I am an advocate of all horses.  I’d push to stop any kind of inhumane activity against a horse or other animal.

HOWEVER, the fight between the heavily armed BLM and the unarmed Wild Mustangs (who are supposed to be protected by the US Government) really gets my goat.  I feel like I’m watching a bully on the school grounds only the result is terminal for the underdog.  (Please forward this post.)

THE GOAL OF THE BLM

The BLM has a goal of eradicating the wild horses and burros from the wild this year.  They want zero population growth and the only way to do that is to bring them all in and put them in holding facilities, sterilize them (which ends all bloodlines) and house/feed their prisoners to the tune of millions of dollars each year.  This isn’t a very good plan.  Yet, after years of debate, no other plan has been presented by the BLM.

Why does the BLM want all the horses off of the ranges?  Hmmmm.  Take a wild guess.

The pissy part of this for me is that the BLM doesn’t own the wild horses.  Yet, they are acting as if they do.  We own the wild horses.  We are supposed to have a say in all of this.  But, for some reason, the BLM is allowed to do what they want without hearing or responding to the voices of the people.

IF YOU KNOW ALL OF THIS ALREADY, SCROLL DOWN AND SEE WHAT ACTION YOU CAN TAKE THIS WEEK TO HELP!

THE PROBLEM WITH HOLDING FACILITIES

Well, you’ve seen the photos… might as well be a concentration camp.  And, the idea is to adopt-out these wild horses.  Well, that hasn’t worked so well either.  Wild Horses are not easy to adopt-out once they are past weanling and yearling stage.  They are wild.  They need special help in adapting.  Most humans don’t have that kind of time.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN UPROAR AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GO AFTER THE BLM

But, not much has happened…  The BLM is still able to continue their unprecedented round-ups this year, in any weather, under any terrain and for any length of time, without Congress even batting an eye.  Don’t take my word for it… Just Google “wild horse roundups”  (Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming, California…) and see what is going on now.  Even the BLM notices about roundups are becoming more bold and ridiculous.  Here is a link to one report put out by the BLM that says they have the right to round up all the horses  in Nevada because at the time of the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971, there were only 4 horses on this range.  Hmmmmm.

Also, no one outside of the BLM is allowed to do research and provide a unbiased opinion of the land vs wild horse support issue.  The BLM is allowed to collect them all without showing adequate reason.  Simply mindboggling.

THIS WILL MAKE YOU CRY

So, here is a blog post about the Wyoming Mustangs who were gathered because the range couldn’t support them.  Interestingly, they all look really fat and healthy in these photos…  Here is the link to the blog of their final days of freedom.  (get your kleenex)

And here is a link to a newspaper report about the decimation of the California herds.   Simply ridiculous how the BLM is allowed to do this.  Awful.

Here is a link to find out about and possibly help the Nevada herds.

SO I ASK…

How come the BLM is willing for private parties to purchase large parcels of land to hold the mustangs… but they insist that government land, right next door, cannot sustain any — at all.   Hmmmmm.  Smells fishy.  Especially when cattle can graze there just fine.

IS IT TOO LATE?

Maybe.  But, this week, as in every week lately, there are many articles and help-lines in the news.  I wanted to provide them for you so you could take action and maybe we can do something…

SEVERAL THINGS WE CAN DO TODAY AND THIS WEEK TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE…TAKE ACTION.

1)  DEADLINE:  TODAY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19  (Help the Nevada Mustangs) – EASY EMAIL FORM

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS has created a really easy form you can fill out and send to the powers that be.  This is really easy to read and understand and it has backing and power behind it.  Join the train and let’s get some more steam to the already roaring engines!  Click here.

2) DEADLINE:  TODAY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, Madeleine Pickens has created a letter to the BLM against the Antelope Roundup, they need more people to submit their letters of support

You can read the BLMs information about the gather here.  You can get a template letter from Madeleine Pickens here.

From Madeleine:  We have to ACT NOW to protect our Antelope Complex Wild Horses from being gathered. They are proposing to remove up to 1,659 mustangs. The BLM has asked for public comments until October 19th, 2010. Please email your template letter or comments to: antelope_complex_gather@blm.gov or mail comments to Bryan Fuell, Wells Field Manager to the following address:
3900 Idaho Street
Elko, NV 89801

3)  DEADLINE:  TODAY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 – NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY to support THE PREVENTION OF EQUINE CRUELTY ACT. – PHONE

This is a call-in day to show our support of this Act to Congress.  Here is a link to read about it.  Here is part of the flyer:

4)  WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20th, Carson City, Nevada  (Nevada Mustangs – Virginia Range)  Peaceful Protest – In person protest or call-in or email…

Here is a link with more information.  This protest is to help the Nevada Mustangs that are being rounded up as a nuisance animal – because they are crossing HWY 5o and other such issues that the BLM refuses to rectify.

–The protest will take place in front of the Office of the Nevada Attorney General at 100 North Carson Street, Carson City, Nevada from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Signs may be brought and signs will also be provided by participating wild horse groups.

Participants are requested to rendezvous in front of the State Legislature Building to organize the signs and handout materials, and to be briefed on the local rules that apply to public demonstrations.

–If you cannot attend, here are the people to call and email:

Office of the Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto: 775-684-1100
Email- aginfo@ag.state.nv.us

Governor Gibbons: 775-684-5670
Email: http://gov.state.nv.us/Contact_Us_NORTHX.htm

Nevada Department of Agriculture:

JoAnn Mothershead 775-738-8076
Tony Lesperance 775-353-3613
Email- tlesperance@agri.state.nv.us

5)  THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21ST, TWEET ELLEN DEGENERES DAY.  She is an advocate.

All day, Thursday, October 21, 2010 is going to be “Tweet Ellen Day” regarding the plight of the wild horses.

Her major tweet site on Twitter is: TheEllenShow and her a secondary account is: Ellen_Degeneres ….so, when you tweet her, be sure to use @TheEllenShow or @Ellen_Degeneres so the tweets will be specific to her. A good example of a tweet to Ellen would be: @TheEllenShow PLEASE help #wildhorses, they are in serious trouble & need YOU http://bit.ly/9pmAOn

Tweet both of her accounts all day long.

6)  THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21ST, Photography exhibit in Malibu, CA to benefit the Mustang Sanctuary, RETURN TO FREEDOM

7)  Saturday, October 23rd, Organized Protests in Phoenix, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California (in support of the Wild Mustangs to end the senseless round-ups and slaughter)

8)  SIGN UP AND FOLLOW THIS WEBSITE:  FRONT RANGE EQUINE RESCUE, Wild horses.

–Go here and sign what feels good and keep a watch out for what they are watching and talking about.

9) SIGN UP FOR THE PONY EXPRESS:

Madeleine Pickens will personally deliver your support of the Mustangs letter to President Obama.  This letter has been pre-written, all you have to do is join.  Here is the link to the Pony Express letter.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS POST TO ALL HORSE OWNERS!

THIS JUST IN THE NEWS TODAY, OCTOBER 19, 2010… I wanted you to know that phone calling does help!

FARMINGTON, N.M. — A New Mexico man who admitted to decapitating a dog using a chain saw has been sentenced to eight years in prison…

The District Attorney’s Office received more than 600 e-mails from animal activists worldwide, asking prosecutors to pursue the maximum penalty.  Read the full story here.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
The October Bucket Fund will benefit Honey Bandit, the most neglected BLM mustang baby who is struggling to survive.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate to this incredible foal,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)