(In My Most Outraged Opinion) by R.T. Fitch ~ Author/Director of HfH Advisory Council
“Welfare” Ranching is the Great BLM Lie
Giant BLM Bovine Mowing Machine ~ photo by Terry Fitch
During the final days of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) “scorched earth” wild horse eradication program on Northern Nevada’s public lands private cattle were being quickly herded onto the same range that native, wild horses were cruelly removed from just hours before.
On Thursday, Feb 25th, one day prior to the abrupt cessation of the BLM’s assault upon the Antelope Complex’s wild horses, my wife Terry, Laura Leigh and I had left the mean wild horse trap site in an effort to locate a cell signal suitable to call in, as journalists, to the disappointing press conference by the BLM’s Director, Bob Abbey. As we raced across the HMA we crested a bluff only to run smack dab into one of the biggest cattle driving operation any of us had ever witnessed. Only a few short days before we had stopped on this very same road to shoot photos of distant wild horses living out their lives on their rightful land only to find those same horses being rapidly replaced by environmentally damaging private cattle, while the roundup was STILL going on.
The wranglers stopped us and wanted to know what we were doing out on “their” range as it was so isolated they rarely saw civilians during this time of the year. When told of the unlawful roundup of federally protected wild horses we were met with the singular comment, “Good”. Considering the safety of my passengers and the ratio of cattle wranglers to advocates the issue was not pressed in normal fashion.
Now let’s be totally clear, here. I have nothing against cattle or cattle ranchers. Here in Texas my fine neighbors ARE cattle ranchers but they buy their land, pay taxes on that land, maintain the land and are not given a federal government handout as are the “welfare” ranchers of America’s west. Does this disparity go unnoticed by our neighbors? Most certainly NOT!
One day we have taxpaying American citizens on public land enjoying and photographing the natural beauty of the true wild west, horses included, and the next day the same ground is covered, littered and picked clean by private cattle who are allowed to destroy the range for the meager price of $1.35 a month per head. At that rate, I could afford to be one the largest cattle rancher in all of Nevada…it just is not right.
Probably what stung the most was to spend days listening, in person, to BLM PR personnel stating that the Antelope Complex was NOT a grazing complex and that the horses HAD to be removed because there were five times more horses on the land than the land could sustain. 1.3 million acres, 1,400 horses removed and in one quick afternoon 300 private cattle introduced. Only the Lord knows how many cows have been added since. The system is seriously broken.
I cannot help but hear the haunting words of Mr. Myagi in the movie, “The Karate Kid” as he taught Daniel how to put wax on the car with his left hand moving in one direction while he took it off with his right moving in the other direction, “Wax on, Wax off”.
The BLM sticks it to the American tax payer with their left hand while distorting and abusing the law with their right;
“Private Cattle On, Wild Horses Off”…it’s enough to turn your stomach.
Related Articles
- BLM Calls Abrupt Halt to Deadly Winter Wild Horse Roundup (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- BLM Captures 1,400 Wild Horses: Releases 31 (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- BLM Boss Not Engaged with Wild Horse Range Reality (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- A Nation full of Anger, a Corral Full of Wild Horses and the BLM Hits the Replay Button (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
- Action Alert: Wild Horse Advocates to Rally at BLM Meeting (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
Categories: Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
And this abuse of our public lands has been going on for years at the expense of our wild horses being killed and removed as well as every predator they can find.
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If the BLM insists cattle are not allowed on that HMA they need to get them off. As I remember from Sun J’s incorporation papers, one of their stated purposes is to round up wild cattle. BLM should get those illegal cattle gathered up and sent to slaughter.
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They are not illegal, they are approved by the BLM as part of the “multi-use” of the land. But that is our argument, they benefit only the private individual and not the public in any way.
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RT I smell fraud and conflict of interest also biased on the part of the Cattle ranchers and their cow’s going unchecked by BLM.
Who crawled up their butt in this roundup in order to have so many cow’s delivered in such a short amount of time?
How many horses died from indirect action of these unrespectable ranchers in that area So Bob Abbey and Ken Salazar can be served a T-bone?
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I am under the impression The BLM is not athorized to approve any animal dealings………………. They have admitted that on several occasions…… If this is true ????? why or in whos athority are they acting on??????
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Not news R.T. but infuriating none the less. Welcome to America.
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@Linda – you are right unfortunately. I’m glad you guys got a picture of the cattle – good looking herefords. My family would have LOVED to have had the luxury of running their cattle to graze practically for free on other people’s land. And so would my cousin right now, a big rancher near Texarkana who is suffering right now because of a drought last summer that severely impacted his hay crop. I don’t see the government giving him such a ‘deal.’ This is totally infuriating.
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Hereford cows won’t need high priced corn while being dumped by cattlemen on the Public Lands. The price of corn is increasing tremendously due to ethanol being raised to 15% in gasoline. Farmers in my neck of the woods are having trouble finding land to rent for grazing or haymaking due to land being rented at high dollar to plant corn. Those cattle guys in Nevada are getting one sweet deal at OUR expense!
http://www.telvent.com/en/business_areas/trading/news_center/2011/Corn-Soybean-Prices-Skyrocket-on-Supply-Report.cfm
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I am infuriated with this news, The cattle have no business on the Land that Belongs to the Wild Mustang I am mad as hell and I called President , Demanding that he remove them, and I suggest that everyone else does the same , This land BELONGS to Federally Protected Wild Mustangs, I dont care what the Hell THE BLM says.!!!!!! They are Proven Liars, murders, why who anyone believe them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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And they will say its “Mutliple Use Lands”, that they are mandated to manage not just for horses, but for ranching, recreation, mining and minerals, etc. Seems to me the wild horses and burros are not getting their fair share of this multiple use plan on public lands,not at all! Square peg, round hole.
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Amen! I don’t have cattle either, but they are hurting my neighbors and my family numbers who are paying a good $8 per head per month. So not only are they paying taxes for their land and taxes to remove these horses for others, but they’re getting hit again with lower prices on cattle since there is no way all this subsidized grazing isn’t causing the market price to go down. Even if it’s only by a little bit that little bit adds up fast when you’re living depends on it.
It’s just another case of the government sticking their nose in private business (where it doesn’t belong) and screwing everything up, while lining their own pockets no doubt.
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@Rachel – too right!! They are hurting my cousin who has worked hard all his life to build up his cattle farm and herd. THEY are the ones that should also be raising hell.
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Interesting they wanted to know what you were doing on their land. I’d like to know what they’re doing on MY land. They probably ended the round up sooner because more cattle were coming.
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Rachel – actually, the truth is big corporations lobbying for, and getting exactly what they want, from the government. The cattlle on public lands are not from small, private farmers/ companies -. …and these huge, wealthy ranching outfits, are the ones profiting from this – (& then lining the government’s pockets to maintain the power) it is all about special interests. Oh, and these big ranchers, some of whom are owned by huge corporations – Hilton, anyone? would be only too happy to have any small rancher go down, so that they could absorb their meager share of the market, as well.
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And the beat goes on…and on… Eventually the land will be destroyed just like it was a hundred years ago… then the horses will return…but today’s Mustang will be extinct… But horses genes all have that same DNA … So the future generations can once again have a wild mustang… Just mite look more along the lines of a TB maybe…And just maybe the next wild ones will get real protection from the people of this next time era…Today’s mustangs are only a year or two from extinction as a free runner, them ones being released are all sterile now so they are done once old age and natural causes take their toll..the future great grand children will read and be taught how the mustangs or wild horse was extinct twice on the American continent… Once by the ice age and once by modern man…and the last time could have been stopped but the horses were failed by the people and the government not being worried by a few scary emails…Why aren’t the people doing more ?? Because it is not effecting them… Today’s people don’t really care…as long as it is not their little bubble be threatened, they don’t give a dried road apple..and the few hundred people who are out on the streets trying to get the mustang annilation stopped?? They are too few to pay any attention too..They are like the sons and daughters standing on every corner looking for help…And everyone driving by says IT’S not my problem…See what I mean.. Everyone of you reading this are these same ones driving by…So they and the mustangs are all in the same dire situation..NOT MY problem.. Now if them same outa work bums, as they are referred to as being, got together and marched to the governments lawns and state we are here till we get help… Would something get done for them??? It’s the same for the people trying to get some thing done for the mustang.. Till you all band together and go to the government and state you not leaving till something is done for them Mustangs…They are truly done.. Just like that street person….
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Any geldings turned back out are, of course, sterile for life. The drug they are giving the mares is only good for 2 years I understand, so in theory they aren’t sterile for life. That doesn’t mean, however, that their return to freedom is permenent. They may very well be rounded up again within 2 years and confined for the rest of their lives. I’m betting that will be the case.
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We are all gathered here for essentially the same Reason….And that is to free Our Mustangs….We are not violent, we do not stoop to The BLMs methods, We are all here for The Wild Mustangs, we are here with love for them, we are here to Free them, everyone is trying to accomplish this, we all believe that The Wild Mustang is essential, to all of our lives now and forever, their presence here is vital and we all know it…….The BLM is on a Greed Mission for which they Assault Our Mustangs, what they do not realize that we to are on A mission and that is to Stop the BLM…………… I also think it is taking to long, we need to take them from the BLM…………………………….. But never under estimate the people here , not for a minute………………………………….
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Heaven forbid that the sound of the helicopter scare the cattle as they are placed in their new home.
This adds to the disturbing reality of the corruption that is killing our horses.
Your words of the mowing machine were hare enough, but to see it, is unreal.
Where is the justice in this country?!
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Heaven forbid that the sound of the helicopter scare the cattle as they are placed in their new home.
This adds to the disturbing reality of the corruption that is killing our horses.
Your words of the mowing machine were hard enough, but to see it, is unreal.
Where is the justice in this country?!
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The system (BLM) is seriously broken.
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Nothing less than the replacement of Bob A$$ey AND Ken $alazar from their Royal Domains It’s time for an Over Throw of the BLM AND DOI and get some decent people in that haven’t gotten put in the back pocket of Welfare Ranchers and BP
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There are two ways you can look at it:
You can say “nothing is ever going to change and there’s nothing that can be done”
or
You can say “maybe I can’t change the world, but I can do SOMETHING, because, win, lose of draw, at least I tried”
Right now, Laura could use some help staying on the road–BLM is being paid VERY WELL–Laura isn’t paid at all
Grassroots, R.T and Terry are fighting this in the courts and these lawsuits cost MONEY
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Anything that anyone does helps, be it little or small it all adds up and you all proved it last week, you worried the phone lines so intensely that the round up was shut down, you guys did that.
Sent from R.T.’s iPhone
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to Jim T You are right–unfortunately wild horses are not a “national” issue to most people–(like the Vietnam war was). I wish the rest of them could see that it is national–in terms of —taxes/land use,degradation/special interests. I still don’t know if it would get them away from TV/computers/entertainment–which is just where the govt. wants them–sitting in soft chairs eating beef–while agencies plunder and rape the land. I think there should be a National Causes Day–when people who have a protest all march in Washington–veterans/women’s issues/wild horse advocates/seniors etc. 31 horses released– 300 cattle —– sounds like BLM math to me.
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The people who are doing the most are never heard from on these blogs. What you read on the blogs is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. It is a place to get information out to others.
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The Viet Nam War wasn’t that important to people–in the beginning. People who were against it were looked at as “anti-American” and “trouble makers’.
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BUT, the Vietnam war did eventually affect a lot more people once their brothers and sons and fathers and boyfriends and buddys started shipping out and getting killed and turning up MIA. I am going to guess that, even though there are a LOT of horse lovers out there, many of them are comfortable in their little barns with their friends playing dressage. So it doesn’t affect them.
With all the effort in Wisconsin, Egypt, Lybia, Bahrain etc. It would be an interesting idea to plan and put on a massive sit in/stand in/protest. I know this issue has been discussed here before. But it might get some attention. My problem with that, however, is that I can’t afford to travel to Washington or Nevada or anywhere else right now to attend. I’ve also talked about more people setting up tables at local events and fairs and hand out information about what is going on. Arrange days when you can visit and talk to school age children, your local 4H etc.
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Except that you are one of our best, Louie… you do it all and I wish we had a million like you!! mar
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Mar, what a nice compliment–I do thank you for that, but the ones who are out there freezing their backsides off and dealing with this monstrosity are the true Heros. It’s COLD, LONELY AND EMOTIONALLY GUT WRENCHING–day after day. How Laura has kept going like she has is unbelievable. It is because she LOVES these Horses and Burros.
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Laura is phenomenal.
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Totally agree, the advocates like Laura, RT, Terry and the other unknown to the public who spend hours, days, months and years fighting for our wild ones are beyond regular horse folk. They have committed their lives to save other lives. This is a war and these great horse warriors will go down in history.
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Gee Louie, I just thought that you should have some supportive words as you have always come through for Laura… I am just saying, there are those like you, who have helped focus the computer advocates at home… Laura has done much because you have been there supporting her efforts. Not enough of us have been doing so!!! The best compliment the rest of you can pay Laura is to help fund her work in the field as it is going where no BLMer has been before!! mar
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The Nevada ranchers try to project themselves as simple people just trying to feed consumers, yet they are shrewd business men and women who are making profits from public lands. The cattlemen still have a strong lobby presence in Nevada. The Nevada rancher’s arrogance about controlling the public range (and I heard it many times in the ranching community where I lived and worked on a ranch in Northern Nevada) is a reality slipping away. Nevada ranchers are facing increasing urbanization, more scrutiny and criticism of their exploitive, poor range practices, and the fact their contribution of 3% to the overall beef production in the U.S is insignificant. Wild horses are good for Nevada’s tourism business, the state’s image (including NV beef industry) and will create jobs in both rural and urban Nevada. The cattlemen’s ongoing unwillingness to work with all public lands stakeholders including wild horse advocates will doom them long term. But, it looks like the cattlemen will keep trying to rid the western range of wild horses first. They will not win, because of your organization and many others who will not give up for our wild horses!
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Those Nevada ranchers are not “simple” folk, they are just down right “common thugs”.
They are coniving, destroyers, killers, liars, arguers, cursers,selfish, greedy, hypocrites.
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What kind of Nonsense is releasing 31 horses after capturing 1400??????????????? There is something very very fishy going on here , with those kind of numbers……….. They must think that we re all not capable of figuring out that this is a SHAM>>>>>>> again we are set up !!!!!! The worst is they set up 1400 horses for failure , we got to step this up here… They are always one step ahead ??????? This cannot continue they must be removed form the BLM clutches…………….
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What a deal BLM & WELFARE CATTLE ROLEX RANCHERS WRECK OUR LAND, WATER, MURDER OUR WILDLIFE & IT ALSO COSTS TAXPAYERS 1 BILLION PER YEAR.
http://www.publiclandsranching.org/book.htm
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I’m just waiting for the Department of Environmental conservation’s report about the release of E.coli 157 being a problem and cattle are the carrier’s in the area water supply. With climate changes and now species change this will have an impact in that area. These cow’s will contaminate as well as decimate all plant life in that area. It’s just a matter of time. Another thing Wheres the money these cattle ranchers get from the market when their cattle go to slaughter? not to the government to take care of the land. I’m willing to bet a year’s pay that these rancher’s are in Ken Salazar’s and politician in the Antelope area’s pocket.
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Would it be public record as to WHO BLM gave that allotment to?
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Louie, It is supposed to be public information being public land but the BLM claim privacy laws restrict them from allowing the public to see who has leased public property.
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Louie go to this link for the latest on the allotments info..
http://www.westernwatersheds.org/news-media/online-messenger/victory-wwp-cuts-rancher-secrecy-public-land
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Thank you for this information. The more you dig the deeper the doodoo gets that stinks of coruption.
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Lets see do I have this right The BLM People are now Cattle Barons, and Lay no no Claim to the Wild Mustangs, If that is true then , The Mustangs do Now and have always belonged to The American People , Why may I ask are they Destroying Wild Mustangs for which they lay no Claim,…………… Our Mustangs need to be taken away from them !!!!! Immediately…………
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I just finished reading on line, Public law 92-195, the wild free-roaming horses and burros act. And I am suprised at how blatently they are mis-construing what that act states. They are to have all research of the animals done by individuals independent of federal and state government. And that no animals owned by the government or ones sold to private parties are to be sold or tranferred for consideration of commercial processing. And although the secratary can determine the use of the land, I see it as public use and not for special interest groups like cattle companies. It is time we have people who are more dedicated to the horse and the American people and not the special interest groups.
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Just a comment about the cattle. I live in Colorado during the summer up around 9400 ft altitude, surrounded by the San Isabel National Forest. I have a ‘neighbor’ there – The Everetts. Their family has been runnng cattle up there for about 120 years. Terry runs about 300 head a year, and his brother George about the same. Terry owns about 10,000 acres total spread out in invisable parcels (old mining claims) mixed with BLM and National Forest. Terry’s cattle do not deciminate the entire area, but there are certain areas they gather (near the water ponds) and do a lot of damage. I don’t think Terry or George would be considered big companies. In fact, they probably are closer to being considered more of a small cattleman. They are good people, and have never been overtly wealthy. When I asked Terry and his wife what their thoughts on the wild horse issue were, Terry teasingly said “You aren’t one of those ‘Do Gooders’ are you?”. They love horses, but they definately lean with the general cattlemen attitude that wild horses are a bother. How come cattlemen don’t complain about too many deer, or elk or pronghorn or bighorn? All those animals share the public land up where I live with Terry’s cattle. BTW, Terry and his family work hard with the Land Trusts with the National Forest trying to preserve the mountains and forests in their part of the Rocky Mountains. Just sayin’. Not all cattlemen are evil people.
While I am not educated in land management, the little girl in me has often thought (not that I could actually implement this, so consider this a disclaimer) about aynonmously acquirering a stallion and a few mares and secretly releasing them up behind my place. LOTS of room for a small band of wild horses up there! Bummer that all captured mustangs are marked (that would make it possible to trace them back to me as a purchaser)
TRUE management would be taking invetory of stallions, letting a stallion stay with a herd for about 10 years, then relocating him, sometimes across state lines to other HMA, so the gene pool is kept diverse. Geld older stallions and a selection of younger ones. Take small bands and relocating them in tact to smaller, new HMA like up behind my place (where wild horses have never been since the implintation of the 1971 act). Test and create a safe infertility drug for mares that isn’t permenant, something to slow down her productivity. Keep up with roundups and adoptions, but re-releasing those unadopted – like they do on Chincoteague Island. I firmely believe that a management program with this can be implemented using the same amount of or less funds than what the Wild Horse program uses now.
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The thing about sterilizing these animals is with the thought of believing the BLM claims of a 20% reproduction rate which is not true. The BLM are claiming that 32,000 to 36,000 can not self sustain on 30+million acres of land that belongs to the horses and burros. That is roughly a mil acres per horse or burro. They use fuzzy math, lie and steal and constantly get away with it. The people of this nation need to do more than a slap on the wrist. These people need to be impeached and replaced with non-cattle related people who will take the time to do what is necessary to keep viable herds on the land that was designated primarily FOR the horses and burros. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/note.php?note_id=10150103830558149&id=1177384883 Anyone interested in signing a petition to get an impeachment started for Bob Abbey, please click this link.
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Interesting, but i hope not and most of us are firmly against ever gelding older stallions. There are some sound ideas that are less extreme and less akin to what has been…. we are moving away from much of this. Management can be very fine tuned and sustainable one day. mar
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The BLM has shown its true colors over and over again. The ground was not even cold from the true owners of the land and those are the Wild Mustangs. The cattle now will desminate the land more so than any of the horses could or would. BLM – Bureau of Legal Massacre (horses, burros, coyotes, mountain lions and now land)
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Saw this earlier this morning. Of all the thoroughly sickening and disgusting photos and incidents that have been recorded regarding the abuses of the wild equines, the photo of that foal, so new there was still about two feet of umbilical cord hanging beneath it and the foal was probably still a little wobbly on it legs, was one of the most disturbing. The fact it and its mother were being driven out by a so-called wrangler on horseback should be graphic proof to even the most blind that the BLM has hired, through Sun J Livestock, some of the most incompetent, ignorant, cruel sub-human scum available on our little piece of the planet.
This whole mess, from the indiscrimate and cruel treatment of the wild horses up to and including the immediate introduction of hundreds of cattle (probably more we haven’t seen) onto the same range from which the horses had just been violently, forcefully removed supposedly because the range could not support them should stand as prima facia evidence to anyone still able to think for themselves of the collusion and corruption that permeates the heirarchy of the BLM. All activities and funding pertaining to herds of wild horses and burros and the land they were supposed to be being managed on with minimal human interference, must be immediately taken away from this agency by Congress who charged them with it in the first place. Government agencies are infamous for the way they screw up about everything they touch but the record of the BLM’s handling of the wild herds is as egregious, cruel and inhumane on a large scale as any I can think of since the Native Americans were robbed of their lands, possessions, and lives, and had their culture nearly crushed into oblivion by federal and state agencies.
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Putting it in proper perspective, They are Lunatics, they must be put in Straight Jackets, OMG Wambli a foal with an umbilical cord hanging off of it, they are so close to my limit, I have never in my life ever heard or seen anything so humiliating, disgusting and so extremely sad……………………..I sobbed for mother and foal for a long time……….. This is a thoroughly despicable act and needs to be addressed immediately………………….. I am even now asking the highest power to help us to help them………
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Kerry; if you’re going to release horses, make sure they do have freeze marks or other identification….that way if they are ever caught, they do not go directly to slaughter as estrays would, instead you would be notified that your horses were loose.
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PLEASE EVERYONE SIGN THE BOB ABBEY IMPEACHMENT >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> THE LINK IS ABOVE
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Dear Wambli, cruelty from the BLM has been nothing but horrendous from day one , but now they have hit the Ultimate cruelty, the little foal with still an umbilical cord on it , is the worst, OMG !!! These people have to be relieved of their duties and get some professional help, I shudder to think that this type of Vermin walks amongst us………we will never rest again until these poor excuses for Humans are properly dealt with, I am afraid that these people are in need of physiologic help, they have gone beyond the realm of saneness…..anyone doing acts of this extremely cruel velocity are in dire straits mentally ………….. I now fear for humans that come in contact with these people……………………….
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Hi Arlene …. In reference to them needing help, for any help such as counseling to be effective the person must first acknowledge that they need the help. From what we have seen taking place I doubt seriously that would happen with these perpetrators. Another thing strikes me. Remember the photos of the little kid playing around the traps? What lessons are their kids taking away about how to treat animals, and possibly by extention, other people, from having watched the actions of the adults around them? It is doubtful these people invented their own distain for the pain and suffering being imposed on their victims (the horses). They learned the basics by watching others and now they are passing these traits to the next generations just by the examples they are setting. Not a pretty picture. WO
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Yes !!! I remember the child playing around the trap site , very dangerous to say the least, yes children learn from there parents, and then we wonder why these children grow up to be cruel to animals and anything that stands in their way, children like the horses are innocent, it is inhuman to teach a children to be cruel, I also wonder what the Mothers of these perpetrators think are they proud of them , maiming , treating horses like dirt???? That is another reason it is so important that these people be brought to Justice , Our Nation as a whole are a people of just, caring loving individuals, I wonder where these cruel and heartless senseless idiots come from……………. I still think that they are all in dire straits mentally, sane people do not act in this manner…………….Our Mustangs are living breathing wonders, who deserve respect and protection …………….. And we are here to get it for them……. They must be physically removed from The BLM and placed where they are safe !!!!
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Reading the posts above, I drive by Rocky Flats, in Colorado on a weekly basis and I have often wondered myself, why they could not put a small herd or two there. We have a small bison herd on the highway going to the mountains where people can pull over and take pictures. Why not a herd of viable mustangs that can have foals and a family unit where people could pull over and take pictures of the mustangs. Rocly Flats is a little over 25,000 acres, that should be enough for a couple of small family bands. and monitor their numbers. If the BLM would put healthy non sterile herds on the land I would be willing to bet Denver people would vote for it. ARE YOU LISTENING BLM.
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Joy, Thank you. Western Watersheds did it again. BLM DOES have to make allotments public
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The ranchers and the Wild Horse and Burro advocates have every reason to stand together. They had better, or there won’t be any public lands left.
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More info on BLM’s release of hundreds of pregnant cattle , http://fcranch.wordpress.com/
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This is digusting. No regard for the destruction and devastation of land, much less the Wild Mustangs.
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OMG !!! I want to BARF ! They will kill all foliage and rape the land in no time at all…… Foliage devastation machines……………………….
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Did everyone print out the “impeac” letter of Bob Abbey? Here is the link http://www.horsefund.org/wild-horses-action-alert-impeach-abbey.php. I printed it out yesterday and sent it off. Also, sent information of this to my Senator.
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Hard to stomach this revelation R.T., though it comes as no surprise to most of us, the blatant truths, replacing the horses with cattle. Infuriating no doubt, and the frustrating feeling of helplessness is overwhelming at times, pass the Prozac. :p
All who can must show up in Phoenix for the protest on the 11th @ RAC meeting. The meeting is the 10th & 11th.
Simone is offering her digs for camping to advocates. If interested, email her
>>>————>
simone@respect4horses.com
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The distortion of truth and what I find to be abuse of power by the BLM is indeed stomach-turning. I do not outright oppose limited cattle ranching on public lands, but the removal of horses from their range in this fashion and under false pretense is unacceptable and can not be allowed to go on.
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I have lived in Nevada for 16 years. I used to see wild horses and burros in their natural habitat and it was such a joy to witness. Now, the desert is devoid of these wonderful animals thanks to the insane and cruel practice of round ups by the BLM. Wild horses, burros and wolves should be left alone, wild and free!! These round ups are inhumane and sending them off to slaughter is unthinkable.
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Does anyone here understand the predicament the cattle industry faces? Because of all your urban expansion we have been driven further out. Cattle are very anatomically different from horses, specifically with dental anatomy. Cattle have a dental pad, which prevent them from eating young/germinating crops (which is the most critical stage for those of you who don’t know). Horses have a full set of teeth, top and bottom, which allows them to nip grass at the point when the germinating plant needs to establish due to a shallow root system and small plant surface area lacking the ability to photosynthesize fast enough to keep up with equine grazing. I have studied range, forage, and animal science for 5 years. I have seen FIRST hand what horses can do to a range. Don’t get me wrong, overgrazing can occur with cattle, but BLM monitors this so closely that ranchers are also frustrated. Please understand, that population counts are only on how many horses are found. Oh yeah, and for those of you who are hurt that you don’t see the horses…it’s because they’re moving their habitats further away from URBANIZATION. I see mustangs alllllllll the time because I help run cattle out in the desert. Horses are my favorite animal, and I have contributed much of my artwork to them because they are an incredible living history. However, management is in place for all other wildlife, such as elk, deer, antelope etc…we cannot just let horses re-breed when there is currently not natural predators…yes, there are mountain lions…but they would much rather prey on a smaller more attainable animal that cannot easily outrun them. As for wolves…they follow the elk, not horses. Thanks!
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Allyson, the public ranchers only supply about 3 % of the beef. Yes, there is urbanizarion and too many people but there are millions of cattle on our public lands and do not belong there. Most beef is supplied by the farmers who have to buy there own land and pay taxes–my dad was one. Cattle pull up grass and defecate in water. Horses do NOT do this. Cattle also cause erosion but you won’t see that where horses are as long as they can roam and have enough forage. There are only about 15-20,000 wild horses left free now and 40,000 are in holding pens . The BLM is determined to cause the extinction of our wild horses. This is their plan and has been for years due to greedy , public welfare rangers. Before cattle and sheep were brought to the West grass was stirrup high and there were 2 million wild horses and millions of bison. Now the desert is moving East because of over-grazing by cattle and sheep that pull up grass instead of nipping it off. Horses don’t keep grazing in the same place–they roam and don’t over-graze unless they are fenced in. I have lived on farms all my life and had horses most of it or my dad did. I see every day what harm cattle do here in KY and that horses do not harm pastures. Cattle will also destroy forests as they eat young trees. There are some good books on the harm ranching has done that you may want to read. Ranchers have killed millions of predators or had them killed too. Now the corporate ranchers think they own our public ranges and even want to cut off the water from wild horses in Nevada. This is an outrage.
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