Story by Maureen Harmonay – Equine Advocacy Examiner
BLM used Easter as an excuse to continue hiding the Captured Calico Herd
Captured Foal from Pryor Mt. Roundup - Photo by Terry Fitch
Out of sight, out of mind. That’s what the BLM is hoping will happen to the captive wild horses from the Calico Mountains. The agency has used the Easter holiday as a rationale for cancelling the usual Sunday public visiting hours, so we’re literally in the dark about what’s happening behind the closed doors of the 320-are feedlot near Fallon, Nevada.
So let’s think about something we do know. Thanks to observers like Terri Farley, Elyse Gardner, Cat Kindsfather, and Tara Kain, we know that there are what Phantom Stallion author Terri Farley terms “phantom foals” at the Indian Lakes Road facility, so-called because the BLM hasn’t been publicly reporting their births, and does not disclose their deaths. This must not continue.
According to Ms. Farley, until the foals born at the facility are branded, when they are approximately four months old, they don’t officially exist. Apparently, it’s BLM policy not to offer any special assistance to foals who are obviously injured or not thriving. These babies don’t even receive the benefit of basic veterinary care in situations where medical intervention or an accurate diagnosis could mean the difference between life and death.
That was the case with a day-old dun colt with a distinctive dorsal stripe (characteristic of Spanish mustangs), whose suffering was witnessed by several observers on Sunday, March 21st. Terri’s account of what they saw is chilling:
“11:45am. Visitors observe buckskin mare and newborn foal in a pen with other adult horses. Foal looks like ‘he had melted into the contours of the ground’ according to one observer and Mr. (John) Neill (BLM Facility Manager) said the foal was a weak newborn from the night before.
12:30pm. Sometime during the tour, members of the public notice a nursery pen with just six mare and foal pairs inside and wonder why the buckskin and her foal aren’t with them.
1:45pm. Mr. Neill agreed with visitors that foal might be sick and indicated he would check on it. If necessary, a vet would be called.
2:00pm. As observers depart, foal is still down.”
We don’t really know exactly what happened next. We do know that John Neill told two different stories about the foal’s demise. He told one caller that a vet had diagnosed the colt as having a broken femur, and that it was subsequently euthanized by “chemical injection.” But a few days later, Mr. Neill admitted to Ms. Farley that he could “just tell” that the foal had a compound fracture; the veterinarian had never even been asked to examine the little guy. Neill said that he “took care of it,” leaving open to conjecture what method he actually used to euthanize the colt.
The BLM must be held accountable for all of the horses in its care, regardless of whether they arrived in captivity on their own four feet or were carried there in-utero. We only know about the dun colt because he happened to be born on the night before a public tour. How many others like him have been born and died and been literally swept away before anyone from the outside world could see?
The continued cruelty that is being inflicted on the Calico wild horses is intolerable. But it’s not enough for us to raise our voices on their behalf, we must also protect the wild horses who are still running free from suffering the same heartless injustices.
The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to greatly scale back the number of wild horses it will allow to occupy the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in central Nevada. There isn’t much time to to register your objections to their ill-conceived plan. Comments must be received by Monday, April 5th.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://i0.wp.com/img.zemanta.com/reblog_a.png)
Categories: Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Mr. Neill also said that the foal did get up at some point. I have seen video of fragile foals when they first attempt to stand and walk where I though they were all broken up because their joints and legs were flimsy and not moving right but they turned out to be OK. The foal should have been examined. If it had finally stood it may have been fine. Of course it may have been hurt. It was killed without a close examination. That is irresponsible. mar
LikeLike
Mar, I was thinking this exact thing today. If Mr. Neill did not consult a vet prior to euthanizing the foal, this is quite disturbing. Was his leg actually broken or just needing some help to straighten out?
LikeLike
Our four babies’ legs TOTALLY had minds of their own for several days. It also took them a while to figure out which end of mom the milk came from. Two went so long we finally had to “introduce” them to the teats.
These are domestic horses in individual stalls with runs, not, thank heaven, subject to the “tender mercies” of BLM feedlots.
LikeLike
Action needed on Monday. Thanks to Nona (and a few others) for passing on this alert.
Subject: HSUS- California Update for April 2, 2010 – SPECIAL EDITION
HSUS California Update
April 2, 2010 – Whoa-two-floor-votes-in-two-days-next-week Edition(!)
This is a bi-monthly(ish) update about HSUS-California activities… If you prefer not to receive these updates. please just reply to this message with “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line.
Are you on Facebook? Join the HSUS California Facebook group!
On Twitter? Follow me!
In this update:
1. Fur-bearing critters need your emails/calls MONDAY (MORNING) on AB 1656
2. Horses need your emails/calls MONDAY (ANYTIME) on SJR 22
Fur-bearing critters need your emails/calls MONDAY (MORNING) on AB 1656
Our “truth in fur labeling” bill (Assembly Bill 1656, Ma/Lieu) will be voted on by the full Assembly on Monday, April 5! So please take a moment to contact your Assemblymember if you haven’t already on Monday morning!
· You can send them an email using our action alert program by clicking here.
· Or you can look up their name and phone number to call them by clicking here.
Horses need your emails/calls MONDAY (ANYTIME) on SJR 22
On Tuesday morning, April 6, the full Senate will vote on Senate Joint Resolution 22, a resolution sponsored by The HSUS that, if enacted, would formally ask Congress to pass HR 503/S 727 (federal legislation to ban the slaughter and export of horses for slaughter). Even though horse slaughter is banned in California, there is ample evidence that California horses are still at risk of this tragic fate. We need Congress to take action to protect them. Make your voice heard for California horses by contacting your Senator on Monday!
· You can send them an email using our action alert program by clicking here.
· Or you can look up their name and phone number to call them by clicking here.
Jennifer Fearing
California Senior State Director
jfearing@humanesociety.org
t 916.992.3667 f 916.848.0203
The Humane Society of the United States
5714 Folsom Blvd. #223 Sacramento, CA 95819
humanesociety.org
Join Our Email List Facebook Twitter
LikeLike
A CalNeva member reported that in a conversation with her Senator’s Aide, they are most likely going to vote on this issue TODAY. If you can get there – please do so!
LikeLike
When we were kids and my parents caught us in a lie, they said,
“Always tell the truth the FIRST time, even when it’s really hard. When you tell the truth, you only have to remember one thing – what really happened. When you tell a lie, you have to remember two things – what really happened, and the lie you told to cover it up. Lies keep changing. The truth never changes.”
LikeLike
Thanks for getting the word out.
Just wanted to clarify something which may not have been clear in my blog. During my talks with John Neill, he said that the broken leg was not a compound (sticking through the flesh) fracture.
When I think of foals taken in by Andi, Shirley, Dawn and Palomino, growing up strong and beautiful, I wonder what future could have awaited this little one.
LikeLike
How are the foaling mares reacting to all this pressure and lack of privacy?
LikeLike
I have been there on 3-21 and 3-28. The mares and all the other horses are getting progressively depressed. Imagine what it is like to be in labor with approximately 50+ other humans packed in around you and you give birth and barely have the strength to maintain watch over your newborn so he/she does not get trampled. You can’t get to the food or the water without placing your baby in danger!
LikeLike
The horses may well be out of sight, but they are NOT out of our minds, and the BLM is foolish to think that this interest and call for FACTS is going away. The demand for their accountability is increasing as more of us become aware of what is going on with our horses. I believe the days of BLM and their contractors operating on their own agenda and doing as they please are gone, thank god. Also, information is posted online and we can make copies of it and catch the lies, spin and misinformation that used to justify their actions; they can’t justify any of this, and we know it, and we are letting millions of others in America and worldwide know it as well.
LikeLike
I always find it more than humorous and totally disingenuous when any activity involved in animal welfare or enforcement of same plays the “holiday card”!
Sorry BLM/DOI…you’re in the hide as much as possible game and Congress and the general public allow you that for now. Your day is coming.
LikeLike
Great point, Denise. Didn’t seem to cause the BLM any pause when they conducted the Pryor Mt. Round-up across the Labor Day Weekend. They shut most of the National Forest down to the public for one of the biggest recreational weekends of the year and all of the BLM employees enjoyed ample amounts of overtime…sem problema.
But NOW, it is a problem. Do you think that they make up the rules as the go?!?!?!?
LikeLike
R.T.:
I don’t think they make up the rules; I think they have rules that they choose to enforce, remember or implement with a ton of highly interpretive implementation on my and your dime WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT.
Also, I think they are totally stupified (emphasis on STOOPID!) at the current outrage and attention they are currently getting (yes, folks…they are this stoopid and out of touch…just ask the recently rounded up mustangs). They have been pulling off this waste, abuse, nonscience CRAP ever since Nixon signed the damn bill.
Note to self (and other like minded individuals): Be very, very wary of ANY organization that (1) has strict gate-keeper policies wherein the contractors basically run the show and the idiot contracting agency lets the contractor run the show (without standards, but I think they really have them), (2) especially with animals involved, (3) has no independent auditors, (and GAO don’t count here and right now) (4) is paid regardless of animals that remain alive, injured, dead, offspring, vet costs, improper feed costs, etc (don’t believe me…show me the contract).
So basically, here’s my point… there ain’t no freakin’ incentive for the asshat contractors to save, protect and rehome equines; only to bring them in and hold. Anyone want to bet these pieces of excrement get paid for dead equines?!?!….non-competitive bid???? Oh PUHLEEZE!!!!
Want to bet they (the excrement) get the foals that survive as first pick? or do what you want with dibs?????? I smell investigation here.
No, rounding up on holidays isn’t a problem for DOI/BLM or the contractors when it suits them…but it’s a “just say no” device when the horse haters want to block access for those that care about the welfare of the equines.
And the American Public and Congress continue to allow this abortion of the 1971 Act, justice, truth and the end of the American Mustang and Burro.
LikeLike
Denise, thankyou, That felt good! mar
LikeLike
yes R.T. they definitely make ’em up as they go, this is a great point that needs to be taken to the blm, I’d love to hear them “‘splain” this,
LikeLike
I know this is a dumb question before I even start but is there any precedent that we could push on for them counting foals? Even if it is for another species? I know with cows it is one cow and her calf as one animal unit. Just seems there ought to be something that can be done. This is just too disturbing as this blog points out they are just turning the other way until the foal dies–one less horse for them to “manage”. They should at least record the births out of respect for a life and to show they still have some humanity. Or am I just living in fairy land?
LikeLike
I was at Fallon / Indian Lakes Rd / Broken Arrow……..on February 28th and March 21st. Its true that they are seeming more depressed. There is a deep longing In their eyes and a questioning look. I feel many are stunned still, and thinking of their former lives, freedom and family, their wonderful home.
I know am very depressed after seeing their obvious discontent, and knowing I cannot instantly do what I would like to help them. We can only do what we are doing, being their voices and working hard at that.
It was shocking to see some of the injuries in the sick pens that I documented, and also the “One Day Foal” : ( …… I feel if they can suck taxpayers to do the dirty deeds, they better use some more to keep a vet on site 24 hours. Even one vet locked in on a full time schedule, is really not enough for all those horses. Seeing that sweet little pale dun foal, struggling to rise up to mom and her friend, was very disturbing. I asked John Neil about this. He stated it was born the night before and was very weak. At that time, in conversation to me, he never stated it had been on its feet the night before. He merely stated it was weak. I asked him then, how would it be able to nurse if it cannot get up? He said they bottle feed them if they cannot get up, and it would check on him later. So I felt some comfort in the thought that he would check on the foal and bottle feed it. I found out later from Terri Farley the grim news.
I had watched that sweet little beauty through my 55-250 lens for at least ten minutes or more.
I have a sequenced series of shots. It was heartbreaking to not be able to help, THEN!
I think a petition is in order for a 24 hour, non partisan vet on site.
I personally did not see any cases of pigeon fever on March 21st. We were not shown a large area of yearlings, colts, fillies and mares on the far side that I did see on February 28th.
Perhaps because the tour was running overtime? I had wanted to go this Easter Sunday, and of course I could not, no one could. I understand this disease is very contagious and lives in the dirt. They have to sleep in the dirt, the same dirt that they all tromp around on and do their business on. Not sounding good in this situation with so many horses in the pens. In the wild its much cleaner and their chances for good health are obviously better, as well as for the foals being birthed. Its a startling truth and sad injustice that Terri farley has coined, the “Phantom Foals.” New births IN captivity are not recorded, nor are the deaths. It would be at least 4 to 6 months until they are branded, and then their lives are recorded! During roundups, the crew is paid by the head for captures, and so THEN, their tiny lives count. Disgusting, and I feel, unacceptable. All life should be documented, accounted for, as well as the deaths. Throw this into the petition. I have never done one, but am thinking hard on this one. Any input?
I just called in my reservation for Sunday, got one. I am so anxious to see our precious horses.
LikeLike
Hi Cat, I can see your pics now and there are so many! Louie even got your link up! Thanks for doing this. It means a great deal to all of us that you are able to take lots of photos while at Fallon. It is important. I am glad you have great compassion and say what YOU feel about your experience.
Everyone has a unique view and has a story to tell. Thanks for telling yours, I will be waiting next week to hear more of it. I appreciate your courage to go where few want to… mar
LikeLike
Its the forrest service that is voting tomorrow on how long they are going to give the public to comment on their plan to round up mass amounts of wild horses.
CALL …the Forrest Service…NOW
LikeLike
Mar….Sorry I blocked many of my better photos on flickr last night as people are helping themselves to my photos. Will repost some soon. Things to reveal in near future. Thanks Mar and Louie for finally getting to my photo stream. Mar, I hope you saw them before Easter.
LikeLike
Well I don’t sleep over this, so I wrote a letter to Obama and posted it on my blog at http://drawing-wild-things.joettesgallery.com/ had to clean up what I really wanted to say, but I am on the war path.
LikeLike
Did you know that on flickr.com, “Obama” and “The White House” have an account with photos too?
I have shared many of my photos, and opinions, to both of their sites, via flickr share option.
No problem saying what I wanted to say either. But, I do like to be in control of where my photos go! They are my babies, my photos, my property, and if its not my choice to share them, I expect request for permissions. Anne Novak @ Cloud Foundation agrees with me on that. I gave permissions for some advocacy uses, and a few days later, my “One Day Foal” shot was published in “Horse Magazine” with a fictional story, and I did not get photo credits or a request for use! It just got handed down the line. I am however, very pleased that it has been seen by so many, it tells a strong story, its such an emotional advocate photo and important to be out there however it gets around.
I have reposted most of my shots. People need to see their horses.
LikeLike
cat, you must protect your work. If you need to- talk to Pam Nickoles or to Carol walker and find out all you can about protecting your work online. Maybe you could start a site like they have and protect what you want and put out what you want to the public. I have never had to deal with this medium and have avoided it. Learn what your rights are and what to do to keep your work safe. Good luck with it. mar
LikeLike
Cat;
Be sure to put a watermark on your photos with your name and copyright seal, that’s what Carol Walker, Pam Nicholes and my wife Terry do. Terry does not sell any of her photos but simply wants to maintain rights and ownership.
Likewise, anything that I write, here, is free to post elsewhere as long as due credit is given as it is all about getting the word out, just as with our book, we donate the proceeds to Habitat for Horses and simply want to get the message out.
Keep up the great work.
LikeLike
Mar and R.T.
Thank you both for your attentions and advice. I am working on better copyrights. I have watermarked, or signed my shots, most of them. I would like to get a blind emboss seal that fades into the image, right in the middle, without being too offensive to the image itself. I am getting digital fingerprint copyrights done right now.
One shot I had put my name on the fence post and a graphic artist was able to remove it!
Some of the higher tech photography software I guess.
Mar I always love what you have to say here. Think so much of you. Thanks!
R.T., Brilliant works from you on so many levels! Honored to get a personal note from you and a kudos to my works, thanks for all you do!
Can you repost the fairy tale….. hilarious and genius work! : )
LikeLike
Just a quick note, if someone REMOVED your copyright from an image that is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND ILLEGAL and I would take that person to task immediately, you can handle it in a nice way but make them aware. It is illegal and the person perpetrating the offense can be prosecuted. I know these are pictures that we want people to see but that is a BIG NO NO and she/he needs to know that. I am a photographer and put a watermark across most of my photos. I know it spoils them but I try to do it with as little disruption on seeing the photo but that makes it clear that it is mine. EVERY SINGLE photograph on the internet belongs to the person who clicked the shutter whether it is watermarked, signed or not and people need to know this, they think that if there is no signature or because it is on the internet it is free game. It isnt and they can be prosecuted and have their website or if it is on Myspace or one of those sites that allow photo sharing they can have their account closed if you complain to the site administration, in fact when you sign up for any of these Flickr or such when you accept their conditions this is very clear, if they are in violation of copyright they will have their account closed immediately!
Sorry this makes me really mad, people need to learn this lesson and have the common decency to ASK before they post if it is not clear that the person is okay with sharing. The same applies to any text. At the very least they could have the decency to acknowledge the author/photographer but this still doesnt make it legal or okay!
Okay rant over!!!!
LikeLike
I’m putting this up in several places, because I want feedback – positive, negative, whatever.
The BLM doesn’t act, it reacts! In my opinion, they are creating and perpetuating their own crisis by not implementing sound management practices on the HMAs on a continuing basis.
As I understand it, the BLM pretty much ignores wild horse and burro reproduction on the HMAs for about 4 years. When herd populations increase beyond the published AMLs, their reaction is mass removal (“It’s raining wild horses!”). Then they process the wild ones “for adoption”, knowing full-well the overwhelming majority will never be adopted. Again, they perpetuate their own crisis.
A bit off-topic, but I was curious as to why Obama chose to hold Salaczar over from the Cheney/Bush administration and keep him on the job. From what I gathered, appealing to Hispanic voters was and is the major contributing factor. “Qualifications”, “expertise”, and “job performance” not so much.
LikeLike
The interior Department under GW Bush had its first two women as Secretary of the Interior; Gale Norton who passed down memos that told employees to lie to the public and who quit before she got into trouble leaving her assistant to run the show. I am sorry I have forgotten her name. She, the new Sec. of Int. was there to the end of the Bush term and was under investigation for a number of things and was to be indicted but I hear nothing of the status of this case these days.
Salazoo was an acquaintance of Obama’s and was appointed by him. We held our breath, but it was useless. We, and the wild ones, have been the poorer for this… mar
LikeLike
Thanks, mar. Bad fact check on my part. The policies, not the person, continued. Gale Norton (resigned & became a “Big Oil” lobbiest), then Kathleen Clarke (resigned under investigation “to spend more time with her family”), then James Hughes.
Has any other government agency been rocked by more scandal then the BLM?
LikeLike
Should have said “than the DOI/BLM”.
LikeLike
Ah, Yes, James Hughs the invisible…
DOI/BLM take the cake and have been eating it too for far too long. mar
LikeLike
Well, Linda, I live in IL and I would put our state government as even w/ DOI in the corruption department!
LikeLike
Linda, I agree with you, the BLm has no idea how many horses are left out there, especially in remote areas like in Nevada,(in WY & CO they do because other people actually go out and count them and keep tabs on them!) the one person who testified in NV said the range was great and there were actually more horses than they thought, but no negative impact on the range was noted, this just months before the Calico roundup was justified because the horses are starving! They just make it up as they go along, problem now is, enough of us are paying attention, and questioning everything they do, they don’t have the answers,
LikeLike
Government doing a crappy job? SHOCKER.
LikeLike
Lori Prophoto
Thank you so much for your time and information. I should be clearer about my name being removed from the fence on the photo. It was done without asking me, but photo credits are promised on use, and I trust the hands that particular shot is in. I did give my permissions for use on it to an organization, and their graphic designer made this decision. I was just amazed that it could be done! As then, anyone can do it, if they are so unscrupulous. The shot was enlarged for print copy , and must admit, the name on fence pole got very distracting at that scale. Great post and I sure appreciate it from you. I would like to know your copyright service for your watermark on center of photo. I would like also to see some of your work! Thanks so much. Blessings!
LikeLike
Cat … sorry I misunderstood!! Yes as you enlarge it can get distracting, I always put the individual signature on my photos for print to correspond with the size print, dont know how to explain it. I use Adobe Photoshop and I do my own watermarking etc. using that. I have a very out of date website that my late husband used to keep up but I have no idea how to do it myself so it has been as is for nearly a year, he passed on 13 April last year. http://prophotobylori.net and then I also have a blog with photos which again I have not been keeping up so well recently but has a lot of photos on it http://prophotobylori.blogspot.com (hope those are right) The latter started out as a photo a day blog in 2007. I would appreciate any feedback, just wish I could make a living from my photography LOL, no job and 13 horses to keep are taking their toll. Sorry RT this is OT, thanks.
LikeLike
Hello Everyone!!! I am going to visit OUR horses @ Broken Arrow / Fallon / Indian Lakes Road,
next Sunday, April 11th. If you have any special requests for photos or other, please drop a note here, or you can also leave a comment on my flickr photo stream……
artattackcat ~ Cat Kindsfather
I am very anxious to see them and let them know they are loved by many of us two leggeds.
It seems they know its a special day when the tour is on. Some of them come over and look at you, pose for head shots, and neigh! One I call FUZZY, is seen in my stream of photos on flickr, is very funny. The shot is titled, “Fuzzy and the Gang.” In the photo he has ample length of winter coat, but half and half, summer and winter coat. He has a cauliflower ear. He acts up like a clown!! He turned around and wiggled his tail for me. (I think its a he) A real character.
Craig Downers favorite, as I have read, is Lightening, and Lightening knows his name!!! I called to him and he came right over from the other side. He posed for several shots. He is gorgeous and was so healthy and proud in the wild. He seemed to be holding up well as of two weeks ago. I hope to see him this time. I posted one on facebook, called…”Do I Look LIke I am Starving” If you click on it , you should get to my photo stream. There on my site, there is a note over the shot by his mouth. Just move the cursor over his mouth and it reads……”This is Bull Crap, Where’s My Lawyer”
On March 21st, John Neil told my friend, Diana, that he would begin to move some horses to Palomino Valley facility for adoption preparation, soon. I think he said about 80. So I am wondering, is this legal in light of the deals with IDA lawyer, to hold on off on certain actions, such as gelding, until the IDA case is judged at end of this month. I would think adoptions would not be in order until Judge Freidman’s decision is made. By the way, I hope I spelled his name correctly! Thanks for any response comments.
LikeLike
LIGHTNING…I mean
LikeLike
How can any of these horses be moved anywhere? first of all, there is a contagious disease there, second of all, the judge has not ruled yet, this makes no sense to me, but then, that’s typical BLM, isn’t it?
LikeLike
Exactly Jan!! Makes no sense at all. Time to pull in the reins…….
LikeLike
Lori,,,,
I loved your photos and stories! Boy do you have your hands full. You have ome lovely horses. Gee looked so great jumping for joy! And Goldie, looks so sweet, having a ball in the little mud puddle. Nice fun for the paint too. How do you take care of the neighbors horses too, in winter especially!
Looks like a great life you have. I want to go back and look at it some more, your updates. Great.
Thanks again for attentions and advice, and for sharing your shots and blog. : ) Blessings
LikeLike