Oregon Wild Horse Organization

WILD HORSES and BURROS INCARCERATED by the BUREAU of LAND MANAGEMENT

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:21:42 -0700

Janelle Ghiorso
VP, OWHO

History
Our national icons of American freedom and symbols of the American West are disappearing and/or wasting away in government-run incarceration feedlots. Instead of roaming free on our public lands, they are being removed by the thousands each year and sentenced to life imprisonment or worse, with a small fraction that is adopted or sold. The lucky few land in good, safe homes or sanctuaries, while some are a daily post on a killpen page. Many never reach social media platforms and are sold and shipped immediately to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada.

The majority of the American public has no idea that wild horses and burros live on our public lands. They would be outraged at their plight. They and future generations are being robbed of a truly beautiful, iconic wildlife species. Captive wild equine are being inhumanely treated in crowded holding facilities. No other wild animal is treated so poorly.

The BLM and USFS are mandated by the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to protect, preserve, and manage wild horses and burros. These agencies, however, are also responsible for permitting livestock grazing, oil and mining operations, and other exploitative uses. The agencies managing the wild horses and burros didn’t want the job in the first place. They...Read More

Seeding Alfalfa on Rangeland

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 11:54:23 -0700

Tenaya Jewell, CLS
Science Writer for Oregon Wild Horse Organization

Introduction

Various seed mixes are used on western rangelands to replant areas prone to overgrazing, wildfires, flooding and erosion. There are advantages and disadvantages to reseeding versus allowing the land to recover on its own. This article focuses on the use of alfalfa in reseeding mixes and the risks it poses to grazing animals.

Characteristics and Growing Requirements

Alfalfa is an introduced perennial herb that originated in SE Asia. Heights can reach 24 to 35 inches, with 5 to 25 erect stems per plant arising from a narrow, woody crown. In sandy soils root depth can grow 10 to 17 feet and under optimal conditions, roots can grow 23 to 30 feet (1). Varieties are available with different root system types such as: taproot, branching roots, rhizomatous, and creeping. Alfalfa is a legume; it can fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship between its root nodules and Rhizobium spp. bacteria.

Alfalfa grows best in well drained soils with a pH of 6.5-7.5 that have good water holding capacity like deep, loamy soils with porous subsoils. It is intolerant of flooding, waterlogging, or poor soil drainage like in heavy clay that retains water and can lead to root rot. Alfalfa has moderate to high water requirements and needs consistent soil moisture for optimal growth; however, it will tolerate drought and is known as a good producer in dry years due to its deep root systems. The amount of precipitation alfalfa needs can vary from 12 to 30 inches, depending on soil.

Optimal growth occurs when sown on a firm seedbed. Drilling is a common, effective seeding method used in most regions. The suggested depth for planting is between 1/4 to 1/2 inch. The existence of pine and juniper litter covering buried seeds impedes seed germination (1). In ecosystems characterized by pinyon-juniper...Read More

GOING NATIVE IN THE UK

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 19:21:18 -0800

Alison James
Artist Outreach & Public Records Manager
Oregon Wild Horse Organization

Feb. 01, 2023

During a work session while we were working on the Canyonlands public comment. Somebody brought up native. Val suggested an article on native ponies from around the world. I volunteered to write the article because I was familiar with breeds of native ponies in the UK. I think this may become a series of articles on breeds of ponies from around the world.

The definition of native is subjective depending on the author, reader, lawmaker, scientist etc. I’m not quite sure when the breed of pony is native? Is it during the Stone Age or even Pleistocene? Or is it Roman or Medieval? I’m not quite sure. This is an article about UK natives and all can be verified to at least 1068.

RARE BREED SURVIVAL TRUST (RBST)

They say for a breed to be on the endangered list it has to have 300 breeding mares. In 2023 the rules denoting a rare breed were changed to include an equal number of stallions. Each pony society’s registry almost never accepts piebald or skewbald ponies. They may have a color category as it becomes so popular.

All the native ponies of the UK have nice heads and neat ears. The British Horse Society has standards and a particular vocabulary they use, and neat ears is one of those BHS...Read More

What is WRONG with Wyoming lawmakers?

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 13:32:43 -0800

While Wyoming is home to 1,270,000 cattle (2.18 cows for every person in the state) state lawmakers think the Federal Government should slaughter the wild horses in the state and elsewhere.

A recent article in WyoFile: "Resolution calls for gathering, slaughter of wild horses for meat" announces HJR 3. A bill that "calls on the federal government to amend the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 and other policies, so that wild horses can be gathered, slaughtered, processed and shipped to market domestically or abroad....Read More

BLM AML’S ARE TOO SMALL

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 12:50:32 -0800

Greg Griffin
December, 2022

As we come to the end of 2022, a record breaking year for the number of wild horses removed from their home on our public lands, we are anxious about what the upcoming 2023 gather schedule will show. We fear there are truly less wild horses on public lands now than there were in 1971 when Congress voted unanimously to pass the Wild Free-Roaming Horses & Burros Act to protect a “fast disappearing” native and wild species from the western landscape.

For the record, the real problem on OUR PUBLIC LANDS is too many devastating cattle/livestock – they are everywhere and are methane producing machines due to their 4-stomach physiology and who also represent a significant contribution to our carbon footprint because of the crop growth to feed them.

There are multi millions of cattle/livestock on OUR PUBLIC LANDS, and they are also on the Wild Horse and Burro Heard Areas (HA’s) and Herd Management Areas (HMA’s). Contrast this to the few thousands (30,000-40,000) wild horses the BLM is trying to eradicate from their HA’s and HMA’s on OUR PUBLIC LANDS.

The numbers indicate the real problem. Wild horse/burro gathers are ongoing and are a huge threat to wild horse and burro genetic viability over time. This is evidenced by the BLM’s low target numbers for the Appropriate Management Level (AML’s) described later in this report. The truth is the BLM has become infiltrated and controlled by big money cattle/livestock interests, fossil fuel, mineral extractive industries, logging and corporate interests who want no competition from wild horses/burros/and even wildlife as they expand their exploitation of OUR PUBLIC LANDS.

The Bureau of Land Management’s Appropriate Management Level (AML’s) as posted on their website on August 29, 2022 would seem to be detrimental to the future genetic viability of our country’s wild horses and burros. Further, the BLM AML...Read More

EPA Aids BLM & Big Ag. in Cover-up on Lack of Valid Research Surrounding GonaCon's Registration

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 11:03:40 -0800

OWHO received a letter in the mail from an anonymous source we believe is an EPA whistleblower. This whistleblower told us to contact the agency and ask them why they are sitting on our FOIA request for a public records request we sent back in April of 2022. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires agencies to answer within a certain timeframe, and it is normally 20 - 30 days. The EPA has ot responded to our request and has not complied with regulations to provide us with a reason for them failing to provide requested documents on time, or the time they expect to have them delivered to us.

BLM Admits the Use of GonaCon is Really Being Utilized to Sterilize Our Wild Horses

Oregon Wild Horse Organization's Board President, TJ Barbour, submitted a FOIA to the EPA back in January of 2022 asking for the studies that support the registration of GonaCon. She did this after hearing that the studies used were all from the US Department of Agriculture.

The more I read the posts during latest weather event be it a hurricane or flood or tornado the more I noticed references here and there to the Halleujah Horses. Intrigued, I wanted to find out more. It turns out Fleet of Angels and some other rescue groups allied with FOA, took responsibility of hundreds of neglected horses in South Dakota. This was my first experience with wild horses.

The wild horses seemed so exotic to me, having grown up in the Norfolk, UK countryside. I was used to planned Pony Club events not seeing wild horses especially not mistreated one.

I believe ISPBM and its founder, a Karen Sussman, had settled with state of SD for her to hand over most of the horses to Fleet of Angels and some other rescues and organizations, but she would be allowed to keep some from which I think she could breed.

So FOA now had many horses to look after and feed. It seemed to me the whole equine community rallied and space was found to house the horses and attend to them. Elaine Nash and her team and associates worked their fingers to the bone, adopting out the horses, all the while feeding, floating teeth, trimming hooves and attending to their wounds.

It must have been a daunting task. They were down to the last few, some blind aged mares and a group of twenty aged stallions, some of them blind too. Nobody, it seemed, had the capabilities to house twenty stallions and some...Read More

Arizona Alpine Wild Horses

Sat, 16 Jul 2022 10:21:05 -0700

"ORDER granting Plaintiff's Motion for Temporary Restraining Order 13 to the extent Plaintiff seeks a TRO enjoining the sale of the horses. Plaintiffs Motion for Temporary Restraining Order 13 is denied to the extent Plaintiff seeks an Order to Show Cause why a preliminary injunction should not be issued. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED a Preliminary Injunction Hearing is set for July 22, 2022 at 1:30 p.m., before the Honorable Judge Steven P. Logan, United States District Judge, in the Sandra Day OConnor United States Courthouse, located at 401 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85003, 5th Floor, Courtroom 501. See attached PDF for complete details. Signed by Judge Steven P Logan on 7/12/22. (MJF) (Entered: 07/12/2022)"

In the past couple of weeks the Forest Service made an announcement that they were continuing plans to gather wild horses in Alpine Arizona. And they listed 3 dates the horses were to be auctioned off.

In months past when they made an announcement of an impending gather of this herd they gave the dates they were to begin the gather. This time they did not. In past months they met with opposition from several group and individuals who for many reasons told Forest Service this gather is wrong and illegal.

Some groups started taking photos and having members of the public name the horses while collecting donations to fight for the herd legally. Others got on an email chain with several organizations and people including the Forest Service and fought this case there.

And the gather appeared to have been stopped after that first, and then second round. But then came the third round. So what happened in this third round?

What we know is that FS annouced auction dates...giving the appearance of an imminent gather. Those dates are all removed now....Read More

What BLM Doesn't Want You or Congress to Know.

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 17:00:38 -0700

A couple of months ago in doing research we pointed out in "Relabeling of Acreage Created the Overpopulation Myth of Wild Horses & Burros" that BLM admitted in the 1986 entry in the Federal Register that the population of wild horses and burros in this country in 1971 was not known. And we showed you that BLM currently has a national population target based on a fictional 1971 population.

A recent find by one of our researchers is another place that BLM not only admits the population in 1971 was not known but that it was likely higher than they speculated. And that they have no legal mandate to manage public lands for the number of horses that were on our lands in any particular year. Rather, the only measurement for the determination of 'excess' horses that could initiate removals is an unhealthy range. This means the ultimate test is whether or not the range is meeting the standard of "thriving natural ecological balance."

In Dahl v Clark, No. CV-R-82-124-ECR, United States District Court, D. Nevada, December 31, 1984. BLM (defendants in this case) testified and said the following:

But there was one bomb shell finding in this court case too. BLM not only admits that they are not supposed to manage for a national population level but they also admit that any census from 1971 - 1977 was likely incorrect.

We knew that the current claim BLM has posted on their BLM Myths & Facts page saying there were only 25,345 wild horses & burros in 1971 was not in agreement with the first census in 1973 that stated there were approximately 60,000. And in the statement above it is clear that even the 1973 census was in doubt by then Secretary of the Interior, James Watt,...Read More

Buffalo Hills Complex Gather

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 14:13:33 -0700

The Bureau of Land Management’s Black Rock Field Office began the Buffalo Hills Complex wild horse gather on July 1, 2022.

BLM plans to gather approximately 383 wild horses, remove approximately 353 excess wild horses, and treat up to 30 mares with Gona-Con, a population suppression fertility control vaccine. The treated mares will be released back to the range. GonaCon needs much more research before it is used for our wild mares. (see more on GonaCon below)

According to the Environmental Assessment (EA) there are 131,861 acres in the HMA. The AML for wild horses is 188-314. What we cannot believe is that the current plpan was tiered of an EA from 2018. And that EA used population estimates that were based on a survey done in 2015.

OWHO was not in existence when this plan was approved, bt it certainly should have been challenged by any one of the larger organizations that constantly collects donations claiming they fight for our wild horses. To claim a population exists based on a 7 year old survey is not acceptable, nor scientifically sound.

After the first 2 days of gathering BLM reports 86 animals gathered. They list 2 deaths slating one as a rattlesnake bite (while in holding) and another as unknown causes (a 4 month old foal from the last run of day one. It was found dead in the trailer before reaching holding). BLM won't list these horses as deaths caused by the gather but clearly if the gather had not happened it is likely that both of these horses would still be alive.

The helicopters are being operated by Sampson Livestock. An observer who was on the gorund documenting the gathers has reported that there is barbed wire being used for one wing of the trap site that is not flagged, that the foal who is now deceased temporarily escaped and was pursued again by the helicopter.

That public observer then reported on Day 2 a band of wild horses was chased for over 30 minuteswhile in view of trap (who knows how long...Read More