BLM CASTRATING OLDER STALLIONS: A SMILE AND A HANDSHAKE AND A STAB IN THE BACK

    In my last post I asked, what have you got, BLM?  They have answered. They have deceit; they have a blind determination to proceed with their plans to minimize wild horses and remove, castrate, and send them to longterm holding, and no amount of reason or opportunity seems to deter them from this mission. 

     While we sat with BLM officials in Denver, while they made noises about transparency, sustainable herds, animal welfare, and asked for new proposals, they were castrating the age five-and-older stallions who remain at Fallon.  

 © Photo by Elyse Gardner taken 2/13/10              Stallions 

                                   

Horses at Broken Arrow facility in Fallon

   BLM's credibility has utterly tanked, to use the vernacular.  They claimed they were entertaining the Soldier Meadows proposal (click on this link to review the easy-to-understand proposal).

     My understanding was that those stallions would stay intact stallions.  The mares, however, were all to be treated with PZP.    What is the hurry to castrate these horses?  How can BLM be giving serious consideration to this proposal, a truly groundbreaking opportunity to manage in the wild and save taxpayer dollars, and behave in such a way? 

     I find it difficult to wrap my arms around the in-your-face manner in which the BLM misstated and misled the public.  I personally had dared to hope things might be different.

     Who is responsible for this?

      Gene Seidlitz, Winnimucca District Manager, is the one Dean Bolstad has repeatedly told me is responsible for deciding who or if any horses will be returned to their range.  I've asked that he return the older stallions. Is Gene is the person who gave the green light to the castrations in the midst of the Soldier Meadow negotiation?

     Here are some of those frightened and bewildered stallions when first they were taken from their families and forced into this crowded temporary pen on January 6, 2010. 

©1/6/10  photos by Elyse Gardner

  

Photo to right taken 1/26/10. Roundup started December 28.  These are not malnourished horses.  BLM likes to say 30 to 40 percent of the horses  came in malnourished. That is not what my camera and I saw.

 ©Photo by Elyse Gardner

    The BLM website states:

     Gelding of the five years and older stallions took place this week. (While we were sitting in good faith conversation on our part.)    During gelding one stallion was noted with two cryptorchid testicles and was euthanized, one stallion suffered a spinal injury while in the chute and died on his own and one gelding was found dead in the pen. ...

       Why did Dr. Sanford choose to euthanize this cryptorchid stallion and not others?  It is BLM protocol to sometimes eliminate cryptorchid stallions.  \
THE BROKEN BACK
        We can only surmise since we were not permitted to see.  I know that in the chute, the horses rear up in agitation, struggling to break free.  I've seen them rear again and again and flip backwards sometimes.  This can break a back.  Also, the "padded" squeeze chute is padded except for on top. When the horses rear up, which we can be assured they will frequently do,  there needs to be a pad on top or poll injuries can easily lead to death.
The following photos are courtesy of Pam Nickoles, taken in the Pryors.  Note the force with which this stallion is rearing up and fighting this confinement.
      The chute at Fallon has no opening and does not have padding at the top, so when the horses rear like this, they smash their heads on the metal grating across the top, sometimes flipping over backwards.
       BLM officials have told me, "They're not scared.  They're fine."
       I disagree.  Very simply, this stallion is fighting for his life.  And now we know it's the truth, don't we.

      

    Found dead in the pen.  Who was found dead?  Who died?  What were the other symptoms?  Was this horse in obvious pain, or was this a surprise?  Did anyone even notice?  With everybody so busy with castrations, who has room or time to follow up on the horses?  
 
     What happened to posting the tag numbers?   We want to know what stallions have died. We want to know the cause, not BLM's cryptic, sterile statements.
                ©Photo by Elyse Gardner taken 2/13/10 

       Things happen in the chute because these powerful animals are fighting for their lives.  For example, this horse, Great Star, in the Pryor Mountains was the second to struggle out the window during processing.

              ©2009 photo by Elyse Gardner                    Pryor Mountain Roundup

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(If you have trouble viewing this video, it can be seen on TheCloudfoundation.wordpress.com

      In the Pryors, BLM closed down my close access to the chute processing the day after I shot this video.  
     In Calico/Fallon holding facility, doors closed on advocates the week before these castrations began.  We cannot show you what's happening because it's all behind BLM's closed doors.

   But we can see the handwriting on the wall:  BLM chose only the young horses to show the public on Media Day, but the week before castration of the mature stallions begins, we the public are locked out because BLM knows how hard this is on the older stallions.   They do not want the public to see it because it looks bad;  because it is bad.  

And they are planning a true assault on the wild horse population starting July 1, when the roundup of 7,500 more horses begins.  Bear in mind, many babies are only weeks old.  And they are already using the "private land" song to stiff-arm the public away from the trap sites.

      It would be effective if every letter we write to BLM or anyone about the wild horses, we cc our Congressperson.  

      And we need to be there -- "there" being anywhere our wild horses are, i.e., on the range, at the roundups, in the holding facilities.  
      We cannot let BLM shut the door and then talk to each other about how sad that is.  Write and call your Congressional representatives  and the President (202)456-1111, and insist on public access to our wild horses at all public and private facilities.
       BLM is as transparent as MUD.  Nothing, absolutely nothing has changed.   As Andrea Lococo from Animal Welfare Institute pointed out during the "workshop," BLM has been singing the same song for two decades, but where are the results?
       They say they want to hear from the public yet keep cotton in their ears, AND continue with their plan to take record numbers of horses off the range only to shock and awe them like they've done in Calico.  

Facility Death:  3 (i.e., this week, cumulative Death total: 99

More to come. I must go now.  We are on the road.  Heavy heart. 

For the wild horses, captive and free, alive and dead, and their humble burro friends,

Elyse

A NEW STRENGTH FOR THE WILD HORSES: ADVOCATES UNITE IN DENVER, COLORADO; and ADOPTION EVENT APPROACHES. WILL BLM SERIOUSLY ENTERTAIN THE SOLDIER MEADOWS PROPOSAL?

©Photography by Elyse Gardner (Click once on photographs to enlarge them)

Lest we forget what it's all about...

        Advocates descended upon Denver, Colorado, in response to the Bureau of Land Management's invitation to a "workshop" where, for the first time in many years, the BLM received input from the public.  Most present, but not all, were wild horse advocates.

        The format allowing this discussion was conceived by BLM's recently hired professional mediator, J. Michael Harty.  He appears to have been retained to moderate, help keep BLM's public image from continuing in its deteriorating orbit, and navigate the Salazar plan into fruition (BLM doesn't put it exactly that way, but he is viewed that way nevertheless).

                                    ©Photo by Elyse Gardner    

Mediator  J. Michael Harty, J.D.

      For those who may not know,  Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is promoting his plan, which is to create or support a few "treasured herds" (Cloud's herd would be one), which would be micromanaged.  BLM would round up and move most of the rest of our wild horses to seven "preserves" initially intended to be in the midwest.  He wanted $42 million  to purchase the first of these "preserves." 

     Before I proceed to briefly talk about the Denver pow-wow of the wild horse world, a noteworthy decision took shape:  Each one of the members of the Advisory Board disagreed with the concept of the federal government purchasing private land on which to house horses:  Secretary Salazar's plan starts out with a big thumbs down right out of the gate. 
    Also, the "treasured herds" didn't go over well with anyone.  Advocates were concerned with the fate of the "nontreasured" herds.  Special interests were concerned about the elevated status the treasured herds would receive.   

                  ©Photo by Elyse Gardner  

             

     Michael Harty designed a successful forum for discussion.  It required the public to confine its comments to the points outlined in the agenda, i.e., if I had something to say, I needed to state to which aspect of the agenda it pertained.  

    United we stand.  Advocates had a brief meeting on Sunday night.  

    What a tremendous cast of characters.  Wild horse advocates are a group of intelligent, compassionate, sensitive people.  Most are highly educated and successful in their fields.  We are a law-abiding bunch.  The wild horses and burros are magnets for pulling together some of the most stellar humans I have personally met.  What a privilege to be among these people.

                Calico complex wild horses being rounded up, January 2010

    JULY 1 ROUNDUPS BEGIN.  Moriah HA, 55,000 acres of Herd Area in Ely, Nevada, is scheduled to be zeroed out.  Twin Peaks is scheduled to have 1855 wild horses and 117 burros removed.  The range data that could prove how unnecessary this is or, conversely, the data that could begin to justify this drastic assault on the wild horse and burro population does not yet exist.

     So we are hoping for a close follow-up, as Ginger Kathrens suggested, and most all agreed, with two-day workshops focusing on each of the specific areas instead of trying to cover so much ground.  We truly hope this was the first of many such workshops.  It was a very good first step.

     BLM made a real effort to listen, and I applaud them.  However, we have yet to see what will become of these two days' exchanges.  They asked for feedback and real suggestions, and they got them.  From both days:

© Photo by Elyse Gardner       Karen Sussman, President of ISPMB 

Karen is the President of the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros.  She maintains and studies three wild horse herds in North Dakota.  She spoke of "herd wisdom," notably retained and passed on by the older horses, and warned of the catastrophic consequences of removing the older stallions and lead mares and ignoring herd dynamics in all areas of the wild horse program.  Wild Horse Annie was the first President of ISPMB, and Karen worked with her.

©Photo by Elyse Gardner        Dr. Cassandra Nunez (click on link for CV)

                          

Dr. Nunez is working with Karen Sussman.  She urged the BLM and Board to make maintaining the herd dynamics and social structure of the wild horses a priority in all phases of captivity, be it short- or longterm holding, or otherwise.  Her comments are based on years of study of wild horses and their family structure.

©6/14/10  Photography by Elyse Gardner   Madeleine Pickens reiterating her plan 

     Madeleine Pickens is ready to implement her ground-breaking design for our captured wild horses currently in longterm holding.  Her preserve would make them accessible to the public, stop the hemorrhaging of tax dollars through significant savings, and include education for our children about wild horses, all of which BLM's current program lacks.  Entrusting America's wild horses to an educated next generation is vital.  More information is available at http://SavingAmericasmustangs.org

©6/14/10  Photography by Elyse Gardner     Neda DeMayo, Return to Freedom

Neda gave valuable insight based on years of observing wild horses at Return to Freedom.  Neda is proposing the Soldier Meadows plan which would return over 1000 Calico complex horses to one step removed from freedom on their home range.   The horses would be living within a Herd Management Area until they can be released to the range.
      I want to be very clear:  There is no either/or here.  BLM doesn't need to "choose" Madeleine's or Neda's plan, one over the other.  Their plans address different needs, and both are necessary and would benefit our wild horses.  There are other proposals on the table, as well, such as the Winecup/Gamble.  Does BLM have the will to try to make these work?

©6/14/10  Photography by Elyse Gardner         

 Ginger Kathrens, Volunteer CEO of The Cloud Foundation

Ginger urged more topic-specific workshops of this nature, pointing out we have a great deal to discuss.  She called this a good beginning.

©1/6/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

                             

L to R Ginger Kathrens, the Cloud Foundation; Karen Sussman, President of 

the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros; Neda DeMayo, 

Return to Freedom

        Do I detect a hint of hope amidst the sceptism on the faces of these vetted wild horse advocates?

©1/6/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

 Deniz Bolbol of In Defense of Animals

Deniz challenged BLM to true transparency.  Her organizational contributions to the advocates during this event are acknowledged and appreciated by all.  Thank you, Deniz.

©Photo by Elyse Gardner      

                             Willis Lamm, Alliance of Wild Horse Advocates/LRTC 

"Least Resistance Training Concepts," active in Nevada in training, rescuing, and advocating for wild horses in all juridictions in Nevada. 

©Photo by Elyse Gardner         Carol Walker, Equine Photographer and lecturer

                             

Carol's stunning photographic book, Wild Hoofbeats, showcases the Adobe Town herd in Colorado.  She also knows very well the McCullough Peaks herd in Wyoming, which I had the privilege to visit with her in August 2009.  She is dedicated to photographing wild herds in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana.

©1/6/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner     Katie Fite, M.S., Western Watersheds Project Biodiversity Director

Katie's work has helped win habitat and keep horses on the range.  The audio was inconsistent on the live feed when she spoke, but the Board heard her clearly.

 ©1/6/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner         Craig C. Downer, Wildlife Ecologist

Craig talked about Reserve Design and the need to protect and manage the wild horses and burros in the wild.

©1/6/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner     Valerie Stanley, Attorney at Law

 Valerie was the winning trial attorney in the successful West Douglas decision where BLM was found to overstep their boundaries of authority.  She talked about animal welfare and presented the Board with a research paper on animal welfare issues.  She will be following up.  

 ©Photo by Elyse Gardner   

                        Suzanne Roy of AWHPC (American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign)

Suzanne Roy recognizes the value of this process as a good

 first step and asserted a need for more workshops and dialog.

 ©Photo by Elyse Gardner

 Andrea Lococo of AWI (Animal Welfare Institute)

Andrea made the point that in the last 20 years, the same goals have been put forth by BLM. She recommended BLM post these documents on their website so the public can see what has (or has not) been accomplished.  She also called for the Secretary to establish a new body to protect and manage our wild horses, thereby relieving BLM of this responsibility since it always points out it is a land management agency, thus creating a potential conflict of interest.     

©1/6/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner   Laura Leigh, Herd-watch Project Manager

                             
 Laura is also Subject Matter Expert/Research, for Equine Welfare Alliance.  She pointed out that leaseholders of our public lands do not pay enough to cover costs of assessing the effects of their land use (i.e., for grazing livestock).  Taxpayers are subsidizing ranchers' leases in this way, and wild horses are blamed for any damage but without scientific evidence, as the Government Accounting Office (GAO) has pointed out in several reports.

       Another notable figure that was present was Sue Wallis,  slaughter proponent and Republican representative from Recluse, Wyoming.  Sue eats horses and thinks they should be on the school menu.  She had a few supporters with her.

©Photography by Elyse Gardner

 s

More photos:

©Photo by Elyse Gardner

   Board Members Dr. J. Wayne Burkhardt, and Larry Johnson

Larry Johnson holds the Wildlife Management position on the Advisory Board.  His term expired November 2008, which is why Makendra Silverman of The Cloud Foundation voiced what most advocates feel:  Time to step down.  There have been vacancies on this Board for a long time due to the slow application approval process, including the position of Humane Advocacy.  

          I don't have a photo of me at this event, but I talked about the value of video cameras on helicopters and on pens in the holding facility; I urged BLM to demonstrate good faith and good will by turning loose some of the older stallions -- Lightning, Tomahawk, Redman, General, Commander, to name a few, and some of the older mares.  I pressed the BLM and Board to open up long-term holding so you and I can see for ourselves what is happening there.
          Just a reminder about ROAM:   Secretary Salazar's plan is the DOI (Department of Interior) and ranching interest's answer to the ROAM Act (Restore Our American Mustang), which passed the House resoundingly in July 2009 but remains stuck in a Senate subcommittee.  BLM is very concerned about ROAM and was quick to try to push through an alternative because, for one thing, it actually defines "thriving ecological balance" and converts "may" into "must": for example, "may review scientific methods" becomes "must review scientific methods" all the way through every aspect of evaluation and management.

      ROAM authorizes BLM to obtain more land for wild, free-roaming wild horses; it requires BLM to implement fertility control; it charges BLM with the responsibility of undertaking all practical options for maintaining ecological balance while maintaining wild horses on the range.  It requires BLM to provide information about its management practices, i.e., requires true transparency," available for public inspection."  

      Deniz Bolbol of In Defense of Animals spoke about transparency.  (Click twice in the view box to watch larger on Youtube).

     
 (Click on this link to view the WORKSHOP AND ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS video that was livestreamed.) 


        A new day for the wild horses has dawned because they have advocates who are standing together like never before.  I want to add my apology to those whose photos and statements I have not showcased here.  The room was replete with dedicated, talented people who've been showing up for the wild horses for decades.  I am so privileged to be among you all.
        The adoption event, the internet auctioning of the Calico horses, begins on July 14.  If BLM wants to demonstrate its good will intentions, a decision on the Soldier Meadows plan, which would deliver many of these horses back into their home range in relative freedom, should be forthcoming soon.  Delay is just more business as usual.
        Let's see what you've got, BLM.
For the wild horses, captive and free, and their humble burro friends,
Elyse Gardner

#1: FOLLOWING THROUGH: BROKEN ARROW FOLLOW-UP

                ©6-1-10 Photography by Elyse Gardner

     I will be following through on various things about the feedlot management of these horses in coming weeks as well as covering new issues concerning the horses as they arise.

    ON THE LAST TOUR, I saw and photographed this humble pinto mare and her baby for what seems to be the last time.   She is a humble, low-ranking mare who is constantly chased off from the food, anxious about the other horses.  Notice her posture here as she waits for trouble while she approaches the hay.
    Three weeks ago I was glad to see she'd been moved into a new nursery pen from a pen where she'd been getting bitten.  I'd noticed her skin was marked up and peeling bilaterally, but this week here is what we found.

                 ©6-1-10 Photography by Elyse Gardner

©6-1-10 Photography by Elyse Gardner

©6-1-10 Photography by Elyse Gardner

     Manager John Neill said, "Yes, she has photosensitivity.  It's sunburn."
     Over the course of the last few weeks this has been steadily increasing in severity, and I asked if he would consider placing her with her foal into a sick pen where there are plywood windbreaks (still no overhead protection anywhere for these horses).
     He said he was "ahead of me"; I guess that means he is going to move her.  I will ask.
     There is no overhead protection anywhere.  None anywhere 24/7.  Wild horses find protection in the wild using hills, shrubs, trees.  These disenfranchised horses have no alternatives.  Think of it.  Such is the case in virtually every feedlot in the nation.  
     A little bit on equine sunburn:
      Photosensitivity  in horses can be an indication of liver problems.  It may also be triggered by diet (click on link to see the article).  Dr. Bob Wright, Veterinary Scientist, Equine and Alternative, states in a July 2003 Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs article,  among other things:

Photosensitivity of uncertain etiology includes many forage-related photosensitivities. It has been reported in cattle, sheep and horses grazing lush pasture (3). Alfalfa has been incriminated in cases of secondary photosensitization in cattle, where compromised hepatic function is not necessarily the prerequisite for the photosensitization (3).

      Most of the horses are now on alfalfa.  Perhaps this mare needs a dietary change.

      Sunscreen usable by humans can be used and is often recommended by vets.  Well, this is a wild horse, so we know that's unrealistic, so some sort of protection for this mare seems warranted.  I hope these two humble souls are finding some relief in a hospital pen.
That's it for now.  Off to Denver.  More to come.
I remain,
for the wild horses, captive and free, and their humble burro friends,
Elyse

P.S. to LOCKDOWN AT FALLON: RESURRECTED FOAL!

       P.S.
       On this last tour we saw more sick foals still in the general population pen, and we saw a foal resurrected from the dead!  I don't use exclamation points much, but this is exciting...

       I took the below photos of this sick foal on Thursday, June 10.  He looked sick and uncomfortable, and his nostrils were (still) encrusted with mucus. He is the resurrected foal; his name is Resurrection.   I thought he looked familiar... 

      ©Photo by Elyse Gardner   This photo was taken 6/10/10

    ©Photo by Elyse Gardner  This photo was taken 6/10/10

       Last week on June 3,  Dean Bolstad had informed us that Dr. Sanford had treated the below foal with  penicillin prior to our arrival.  In his followup correspondence posted on my blog last week, Dean informed us that this foal was found dead the following day.  Here are photos of the "dead" foal taken last week by Cat Kindsfather.

©Photo by Cat Kindsfather   taken 6/3/10

                     ©Photo by Cat Kindsfather taken 6/3/10

               This begs the questions:  So who died?  Apparently there was yet another very sick foal. 

               So who got the penicillin?  Did this sick baby get penicillin, or any treatment at all?

               For goodness sake, why are these sick foals still in the general population pen?  We will have no way to verify any information we're given because BLM has unilaterally decided Fallon is now closed to the public.  What are your thoughts about that?

   
©Photo by Elyse Gardner

                                 Another sick foal. I believe this is the buttermmilk baby who was having acute respiratory problems last week.  This week he had mucus and displayed signs of fatigue and lethargy.

               On this last tour we also saw a black mare trying to steal foals.  She did not have a foal in the pen.  It was a very sparsely populated pen with mare/foal pairs, and it was evident she was foal-less.  I have video of this I haven't had time or power to load  yet.  I am preparing for my trip to Denver, so I don't know if I'll have time - -it takes a good bit of processing time to put together a video, but I'll try.  

               But here are some stills I managed to shoot while shooting video.

               The foal is told to run ahead, and here the want-to-be mother is being told in no uncertain terms to back off  by a strong mother.  

©Photo by Elyse Gardner

             The black mare nearly lost her teeth in that encounter, so she chose to look elsewhere.  The mother of this next foal she went after was more easily intimidated and became very nervous but seemed afraid to tell the black mare off.  

©6/10/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner 

This is a different mare and foal.  Note the white socks of 

this mare on her hind legs.

      Why is a motherless mare still in a nursery pen? 

       I did not see the Kiger/buckskin mare, Wishful, from last week.  It is good she is out of the nursery, but what is happening with her?

      Time to get some rest.  

I remain,

For the horses, captive and free, and their humble burro friends,

Elyse Gardner

       

LOCKDOWN AT BROKEN ARROW: FALLON CLOSES ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC

        Today's report focus on the last tour BLM claims it will allow at the Broken Arrow (also known as "Indian Lakes") short-term holding facility for wild horses and burros.  This final tour was led by John Neill (manager at Palomino Holding Facility and defacto manager at Broken Arrow) and Lilli Thomas.  Dean Bolstad was not present.
      (Update:  Fast forward one year to June 2011:  It has come to my attention this facility was closed at BLM's request despite the fact that the facility is contracted to allow weekly public tours until December 15, 2015.  The internal BLM documents indicate that the conditions and practices revealed on this blog were causing major public outrage and grave image problems for BLM.  All these FOIA'd (obtained through Freedom of Information Act) documents are available at Wild Horse Education under Reading Room, then click on Documents:Broken Arrow.)

      I do not believe it is right to take our wild horses off the range and then completely out of sight. 
However, BLM makes it clear we are supposed to be grateful they allowed us in at all.  BLM never fails to remind us that Broken Arrow was "never intended" to be a public facility.  But these horses are a public treasure, and I question the legality, let alone the sheer gall, of removing them from the American people's lives.  Saying goodbye was very tough.  I have followed these horses weekly since January when they first were driven in and had watched many of them in their last vain run for freedom as they fled  the helicopter.

     In coming days (after I return from Denver and maybe if I find wi-fi on the road on the way back) I will be posting some more things we've seen at Broken Arrow that I haven't had a chance to put up on this blog yet. In the meantime, saying a hard goodbye to these Calico friends for now...
©6/10/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

©6/10/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

     These sweet friendly fillies came all the way down off the top of their (rare) hill to say hello (look at them coming) -- and say goodbye.  They WANTED to interact with us.  We were not permitted today to engage with these horses; we were told to keep moving.  It was the tour's "end," and it was hard to just walk by when they made this grand gesture.   

     Horses are being dispersed.  Many whole pens were moved, and others seemed virtually empty although we were told "only a few" (120) of the horses had been actually removed, some sent to Montana for adoption events, others to prison horse-gentling programs, 82 to Palomino Valley Center to prepare for the internet adoption event.

               

©6/10/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

©6/10/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

Friends are so important, so comforting, especially in this strange place.  I hope adopters will consider a horse's friend and try to find/adopt them.  Contrary to some thinking, wild horses can relax when they have a buddy around and often are more trainable than when isolated. 

©6/10/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

           BLM claims to be considering options in their management of these horses and inviting us to "come to the table" with new ideas.  I wonder how serious they are.  The proof will be in the doing.  The central-most option currently on the table is at Soldier Meadows.  But rather than waiting to consider this option, BLM continues to make plans to disperse these horses.
                               ©6/10/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

This is the crowded pen of the older stallions (age 10 and older).  This is a setup for kicks, bites, fights:  food all in one line, not enough room for all the horses.  Horses waiting, contentions flare.  What will it be like when they start gelding these older, mature animals?  We won't know, will we.

                 ©6/10/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

The sand continues to invade everything.  I have noticed the wild horses' eyes have changed.  They were so amazingly clean when first they came off the range, but they are now constantly running, needing to cleanse.  Fallon is windy and built on sand.  It is very difficult to see sometimes, and I have to look away and cover my face.  

                              ©6/10/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

                              ©6/10/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

               Finally, take a look at these tiny, soft feet.  This foal is less than two months old.  Roundups will start in earnest on July 1.  Babies this old and younger will be run off the mountains in Nevada, driven by helicopter off their home ranges in Utah, New Mexico, California, etc. ...  Is this really okay?  Two foals that we know of died from hoof slough (had their hooves run off) in the Calico roundup.  Get ready; it's starting again...

   ©6/10/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

Meet the owner of the feet you were looking at above.

    Please continue to stand with me and continue to insist on a change in the way our government protects and "manages" these splendid, peaceable spirits. They deserve our respect and true protection. BLM's medieval roundup-to-holding pen management style needs to end.  
     I hope you know that together, we are making a difference for these animals -- and they are making a difference in us, aren't they.  Knowing them has changed me.
     La Belle, Hope, Sunrise (first colt who died during roundup), Mouse -- dear little Mouse -- and 76 others:   They have touched our lives.  They have been cheated, and we know them.  They represent their family and friends.  This work is slow going, but wild horses aren't invisible to the public anymore.  
     I continue to do my best to follow up on these horses.  More to come...

Down to the last of my battery power. 

     Farewell, sweet fillies..

©6/10/10 Photo by Elyse Gardner

I remain,

for the wild horses, captive and free, and their humble burro friends,

Elyse Gardner