The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) has announced that 27 Thoroughbred aftercare organizations were awarded accreditation in 2016. The organizations include 19 reaccreditations and eight first-time accreditations. The TAA now has a network of 64 accredited organizations operating at more than 180 facilities across the United States and Canada.
Accreditation is awarded for a two-year period, after which organizations must reapply for accreditation. All organizations currently accredited by the TAA are eligible to receive financial grants to support the care of their Thoroughbreds. Grant applications are currently being reviewed, for grants to be awarded by the end of the calendar year.
The full list of all 64 TAA-accredited organizations can be found at thoroughbredaftercare.org. The 27 organizations that received accreditation this year are:
After the Races;
Bright Futures Farm;
CANTER Michigan;
Equestrian Inc.;
Equine Advocates;
Final Furlong;
Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program;
Friends of Ferdinand;
Galloping Out (Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association Thoroughbred Rescue Fund);
Harmony and Hope Horse Haven;
Heaven Can Wait;
Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds;
Illinois Equine Humane Center;
Los Angeles Pet Rescue (Farralone Farms);
Oklahoma Thoroughbred Retirement Program;
Our Mims Retirement Haven;
Out Side In;
R.A.C.E. Fund;
Remember Me Rescue;
RVR Horse Rescue;
Second Chance Thoroughbreds;
Second Stride;
Square Peg Foundation;
The Foxie G Foundation;
Thoroughbred Athletes;
Tranquility Farm (The Harry A. Biszantz Memorial Center); and
War Horses at Rose Bower.
“The organizations accredited by the TAA represent the top echelon of aftercare services, ensuring that the horses retiring from racing are receiving the best possible care and opportunities to find new careers or retirements,” said Jimmy Bell, president of the TAA and Godolphin America.
All accredited organizations undergo a thorough application and inspection process prior to accreditation being awarded to ensure they meet the TAA’s Code of Standards covering five areas: operations, education, horse health care management, facility standards and services, and adoption policies and protocols. Site inspections are conducted at all facilities housing horses for each organization. On-going updates and reinspections are required of all organizations throughout the term of their accreditation.
WE DID IT! Thanks to you, we doubled our Giving Tuesday goal, raising $30,000 to Keep Wild Horses Wild and Free! This means that we secured the matching grant, so you doubled your money to support our work!
On behalf of the AWHPC Team, thank you for sharing the holiday spirit and making our Giving Tuesday campaign a huge success… We are honored that you are part of our herd!
Since November 2nd, the Bureau of Land Management has been conducting a costly helicopter roundup to capture and remove 1,100 wild horses from the Owyhee Complex in eastern Nevada. So far, 737 wild horses have been captured and, of those, 7 have died. The BLM has returned 193 horses to the range after treating mares with the PZP birth control vaccine. Hundreds of captured Owyhee horses have been shipped to the BLM’s Palomino Valley holding facility, where they languish in feedlot pens awaiting an uncertain fate.
AWHPC is currently pressuring the BLM to provide public observation during each day of the roundup. Currently the agency plans to restrict access to the final portion of the capture operation to just two days per week.
Despite the increase in mechanisation, donkeys are still well deserving of the name “beasts of burden”, as they play an important role in carrying loads in rural areas.
Zimbabweans need to change their attitudes towards donkeys and embrace the protection and care of the working animals, which have been at the centre of rural economic growth and development for decades, veterinary experts say.Animal and Wildlife Area Research and Rehabilitation (AWARE) director, Dr Keith Dutlow told Zimpapers Syndication at an event to open an education centre for children at the Lions Park in the capital that even though donkey usage is wide spread and extensively adopted in many communities across the country, their use has been masked in negative perceptions and attitudes.
“Donkeys play a significant role in the livelihoods of local communities especially in arid regions, where conditions are harsher. But our perceptions towards donkeys are still negative,” he said. “Those who use donkeys are seen by their peers in society as primitive, backward and people of low status. Even among the donkey owners and users, the donkey image is not to be held highly and as a result they abuse and mistreat them in the process of working the animals. We need to change our perceptions and appreciate the economic value of the working animals. Donkeys are a big asset to combat poverty and hardship in poor communities, and if you were to transfer the benefits — transport, draught power, hiring and all, this can run into thousands of dollars.”
It was 3 a.m., as I lay awake listening to the howling winds and blowing snow. So many little ones we had not been allowed to pull were out there with their families. There are no wind breaks or shelter, except the warmth of the families hunched together. Such frigid temperatures and icy slippery conditions weighed heavily on my heart. Were the babies ok?
It has been so intense here. So many victories with each and every horse we load into a trailer headed for safety and a new life. So much heartache when the stallions simply fly over the 6 foot panels while we are setting up to load them. At this point we have 4 stallions in one of the “stallion pens” and they are scheduled to come back to Chilly Pepper with Matt and I.
So far we have had the Paint Stallion penned up several times, but he stood straight up, and then simply launched himself over the panel. As he proudly ran away the tears filled my eyes. They have no idea what they are running into.
I wanted to thank everyone for the love and support. Matt and I will never be the same again. The heart break and agony we have experienced here, knowing we cannot save all of these horses is gut wrenching. It makes sleep nearly impossible and it is just too hard. But every time my phone dings and there is a donation or a message of support, (and God seems to know exactly when to send them lol), we receive more hope. No matter if it is a $2, $5 or $25 dollar donation, it shows us how many folks really love and care about these horses., and you have made it possible for us to save the ones we can.
The messages of love and support are incredible too. Although I had a lady tell me that folks are “tired of reading about all the sadness and emergencies”. At first I was a bit angry and I wanted to tell her “then don’t read them”. We do not create these “emergencies”, but when God puts them in front of us, we do our best to do what needs to be done.
We “accidentally” moved to Golconda, because if we went back to the 2 acres in CA, 13 adult horses would have gone to slaughter when y’all saved the Yakama 24. So moving to the trailer was the right thing to do, even though we didn’t have water in the trailer for 6 months (except a garden hose PTL), and it was a “tear down” dump.
Most of our stuff is still in CA and we haven’t even been able to move all the horses to NV. So you can be sure we are not enjoying all the emergencies. HOWEVER, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU who have stepped up with your love and support, we have saved an amazing number of God’s critters this year. So I am sorry if some folks are frustrated with all the “new emergencies”, but please understand that we are too.
There are two days left, and panic starts to set in. But you have to take a deep breath because you cannot sort a couple of hundred wild horses on ice if you are not calm and collected. There are many blind horses in the group we are working with these last two days and it makes it horrifically dangerous not only for them (as we have set up pens where they had open area before), but they will run right over you in a panic. The freezing, blowing ice cold winds do not help this situation. At times the snow is blowing so hard you cannot even see. It is icy and all of us are slipping and falling, but there is no time left to wait for good weather. So this is not something we ever want to experience again.
But I wanted to share at least a few pictures and videos of some of the horses you have saved. GOD BLESS YOU for each and every one we have gotten to safety.
We will keep fighting until the bitter end. When you look into their eyes when they are in the “safe pen”, the joy is immense. It is an amazing gift of life to each and every horse we pull for adoption. Please keep praying and know that we so appreciate the support that makes this possible.
We have had to hire a local “crew”, as Matt and I simply cannot move all these panels in the ice and snow and we have to have adequate folks to help us sort and load. The horses know something is up and their energy is high. So we always want to make sure everyone is safe first and foremost.
Matt and I need to make several trips back and forth to bring home the horses. We are saving 10 older horses which we will take back to Chilly Pepper, get them vetted, gelded if needed and get their little hoofers done. We want to thank Dianne Nelson for stepping up and taking these horses in to live the rest of their lives in peace. After they are feeling better, we will take them to the sanctuary.
Please keep praying for safety, strength, warmer weather and a miracle. I know miracles can happen, and we truly need one.
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives and to give Shadow the life she deserves.
This is a post about longears available from the Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue. They are a 501c3 doing great work to try to rescue these abandoned and sometimes abused equines.
The poor economy has affected us all. We only have eight animals at a time in the rescue. This ensures every animal getting the individual care and attention it deserves. Every time an animal goes to it’s new home, that makes room for another to come in. Hopefully the move to lower our adoption fees a bit will help more people be able to welcome a long ear into their lives.
Visit our Adoption Information page for more information on how to adopt a long ear from SYALER.
Pepper
Pepper is a three year old mini donkey gelding. His former owner rescued him from life in a dog cage!! He is a sweet little guy, and adorable to look at. He was very pushy with other donkeys when he first came in but now, a month later he has calmed down a lot and is getting along well with his pasture mates.
He is a bit of a handful for the vet, but not horrible…just doesn’t like to stand still. There is no aggression at all, just antsy. Same for the farrier. He does much better if he is not restrained tightly, but a bit of sedation for the first couple of trims would not be a bad idea.
I would like to see him in a home with a gelding of a similar age so he will have someone to play with. He loves to play!
He is utd on rabies and tetanus and has a negative coggins.
Maggie is a 3 year old, sweet molly (female) pony mule. She is a little bit shy, but once she is socialized a bit I think she will be in your pocket. She is said to be good for vet and farrier, but I can not verify that yet. She will be examined by our vet within the next week or so and brought up to date on rabies and tetanus vaccinations, and have blood drawn for coggins.
Adoption fee: $500.
Abby
Abby is a striking 5 year old molly (female) pony mule. She is a little bit shy, but once she is socialized a bit I think she will be in your pocket. She is said to be good for vet and farrier, but I can not verify that yet. She will be examined by our vet within the next week or so and brought up to date on rabies and tetanus vaccinations, and have blood drawn for coggins.
Adoption fee: $500.
Willow
Willow is a beautiful, sweet 12 year old, dark bay mule. She is fine with having her feet handled. She is utd on rabies, tetanus, and has a negative coggins. We do not have a history on Willow as she came from auction. She was here before and adopted out for a year. Her former owner had to surrender her back to us due to unfortunate family cricumstances.
She has some fear issues, which we are working with her on getting past. She would be a great companion animal. She is easy to work around, loves being groomed and fussed with.
Adoption fee: $650.00
Vera and Rosemary
Have you ever heard of a hinny? We have two of them who are available for adoption. A hinny is the result of breeding a male horse to a female donkey. The hinny is sterile, due to having an uneven number of chromosomes. Vera and Rosemary are both young females. They came from auction without much history. They are a perfectly matched bay pair, about 13.3hh. They will be up to date on rabies and tetanus vaccines and have a negative coggins.
Vera and Rosie are coming along nicely, although just getting them to the point they can be handled has been a very long row to hoe. Vera can now be easily caught and handled. She is very good for the farrier and loves being groomed and loved upon. Rosie is much less shy, though she still needs work. She was excellent for the farrier for her last trim. We were very proud of her brave behavior.
These animals will need to go to someone with mule experience. They still need a lot of work before they can be used in any discipline.
This is a tough one to write. Thank you! to everyone for the love, support and prayers you are sending. We have made real progress, but are still not even close to where we need to be. However, together we have saved about 25% of the horses so far. When you look at how many are still out there, your heart breaks. But, for the horses that have been saved, it is EVERYTHING.
The situation is fast coming to a close, and I can’t imagine it being a happy one. We officially have 7 days left, although Karen is in default of the court order. It is terribly painful to get to know these horses and realize that we won’t be able to save them all.
The stallions are fighting non stop as we break their hearts. Every time we steal their families, they fight more and it is obvious they are hurting. They run the fence line, screaming for their families. The number of stallions is staggering, as you have 16 years worth of colts who have grown up in the mix also. This creates highly dangerous conditions when sorting the horses.
Elaine Nash, of Fleet of Angels, has been spear heading the whole effort, and a wonderful lady named Barbara Rasmussen has literally been here for about 8 weeks, trying to sort through the adoptions. These two ladies have literally stopped their lives and given up everything to try and save these horses.
The stress of this is unbelievable. My heart is breaking and it makes you physically ill. Every night when your head hits the pillow, it all comes crashing down. Knowing how many of these horses will probably be slaughtered, the stallions especially, is too much to bear.
These horses never ever did anything to deserve this. There is too much pain here to cry away, but every morning you get back up and start over.
We pulled another 14 or so yesterday, and Matt and I have 2 babies in our “nursery”, hopefully in time.
We will keep fighting until the bitter end. But it is an amazing gift of life to each and every horse we pull for adoption. Please keep praying and know that we so appreciate the support that makes this possible. We have to pay someone to be at our place, and although he is getting a tiny portion of what he is worth, it still adds up.
We will bring as many horses home as we have funding for, and tomorrow when I think about what to be thankful for, it will be ALL OF YOU! and the lives we were able to save because of you. So thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I only wish you could lose weight from crying because I would be lookin’ good lol.
Again, THANK YOU for all you have saved, but we are in desperate need of more help to save more of these horses. If you are interested in adopting any of these beautiful horses, please contact ISPMB asap.
(Karen is actually still in control of the horses and the Sheriff did not take control of the adoptions.) The County will take the horses to auction December 1st under the current court order.
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives and to give Shadow the life she deserves.
Just last week, to the nation’s surprise, Donald Trump won the presidential election with a promise to cut through political bureaucracy and give government back to the people. Now let’s ask President-Elect Trump to listen to the will of the American public, which overwhelmingly opposes horse slaughter and wants our wild horses and burros protected on our public lands.
Mr. Trump is asking for the citizens’ ideas on how to make America great again. Just click the link below to tell him. The stakes could not be higher — tens of thousands of wild horses are at risk of brutal slaughter — so please act today!
Craft your own message, or cut and paste this one: “Please save our American mustangs – living symbols of America’s greatness. It’s time to fix federal government mismanagement of wild horses and burros. These national icons deserve to be protected and humanely managed, not rounded up and brutally slaughtered.”
Today, the Senate passed the National Forest Service Trail Stewardship Act of 2015 (H.R.845 S.1110). This follows House passage of the bill earlier this fall. The bill, introduced by Representatives Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tim Walz (D-MN) and Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Michael Bennet (D-CO), would direct the Forest Service to take several actions to help address the current trail maintenance backlog that is adversely impacting all trail users on many National Forests, including equestrians.
The American Horse Council, Backcountry Horsemen of America, and the Wilderness Society were significantly involved in the creation and passage of this bill.
The AHC is pleased Congress has approved this important legislation. The AHC would like to thank Representatives Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tim Walz (D-MN) and Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) for their leadership and work to pass this bill.
The bill directs the Forest Service to develop a strategy to more effectively utilize volunteers and partners to assist in maintaining national forest trails. It will also provide outfitters and guides the ability to perform trail maintenance activities in lieu of permit fees. Additionally, the bill will address a liability issue that has discouraged some national forests from utilizing volunteers and partner organizations to help perform trail maintenance and will direct the Forest Service to identify and prioritize specific areas with the greatest need for trail maintenance in the national forest system.
In the current fiscal environment it is unlikely Congress will appropriate additional funds to directly address the trail maintenance backlog. This bill will help improve trail maintenance without the need for additional funding.
The President is expected to sign the bill into law in the near future.
Help keep the wild horses & burros wild by supporting the good work of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign. Their brand new 2017 calendar is available and all proceeds go to fund advocacy, litigation, field and rescue programs. Click here to get yours!
The following is an article by Sifelani Tsiko for allafrica.com
A local non-Governmental organisation says it is targeting to provide free clinical treatment and care to 35 000 donkeys countrywide. Donkeys have grown to be Zimbabwe’s working animals that offer important support for the lives and livelihoods of rural communities.
Animal and Wildlife Area Research and Rehabilitation (AWARE) director, Dr Keith Dutlow said the programme was part of efforts to provide treatment and care to the animals.
He was speaking at an event to open an education centre for children at the Lion and Cheetah Park in the capital.
“Last year, we treated about 28 000 donkeys in all the country’s 10 provinces and this year we are targeting to treat 35 000 donkeys,” said the animal rights lobbyist and wildlife veterinarian.
“It’s an opportunity to examine each donkey that comes to us for health checks. Sometimes owners are not aware that their animals are sick. Half the times they are not aware and this will certainly give us an opportunity to treat all animals.”
Zimbabwe has a donkey population of more than 150 000.
The population of donkeys is probably an under estimate, and Dr Dutlow said Zimbabwe needs to conduct a survey to ascertain the numbers and help provide information that is critical for the treatment and care of the ‘beast of burden.’
“A survey has not been done for decades and we need to do it now to help us plan and enhance our treatment and care of the donkeys,” he said.
The prominent veterinarian has been part of a passionate group of wildlife experts trying to save Zimbabwe’s animals.
“Donkeys have huge benefits for our rural communities and economies. Good protection and care of donkeys means more benefits for our communities and their livelihoods.”
The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA) is providing funding support to AWARE to provide free veterinary treatment for donkeys in areas such as Buhera, Chipinge, Beit Bridge, Chivi, Gokwe, Gweru, Muzarabani and other rural districts.
AWARE rural mobile donkey clinics will provide veterinary care, dental care, hoof trimming, wound treatment and de-worming, as well as instruction on proper handling techniques and care of the animals.
Donkeys in most parts of Zimbabwe are vital to the livelihood of their owners, carrying supplies and providing transportation and farming support.
“Our initial assessment of the donkey population revealed a complete lack of preventive healthcare such as vaccinations and de-worming,” said Dr Erick Mutizhe, a senior vet for the SPANA Zimbabwe programme.
L ike many people, you may be wondering what the results of this week’s election will mean for America’s wild horses and burros. There is no minimizing the dangers facing the 45,000 mustangs and burros stockpiled in government holding facilities and the estimated 67,000 who remain on the range.
Pressure is mounting for mass roundups and the killing or sale for slaughter of captured mustangs and burros. While we don’t yet know the Trump Administration’s position on this issue, clearly the stakes are very high. We’re prepared to work with the new Administration, bringing it up to speed on how the federal government has failed our wild horses and burros and the need for reform.
But, regardless of the election’s outcome at all levels of government, our strength will continue because it comes from our supporters and the American people.
Protecting wild horses and burros is a bipartisan issue. AWHPC has worked, and will continue to work, effectively with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. AWHPC supporters themselves span the political spectrum, but we are united in our love for America’s mustangs and burros and our commitment to saving them.
There will be a great deal of uncertainty in the next few months, as Trump is sworn in, cabinet nominations/political appointments are considered and a new Congress gets organized. We will monitor this process closely and develop a strategy that takes into account new threats and opportunities, and will be ready to meet them in the coming year.
In the interim, we’ll be working to ensure that any spending bills passed by this Congress maintain the prohibition on destroying healthy wild horses and burros or selling them for slaughter.
We the People remain the last line of defense between America’s mustangs and the forces that want to destroy them. In the coming year, it’s going to take all of us – united – to wage and win the fight for the future of these cherished national icons.
The following is an invitation for All About Equine.
Please join All About Equine as we walk in the Folsom Veteran’s Day Parade to celebrate and honor our Veterans for their service!
We will have up to 5 mini’s walking with us, we’ll need banner holders, and especially kids to hold the birthday banner, Pony Pals banner and assist the leads with the mini’s…and the ever so important pooper scoopers.
Courtesy of our own Dave and Elaine, we will have coffee and goodies at the starting line!
We all wear blue jeans, a white shirt or blouse and a red scarf (if you do not have one, we will provide one for you). The walk is about 1.5 miles and we will have more information coming soon about where to meet and what time. The parade starts at 9am but we will probably be at the read of the parade and not start until a little later. Stay tuned for more information.
In order for us to plan better, we need to know how many people are planning to come out. Please call, text or email Kristi Sandberg if you plan to be there at 916.396.7825 .
Parades are meant for families; bring everyone and come out and walk with us!
Think fun with other AAE volunteers, supporting AAE and pride in the USA
Spirit Keeper Equine Sanctuary is a 501c3 entity that provides care for elderly and special needs horses. I placed my older horse with them a year and a half ago and have visited the facility and with the director, Lori, numerous times. It is a well-run facility by knowledgeable and caring people. They still have many needs for their 36 horses and it is a very worth cause, especially for equine lovers! Spirit Keeper is participating in a campaign to raise funds and they have an opportunity to receive a large grant if it can be matched by December 31st! – Jane Fliesbach, Rocky Mountain Dressage Society
Every year, the Give! Team makes it possible for community members to learn about and make a donation to trusted nonprofits in the Pikes Peak region by vetting and hand-selecting participants from hundreds of applications. The expert review committee vets every Give! nonprofit for solid financials, ethical practices and credible impact. They look for the nonprofits that operate exclusively in and for the Pikes Peak region, that fill unmet needs in innovative ways, and that might not ever cross someone’s path otherwise. Give helps them make their voices heard with capacity-building training provided by experts in the fields of social media, marketing, technology, data management and governance. We are VERY proud that Spirit Keeper Equine Sanctuary was chosen to participate in this year’s GIVE! We are very fortunate to have this opportunity and need everyone to rally around us by donating to and sharing our campaign between November 1 – December 31, 2016. We have been awarded a $10,500 matching grant which we will receive IF we are able to raise that much ourselves during the Indy Give campaign 11/1 – 12/31, 2016. Meeting this goal will make it possible for us to build a barn and loafing sheds to house the 9 horses at the sanctuary who currently do not have shelter.
First, THANK YOU so much for helping us save these horses. As you can clearly see, they were desperately in need of immediate veterinary and farrier care. Thanks to everyone who has been so loving and generous, these 9 horses from ISPMB are looking at wonderful lives with loving folks.
Matt and I are packing up and we will be delivering the last 5 to their new homes today. Unfortunately we have to drive about 1,000 miles one way to do this. As usual, we need serious help to get these kids to their new homes. Folks often ask why the “adopters” are not paying for transport. These are simply wonderful folks who are willing to take on the huge expenses of rehabbing these beautiful souls and making sure they are cared for the next 30 years. So we are thankful they will take on that huge mission and are praying that y’all will continue your wonderful support so we can get them there.
I spoke with Karen yesterday and she told me the Sheriff will be taking control on the 11th. This means that there are nearly 800 horses needing homes in the next 3 weeks or they will end up at auction (slaughter).
What we have done TOGETHER is amazing. It doesn’t sound like so much, only 9 out of over 800, but if 100 other people stepped up and did what YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE, ALL the horses would be saved. So Y’ALL have made a huge difference.
I understand y’all are probably tired of me asking for funding. I absolutely hate having to fund raise, but please remember this is not for me, it is for the horses and I know so many folks want to be part of saving all these lives even if they can’t do it hands on, but do it via financial support. We never want folks to give more than they are comfortable giving, but although I gladly spend 24/7 doing this, it takes a village. My time is all volunteer, and I do this because I truly believe God is putting this in front of me and am so grateful YOU all make it possible.
Unfortunately the budget at Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang has been severely trampled on. The last vet bill was about $1500 including the trimming and gelding. Our vet is amazing and gave us every break she could and Twizzle is actually a filly so that also helped.
We appreciate and thank you with every fiber of our being for the help, but this is a crisis, and for some reason God put it in front of us. We have been asked by the Sheriff and several other folks, including Karen, to be there asap.
So as soon as we deliver these beautiful babies the 1000 miles, we have to jump back in the truck and go 1500 miles up to South Dakota. This is a lot of traveling and to be honest, not my preference. At this time, I know of only 4 other trailers that are expected to show up. But God definitely placed the ISPBM situation in front of us and we will do our best to help in any way we can.
Again, THANK YOU for all you have saved, but we are in desperate need of more help to save more of these horses. IF you are interested in adopting any of these beautiful horses, please contact us asap at 530-339-1458.
The webinar is open to both AHC members and non-members-we encourage everyone to attend, and to share this email with anyone you think may be interested! To register for the webinar, please click here. If you have any questions, please contact Ashley Furst at afurst@horsecouncil.org. We look forward to having you join us for the first of our quarterly webinars!
The Media Roundup is now the UHC Roundup, a publication with a new name and a broader scope. In addition to news articles and events, the UHC Roundup highlights member programs and success stories spanning all breeds, disciplines, and regions, plus it has a new photo feature and a link to the UHC Blog.
If you wish to share your story of unwanted horses becoming wanted again, contact UHC Director, Jennifer Purcell, at jpurcell@horsecouncil.org.
More than three dozen articles about programs and events to help unwanted horses were published in October. Click on the title to read the full article.
Your comments are needed today to stop the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from conducting an expensive and traumatic helicopter roundup of wild horses in the Adobe Town Herd Management Area (HMA) for the sole purpose of putting radio collars on 30 mares. The study is designed to lay the groundwork for zeroing out the HMA by showing that Adobe Town wild horses migrate into the Checkerboard sections of the HMA following removal of horses from that area. The entire premise of the study is now invalid, because the BLM has cancelled the 2016 Checkerboard roundup in response to our recet legal victory at the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Tell BLM NO to wasting our tax dollars on another unnecessary and traumatic wild horse helicopter roundup and study by clicking here.
Your comments are needed today to tell the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to drop plans to conduct an unnecessary and dangerous radio collar tracking study of wild mares in Wyoming.
The agency wants to conduct an expensive and traumatic helicopter roundup for the sole purpose of placing radio tracking collars on 30 mares living in the Adobe Town Herd Management Area (HMA). The collars are part of a proposed 5-year study conducted in conjunction with the University of Wyoming to study the movement and habitat selection of the horses.
It is clear from the documents that the study is intended to lay the groundwork for the “zeroing out” of the Adobe Town wild horses, because it aims to prove that wild horses from the non-checkerboard portions of the HMA migrate into the checkerboard sections. The BLM is in the process of eliminating wild horses from the Wyoming Checkerboard to appease the Rock Springs Grazing Association, and wants to prove that wild horses must be eradicated from the entire area in order to keep the checkerboard clear of wild horses.
Ironically, the whole premise for the study is now void since the BLM has cancelled the 2016 Checkerboard roundup, thanks to our legal victory at the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Not only is this study unnecessary, but also it presents a danger to wild horses, both from the helicopter roundup that will injure and kill horses and shatter their families, and from the radio collars that are not breakaway, but rather must be released via “remote detonation” if a horse get in trouble.
Finally, the underlying bias of the study is revealed by the University of Wyoming’s research proposal, which “predicts” that the study will show that horses can’t be kept off checkerboard lands, “disproportionately” use riparian resources, “displace” ungulate species and complicate management of other wildlife species and livestock.
I met a beautiful little princess yesterday. She has the face of an angel. She lit up my world with the most beautiful smile, all the while I was choking back the tears. (The minute the trailer pulled in the tears started, as I knew Big Girl was leaving. After that, the tears were simply from the joy she was bringing this little girl and the difference she will make in her life.)
Lee is one of the most courageous, wonderful, amazing little girls I have ever met, and her family is just as amazing. She suffered severe burns over her body in a devastating accident, but this little girl is kicking butt, and I absolutely love her. It was an honor and a gift to meet her.
Big Girl came in with no feet, in so much pain she would not even move to her feed, and with the info that if we hit her with a crop when we rode her we might be able to make her trot.
Today she has solid wonderful hoofers. They need a little trim and some shaping, but are good hard supportive feet. She is off her pain meds completely and moves around with ease. Thank You so much for all the love, support and prayers y’all sent. YOU made this happen :)
She now will be Lee’s Therapy Horse. Both of them are loving this and the future looks bright. Lee has to do extremely painful exercises and doing them with and on Big Girl will lessen that pain and it gives her a distraction while healing.
That was our day yesterday, and one of the reasons all this work is worth it…
Today, we spent just shy of $1000 ($970.00) just to get the last 5 horses we brought in laid down by the vet to get their poor lil hoofers done and health certs etc. Happily, all went well and they look like different horses.
Matt and I will be taking 7 horses to their new homes tomorrow and we are so grateful for the wonderful folks we are working with and that these equine are on their way to wonderful lives.
Unfortunately, (or maybe I should say fortunately) tomorrow is also the day we leave to drive back to South Dakota. It is wonderful that we will be able to pick up some more horses, but it is an extremely costly endeavor, especially with the vetting and the hoof work that will no doubt follow. But with colder weather coming we need to get as many as we can while we can. I know it doesn’t seem like we are saving many considering the large numbers, but last year we found homes for 100, a few at a time. So it does help in the long run.
All this is possible because of wonderful people working and networking together. No one could do this alone.
As of now, Karen still has control of the horses and the final verdict will come November 11. If the State takes control (if Karen cannot get the funding she needs to meet the court’s requirements) there could be over 800 horses that need placed before November 30th. This is a serious situation and anyone who might be interested in adopting or helping, please contact Karen at ISPMB to adopt.
We appreciate your love, prayers and any help you can give us. It takes about 20 hours each way and this one will be about 6 or 7 hours longer as we are delivering horses on the way. But while we have the opportunity to get horses safely home before the bad weather sets in, we need to do so immediately. If the weather hits it could mean many horses at risk of “auction” and we all know what that means.
As always, we appreciate the love and support and Thank You for being part of Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang, Equine Rescue & More!
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives and to give Shadow the life she deserves.
You can donate via check at Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang, 34694 Sidebottom Rd., Shingletown, CA 96088 or mail a check to Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang, P.O. Box 190 Golconda, NV 89414
You can also donate via credit card by calling Palomino at 530-339-1458.
The American Horse Council (AHC) has submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regarding proposed changes to the regulations governing enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA). The AHC supports taking action to strengthen HPA regulations, but in its comments requested USDA make several important improvements to proposed rule.
The HPA was enacted in 1970 to prohibit the showing, exhibiting, transporting or sale at auction of a horse that has been sored. Soring is an abusive practice used by some horse trainers in the Tennessee Walking Horse, Spotted Saddle Horse, and Racking Horse industry. It usually involves the use of action devices, chemicals, stacks or other practices to cause pain in a horse’s forelegs and produce an accentuated show gait for competition. Despite the existence of a federal ban on soring for over forty years, this cruel practice continues in some segments of the walking horse industry. Soring is not a problem in other segments of the horse industry.
The USDA proposed rule would make several major changes to current HPA regulations with the goal of ending soring, including a new licensing program for HPA inspectors and a ban on action devices, pads, weighted shoes and foreign substances at walking horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions.
In its comments the AHC expressed its opposition to soring and its belief that action is needed to stop the soring of “big lick” Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses. However, the AHC also voiced concerns that certain provisions of the proposed rule are too broadly written, not sufficiently defined, and could cause confusion for the horse show industry.
The AHC’s comments strongly urge USDA to explicitly limit all new provisions to Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses, mirroring the widely supported Prevent All Soring Tactics Act or PAST Act. The AHC believes making this change will address most concerns the horse industry has with the proposed rule and will still achieve the goal of ending soring.
Additionally, the AHC supported USDA’s decision to eliminate the current Designated Qualified Person (DQP) program and remove Horse Industry Organizations (HIOs) from having a role in enforcement of the HPA. The AHC believes the new Horse Protection Inspector (HPI) program proposed in the rule will be able to more effectively enforce the HPA.
The AHC also asked USDA to take into consideration the costs the proposed rule could impose on smaller “flat shod” walking horse shows that make a good faith effort to comply with the HPA, and make accommodations for such shows. The AHC proposed several changes to the rule that it believes would help control costs for these types of walking horse shows.
The AHC is unequivocal that many of the proposed changes to the HPA regulations are needed, but that it is equally important that any new regulations be narrowly focused on the problem of soring and do not inadvertently impact or unnecessarily burden other segments of the horse show industry that have no history of soring horses. This position is supported by over 180 Members of Congress who, led by Congressmen Ted Yoho (R-FL) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR), have signed a letter to USDA that supports the proposed rule, but also calls on USDA to explicitly limit all new provisions to Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses. This letter can be viewed here.
The AHC hopes USDA will included these needed changes in any final rule that is enacted.
The following is an update from the 
