With our movement battling on so many fronts, I wanted to send around a quick update:
U.S. Senate Vote Coming Soon
The Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee is now expected to mark up its spending bill next week, with full committee consideration of the legislation the week after. Since the House passed a spending bill that lifts the longstanding prohibition on the destruction of healthy wild horses and burros, it’s critical that the Senate maintain these protections. These votes will likely determine what the final budget language is — and the lives of tens of thousands of wild horses literally hang in the balance.
If Congress fails to protect wild horses, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has said it would like to “dispose” of so-called excess wild horses and burros by killing them. So it’s no surprise the agency is already rounding up wild horses with renewed gusto. BLM-contracted helicopters have returned once again to the Wyoming Checkerboard, where 46 wild horses were captured and removed from their homes on the range yesterday. The roundup will continue until 1,500 wild horses lose their freedom and their families. Other roundups pending in Wyoming and Nevada will remove 10,000 more wild horses from the range.
Several weeks ago, we exposed what we dubbed the Salt Lake City Slaughter Summit. Pro-slaughter politicians, bureaucrats and lobbyists gathered in Salt Lake City, excluding members of the humane management community. Despite their spin claiming a scientific and humane approach, the truth came out this week: A survey released by summit organizers shows that 99 percent of participants support eating horses. Of the top six “highly-supported options” for how to address horse and burro issues, three involved eating horses, one involved killing horses, and two involved selling horses to be killed. Protecting wild horses didn’t make the cut. What a sham.
With key U.S. Senate votes coming soon, roundups increasing, and our opponents pulling out all the stops, our movement is activating on all fronts. We’ve gathered more than 300,000 petitions signatures, we’re holding meetings with key members in DC and in home offices, our latest round of billboards are live, and we’re planning new advertisements to be released soon.
Our opponents have a lot of power and a lot of money. But we have the opinion of the American people and an incredible movement behind us. Together, we can win this.
The U.S. Senate appropriations committee is voting as early as next week on whether to continue protections for wild horses. The final vote could be used in December’s budget package and lead to the mass slaughter of America’s wild horses.
This is no time to rest. Tomorrow we’re launching a new billboard right outside the airport in Las Vegas. Nevada voters, political leaders and tourists will see our message loud and clear: #NoHorseSlaughter. Since Nevada has over half the nation’s wild horses living within its borders, it’s important to know where its Senators stand.
This comes on the heels of our petition drop last week — when we delivered more than 300,000 petition signatures to Sen. Heller’s Las Vegas office. We were there with nine boxes of signatures, and the local media was there to report on our movement in action.
Tomorrow, we’re also launching a billboard in Phoenix. But with votes expected as early as next week, we’re hoping to expand our advertising and grassroots pressure.Please donate now, and we’ll be in touch with you in the next 48 hours with other ways you can help during this critical stretch.
Well they just keep coming. I received an urgent call last night about 5 foals ready to ship up in Washington State. I spoke with the gentlemen this morning and he will be calling in the next few days to arrange a time for us to pick them up. (Providing we can raise the funds necessary to keep saving these lives.) We are also on standby from our other folks in WA as well.
The larger number of babies, which at this point is 30 – 60 weanlings, will need to be picked up in CA, by September 17 or around that time. As usual in our world, there are no “for sures” with the exception of the fact that there will be a very large number of babies to save. We won’t know how many or how much help there will be. These babies lives will be at stake so we are hoping that y’all are on board to save them. At this time, we are really strapped from the last batch of 49 Yakama kids and the orphans from NV.The gelding of the stallions was not quite covered and the total bill was around $3300+. This included Nya’s vet visit and her blood draw.Unfortunately the wilder ones generate so much adrenaline that they require larger amounts of medication, and that medication is extremely expensive.
On the plus side of success however, you have once again “done the impossible”. ALL the stallions (now geldings) will be heading to Idaho and many of them already have their forever homes lined up. This is only possible due to the love and support y’all have showed for these amazing animals.
What will happen with the larger number of foals: We will be able to commit to as many as we can afford to transport, get blood work done, and be able to care for. These babies will need special munchies, and some of them may still need milk supplements. That is really expensive. However, many of them are older and will simply need some good grain and hay. But winter is coming and we cannot commit to horses we cannot properly care for.
It is not a space issue, but a financial one. We simply cannot fund this rescue from our rescue without lots of help.
The option for these babies if they are not adopted is not a very happy one. From what I understand they would be released back into the wild but without their moms or a band to protect them. Coming right before winter I believe that would be a death sentence. There is also a possibility that ALL the babies would come to Chilly Pepper in NV on their way to other rescues. However, that has to be fully funded as we cannot feed them “air” if funding did not come through.
Unfortunately, there are more horses than homes right now, but if everyone who had the ability stepped up and was willing to take on one or two, it would be a minimal task.
“The Plan’. IF, WE CAN RAISE ENOUGH FUNDS TO RESPONSIBLY SAVE THESE BABIES, the following will happen. (As Far As We Know LOL)
Matt and I would pick up the babies and take them to our old place in CA. We still have the nursery and the outside foal room as well as lots of shelter available for these babies. Then we would have to get a blood test for “Coggins” prior to bringing them to NV. It would take approximately 4 trips from the pick up point to Shingletown and about 2 hours each one way trip when loaded.
Then all the babies would need to be vetted and have their blood drawn.
Once the blood test results were in, we would begin transporting the babies to our facility in NV. However, again we simply cannot take any of these foals on without having a realistic and responsible budget to work with.
Worst case scenario, we would be looking at approximately 5,000 + miles to pick up the kids in WA and to pick up the babies. If we are close to the max number, we would take 4 round trips to Shingletown and then once we had blood work, health certificates etc. we would head back to NV. We are down to an older “back up truck” and we can haul 15 babies per load, give or take depending on size and health.
So it is once again AN EMERGENCY SITUATION for these babies. We are praying many of them are adopted prior to the pick up date, but have been asked to be standing by to help as many of the ones that we can.
So we are looking at up to 60 lives at stake. I am hoping folks want us to save them and are willing to help. We need adopters, sponsors, donors and lots and lots of prayers. Once again this is an overwhelming task that could be considered a logistical nightmare. OR, it can be a task where everyone steps up and together we get it done. After sorting all the 900+ kids in SD and so many people coming together to take on one or two, this seems like it should be so much easier. If 60 people stepped up each and every baby could have a wonderful home.
PLEASE, let’s save these beautiful little lives and give them a chance to actually have a life.
We can not take on all the babies if there are no other rescues in line to help out. We will take the max we can based on the ability to provide care, feed and what they need until they find their new homes.
This really is an emergency and with so many little lives at stake I am confident that we can come together and make this happen. God bless and thank you from all the little ones waiting for their trip to safety.
I really do not enjoy fundraising, but it is for the horses and the only way we can save them. It will cost thousands, but together we CAN “git ‘er done”!
I honestly was hoping to not even be involved, but once again God put it in front of me so we will do our best, as once again we come together with our Chilly Pepper Family.
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
American Horse Council Makes Changes to Governance Structure
American Horse Council (AHC) President Julie Broadway and the AHC Board of Trustees are pleased to announce two governance changes to the AHC’s Board effective 2018.
The current 15-person Board of Trustees of the AHC is made up of individuals representing organizations that hold AHC Organizational Memberships at the “Strategic” level*. These organizations include The Jockey Club, American Association of Equine Practitioners, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, US Trotting Association, US Equestrian Federation, Thoroughbred Racing Association of North America, and the American Quarter Horse Association. Starting in January 2018, the AHC Board will add two “at large” seats.
The first “at large” seat will be filled by the current Chair of the Coalition of State Horse Councils. The second “at large” seat will be determined by applications.
In January the AHC President will call for applicants for the second “at large” seat from current AHC member organizations to serve a maximum two year term on the AHC Board. Only member organizations paying dues at the level designated for their size organization are eligible. Applicant’s organization must be willing to commit to the time needed to serve on the board and cover expenses necessary to attend meetings, etc.
In March the Board will review all applicants and elect a trustee based upon: 1) the need for that sector of industry to have a voice not currently represented by sitting trustees, and 2) the individual’s background and knowledge of the equine industry.
As part of the AHC’s strategic plan, a task force was formed to review the organization’s overall governance structure and ensure relevancy and best practices. Based upon their research it was recommended that additional voices and perspectives would be beneficial. The AHC is looking forward to these additions to the board and would like to express its appreciation to the Governance Task Force and Membership Task Force for their research and input.
As the national organization representing the equine industry in Washington, DC, the AHC strives to be inclusive while ensuring the board is a manageable size and the trustees are strongly committed to AHC’s mission. The AHC feels these additions will serve us well as we look ahead at challenges facing the equine industry.
To learn more about the AHC’s governance and opportunities to participate on ad hoc committees, task forces and standing committees go towww.horsecouncil.org/goverance.
*to view the organizational membership levels available, click here
It seems as though summer is in a hurry to leave. This morning was downright chilly. Fall is definitely in the air. The donkeys and mules feel it too. There has been a lot of running and bucking and farting happening in the pasture today. I have been getting calls from folks who are going to be needing to surrender their animals before winter comes. We have had a good summer for adopting out animals, with three donkeys and the adorable mini horse we have going to their new home shortly.
We have five animals in the rescue currently, four standard donkeys and a hinny, who all need a lot more training/handling/behavioral work done with them before they will be ready to be put up for adoption. We work with them almost daily, but it’s been slow going with this group. I am confident that they will come around in time, but in the mean time they need to eat and have their feet trimmed and receive veterinary care and it’s putting a strain on our bank account.
Those of you whom have been getting this newsletter for any amount of time, know how much I hate having to ask for help. I try not to do so unless we are in a pinch. We are not there yet, but heading that way, so if anyone can make a financial donation of any amount it will be very gratefully appreciated. Once the animals can no longer be on pasture our feed bills go up and I don’t feel right if we don’t have a “cushion” in case of an emergency veterinary issue arising. Our cushion does not have much stuffing in it right now. I thank you in advance for any help you might be able to offer. All donations are tax deductible.
Our annual Donkey and Mule Benefit Fall Festival will be held in Alstead at Millot Green again this year. The date is October 7th. I hope to see a lot of you there. It’s such a fun day. We will be having a big booth at Equine Affaire again this year as well. The dates for that are November 9th-12th. I hope to see many of you there as well. Both gigs are like an old home day reunion. I love seeing folks that I only get to see during these events. Equine Affaire comes on the heels of the Donkey Welfare Symposium again this year so hopefully I’ll be able to answer everyone’s donkey questions with new found knowledge!
With all the political hurdles and jargon, let’s not lose sight of what we’re protecting.
Last week, I had the privilege of visiting the Onaqui range in Utah. Beautiful, majestic and healthy bands roaming the American countryside. Animals that roam on a tiny fraction of public lands. Animals that should be protected, not destroyed.
I visited the Onaqui range a day after the Utah pro-slaughter summit “delegation” visited. It was a carefully orchestrated sham, using their “field visit” to justify the mass slaughter of America’s wild horses. Our opponents claim wild horses are starving and suffering.
The reality: healthy horses. Look at the pictures yourself. There is no crisis on our public lands. There are healthy, wild horses thriving on the countryside. Horses that could be safely, economically, and humanely managed with fertility control.
Our government should be protecting these animals, not plotting how to eliminate them.
As September begins, there will be lots of talk about continuing resolutions, committee votes, and legislative markup. But let’s not forget what it all boils down to: the protection of America’s symbol of freedom.
Thank you for being with us,
Suzanne Roy
P.S. Your donation will fund active programs now that pressure lawmakers, educate influencers, and expand our grassroots movement. Please donate — we NEED your support.
It’s the last week of the summer congressional recess. And it’s looking increasingly likely that the fate of America’s wild horses and burros will come down to the actions of the United States Senate.
That’s why NOW is the time to call both of your U.S. Senators.
Don’t know the phone number for your Senator? Call the switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected.
Tell them:
“I’m [name] and a constituent of Sen. xx. I urge him/her to vote to ensure that any 2018 Interior Department spending legislation maintains the prohibitions against killing healthy wild horses and burros or selling them for slaughter. 80% of Americans oppose killing these national icons, please stand with us by protecting these national icons from mass killing and slaughter.”
When you’re done, you can click here to follow-up with an email to both of your Senators.
All our hard work is paying off. Last week, we exposed the sham pro-slaughter summit in Utah, we hand delivered over 300,000 petition signatures to a key swing vote in Congress, and new, bipartisan legislation was introduced to maintain the ban on killing healthy horses.
When this summer began, things looked bleak. It appeared the White House and Congress were about to do the unthinkable — open the door to the killing of nearly 100,000 healthy horses and burros. We now have a real chance to stop this, and to protect America’s majestic icons of freedom.
We cannot let up. Call, call, call. Email, email, email. Keep up the great work. You’re making a real difference.
Thank you,
Grace Kuhn
P.S. If you are able, also please consider a donation. We’re pulling out all the stops right now and every dollar helps.
Blue is a young mustang gelding out of Nevada who came to AAE after Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund and Virginia Range Wild Horse Sanctuary asked for assistance with this handsome guy. He had a large mass over his rear fetlock/pastern area, and was unhalterable when he arrived at AAE.
He made great progress getting ready for his initial veterinary evaluation (exam, radiographs, and biopsy) resulted in a positive outlook. The bone in his fetlock area looked good and a biopsy confirmed the growth to be granulation tissue (proud flesh). However, due to the size of the mass, healing was expected to take considerable time.
We started working on gentling and desensitizing Blue to get him comfortable with his legs being handled for post-surgical care (treatment and bandaging). However, he experienced a set back with what we initially thought was a reaction to something (e.g. fly spray, a weed, a bite, or some other toxin) and required additional diagnostics, treatment and healing before we could move forward with surgery.
Blue made great strides with accepting humans and allowing his leg to be handled. Understandably, he was very sensitive with anything near the “blob”. His surgery was successfully completed on Wednesday, August 23. Due to the size, nature, and location of the surgery, he will need long term bandaging and care for best healing results. We are anticipating needing lots of bandaging materials, post-op care, and likely the use of sedation in early visits to ensure safe handling.
Last week, we traveled to Utah to document the first roundup of wild horses this season. Contrary to the claim perpetuated by the BLM, politicians and ranchers that mustangs are starving on the range, our video shows healthy wild horses being captured and it has reached over 1 million people.
Critics maintain Utah mustang meeting a secretive ‘slaughter summit’
Utah State University hosts wild horse summit, but excludes key advocates and the public
State & Federal managers discuss fate of wild horses, with media and advocates locked out
And yesterday, a bipartisan amendment was introduced in the House Representatives by Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV), Peter King (R-NY) and Jared Polis (D-CO) to reverse the deadly Stewart Amendment and restore the prohibition on killing healthy, federally-protected wild horses and burros.
Our goal this summer has been to keep the pressure on, expose our opponents’ real agenda, and set the table for September, which we expect will be the deciding month for our movement and for the future of wild horses and burros in this country.
We’re off to a strong start. But we need you to keep up the pressure. So keep emailing, calling, donating, and sharing. We will win this fight!
Thank you for being a part of our #NoRecessForHorses Summer of Action. Our goal has been to keep the pressure every day on legislators while they’re back home to make it clear: the American people will not stand for the mass slaughter of America’s wild horses. Our own polling shows 80% of Americans are with us.
Have you spoken to your Representative yet? If not, its not too late to be heard. Here’s what you can do:
If they are, please attend and ask them if they are committed to stoping any attempts towards the slaughter, euthanasia, or destruction of healthy wild horses. If they answer, make sure to let us know: contact@americanwildhorsecampaign.org.
If you don’t know where your member stands on this issue, now’s the time to find out. And if they’re supporting slaughter, now is the time to change their mind! Votes are expected in September that may decide the fate of American wild horses. So keep up the pressure! #NoHorseSlaughter #NoRecessForHorses!
They have arrived. Today, the “wild horse summit” kicks off in Salt Lake City, bringing together pro-slaughter “wildlife managers” and livestock special interests to lay the roadmap for the killing of America’s healthy wild horses. They’re banking on the pro-slaughter federal legislation passing.
As you can imagine, we were not invited. But we’re heading to Salt Lake City anyways. Thanks to your help, our billboard is up, our digital ads are running, and we’re planning a press conference and grassroots mobilization.
This week’s summit is a pro-slaughter sham. People with actual experience implementing humane management solutions are being deliberately excluded. Peer-reviewed science documenting the success of humane fertility control as an alternative to roundup and slaughter is being censored.
But thanks to your help, we’re not going to let federal officials and politicians hear only their one-sided, pro-slaughter message.
Thank you for everything. Let’s keep it up!
— Grace Kuhn, American Wild Horse Campaign
P.S. We still need donations to help support our efforts this week in Salt Lake City and around the country.
Meet Walker, a Yakama stallion saved from slaughter. As you can see, he is in desperate need of groceries.He is in the worst shape of the 7 we picked up, but they are all in extremely poor condition. However, when you think of his alternate destination, slaughter would have been his destiny.
We have some great news on the baby front. We have 5 scheduled adoptions for babies heading to their new homes in California. This will help our “milk load” tremendously, and leave only 10 orphans vs. the 15 we have now.
We also have potential homes for 7 of the younger stallions, AFTER they are gelded. Right now we really need to raise funds to accomplish that. Then they will be off the Chilly Pepper books for good. :)
Until we geld and place more horses, I have to say “no”, to anything but babies, and that is a horrific thought. We also had a lady who was trying to sponsor the gelding of these 14 stallions, but her funding fell through.
So we have been taking some serious hits in the financial area, but I know that God will provide as this is His rescue.
Our little man Sky seems to be heading towards darkness, as he is losing much of his vision. We are not sure how much he has lost so far, but he is obviously having severe problems. We suspected as much weeks ago, but he has unfortunately proven it to be a certainty. We just don’t know if he will keep any of his sight. But he is a sweetheart.
When we picked up the last batch of horses, we had some pledges for substantial donations. Of course you never count the money before you have it, but you cannot help but consider the possibility of what can be done with it. We have amazing and very reliable folks who donate, but life does happen. Whether it is a change of heart, financial situation, or other life emergency, plans do change. Unfortunately some of the donations promised in regards to the stallions and the orphans did not arrive.
I received a note stating something to the effect of living in an “emergency” all the time is not good. I have to say I totally agree. However, that being said, Chilly Pepper is not a “normal” rescue. We DO NOT ever search out horses to save. By that I mean we do not attend auctions, go to kill pens etc. to try and save horses. Every single horse we save comes via an emergency phone call, and yes, the highest percentages are true emergencies.
When I get the call for the Yakama horses, I am the ONLY one getting that call. If I say no, I cannot get them, they go straight to slaughter. They do not go to auction and have a chance to get bid on. They are considered “organic” and are in great demand due to the lack of drugs. So that is always an emergency as I have hours at the most to say yes or no to saving them, and then have to be on the road, usually in a matter of hours.
The first 3 months of this year that we spent in South Dakota were part of one of those “emergencies”. I was the only one who was available and qualified to safely sort the 800+ horses at ISPMB. In reality, there are very few folks with those skills, and I had to step up for those horses. One of the rescues who were thinking about getting involved told Elaine “we need more than just a girl to sort those horses”. But the old, crippled girl “got ‘er done”, with the help of her half crippled hubby and some other folks. So we pretty much do what God puts in front of us, and it is usually always at the last minute and somewhat crazy.
Folks talk about our “organization” and it always makes me smile. We are part of LRTC, our parent 501c3, but when it comes to raising money and doing what we do, “Matt and I” are it. Chilly Pepper is myself, and my hubby along side of me. What makes it great is the extended family, who are you, the folks reading this email. So again, THANK YOU for helping.
I am hoping we can raise funds asap to get these stallions gelded and moved out of here. Right now we are going through hay like water and once they are gelded we have potential homes for at least 7 of them.
So please help if you can. It will cost roughly $300 +/- for gelding, vaccinations and prepping them for their new homes. We really would like to get them settled soon, so any help you can give is much appreciated.
The babies are all improving (except for Sky’s vision), so once again YOU DID IT! You have made it possible to save so many lives, but the mission isn’t finished until they are safely placed and transported to their new homes.
Thank you for helping us rehab and re-home these stallions. As you can see from Walker’s picture, he has been through more than any horse should go through.
Thank you for being part of the Chilly Pepper family and saving so many lives!
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
You did it. In less than a week, you blew past our goal of $10,000 to put a billboard up in Salt Lake City during the pro-slaughter “Wild Horse Summit.” Thanks to your help, the billboard goes up tomorrow morning as legislators and pro-slaughter “wildlife managers” arrive in Utah. (We’ll post pictures of the live billboard on our Facebook page early this week.)
We’ve now raised nearly $20,000 and if we can raise another $10,000, we can add billboards in Phoenix, Reno, and Las Vegas — targeting some of the key votes that could decide the fate of wild horses in our country.
The summit this week in Salt Lake City is a sham. The gathering will bring together pro-slaughter “wildlife managers” and other special interests to lay the roadmap for the killing of America’s healthy wild horses. They’re banking on the pro-slaughter legislation passing.
We were not invited. People with actual experience implementing humane management solutions are being deliberately excluded. Peer-reviewed science documenting the success of humane fertility control as an alternative to roundup and slaughter is being censored.
But we’re not going to let federal officials and politicians hear only their one-sided, pro-slaughter message. Our billboard goes up on Monday, we’re saturating the event and hotel with mobile and digital ads, and on Wednesday we’re working with our coalition partner, The Cloud Foundation, and convening a press conference to raise attention to our (correct) side of the story.
We will not let undecided legislators and the media get taken for a ride.
This has to be our strategy nationwide. Our opponents are running aggressive campaigns to get their way. They’re convening summits, holding dinners, and lobbying. They’re banking on the hope that we won’t be as aggressive or as savvy. They’re wrong.
Our opponents are trying to pull a fast one on us. They’re taking Utah public money to convene a “Wild Horse Summit” in Salt Lake City next week. The gathering will attract pro-slaughter “wildlife managers” and other pro-ranching special interests to lay the roadmap to begin the killing of America’s healthy wild horses. The Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, is expected to attend.
We were not invited. People with actual experience implementing humane management solutions are being deliberately excluded. Peer-reviewed science documenting the success of humane fertility control as an alternative to roundup and slaughter is being censored.
We have just 48 hours to raise $10,000 to fund this billboard, social media ads and media campaign to fight back.
Our opponents are trying to cook up every slanted argument they can: they claim the healthy horses are dying on the range and should be euthanized (not true). They claim they’re overrunning our public lands (even though horses are on only 17% of BLM rangeland). And they claim killing is the only way to manage the population (despite the sound science of proven birth control methods).
We need to get the facts out there. Our team will be working with the media to correct the facts, and we’ll be running digital and outdoor ads in Salt Lake City to make it clear how the American public feels about slaughter.
We need your help to do this. With Congress currently considering pro-slaughter legislation, we cannot let this Salt Lake City pro-slaughter dog-and-pony show take place without us fighting back.
The American Horse Council Foundation (AHCF) has announced that it will be extending the deadline to take the survey to update the National Economic Impact Study to September 4th.
AHCF and Study sponsors felt the deadline should be extended due to a last-minute surge in responses to give everyone ample opportunity to complete the survey, allow for the ‘back to school’ audience, and responses in progress. The AHC continues to encourage people to share the survey link on available platforms such as email, social media, blogs, websites, etc. For those interested in sharing the survey, please use the following link: https://innovationgroup.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0oaYvVhgaWHgpvL?Source=Request
This study documents the economic effects of racing, showing, recreation, rodeo and other segments of the horse industry on the state and national economy. It provides invaluable data on the number of horses, jobs, and related industries that are impacted by horse ownership, and it shows the diverseness of the industry we all love. The economic data that we collect from this study will help us chart a course for the future, and give the general public and members of Congress the most accurate portrait of the economic impact the diverse equine industry has.
As a reminder, all data is completely confidential, and will not be shared. As such, the AHC encourages survey respondents to share as much economic data as they can in order to ensure the most accurate economic impact portrait of the diverse equine industry. The AHC particularly encourages everyone to provide information on your horse-related expenses since they will form the primary basis of the economic impact.
If you have any questions, please contact the AHC. We appreciate your participation in the update of this incrediby important study!
ABOVE – one of our newest critical kids, “Little Riata”, who is in extremely rough shape.
She is another starvation case with a severe injury to her back leg. She and Tesla’s Full Moon (another orphan from NV) were delivered to CPMM two days ago. Little Riata will also need veterinary care as well as special feed to give her a chance at survival.
Travis (my son) and I are back on the road and picking up the stock trailer, 7 stallions and 4 orphans.We are driving the “back up”, a 2003 Ford who has also been living at the shop. The good news is that she has another year under her “used truck” warranty, so hopefully she will be a reliable “band aid”. We will also be needing 6 new tires for her today, prior to hooking up the trailer and loading our precious cargo. (Approx estimate $1500).
Matt is busy working on other projects so everyone is busy as usual.
Princess Felina is hanging in there, but having issues gaining weight. At one point it appeared she was just “too tired”, and I was afraid we would lose her than night, but with lots of prayers she pulled through. The vet said her blood work is ok, she is just a starvation case. It is going to take lots of time and money to get her healthy.
We had to have Doc out to lance a huge abscess on Kahlua that just “showed up”. Doc thought maybe there are pieces of whatever caused her injury that are moving about. It was extremely gross but a life saving procedure. She is hanging in there and also on medication.
Unfortunately circumstances dictated that Trav and I run up here asap to get the trailer and the 11 horses, but we have a wonderful “horsey” family who is staying at the ranch caring for the kids until we get back. It kills me to leave the babies even for a couple of days but we simply have to do what is necessary and the babies should be fine until we get back.
At this point we will have a total of 15 orphans (including the 4 we are picking up), the injured yearling, 14 stallions who need to be gelded asap so we can find them homes and 15 others, including the blind, special needs and others soon to be ready for adoption.
We need to purchase about $5,000 worth of hay for the next couple of months and we are going through milk pellets and “baby feed” at an amazing rate. Each baby is a minimum of $300 per month just for the basic milk needs. Luckily some of them are bigger and will be leaving the “milk zone” within the next couple of months. But we are looking at about $5000 for milk pellets, grain, hay etc. This does not include the vet bills.
Doc will be coming out as soon as we get home to evaluate our newest little girl. We are looking at a purchase of about $3000 – $4000 + as we will be bringing home a special chute for the wild horses.
Gelding is more expensive with wild horses, especially when you have less than professional equipment. It is extremely dangerous for your Veterinarian and it also creates undue stress for the stallions. We are looking at about $250 just for the gelding per stallion and at 14, that comes out to about$3500, plus vaccines and worming.
The stallions have to be gelded in order to place them, so that is an urgent matter.
Ideally every rescue handling wild horses has a tilt squeeze (and the bigger, well financed rescues all have them). The horses are squeezed in a very well padded chute where they become calm and it is much less stressful to do vet work etc.
Having a squeeze means it is much safer for your Doc and the horses need less drugs. They are much calmer and about a 100 times less likely to break a leg or rear up and hit their heads or break their necks.
You can also tilt them and do the hoofers of the wild kids in a safe environment. However, the price for the “good equipment” lol is about $35,000, so being able to get a set up that is still about 70% safer than what we are currently using for the horses (and safer for the folks handling them) for $3,000 – $ 4,000 is definitely a win/win for everyone.
So this is what is happening at Chilly Pepper right now and what we need help with.
Again, we cannot thank you enough for all the lives you are saving. None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for everyone in our “Chilly Pepper Family”. Together we are saving lots of lives, and for each and every horse, it is literally their whole world. As always, I am behind on individual thank you’s, but they are slowly coming. Thank you for your patience on this issue.
I am praying the phone stops ringing, and we have a chance to breathe. But for now we need to get these kids ready for their new homes.
THANK YOU AGAIN! for saving these lives. Y’all rock!
As you can see below, Tia and Princess Felina are very relaxed and both are improving thanks to y’all.
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
As members of Congress return to their home states to visit constituents through Labor Day, the American Horse Council urges members to advocate for legislative solutions to the federal government’s beleaguered temporary worker visa program. To fix the regulatory chaos that plagues the H-2B application process, tell your elected officials – whether during a town hall meeting or visit to the local farmers’ market – to support the important measures below. In the event you don’t see your elected officials this summer, you can contact their D.C. offices at 202-225-3121, where staff members will note your concerns and brief your representatives when they return in the fall.
Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations
For immediate relief, tell lawmakers to support H-2B cap and regulatory flexibility through the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations process. Congress is considering language in the current spending bill that will force agencies to manage the visa program in an efficient manner for at least one year. With the current fiscal year ending September 30, Congress must address funding immediately after Labor Day. For long-term fixes to the broken system, see the measures below:
Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2017 (S. 792)
This bipartisan bill would establish clear guidelines for employers hiring H-2B workers, assuring that U.S. citizens are not displaced in the job market;
Provide cap relief by establishing a common sense exemption for well-vetted workers who have already held a visa during the previous three years;
And require increased coordination between the Departments of Labor (DHS) and Homeland Security (DHS) to reduce red tape and delays.
Strengthen Employment and Seasonal Opportunities Now Act of 2017 (SEASON) (H.R. 2004)
Similar to the Senate bill, this legislation would expand exemptions for workers who have previously been vetted by immigration officials, thereby increasing cap relief.
Establish expedited processing of applications to meet labor demands during peak seasons.
And exempt temporary visa holders from tax credits otherwise available to full-time U.S. residents, thereby reducing costs to taxpayers.
In mid-January, the government hit the 33,000 visa cap for the first half of the year. In March, the agency met its 33,000 visa allocation for the second half of 2017, leaving many small businesses who rely on seasonal labor without workers for the summer months. Although DHS issued an additional 15,000 visas on July 17, the agency issued those visas on an ad hoc, discretionary basis, undermining common sense business planning. The July decision will also create limited benefits for small businesses relying on summertime help.
For more information on immigration and related legislation and federal actions, please contact Bryan Brendle, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, at 202-296-4031 or bbrendle@horsecouncil.org.
This week only…Get your limited edition #ImWithTheBand T-shirt…and support our work!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our limited-edition #ImWithTheBand T-shirts inspired by a beautiful image of Wyoming wild horses by renowned photographer, Kimerlee Curyl! For the next six days, our friends at FLOAT will donate $8 for every shirt sold to the American Wild Horse Campaign.
Please visit www.float.org and SHOP today – there are lots of fun colors and styles to choose from! This is a great way to support our work to protect America’s wild horsesand look fabulous! Don’t miss this opportunity!
On July 26, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) introduced the “Recreation Not Red-Tape Act (RNR)” (S. 1633, H.R. 3400), legislation that expands the scope of the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act (PL 114-245), signed into law in late 2016. While the RNR focuses on streamlined permitting to access public lands, the bill includes provisions that would authorize the Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to enter into cooperative agreements with private parties to promote the role of volunteers in trail maintenance. The bill also authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and BLM to develop an interagency trail management plan that will assure uniform maintenance standards for trails crossing jurisdictional lines between the two agencies.
The Trails Act outlines a detailed program including goals and timetables by which the USDA will leverage private partners to clear trails long overdue for maintenance. Unlike the RNR Act, which applies to both the BLM and USDA’s National Forest System (NFS), the Trails Act focuses only on trails under the jurisdiction of the NFS.
Chairman Bishop and Sen. Wyden worked closely on the bill to emphasize key issues – especially outdoor recreation permit streamlining – that will likely attract bipartisan support. GOP staff with the House Natural Resources Committee, which is the committee of jurisdiction for federal land issues, are encouraging AHC and allies to help drive cosponsors for the legislation, which currently has none. Committee staff also state that the Subcommittee on Federal Lands will conduct a markup in late September or October, giving members the opportunity to offer technical corrections and amendments to the text.