Looking west to Mt. Rose from Geiger Grade (road to Virginia City). Filmed 08/10/18.
Author: Western Horse Watchers
Antelope Valley Gather Complete
Bait trapping ended 07/31/18 but the news release was not issued until 08/10/18.
Stats for the operation:
- 265 horses removed
- 259 horses shipped
- 6 deaths (2.2%)
A twelve year old stud was put down due to blindness and a ten year old mare hit a panel inside the trap and broke her neck.
A domestic gelding was captured and will be transferred to the State of Nevada as an estray.
The announcement did not indicate if livestock were present on the HMA and surrounding lands, and if they were at risk due to inadequate water.
Wild Horse Adoption: Routine
Day 94, 02/21/16. Baby getting bigger, mom showing some signs of pregnancy. New colt was about four months away at this point. No strings, no ropes, no confined spaces. Just go about your daily business and let them figure out you’re not a threat.
Under the Influence
It’s Friday evening so might as well post a video of a drunk woman on a horse. He’s a good sport and lets her down easy. H/T Elizabeth Forrest.
Utah HMA Stocking Rates
The chart below shows the stocking rate in animals per thousand acres as a function of land area for HMAs in Utah. Stocking rates are based on the upper values of the AMLs (mostly horses, some burros).
Three observations from the chart:
- Stocking rates are less than two animals per thousand acres
- Stocking rates are not a function of HMA size
- Stocking rates are distributed evenly about the mean of 0.72
The HMA with the largest stocking rate is Range Creek. The smallest rate corresponds to King Top Mountains HMA.
Utah has been a focal point for wild horse gathers this year, with the Range Creek, Cedar Mountain, Four Mile, Bible Springs, Tilly Creek, Sulphur and Muddy Creek HMAs targeted for removals.
How much of this is being done at the behest of the cattle industry? Gotta pacify the government serfs and reward the political donors, keep the gravy train rolling. There are real reasons and stated reasons. You only hear the stated reasons.
Good example of an unelected bureaucracy catering to a special interest against the wishes of the American people.
RELATED: Utah HMA Population.
And Now for Something Completely Different
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Down At The Twist And Shout.
BLM Concludes Piute Gather
Bait trapping operations, which began 06/28/18, have ended, according to a BLM news release published earlier today. Forty one burros were removed from the Piute Mountain Herd Area, with no fatalities reported.
Recent precipitation should be sufficient to support the remaining animals, which will be monitored by BLM staff.
Gather stats and daily reports can be found on this page.
Herd areas have no AML and are not managed for WHB, but this may be a case where the BLM has bent the rules a little to help these animals out.
Banker Horses Share Marsh with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Drone footage (probably) of some wild horses on Shackleford Banks, NC.
H/T Brendan Castro.
CSU Withdraws from Wild Horse Sterilization Research
Colorado State University announced yesterday that it would not participate in surgical sterilization experiments on wild horses sponsored by the BLM. Refer to the report dated 08/09/18 from the Animal Welfare Institute.
Wild Horse Adoption: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Day 24, cold and wet, 12/13/15. Get your butt out there and clean that corral.
Wild Horses on the Edge (of the Road)
Bachelors airing out their differences on the Virginia Range. H/T Carla Hovorka.
Florida Woman Gives Blind Horse a Second Chance
Patience, a good technique for gentling mustangs too. Blind horses gathered from the range usually don’t get a second chance. Refer also to the daily reports from roundups going on now in Nevada and Utah.
Illness Affecting Waipio Valley Horses Still Not Identified
Some test results have been received and several conditions have been ruled out, but the cause of the ailment remains unknown. Details can be found in a report dated 08/08/18 by West Hawaii Today.
Other tests are pending and no new cases have been reported. Fifteen animals have been affected and twelve have died.
RELATED: Update on Waipio Valley Horses.
Wild Horse Adoption: The Early Days
Day 3, settling in. Photos taken while laying down in their corral, 11/22/15. You are the threat, not them.
Banker Horses Share Habitat with Photographers
Short film about wild horse history and photography. WTWT.
What is it about wild horses that everybody loves? Most people are drawn to these majestic animals and appreciate their role in building the nation. Some can only see horsemeat dinner.
H/T The Natural History Channel.
AWHC Urges BLM to Stop Bible Springs Roundup
Helicopters are flying low to the ground and too close to the fleeing animals according to a report posted today by KJZZ in Salt Lake City. Horses have been pushed into barbed wire fencing, with some stumbling and falling. Personnel from the American Wild Horse Campaign asked the BLM to suspend the operation until the situation can be investigated.
“Stampeding horses in a manner that leaves foals behind is unconscionable.”
Photos posted to the AWHC FB page.
RELATED: Bible Springs Next on BLM Hit List.
Wild Horse Sanctuary Open House and Benefit August 18
The annual open house for Wild Horse Sanctuary will be held 08/18/18, featuring wild horse viewing, horse rides for kids under 10 and saddling demonstrations. See the announcement in Shingletown dot com for the event location. Food and beverages will be available.
The non-profit organization was founded in 1978 and is currently home to over 300 free-roaming horses and burros. It’s not an off-range pasture for the BLM.
Turn in a Free-Roaming Horse, Receive Fifty Bucks
A reward program has been created by the Navajo Nation to reduce overpopulation of wild horses on tribal lands. See the report dated 08/07/18 by KMYU-TV.
The program was funded by a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The story did not indicate what will happen to horses surrendered under the program or why the offer was made.
Is this the will of a sovereign people or did somebody put a bug in their ear? Cui bono?
There are some sick minds out there already setting their tables for horsemeat dinner.
RELATED: Wild Horses Found Dead in Arizona.
Wild Horse Adoption: Arrival
Day 1, exploring. Mom/baby pair, adopted from BLM Oregon. Photos taken 11/19/15.
Lake Pleasant Burros Share Trails with Hikers
Somewhere in Lake Pleasant HMA, north of Phoenix, AZ. H/T Sean George.
