Equine Welfare News Archive

The following post is from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

We wouldn’t bring this to you on a Friday evening if it weren’t important.

A bill introduced this week in the Nevada legislature would, if passed, prevent the humane management of the Virginia Range horses that we have worked to secure over the past two years. Instead of humane management, Assembly Bill 431 (AB431) would lead to the wholesale removal and disposal of these historic horses, who fall under the state’s management.

PLEASE take a moment to send a message to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, which will hear this bill next Thursday, April 3, 2015. 

Currently, AWHPC is working with State of Nevada and local wild horse advocacy groups to humanely manage the Virginia Range mustangs. We have worked on this win-win, public-private partnership for two long years. AB461 would replace that humane management partnership with removals, sales to slaughter auction, and the potential gelding and spaying of horses on the range.

Your voice as a past or potential tourist is important. Nevada relies on the tourism industry — the state should not pass a bill that will tarnish their image. Please take action tonight.

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Thank you for caring about wild horses and burros,

We are pleased to announce that we have found a new home for the “brothers” Mikey and Ikey. If you missed our last newsletter explaining why they are moving, please read the letter announcing their availability here.

Generous reader Susan Kerins of Colorado has offered to provide the boys with a safe and loving home. Susan has their future arrival well-checks, lifelong care, and the pre-transport expenses of veterinary testing and certification covered, and assures a permanent home.

We are all sad to see Mikey and Ikey go but we firmly believe this is the best decision for our small organization. The girls who adopted Mikey and Ikey have both experienced varying but equally devastating circumstances causing them to no longer be able to care for the horses and since our supporters have helped so much already we feel that we cannot responsibly continue to afford for the care and upkeep of the brothers Mikey and I key without it affecting our ability to advocate for horses on a larger scale.

We have approached many organizations for assistance with the transport to no avail. In order to get Mikey and Ikey to their new home with Susan Kerins in Colorado, we must assist in raising funds for transport. This is the largest need we have ever had. The new home is approximately 800 miles away – 1600 roundtrip.

We have a generous driver who has offered his time. He has personal experience with the horses and will transport them with extreme caution and care. If you can help us buy the gas we would be eternally grateful.

The following is an update from Save Your Ass Longears Rescue.

It’s hopeful out today! The sun is shining, the mules are shedding like crazy, and I have unplugged the water heaters! There is still a lot of ice on top of snow, but the birds are singing and there is a slight smell of earth in the air. I think we may have survived this wicked winter!

One of our very loyal and generous donors bailed an aged Belgian mule from Camelot for us a little over a month ago. I named him Sweet William, and he had been quarantined in NJ for a month. While he was there, he was seen by a vet and started on a special feeding regime, as he was a 1 on the Henneke scale. (The Henneke scale is a body condition scoring system which runs from 1, which is emaciated, to 9, which is obese.)

This big boy was delivered to SYALER last week and he is a LOVE! He is a very sweet, friendly, “in-your-pocket” type of mule. His age is estimated to be 29 years young – he has no arthritis or any other obvious joint issues, but his teeth have been worn smooth and he has no grinding surfaces, which means he can’t eat hay very well.. He is now up to a 2 on the Henneke scale, and we would like to see him become a 5. Sooooo he will be needing lots of groceries – He will need to be on hay stretcher pellets, beet pulp, CocoSoya oil, and a few other supplements to gain weight. We will start him on 10lbs of hay stretcher a day – which means a 50lb bag of hay stretcher pellets won’t even last a week!

It seems like every time we get a bit ahead, a case like Sweet William comes in, sending us back into the ole money pit. So, once again I am reaching out to our amazing supporters and asking you to please do what you can to help us help Sweet William.

Mister Mann, another Belgian mule who came in a bit on the thin side, has put on weight and looks gorgeous! He is going to make someone a wonderful pal. I have become a huge fan of the draft mules. You love them and they give it right back!

Adoptions are starting to pick up a bit. Margarita and her adorable foal ChaCha left for their new home earlier this week. I will miss the antics of little ChaCha. Foals are so much fun.

It seems like every time we get a bit ahead, a case like Sweet William comes in, sending us back into the ole money pit. So, once again I am reaching out to our amazing supporters and asking you to please do what you can to help us help Sweet William.

Thank you all very much for your ongoing kindness which comes in all forms, from lovely letters to very dear email posts to donations, every kindness is very gratefully appreciated. I take nothing for granted and my thanks comes from the heart.

Let’s hope that the weather continues to warm up so the ice can melt and Mud Season can begin!!
chEARS,

Ann

President & Shelter Manager

The following article is from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

The historic agreement with the State of Nevada for the humane management of the Virginia Range horses has been signed!

This agreement has been two long years in the making. We could not have gotten here without your support!

Will you continue to stand with us and the historic mustangs of the Virginia Range in northern Nevada?

This first-of-its-kind public/private partnership will set the bar for the humane management of wild horses in the wild. It will allow wild horse advocates to take measures to humanely control population numbers and keep horses out of harm’s way so they can stay free on the range with their families! The Virginia Range horses are not federally protected and instead fall under the State of Nevada’s jurisdiction.

Will you help us keep these beloved horses with their families in the wild? 

Your contribution today will be put to work immediately… to fund the training of local community members to dart horses safely and effectively with the humane PZP birth control vaccine and also to fund public education and on-the-range improvements to prevent horses from becoming targets for capture and removal by keeping them out of harm’s way, and away from roadways and developments.

Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference.

Thank you for your compassion and dedication to America’s wild horses and burros!

The following post is from the Youths’ Equine Alliance.

What would we do without friends? True friends that support us through thick and thin! We want to thank everyone who supported our most recent efforts at the Broken Arrow tour. We were able to document the Fish Creek mares that were there and also the stallions that were at another Nevada facility.

Here is some first-hand information we received on the tour:
– Many mares are due to foal immediately
– Two mares have already aborted due to stresses of the roundup and the extreme adjustments of life in captivity (including food and environment change which causes undue stress on the horses.)
– The stallions remain intact.
– Both mares and stallions had drastically different attitudes than the rest of the horses in holding. For instance the majority of horses in holding are “hungry” for affection and they will look at you and at times approach you directly for a sniff or a muzzle rub. However the Fish Creek mares and stallions remained at a cautious distance with a stiff, alert, and confounded demeanor.

For a report on the tour, we couldn’t say it better than our friends at Wild Horse Education. Please take a minute to read Laura’s account of the tour.

I was recommended to reach out to you. I have been frantically trying to stop a donkey basketball fundraiser coming up on March 16th. I had a news interview yesterday, but many of the locals just don’t understand donkeys and do not see the abuse behind this disgusting sport. I need your help. I am doing everything in my power to stop this fundraiser that is coming up on Monday. Can you help educate these people? I did this interview and they are just blasting with uneducated comments…

https://www.facebook.com/Newsline9/posts/888382681222999

Can you please help me educate people? I believe I am close to putting an end to this event, but really need extra support. Please help…

– Jessica

I agree that donkey basketball, baseball and celebrity races are probably not the most humane activities to be doing with donkeys. These activities are usually monitored by people who have no experience or knowledge of equines and do put them and the people at risk. “In general, any athlete that is not properly prepared for a sport is at risk of being injured or worse in the course of a game!” This includes the donkeys that the people in sport are riding as well as the people themselves. There are also inherent dangers when unskilled people are dealing with longears (mules and donkeys). They are much stronger, intelligent and wily than horses and a well-placed kick can ruin a person’s life who may, or may not even being playing the game (i.e. spectators, coaches, etc.).

Mules and donkeys can carry proportionately more weight than a horse of the same size. However, you do need to be careful about making broad generalizations. Obviously, a horse, or mule, who is out of condition is not going to be able to carry as much weight as one who is conditioned properly, so it is all relative to the situation. The maximum weight a horse or mule can carry will depend on a lot of variables. Generally speaking, a mule, or donkey, can carry more weight than a horse because of the unique muscle structure of the animal. However, an equine that is not conditioned properly will not be able to efficiently carry as much weight as one who is. Also, the rider with better balance and riding ability is going to be easier for the equine to carry than one who is not balanced regardless of the difference in actual weight. The size of the equine and the proportion of the equine to the rider will also affect balance and carrying ability.

The amount of weight an equine can comfortably carry or pull depends on many things beginning with the animal’s overall fitness. If he is fit, he will be able to carry more than those who are not, but conformational abnormalities will also have an effect. If he has any deviations in his bone structure (i.e. crooked legs), it can compromise how he moves and put undue stress on certain areas depending on the defect. The easiest way to test for weight tolerance is to watch the way the animal moves. If he is halted and seems to be have difficulty moving, the weight is obviously too heavy. If he is unable to trot, or is resistant to trotting, the weight is too heavy. This would be the same in harness. If he cannot move freely, the load is too heavy. So, it’s not just a matter of how old he is, but rather how he is conformed and how fit he is at any given stage of training and the weight and ability of the rider that will dictate how much he can carry, or pull. There have never been any real in depth studies on this issue, so the statistics you hear about are not exact, only speculation. Be careful about generalizations because there are always hidden variables to be considered. In addition, fitting saddles can become an issue as your equine changes shape with conditioning, so it is best to fit the saddle when you equine is in good condition.

For instance, it is commonly believed that an equine should be able to carry 10% of his weight, but if a 2000 lb. animal is carrying the 200 lb. over a back that has not been physically developed correctly, it could be very difficult for him.  If he possesses more strength over his topline and through the croup, then he may actually be able to carry more than 10% of his body weight. Any additional weight as with saddle bags also needs to be considered. If he is weak over the topline and in his back, then he shouldn’t be carrying even a 150 lb. person, much less anything behind the saddle. The weight does need to be placed and balanced over the bearing areas and the shoulder and hips do need to be kept clear for optimum movement. Anchoring the saddle with a crupper is always a good idea to keep loads from shifting and placement and security of the foundation tack to which you secure all these things needs to be assessed as well. When you add weight to the saddle, check to see if the girth you are using is adequate to keep the saddle in place without rubbing sores on your animal’s body.

No matter how old or how well trained the equine, they still need time doing the simplest of things to get to know you before they will learn to trust and have confidence in you. The exercises that you do should build the body slowly, sequentially and in good equine posture. Just as our children need routine, ongoing learning and the right kind of exercise while they are growing up, so do equines. They need boundaries for their behavior clearly outlined to minimize anxious behaviors and inappropriate behavior, and the exercises that you do together need to build their strength and coordination in good equine posture. The time spent together during leading training and going forward builds a good solid relationship with your equine and fosters his confidence and trust in you because you actually help him to feel physically better. A carefully planned routine and an appropriate feeding program is critical to healthy development.

Most horse training techniques used today speed up the training process so people can ride or drive sooner and it makes the trainers’ techniques more attractive, but most of these techniques do not adequately prepare the equine physically in good posture for the added stress of a rider on his back. Mules and donkeys have a very strong sense of self preservation and need work that builds their bodies properly so they will feel good in their new and correct posture, or you won’t get the kind of results you might expect. Forming a good relationship with your equine begins with a consistent maintenance routine and appropriate groundwork. Most equines don’t usually get the well-structured and extended groundwork training on the lead rope that paves the way to good balance, core muscle conditioning and a willing attitude.  This is essential if he is truly expected to be physically and mentally prepared for future equine activities. With donkeys and mules, this is critically important.

The “funny” things that the donkeys do to rid themselves of their riders during these types of donkey events and that is so enjoyed by the spectators is an instinctual reaction to pain and/or discomfort. Because this is a concern for the health and welfare of the donkeys, I will post this in the Equine Welfare section on my website with any information you choose to disclose.

– Meredith

The following post is from the Youths’ Equine Alliance.

Thanks to the help of our supporters we are ready to go into action at a moment’s notice. And it’s a good thing because we just found out about a tour of the Broken Arrow (aka Indian Lakes) Facility. If you remember we last did a report on the facility during the last tour. Here is a video of what we saw that day (October 2014.)

Broken Arrow is important to me because it has always been closed for the years that I’ve been involved, except for these 2 tours. The first time I went there (October 2013) I was only able to see horses from a great distance and I feared that no one in the public would ever be able to see or adopt the horses there. The last time they let the public in we were able to inspire and assist with adoption efforts of several horses! To us that is a huge accomplishment.

Currently being held at the facility – at great controversy – are 186 horses from the Fish Creek roundup. Beginning on February 13th, the BLM rounded up 424 horses with helicopters over 5 days. Of these horses, 186 were to be treated with fertility vaccine and RELEASED. All the mares were given the vaccine, however, due an appeal filed by Rancher Kevin Borba and Eureka County, the BLM has instead shipped the horses to Fallon and is holding them at the Broken Arrow/Indian Lakes facility. Here is a news article briefly describing the situation.

I think it is important for me to attend this tour. If we are able to raise enough for travel expense, we will be leaving later TODAY, after I get off of school. We will need to raise about $100 for gas and $50 for a room to stay because it is about 450 miles each way if we are to attend.

I would be honored if you would send me as your representative to document this rarely seen facility tour and the 186 horses from Fish Creek among the approximately 2,750 horses being held there. I also want to check on the Palomino Valley facility where there are approximately 1,200 while I am in Northern Nevada.

Thanks for all your support and encouragement.
From,
Your Friend
Robin

The following article is from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

Ranchers and their allies at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have been gunning for the wild horses in Colorado’s West Douglas Herd Area (HA) for years, even though this is one of the few remaining wild horse populations in the state. The agency’s attempts to “zero out” this wild horse habitat have so far been held off thanks to lawsuits by The Cloud Foundation and others. Now the BLM is proposing to round up nearly half of the estimated 356 wild horses who live in the West Douglas HA and is seeking public comments regarding “additional alternatives or issues that should be considered” when evaluating the proposed roundup.

This is a chance to show our public support for an alternative that removes privately-owned cattle not federally-protected wild horses from these public lands. Help send a strong message to the BLM that these lands belong to all Americans and all Americans should have a say in how they are managed. The deadline to speak up is Valentine’s Day – so, please have a heart for Colorado mustangs and speak up today!

The following post is from the Youths’ Equine Alliance.

Northern Nevada – where the majority of captive horses are held – experienced record-breaking wind yesterday. Patty Bumgarner, a local advocate and friend of mine took these photos of the horses trying to endure the rough weather without the benefit of wind breaks or shelter.

Patty said, “This wind blew it hurt, had to cover my head
a few times with my jacket. And the horses & burros can’t find a way out of it. I got hit with tumble weeds around my ankles and it drew blood, can’t image how they feel getting hit by them.” When I saw the photos I could feel her pain and also the suffering of the horses.

How long will they wait for shelter or wind breaks? Some progress has been made at some facilities, but not at the ones where the majority of horses are held.

We have a ray of hope – there has been a new person put in charge of BLM oversight (announced January 19th.) His name is Louis Gohmert and today, we added his name to the Shelter4Horsespetition and we are anxiously awaiting presenting him with signatures to see what he will do to address the situation. So far we have about 22,000 signatures on that petition if you haven’t signed yet, please add your name!

In the last letter I shared this photo of a burro being “shot” from a helicopter. I have been told that the gun may be a tranquilizer gun. But the visual is real. The BLM has been put in charge of keeping the numbers of horses and burros down to 26,684. One of their suggestions rather than birth control is on-the-range euthanasia – which would look alot like this!

Please help us continue our mission. We urgently need to complete maintanence on our vehichle. This vehicle takes kids to field trips, us to care for horses, and me to speaking engagements. We put 30,000 miles on it in 2014! So now, we need brakes, tires, and more to keep it safe and ready-to-go for 2015. This week it will cost us $300 to keep it on the road.

We have so many good things going, my next update will be so much good news, I just know it, but we need your help to complete these works-in-progress like: setting up the children’s art gallery, protesting helicopter roundups, and finally getting a meeting with the governor on a project I’ve been working over a year on!

Thanks for your continued support. I know I can count on you.

The following article is from Save Your Ass Longears Rescue.

Mark your calendars for March 1st – that is when our Cabin Fever Auction will begin! It will last until 9:00pm on Sunday,March 8th. We hope to have a wide variety of items on which to bid and are happily accepting donations of artwork, jewelry, gift baskets, gift certificates, gift cards…anything you think someone might enjoy.If you have anything you would like to donate, please contact Joan atSYAAuction@comcast.net ASAP. We already have several amazing artists who are donating some of their beautiful artwork. All donations are tax deductible and very, very gratefully appreciated. All funds raised go right in to helping care for the animals in the rescue.

Rules for listings can be found on the SYALER Cabin Fever Auction Facebook page, as well as on ourwebsite.

NOTE: Donated items do not need to be long ear related!

The following article is from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada wants to lease 124 parcels of land in the Battle Mountain District for oil and gas development. Of these, 44 parcels overlap five wild horse Herd Management Areas. The agency admits that such development can result in disruption and displacement of federally-protected wild horses.

BLM routinely excludes key habitat for sensitive species and archeologically important sites from oil and gas development. Please take a moment to tell the BLM to exclude from the leasing plan the 44 land parcels that overlap the protected wild horse habitat.

This article comes from the Unwanted Horse Coalition.

The Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER) and the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) have joined forced in 2015 to help facilitate the sale of retired Thoroughbred racehorses to buyers in the equestrian market. CANTER is a nonprofit organization that works through 13 affiliates at 27 racetracks nationwide connecting racehorse owners with potential buyers via an online marketplace. RRP works to increase the demand for ex-racehorses through educational programs and marketing while serving the farms and organizations in the private and nonprofit sectors that offer training for second careers. Among other collaborative efforts, both organizations will promote CANTER listings as a source for horses eligible to enter RRP’s Thoroughbred Makeover in Kentucky; CANTER will distribute copies of RRP’s Racehorse Resource Directory; and RRP will involve local CANTER affiliates when presenting at educational programs and regional horse expos. “We love what RRP does to educate and inspire horse people to consider off-track Thoroughbreds, and are thrilled to be integrating our work with theirs,” said CANTER USA Executive Director, Nancy Koch.

The following article is from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) winter roundup season is in full swing. As I write this, BLM helicopters are hunting down wild horses, rounding up every one of the estimated 180 mustangs living in the Humboldt Herd Area on 219,000 acres of public land that has essentially been turned over to private, commercial ranching interests.

Even as the helicopters fly, AWHPC is working tirelessly to change our government’s heartless and costly roundup program. We’re…..

…Waging court battles in four states, defending wild horses from legal attacks by ranchers and their political allies.

…Implementing on-the-range management programs that Keep Wild Horses Wild and prevent removals of wild horses from their homes on the range.

…Growing the grassroots movement and getting more people involved. This is the cornerstone of the effort to save America’s wild horses and burros.

Please help us continue the fight.

Make no mistake; this is a dangerous time for our national icons. Sworn enemies of wild horses and burros, such as U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), champion of ranchers, miners, drillers and loggers, are taking the reins of House and Senate committees that oversee public lands management in the West. They’re already gunning for wild horses… scapegoating them for environmental damage caused by massive livestock grazing.

During this critical time, please make a donation to support our work…. on the range, in the courts and in the halls of Congress…. to defend America’s mustangs and burros.

All contributions, no matter how large or small, are deeply appreciated and put to immediate use to defend wild horses and burros.

Thank you for making this work possible.

The following article is from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

We wanted to send you a reminder that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming Resource Advisory Council (RAC) is meeting in Laramie, Wyoming on February 2-4, 2015. This citizen advisory board has within its jurisdiction all of Wyoming’s 16 wild horse Herd Management Areas.

The RAC advises and makes recommendations to the BLM on public land management. These meetings are open to the public and provide the public an opportunity to make comments to the citizen-based council. We encourage you to attend and provide comments if you can! AWHPC is submitting comments, asking for the RAC’s support for humane reform of the BLM wild horse program and fairer treatment for Wyoming’s last remaining mustangs.

WHAT: BLM Wyoming Resource Advisory Council (RAC) Meeting

WHEN: Monday, February 2, 2015, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015, 8 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Public Comment Period February 4, 2015, beginning at 8:00 a.m.

WHERE: Holiday Inn, 204 S. 30th Street, Laramie, Wyo. 82070

If you are interested in attending, please email contact@wildhorsepreservation.org for more information.

We’ll submit your signatures to the RAC to deliver a strong message that citizens across America want our wild horses protected on our public lands. The agenda for the meeting is available here.

Thank you for standing strong for Wyoming’s last remaining wild horses,

-The AWHPC Team

The following article is from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

Wyoming has only 2,500 wild horses left, and they are under attack…from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the State of Wyoming and powerful ranching interests seeking to wipe out wild horses to increase taxpayer-subsidized livestock grazing on our public lands. Right now, we have an opportunity to speak up for them.

The BLM Wyoming Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet on Feb. 2-4, 2015 in Laramie. The RAC is a citizen advisory board that has within its jurisdiction all of the state’s 16 wild horse Herd Management Areas (HMAs). BLM RACs are generally stacked with ranching interests and against wild horses, despite the American public’s strong support for wild horse protection. The mission of RACs is to represent interested stakeholders in public lands management. Please join us in asking Wyoming RAC members to work together with us on humane and cost-effective solutions that Keep Wild Horses Wild. Two weeks ago we collected over 11,000 signatures in just four days on a similar petition to a RAC in Oregon. Will you help us beat that record by clicking below? It takes just one minute to help…and Wyoming’s mustangs need all the help they can get!

The following article is from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) plan for the Fish Creek Herd Management Area (HMA) in Nevada has a number of things right. The agency is increasing use of fertility control and maintaining the natural sex ratio of the population instead of artificially skewing it to favor stallions. However, the BLM intends to remove 200 of the 600 wild horses in the Fish Creek HMA in the next few weeks. The plan includes additional horse removals over a ten-year period to reduce the population down to a maximum number of 170, which may compromise the genetic viability of these herds.

Tell BLM it’s headed in the right direction for managing this HMA, but must take the final turn toward a truly humane and publicly-acceptable management program by forgoing removals, permanently reducing livestock grazing and prioritizing bait trapping over helicopter roundups for fertility control application. Also tell BLM that any methods used to capture horses should incorporate strict requirements to safeguard their welfare, including respecting and maintaining the integrity of their social groups at all times. Please click below to endorse AWHPC’s comments to the BLM!

The following post is from the Youths’ Equine Alliance.

“There are two great days in a person’s life – the day we are born & the day we discover why.”

A popular quote and I can see why. My birthday is Sunday and all I really want for my birthday is a chance for the horses to win their freedom.

I think I was born to do something great for the horses and I am not the only one with that purpose. There are many of us, all over the country, all over the world, who finding our voices and standing up for horses.

Last month I spoke to the local Rotary Club about my mission and how it has evolved. I am now teaching youth on how to make a difference too and through my journeys with the horses we are impacting our communities in many ways.

My current mission is to create an educational performance that can travel to schools (locally at first, then statewide and then throughout the West and America) promoting wild horses and youth involvement in protection and conservation efforts. I need to reach as many kids as possible.

But all my work, it won’t mean anything if the horses don’t survive. I think the single greatest threat to the horses’ survival is the stripping away of their rights and protections. There’s not that many left in America. The roundup schedule for this year is brutal. Just look at the roundups that are planned to begin between now and February 1st! 1,000+ will be gathered, 640+ will be removed, and 200+ will be treated with fertility control.

Please help us to keep fighting for horses and keep reaching kids and adults with the message that you too can make a difference.

On Monday we are getting Mikey gelded. He is the last of our colts to get the procedure. We are preparing to have our three colts Rocky, Mikey and Ikey (aka Moose) to perform in an educational program together. We have another important step to take before we can “take the show on the road” – we need to obtain liability insurance for the school appearances. The sooner we can complete these steps the sooner we can start reaching more kids.

I am confident that we can do it with your love and support and I look forward to keeping you updated on our continued progress. Thanks for all your help.

The following article is from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southeast Oregon Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet next Monday and Tuesday, January 12-13, 2015. The RAC is a citizen advisory board that considers public testimony and makes recommendations to the BLM on issues related to public lands management. The Southeast Oregon RAC has in its jurisdiction 16 wild horse Herd Management Areas (HMAs). We expect a small but vocal group of ranchers to be present at this meeting to call for increased removals of wild horses from Oregon’s public lands. The horses need YOUR voice to counter this opposition….Please help us collect 5,000 signatures in five days to present at the meeting. Click below to take action and get details of the meeting in case you are able to attend in person.

The following article is from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, with the help of friends like you, is on the frontlines of the battle to save America’s mustangs and burros! Thanks to you, our wonderful supporters, 2014 was a tough but important year in which we made some significant strides:

• We saved over 70 historic Virginia Range mustangs in Nevada from the slaughter auction.
• We waged legal battles in three states to defend wild horses and burros from assaults by ranchers and their political allies.
• We’re implementing on-the-range management solutions in Nevada to Keep Wild Horses Wild.
• We’re growing the grassroots army of citizens willing to speak up and defend wild horses, tripling our ranks in this year alone!

We need your help to keep up the fight!

Across the West, wild horses and burros are under attack as never before. Government holding facilities are full with nearly 50,000 wild horses stockpiled. Roundups have been scaled back and ranchers and their political allies are up in arms. They’re fighting back with lawsuits and legislation aimed at removing thousands more horses from their homes on the range and selling the wild horses stockpiled in holding facilities for slaughter.

We are literally the last line of defense between our wild horses and burros and their certain doom. 

Will you stand with us in 2015 as we fight to Keep Wild Horses and Burros Wild?

Your end of year gift will help AWHPC to:

Protect wild horses and burros through humane on-the-range management programs.

Advocate for wild horses and burros by giving them a strong voice in federal court and in the halls of government.

Inspire people to appreciate and stand up for our magnificent wild horses and burros as a unique and historic American legacy.

If you have not yet sent in your year-end gift, I hope that you will do so soon. If you have, thank you for sharing your love for our wild horses and burros and for your commitment to saving them.

The following article is from the American Wild Horse Preservation.

On Wednesday, December 17, AWHPC filed a motion to intervene in the State of Wyoming’s lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The lawsuit, which continues Wyoming ranchers’ legal assault on mustangs, seeks the removal of hundreds of additional wild horses from public lands in the state. Also last week, we filed the opening brief in our lawsuit against the BLM for its massive roundup of 1,263 wild horses from the Wyoming Checkerboard. Read more about our lawsuit against the BLM here.

We are joined in both legal actions by our coalition partner The Cloud Foundation, photographers Carol Walker and Kimerlee Curyl, and our founding organization Return to Freedom. AWHPC is committed to providing Wyoming’s wild horses a powerful voice and vigorous defense in federal court. Thank you to everyone who donated to support these legal actions. With fewer than 2,500 wild horses left in Wyoming, this work could not be more important.