Western Horse Watchers Association
Exposing the Hypocrisy, Lies and Incompetence of the Wild Horse Advocates
Around the ranch
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.
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.
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.
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.
There should be no doubt after this. Photo taken this morning, day 25 for this little guy.
Already has the scent. Photo taken 04-18-20, Day 18 for this little guy.
Photo showing the ‘as left’ condition of the corral, after cleaning. Note the underside of the oak tree on the left, pruned straight across. Wonder who did that?
Photo showing the ‘as found’ condition of his corral, with water buckets flipped over and everybody looking the other way.
RELATED: Tiny Footprints.
Everybody knows those galvanized tubs are for keeping your feet clean while you eat.
They’re only about two inches across! Video of new colt on WHW YouTube channel.
County Commissioners will meet tomorrow but the rule change that would bring a high-density horse feeding operation to Burns, WY is not on the agenda. That does not mean the topic won’t be discussed, as was the case on March 3.
Probably less than a half hour old in first photo. Mom is very protective!
Event will be held July 16 – 19 per latest schedule, same venue.
RELATED: WSHE Schedule Taking Shape.
The meeting lasted five minutes. You can watch it here.
The new commissioner joins four others who are considering a rule change that would bring a high-density horse feeding operation to Burns, WY.
RELATED: Laramie County Commissioners Special Meeting This Week.
Besides keeping the place cool in summer, trees give you an extra place to throw out hay during periods of light rain. Photo taken 03-24-20.
The Western States Horse Expo will be held at the Murieta Equestrian Center, about 20 miles east of Sacramento, CA, May 7 – 10. The schedule will likely change over the next few weeks. Same for the exhibitor’s list.
RELATED: Western States Horse Expo Returns to Rancho Murieta.
The Board of County Commissioners will meet on March 17.
A public hearing to consider the use of an odor modeling tool to determine setback distances from high-density animal feeding operations is the last item on the agenda.
More information can be found in the planning department staff report.
Today BLM requested proposals for off-range holding facilities in western Nevada and southwestern Idaho that could accommodate 500 to 3,500 wild horses and burros.
The animals would be taken there (after removal from their home range) in preparation for transfer to off-range pastures or adoption and sale events around the county.
Bids will be accepted through April 9.
The current population of horses and burros on public lands in the western U.S. is three times higher than the number the land can sustainably support in balance with wildlife and other uses of the land (code words for privately owned livestock).
RELATED: More Off-Range Pastures Sought for Wild Horses.
The March 3 meeting was interrupted briefly after the February 18 minutes had been approved to shuffle roles in response to the resignation of the chair.
Although the high-density horse feeding operation proposed by Equine Elite was not on the agenda, it was discussed at the conclusion of regular business. You can watch the proceedings beginning at 12:58 in this video.
Developers of the facility have asked the county for a rule change that will silence the voices of many who oppose the project.
The planning department has drafted a new rule based on an odor propagation model developed by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
Commissioners asked for a public hearing on March 17 to formally consider the proposal and receive stakeholder comments.
A decision will not be rendered until April 7, at the earliest.
Minutes of the meeting have not been posted as of today.
Probably not true in every case but it sure does seem to be greener near the poop pile!
Consideration of a rule change requested by Equine Elite for a proposed CAFO near Burns, WY is not on the agenda for the March 3 meeting.
At their meeting on February 4, commissioners asked planning department staff for a report on odor propagation models that could assess the concerns of residents near the proposed facility.
The feedlot would have a capacity of 5,000 wild horses on approximately 80 acres.
RELATED: Laramie County Commissioners Looking for Cover?
Photo of wild horses at Palomino Valley off-range corrals on 02-08-20. The facility has a capacity of 1,850 horses on approximately 100 acres.
Western Horse Watchers Association 