Consequences of Rock Springs RMP Amendments?

The closure of three HMAs in the Wyoming checkerboard, and downsizing of a fourth, represent theft of economic resources, according to an opinion piece posted today by WyoFile, a member-supported public-interest news service.

These changes, prompted by a court order, will benefit public-lands ranchers, as stated in the column.

But they’re really just a formality. Under the current management plans, the HMAs are already managed primarily for livestock.

Rock Springs Summary-4

In the revised management plans, crumbs allocated to the horses will likely be assigned to the ranchers—on land set aside for the horses.

But look at the bright side. Losses from declining tourism may be offset, at least partially, by a high-density horse feeding operation on the other side of the state.

Instead of spending the afternoon and half a tank of gas driving the Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop, you can go straight to Burns and see as many as 5,000 wild horses crammed onto 80 acres.

PSA 12-24-19

Laramie County Commissioners Meet Tomorrow

The rule change that would bring a high-density horse feeding operation to Burns, WY will be considered in an online public hearing. Item 22 on the agenda. The first page has instructions for viewing and participating in the meeting.

UPDATE: Refer to this report by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. The county planning commission sided with residents, opposing the rule change 3 – 0.

New Twist in Rock Springs RMP Amendments?

Ranchers in the Wyoming Checkerboard don’t want any wild horses on their land but want to graze as many of their animals as possible on the horses’ land. Sound familiar?

Now, the largest private landowner in the area may be interested in selling its property to the state of Wyoming, according to a guest column appearing today in Horse Nation.

Mustang Monday

On the Pryor Mountains WHR with Kris Collett.

Didn’t Get the Memo?

No reason to panic. You have until July 15 to file your taxes.

Water Tanks 04-15-20

Thoughts on New Colt

A month has passed since he was born but I still can’t look at the photos and videos from that first hour. The day turned out well, of course, but the anxiety lingers.

I did not think he was going to make it.

Normally, I’m hands off on these things. Not that I have a whole lot of experience in this area—I don’t—but after watching him struggle for nearly an hour, shivering and exhausted, I couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer.

The problem was the amniotic sac. Maybe mom could have worked it loose with a bit more time but I wasn’t going to take that chance.

I grabbed the rake and used the handle to slide it off his back legs, like pulling his pants down.

Mom was not thrilled with my involvement. But then I went back to cleaning the corral.

That’s the difference you see between the images at 2:40 and 2:45 in the following video.

I still think he’s small for his age. Perhaps he was born a week or two early. That would explain much of what I saw that day.

Yes, I’ve touched his nose but that’s it. No stalls, no blankets, no halters, no imprinting.

The PZP Zealots Are Wrong

These figures show you why: Eighty five percent of the forage on 17 areas (representing about two dozen HMAs) goes to privately owned livestock. Not only do they want the pattern to continue, they want to tip the scales further in the direction of the ranchers, by reversing the growth rate of the horses.

Why PZP Zealots Are Wrong A-1

Refer to the signatories of this unified statement from 2018.

Contraceptives are not the answer. The problem is public-lands ranching.

RELATED: Hypothesis Revisited.

Comments Invited on Spring Creek EA

BLM announced today the start of a 30-day comment period on a draft environmental assessment for changes to wild horse management on the Spring Creek Basin HMA in southwestern Colorado.

Resources in the area can support up to 80 wild horses, according to Section 3.1.2 of the EA. The current AML is 65. The proposed action would increase the AML but limit herd growth rates to no more than ten percent per year.

Other management objectives involve age distribution, body condition, dispersion and genetic diversity, similar to the goals of the Pryor Mountains revamp.

Livestock grazing has been greatly reduced inside the HMA, a factor contributing to the AML increase. Forage utilization outside the HMA was not discussed, probably because it’s outside the scope of the management plan.

The HMA is only slightly larger than the tiny Heber WHT and the new AML is only half the size recommended in Section 4.4.6.3 of the WHB Management Handbook.

The population target could be achieved by doubling the size of the HMA, which means taking back the land now designated as a Herd Area (see map in linked post below).

Comments can be submitted at this page. Substantive only, please.

Mask Coming Off

Baby fur receding from eyes and nose, revealing true coat color. Day 29 for this guy.

Mask Coming Off

How HMAs Should Be

Wild horses on the Virginia Range compete mostly with wildlife for food and water, not privately owned livestock. It’s an example of what Congress intended for federal lands in the original WHB Act.

Water Tanks 04-04-20

The Other Rock Springs RMP Amendments

The closure of three HMAs in the Wyoming checkerboard, and downsizing of a fourth, will be accompanied by other changes, as BLM updates the resource management plan for the area. The revamped plan will be released for public comments this spring, according to a report posted yesterday by the Casper Star Tribune.

This week marks the end of the comment period on an Environmental Impact Statement for changes to wild horse management in the Rock Springs area.

The existing management plan was only slightly biased against the horses.

Rock Springs Summary-4

Their Goal is Sterilization

Another story about the Virginia Range darting program, sponsored by the No American Wild Horse Campaign, with concurrence of the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

There’s no justification for it. These people are as wicked as the day is long.

Life in the Mountains

A disadvantage of living in the mountains is you get the full blast as weather systems move through. Valleys are more protected but you don’t get the views.

These trailcam photos show some Virginia Range mustangs on a windy day. Note the movement of the tank on the left.

System was off and hoses were disconnected. Tank was found about 50 feet away.

Water Tanks 03-14-20

Mustang Monday

On the Onaqui Mountain HMA with The RVing Artist.

Corolla Herd Adds Third Foal

It’s a filly according to a report posted today by WVEC News of Norfolk, VA. Baby takes after mom in the color department (both are bays).

What is a Yard Hydrant?

It’s an underground valve for cold climates. The photo below shows a Woodford model Y34. You can find them online and at home improvement stores.

When you lift the handle, the valve opens and water flows out of the standard 3/4″ hose nozzle. When you lower the handle, the valve closes and water drains out of the riser pipe through an underground weep hole. That’s what makes it freeze-proof.

The first three minutes of this video will give you an overview of the product.

Of course, if you leave the valve open in freezing temperatures, with no flow, you’re going to have problems.

The crack mentioned in the previous post occurred at the threaded inlet to the handle assembly. It will have to be replaced.

Yard Hydrant Crack-1

The manufacturer provides a complete breakdown of the unit and parts can be obtained through various distributors. This job requires the RK-Y34HA head assembly kit.

Water System Setback

Wild horses have been visiting the water tanks throughout the winter but the system has been shut off. Tanks were bleached and filled on 04-17-20 but the water supply had to be turned off again due to a crack in the yard hydrant. Manual refill only, for now.

Water Tanks 03-07-20

Fish Springs Horses Avoid Long-Term Holding

The mustangs captured last November have found new homes, according to a story in the February 10 edition of Horse Tales, a trade publication based in Gardnerville, NV.

One was adopted by an individual, some went to Skydog Sanctuary in Oregon and others went to the Freedom Reigns sanctuary in California.

A few will stay at the Bently Ranch in Gardnerville, not far from their home range.

Subscriptions to HT (print edition) are available for $25 per year. Contact Sharon DeCarlo, editor and publisher, at 775-265-7137.

How to Tell if Your Foal is a Boy

There should be no doubt after this. Photo taken this morning, day 25 for this little guy.

Forest Service Reviewing Heber Comments

The next step in the process is to prepare an environmental assessment for the new management plan and release it for public comments, according to a report posted this morning by the White Mountain Independent of Show Low, AZ.

The EA should provide enough information to compute key management indicators for the tiny WHT, namely, stocking rates and resource allocations.

The Forest Service has not posted any news releases about the Heber wild horse shootings since January 17.