Author: Western Horse Watchers

WHB Cash and Carry Event Coming to Belton, TX

BLM announced yesterday that 50 wild horses and burros would be offered for direct purchase to good homes at the Bell County Expo Center October 12 – 13.  Gentling demonstrations will occur both days.  Refer to this news release for details.

The event was made possible by a BLM rule change on 05/24/18.  If you could find it in your heart to buy 10, 15, or maybe 25 horses, you would be doing the BLM—and the public-lands ranchers—a huge favor.

The more captured horses they can unload, the more wild horses they can remove from the range, to be replaced with cattle and sheep—on lands set aside for the horses.

And don’t forget, the Mexican border is only 300 miles away.

BLM Dictates Terms of Surrender to Fish Springs Advocates

The number of wild horses in the Fish Springs area must be reduced from 78 to 58 by 2020, according to a report posted 09/21/18 in The Record-Courier.

“If you need our help with panels or bait trapping to get that reduction done, we will schedule that help.”

The requirement, part of a plan for managing the horses, was laid down by Mike Courtney, acting director of the BLM in Nevada.

He also stressed the importance of ‘healthy rangelands.’

“That means no more than moderate utilization 40-60 percent forage species between wild horses and livestock.”

Yep, the number of horses in the Pine Nut HA (south of the Pine Nut HMA) must be reduced by 25% and livestock will get 50% more forage than the horses—on lands set aside for the horses.

Pine_Nut_Mountains_Map-2

Will the advocates help the BLM set the traps, as was done a few weeks ago at Little Bookcliffs?  How much PZP will be required to impose a negative birth rate on these horses?  How many poor ranchers will be hurt by the mandatory AUM curtailment?

There is no curtailment.

Courtney said the planned roundup of horses in the HMA should happen sometime between November and January.

This is what happens when an unelected bureaucracy caters to a special interest against the wishes of the American people.  The special interest, of course, is the oil and gas industry, as indicated by all the drilling rigs, frac tanks and generator sets in the Fish Springs area.

The last things you’ll see are stock tanks, cattle gates and T-post fencing.

RELATED: Status of Fish Springs Horses to be Discussed Tonight.

What is a Freeze Mark?

It’s an identification symbol burned into the hide of a wild horse or burro after capture, usually on the upper left side of the neck.  The procedure is often carried out in the field before the animals are brought to BLM corrals for adoption.

Freezemark_Decoder-1

The last four digits correspond to the number on the neck tag worn by the animal at adoption.  Freeze marks can be hidden by manes and will change in appearance as the horse ages and as his winter coat comes and goes.

RELATED: The Mark of Authenticity.

BLM Concludes Eagle Gather

BLM announced today that the helicopter roundup ended on 09/21/18, with 303 horses removed from the Eagle HMA in eastern Nevada.  Three were euthanized and none were returned to the range.  Refer to this news release, posted earlier today.

Captured animals were taken to the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center north of Reno, NV, to be prepared for adoption or transfer to long-term segregated holding in off-range pastures.

Gather stats and daily reports can be found at this page.

No livestock were harmed in the process.

RELATED: Emergency Gather Starts This Week at Eagle HMA.