HONORABLE MENTIONS!

1)  First, I have to call-out and thank the Angel reader who at the last minute, filled up and topped off the August Bucket Fund to reach our goal for the 2 BLM mares.  Thank you!  That was so unexpected!

Ray (our contact at CT Dept of AG – where Chinook and Cheyenne reside) was thrilled by the outpouring of human kindness.  He sees so much abuse that the entire donation from the HORSE AND MAN GROUP warmed him greatly.  Good job to all – well done!

The mares are getting stronger.  I will give you updates!  Prayers and good thoughts are always welcomed!

2)  THANK YOU ALL for buying a ton of bobbles for Mama Tess’ very last Extravaganza!  I put $1000 against her debt which is a HUGE hunk!

I’m continuing the sale since our debt is large.  I’ve deleted all of the sold items and added several more pieces – and the big ones (the diamonds…) are still available!

Here is the link to shop 40% off for MT!

EQUINE PETITIONS OF NOTE – THERE ARE 2.

I’m not a big promoter of petitions because I figure most of you get them in one way or another.  I know I usually get the same petition sent to me via email, FB or all the other ways at least 5 times.

So, I don’t really want to give you old news, so to speak.

However, I felt these two were very important… and worthy of big mention.

1)  VERY IMPORTANT PETITION TO KEEP THE TRAILS OPEN FOR HORSES – THERE ARE SO FEW LEFT – THE TRAILS THAT ARE THREATENED HERE ARE GLORIOUS, BEYOND WORDS!

This heartfelt email was sent to me from the owners of R Lazy S Ranch, the wonderful Guest Ranch that I recently visited.  It would be an utter SHAME to close all of these trails to horses.  I cannot tell you the rejuvination and delight we all felt, riding the range freely.  These trails are a gift.  We need to keep them!

Please read this and if you feel moved, as I have, please take action.  The forms to fill out are quick and easy – Kelly has provided many talking points.  Choose whatever feels right.   Thank you.

Dear Friends of the R Lazy S Ranch:

As many of you know, the Ranch is located in a very unique and beautiful area of Jackson Hole that allows us to ride north into the park to view wonderful scenery, animal life, and unspoiled wilderness.

Grand Teton National Park is currently initiating planning for the future of the Moose-Wilson corridor in Grand Teton National Park. This area comprises the Moose-Wilson Road and 10,300 acres surrounding it. It is directly north of the ranch and includes most of the riding trails we all love.

There are several alternatives with many goals that are being considered and the park is accepting comments for these plans until September 15th.

After studying the plans, two goals in the Alternatives are of concern to us since they may alter our enjoyment and experiences on the trails that makes ranch life so special. Specifically, creating bicycle pathways along the Moose-Wilson Road and phasing out commercial horseback riding on the Sawmill Pond trails.

As much as we love bicycle paths, we don’t feel this corridor is an appropriate location to have one. It would not only destroy over 3000 trees in a very pristine historical wooded area, but increase the potential for wildlife and horseback rider conflicts. With only 3% of park users potentially using bicycle paths, we just don’t see the benefit of such a large and disturbing project.

Alternatives that limit commercial horseback riding from Sawmill Ponds could potentially prevent us from taking rides through the Whitegrass Ranch area. After recently expressing our concerns with park administration, including the superintendent, we were encouraged by their interest in our thoughts and by their desire to gain a better understanding of horses in the park. They seemed dedicated to retaining and respecting the culture and history of the park which includes dude ranching activities, an activity that should be protected and celebrated.

It is our hope that you take the time to go to the comments website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=60898 and share your support to prevent bicycle paths and allowing commercial horseback riding from Sawmill Ponds to continue along with your thoughts about what the riding/ranch experience has meant to you and your family.

If you would like to read the comprehensive plan, you can do so at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=68&projectID=48252&documentID=60898
at the bottom of the page, marked, “Moose-Wilson Corridor Preliminary Alternatives Newsletter.pdf”

We have added some key talking points below to help in producing your comments.
No bicycle pathway on the Moose-Wilson Road
–It would destroy over 3000 trees in a very pristine historical wooded area.
–Increases the potential for wildlife and horseback rider conflicts.
–With only 3% of park users currently using the bicycle paths, we just don’t see the benefit of –such a large and disturbing project.
Do not close commercial horseback riding on the Sawmill Pond Trails
I–t is one of the most unique areas of the park that allows this activity without causing any conflicts with other park’s goals. It has also been an activity that has been historically used in this area for over 90 years with minimal conflicts and requiring minimal park management.
–Why is the park attempting to eliminate historical horseback trails that have been previously approved for commercial use?
–This area offers access to unique and safe horseback riding trails unavailable in other parts of the park.
–These trails are used to access the historical Whitegrass Ranch area, along with Sky Ranch and Trail Ranch.
By taking interpretive rides through these historical ranches, we help reach a park’s goal to “Protect and maintain cultural resources as important links to the human history of the Moose- Wilson corridor, including historical and archeological sites, cultural landscapes, and ethnographic resources.”

Thank you in advance for your assistance. By preventing these specific goals, we can help protect the future of this important corridor of the park. Again, the deadline for comments is September 15th.

Kelly and Nancy Stirn
R Lazy S Ranch
Jackson Hole, Wyoming

 

2)  MANAGEMENT OF THE WILD HORSES – HR 5058

This one really upsets me…  The bill reads that the State or Indian Tribes could get jurisdiction over the Wild Horses (and/or the State they reside) instead of the Federal Government.

Yikes.  Neither seems ideal.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Chippewa.  My mother was born on the Reservation…  But, the track record hasn’t been great with several tribes and many rancher states.  (We’ve rescued many Tribe horses in feedlots via the Bucket Fund.)

I agree there needs to be a new plan, but I don’t believe this is it…

You be the judge.  Read the words below and act if you feel moved.  You have to write your own letter – this is not a formed petition.  Letters in your own words carry more weight.

YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN if the State Gov’t or the Tribes get ahold of the horses.

Below is the email sent to me:

CLARIFICATION ON THE STAND AGAINST H.R. 5058This bill will put the management of wild horses/burros into the state’s hands.   It was Wild Horse Annie who knew if states managed wild horses and burros it would mean the  eradication of the herds.  The law suit that tested this premise in the Wild Horses and Burros Act was Kleppe v’s NM in 1976 in which the Supreme Court verified the authority to manage AMERICA’s wild horses and burros belongs to the federal government and not the states.   Now the states are crying again to manage wild horses and burros because the BLM is not doing a good job according to the cattlemen.  It puts a terrible onus on all the humane groups who have also advocated that the BLM is not doing a good job.   Multiple court cases by wild horse advocates can now be actually used against humane groups putting the horses/burros between a rock and hard place.  “Who is or can be the better manager-States or the BLM?” Giving states and tribal government sovereignty is a critical issue now.ISPMB has worked hard to take BLM to task when needed and to assist where we can.  Our contributions for the horses/burros to the BLM have been numerous including the concept of the adoption program, the increased fees for crimes against wild horses and burros, a gold standard burro management program in the Black Mts., a national “volunteer” compliance program for adopted animals and now currently creating a “model” for managing wild horses in our country. I am asking those people in the states where the Committee members are to please write (e-mail) a letter following the main theme of my letter below.   This will take extra time where you just can’t click on a letter and send.   There is a purpose.  Form letters are not regarded as highly as ones written in your own words.   This takes extra time but it is critical for your wild horses/burros.  Please take the time to write to the people on the committee if they are in your state.We will notify you when there is action on this bill.WORDING OF THE BILL:State and tribal management and protection(a) In general Except as provided by subsection (b), at the request of the legislature or Governor of a State or the governing body of a federally recognized Indian tribe, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall allow the State or federally recognized Indian tribe to assume all management and protection functions under this Act regarding wild free-roaming horses and burros on land within the boundaries of the State or federally recognized Indian tribe. After a State or federally recognized Indian tribe assumes such functions, wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be managed by the State or federally recognized Indian tribe in accordance with this Act and in the same manner as any other non-federally regulated species regarding functions not specified in this Act.   Will we as citizens still have a voice if states take control?  Will federal laws like NEPA, FLPMA, PRIA be affected as they do not apply to the states but to the federal government.

On July 10th, 2014, Representative, Chris Stewart (UT-R), introduced a bill to the Committee on Natural Resources which could ultimately spell doom for America’s Wild Horses and Burros.  The bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Bob Bishop (UT-R) and Tom McClintock (CA-R).

On July 15th, the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation and is titled “Wild Horse Oversight Act.”  There are 26 members on this committee of which 14 are Republicans and 12 are Democrats. 

To find out if your Representative is on this committee please click here: http://naturalresources.house.gov/subcommittees/subcommittee/?SubcommitteeID=5064

Act now and write your Representative if they are on the Committee and state the following in your own words:

 The Wild Horses and Burros Act (PL 92-195) became a federal law to protect America’s wild horses and burros for all Americans and future generations to enjoy.  Left to the state’s control in 1971, we would have no wild horses or burros left in our country.  The same holds true for today if states take control of management.

Please let us remind you that wild horses and burros can ONLY be removed if they are causing damage to their habitat and that can only be proven through monitoring of their habitat by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).  This means that setting a permanent AML (appropriate management level), as BLM currently does, is arbitrary and capricious.  In other words, it is illegal. BLM MUST determine who is causing damage.

Those special interests, who have wanted for years to eliminate wild horses, live in and are in control in the 10 western states in which the wild herds reside.   It is precisely these states that would be in control of management.

In 1974 when the first counts were done on population of wild horses and burros, there were approximately 60,000 animals at which time the law stated that the animals were “fast disappearing from the American scene.”   Now we have only half that number existing on public lands. 

What should be required of the BLM is monitoring of the public lands to determine who is causing damage to the lands.  Since BLM is comprised of the same culture of people who have advocated for the removal of wild horses and burros, a new independent agency should be developed whose only job would be monitoring public lands with the ultimate goal of restoring the health of the land and who would have the power to remove those animals causing damage.

Read more about these representatives.

Chris Stewart         http://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Stewart  (Utah)

 Rob Bishop            http://ballotpedia.org/Rob_Bishop  (Utah)

Tom McClintock     http://ballotpedia.org/Tom_McClintock   (California)

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