More Trouble for ISPMB

A man who bought a 660 acre ranch from the ISPMB so it could be leased back has sued the organization for $135,000 in delinquent rent, according to a report in AP News posted earlier today.

The International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros, established by Velma Johnston, gave up most of its horses in 2016 when a whistleblower revealed the conditions at the ranch. The horses were placed into private hands the following year through an adoption program coordinated by Fleet of Angels.

RELATED: ISPMB Update.

Still No Word on Shackleford Wild Horses

Status of horses still unknown in an area hit hard by the onshore flow from Hurricane Florence. Refer to this story in The News & Observer posted 09/23/18.

Personnel from NPS are still unable to reach the island on the Outer Banks, which is accessible only by boat. Updates will be posted to their FB page.

Kickfest on the River

Somewhere along the Salt River, east of Phoenix, AZ. H/T Robin Bender Knight.

Carbon Capitalists Greatest Threat to WHB?

An opinion piece posted today in the left-wing blog Down to Earth states that wild horses and burros in the western U.S. are ‘…under siege by oil, gas, mining and other special interests.’ They are not. The greatest threat to WHB is public-lands ranching.

The writer mentions livestock grazing in the essay but most of the blame is placed on the oil and gas companies, which she refers to as ‘Carbon Capitalists.’

Thus it is possible she takes this position not because she cares about the horses but because she’s a liberal.

How many frac tanks and drilling rigs do you see at this post? How many excavators and dump trucks do you see in this post?

How many oil companies have written Zinke demanding that wild horse populations be reduced to AMLs immediately? How many mining companies have been outspoken cheerleaders for the ovary cutters at the BLM?

Wake up, people. These companies do not require tens of thousands of acres to go about their business. Public-lands ranchers do. That’s why the space available to WHB has been going down, along with the AMLs attached thereto.

Acceptance of this trend as axiomatic, a given, is at the root of the ‘humane management’ paradigm, which can only result in total defeat for the horses (and great satisfaction for their enemies).

Mustang Monday

On Theodore Roosevelt National Park. H/T Curtis Starck.

Woman Battles BLM to Defend Pryor Mountains Horses

Her track record is mostly defeat but she never gives up. Refer to this story in the Gillette News Record dated 09/22/18. A fine example of wild horse advocacy.

“Tillett opposes both the gathering of mustangs and the administering of PZP fertility control.”

Unfortunately, the writer did not explain the relationship of the woman to those who helped save these horses in the early days of the wild horse preservation movement.

The name Tillett is not to be taken lightly in the Pryor Mountains, as noted in the 14-minute video at this post.

Horse Barn Kits

Here is an example of what you can get nowadays. Everything is cut at the factory, with some items pre-assembled. This photo shows a 40 ft x 36 ft Great Plains Western model by Sand Creek Post & Beam. Also available with living quarters on the second level.

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Would be nice to add open shedrows on both sides so the horses could find shelter from rain or snow without going in the barn. No stalls, no paddocks to keep them separated.

The fence would have to be more substantial if you were adopting mustangs. The rails should be on the side of the posts where the horses are. Pipe panels would be more durable but probably cost more. BLM requires a six foot fence but if you adopt from a rescue or sanctuary that requirement might be waived.

Stock Tank Update

One of the stock tanks on the Virginia Range is now on float control, with a temporary water supply. The horses empty them in a few days when filled manually. They are on private property, elevation 6500 ft. Hopefully the horses won’t pull the hoses apart.

These are the tanks that appear in the trailcam photos posted from time to time on these pages. Yes, it is illegal to feed wild horses in Nevada but not to water them.

The idea is to keep the horses up in the hills and away from problems in suburbia, a practice known as ‘diversionary watering.’

Visitors from the East

A series of trailcam photos showing the arrival and departure of a large group of Virginia Range mustangs on 09/02/18. They come and go in the space of three minutes. Poor guys, the stock tanks were probably empty at the time (not yet on float control). The signal is given and they all file out, moving to the west.

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Free-Roaming Horses in Virginia

At Grayson Highlands State Park. H/T Rebecca Subbia.

UPDATE: See also this article on the horses of Assateague Island and Grayson Highlands State Park by the Bristol Herald Courier, dated 09/23/18.

RELATED: Wild Horses in Virginia?

Consortium Files Lawsuit to Stop BLM Spay Research

A law firm representing wild horse advocacy groups filed a lawsuit yesterday in the U.S. District Court in Portland, OR to halt the sterilization research planned by the BLM, which begins next month with a gather at the Warm Springs HMA. Refer to this story posted today in The Desert Independent.

No Natural Predators

Trailcam image of two Virginia Range coyotes playing on a dirt pile near the stock tanks.

RELATED: Wild Horse Narrative.

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BLM Hauls Water to Warm Springs Horses?

You jackals! You’re only trying to keep them in good condition before shipping them to the ovary cutters in Hines. Otherwise no water would be given. You should be ashamed of yourselves!

Stack and Pack on the Range

Looking north across the Virginia Range, where the population density is ten horses per thousand acres, maybe a bit more, compared to the average density of one horse per thousand acres on lands managed by the BLM. Sardine city!

Critics say the current population of 3000 horses is unsustainable and needs to be reduced to around 500, not because they care about horses, but because they’ve been lying about the carrying capacity of the land.

Can’t have the wild horse advocates pointing to a case that doesn’t fit the wild horse narrative. Filmed 09/21/18.

TRNP: Where the Nokota Horses Once Roamed

The horses you see today are only an exhibit.

CANA Foundation Sponsors Panel on Wild Horse Protection

This was in the news a few weeks ago but was avoided due to skepticism about the organization and disdain for the venue—the show circuit—which is bad for horses.

Besides, liberals aren’t known for conserving anything that’s right and good. But the idea of returning wild horses to wilderness areas to help prevent wildfires, by grazing down excess forage, is worth considering.

RELATED: Benefits of Wild Horses.

Status of Shackleford Horses Still Not Known

NPS said today that all visitor services and facilities at Cape Lookout National Seashore are closed, including the cabins, due to Hurricane Florence. Park staff are starting to assess conditions throughout the park and a check of the wild horses at Shackleford Banks is still on their to-do list. Refer to this post at their FB page.

Status of Fish Springs Horses to be Discussed Tonight

Advocates for the Fish Springs wild horses will meet at 6:00 PM this evening at the Volunteer Fire Station, east of Gardnerville, NV, as noted in a story posted today by The Record-Courier.

The horses roam on lands outside the Pine Nut Mountains HMA and were the subject of a roundup until protesters convinced the BLM to delay the operation.

BLM ‘Repos’ Adopted Horse

A wild horse adopted last month at the Cheshire Fairgrounds in Swanzey, NH, escaped from its new home three weeks ago but was recaptured by personnel from the BLM, according to a story in the Keene Sentinel posted today. She was in good condition but was taken to a BLM holding facility in Illinois, where she will be gentled.

In general, adopters who recapture their mustangs can keep them, but if the BLM has to do it, the horse goes back to them. Adopters must provide foster homes for a year, after which they can receive titles from the BLM.

RELATED: WHB Coming to Swanzey, NH.

Rachel Carson Wild Horses Survive Florence

All of the wild horses at Rachel Carson Reserve have been accounted for and are in good condition, according to this FB post dated 09/18/18. No word yet on the status of the Shackleford horses, but the NPS has been posting updates to this FB page.