Training Feral Horses

Wild horse enthusiasts will get a chuckle out of this propaganda piece dated June 25 by the rancher-friendly Capital Press of Salem, OR.

As for the trainer featured in the story, you probably don’t want a horse handled by her.

Like adoption events, EMM and TIP are rarely discussed on Western Horse Watchers because they are too far downstream in the management process and deflect attention away from the ranchers and the underlying causes of wild horse removals.

BLM Seeks Off-Range Pastures for Wild Horses and Burros

Facilities must be located in Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington or Wyoming and must have a capacity of 200 to 10,000 animals, according to a story posted today by KMVT News of Twin Falls, ID.

The initial contract period is one year, with renewal options of four and nine years.

Proposals must be submitted by July 19.

Western Horse Watchers was unable to find an announcement of the solicitation at the agency’s news site.

ISPMB Building Heritage Center?

A statement issued today said the new facility will offer family-friendly mustang safari tours and luxury accommodations for guests wishing to stay overnight.

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 conditions at the ranch.  Approximately 900 animals were placed into private hands the following year through an adoption program.

The sanctuary took in horses from White Sands, New Mexico, Gila Bend, Arizona, the Virginia Range and Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, both in Nevada.

‘Think Like a Horse’ Loses One of Its Stars

A video posted yesterday tells the story.  He was born and captured in Nevada.

The YouTube channel, started in 2009, has quite a following.

In late 2011, when I was new to horses, I saw an ad in a magazine that said ‘think like a horse.’  Made sense so I searched the web, landed there and never went anywhere else.

As of today, the loss is not mentioned on the Think Like a Horse web site.

Cost of Horse Food Rising

Here are the prices at the local feed store as of May 1:

  • Alfalfa-grass hay, $19 per bale if you buy 20 or more (add $1 if not)
  • Equine Senior, $27 per 50-pound bag
  • Rice bran pellets, $19 per 50-pound bag (discount for 5 or more dropped)
  • Oat hay pellets, $19 per 50-pound bag
  • Alfalfa hay pellets, $18 per 50-pound bag
  • Layena Crumbles, $21 per 50-pound bag (for chickens)
  • Salt with minerals, $11 per 50-pound block

The drive-out price was $673, including $55 for our precious government.

If you deduct the chicken feed and two salt blocks, the total still exceeds $600, putting the cost of feeding six horses for one month at approximately $105 per AUM.

RELATED: Grain Tank Refilled.