her throne, with a vision of a tilted crown on her head. She was royalty around AAE. She had a sore under her tail that persisted, and back in late 2017, it was biopsied. Sadly, it was a squamous cell carcinoma. It was between her rectum and vulva, in an area it could not easily be removed. It was likely to progress rapidly. Cupcake was not phased by the big “C”. She was happy, healthy, and had a never ending appetite. Right about this time, she became an escape artist. She loved people. She loved food. She loved to visit the barn at feeding time and eat everyone’s food. Since her days were numbered, the only thing to do was to name her Queen of the barn and give her authority to do anything and everything she wanted, without limits.
Well, maybe a few. Cupcake quickly became a curiosity. She was dog-like. She loved grooming. She loved people. She loved people food. What could it hurt?
You’d think a big belly ache would follow a bucket like that, right? Funny girl. She grazed, she tasted, she was satisfied. Cupcake was as sweet as her name, and she would eat anything, even cupcakes. Day went by. Weeks went by. Months went by. The “sore” grew, and grew, and time passed. As the sore grew, the question of the day, often silent and often spoken, was “How is Cupcake today?” Quality of life was number one. As long as she was happy, otherwise healthy, with a good appetite….for food and life, all was good. As long as she visited the at feeding time (am and pm), all was good.
Cupcake was everywhere, and she’d help herself to whatever was served to her….or she looked like it was served for her, good or bad. In time, she’d wander down to the barn and join a circle of friends as if she was participating in the conversation. Over the last few months she forged a special friendship with a new volunteer, Marina. It started with just a “bite”, and became a routine, it seemed a daily offering, not only from Marina, but from all the volunteers. Popcorn, Doritos, Sun Chips….all kinds of human foods, bought specially for Cupcake. Bags of chips had her name.
This sore became an eyesore. It was ugly, it was all “C”. Yet, this gal remained unphased for nearly a year. It grew, as did our love for her, this amazing lil’ goat. She ate, she wandered, she visited the barn regularly. She never missed a meal. Sadly, the day came a few weeks ago when she pottied and she strained. Damn! A few days later, it happened again. Quality of life was number one. The day had come. The dreaded call was made, and “the” appointment was set with several days for everyone to say good bye to this special girl, with the promise we’d make a special trip to ease any pain.
Cupcake never skipped a beat until that very day. On her day, she was ready. She didn’t visit the barn. How blessed could we be that she chose the same day.
Wander and eat to your hearts content, sweetest one.
You’re brush is here any time you’d like to visit.
We’ll miss you, Cali Girl. You will be remembered in our hearts, youngest one.
Daily Horse Care, especially pm shifts needed now
(Daily 8a-12p or 3p-6p)
Used Tack Store Support, all areas needed now
(Fri – Mon, 12-4p, other days possible)
More opportunities:
Barn/Facility Maintenance
Foster Homes, Long-Term Foster/Sanctuary Homes
Capital Campaign Support
Board Members
Fundraising/Events
Grants – Writing and Research
Volunteer, Project, and Activity Coordinators
Outreach Activities
Youth Programs
Therapy Programs
Veteran Programs
Special Projects
Admin Support
Marketing
Graphics
Social Media
Bloggers
Photographers
Media and/or Photo Librarian
More, more, more
Interested in volunteering or volunteering in other areas?
In what might be considered a Valentine’s Day miracle, the House passed a spending package last night which included funding for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department of the Interior, completing Congressional action to avert a government shutdown with barely a day to spare. So what does this mean for wild horses and burros? Click below for more information.
On February 7, the BLM began the roundup and removal of wild horses from the Pine Nut Herd Management Area (HMA) in Nevada. The BLM intends to round up 575 of the wild horses and burros from their home on our public lands in this area. So far 316 horses have been captured, and inclement weather has postponed the operation for the last three days. Read our field observers’ reports from the roundup below.
On February 14, 2019, AWHC submitted comments on the Navy’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed project to expand the Fallon Range Training Complex in Nevada. There are 24 Herd Areas, totaling approximately 1.5 million acres, and 24 Herd Management Areas, totaling approximately 2.4 million acres that are within the project’s region of influence. AWHC has asked the Navy to further explain any management plans it has for the wild horses and burros within the zone of influence for its proposed project. Click below for more information.
YOU saved Artie!!!! Artie is with me in Shingletown and hopefully headed to NV soon.
Sadly, we are currently in a “Nursery 911”. Baby season is fast approaching, and although we have started to set up the nursery in Toppenish, we are devastatingly far behind. We need more shelter, more panels, Foal Lac Powder, Foal Lac Pellets, grain, medical supplies, shavings, hay for the babies, and the list is endless.When that phone rings, it is go time, and we won’t have time to do anything but provide critical care.
This year has been a nightmare of non-stop emergencies in the middle of another emergency. We need your help right away to get this nursery ready, and we need to fence in more space for the Devil’s Garden horses we have to “babysit” in NV.
We are praying a local rescue will step up to at least help with the Yakima foals.
For now it is Chilly Pepper – Mama Mel’s Urgent Care Nursery and the folks we work with to help place the babies. We cannot do this alone. It is way too much, and we are being called for more and more babies in NV.
Matt and I will be delivering 12 of the Devil’s Garden horses to the east coast. This was Matts gig, but we simply cannot mix newly gelded studs, with very pregnant mares. I don’t mind doing the work, but we need to raise funds for fuel, travel etc.
These are the wild horses being sold for $1 each – YES, ONE DOLLAR EACH and sold in lots of 34 horses? Hmmmm, sounds like a slaughter truck load to me.
So between delivering the kids that are being adopted in Idaho, bringing home the 11 that are still at Mama Mel’s, and getting the nursery ready in WA, we will be picking up the 12, then babysitting them until they can be transported back east, and doing our general baby season prep. SO FAR THERE IS ZERO FUNDING FOR my truck and trailer to get back East, expand the fencing, and to hire someone to take care of the ranch while we are gone.
We need more panels to put up appropriate fencing for the Devil’s Garden kids, so they can hang out at Chilly Pepper until we can safely transport them. We also need funds to feed the 12, and remember, 6 of them are heavily pregnant mares, and really enjoy their feed lol.
Artie is safe. He definitely has a long way to go though. His lil hoofers are horrible, and he needs to be gelded immediately. He is an 11 year old stallion who was much loved, spoiled rotten and knows basically nothing except that he wants his own way. He kicks and bites if asked to do something he doesn’t like or understand, but underneath it all, I believe he has heart of gold. I, of course, am madly in love with him :)
Sweetheart and Star Fire are hanging in there. Star Fire is still barely here, but we are hopeful that day by day she will improve and she will be able to have a wonderful life. Her spine is still all jacked up, so we are going day by day with lots of prayers. Back in Golconda, two more horses left for their new homes. I am so grateful to have folks who can do whatever it is that needs done!
We truly need your help to prep for baby season. The numbers have the potential to be astronomical, and we need a safe place, the right supplies and to be ready for these little ones. We have seen as many as 30 orphans from one catcher in a single day.
Last year, approximately 80,000 American horses were trucked to Canada and Mexico, where they were brutally slaughtered for human consumption in foreign countries. These horses suffer long journeys without adequate food, water or rest, to slaughter plants across the border, where they meet a terrifying end. It’s time to end this unspeakable cruelty in 2019. Support the SAFE Act to ban the slaughter of American horses by taking action today.
Two months ago, the U.S. Forest Service completed its roundup and removal of 932 horses from the Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory (DGWHT) in the Modoc National Forest near Alturas, CA. AWHC has teamed up with the Animal Legal Defense Fund to file suit to stop the sale for slaughter of these federally-protected horses for slaughter. We’re also sponsoring state legislation to strengthen slaughter protections for all California horses. Read the latest about the horses and our efforts to help them below.
The first roundup of 2019 is set to begin Thursday in the Pine Nut Herd Management Area (HMA) outside of Carson City, Nevada. The BLM is scheduled to remove approximately 575 wild horses from the 95,000-acre HMA. This roundup continues the BLM’s inhumane and fiscally unsound approach to wild horse management. AWHC will be onsite to document the roundup and will provide daily reports from the frontlines. Learn more about the HMA and the upcoming roundup.