R.T. Fitch, author of "Straight from the Horse's Heart" and President/Co-Founder of 'Wild Horse Freedom Federation' ~ putting People between Wild Horses and Extinction
“I pledge Allegiance to the Wild Equines
of the United States of America and to the Icon
for which they stand, one symbol, understood,
undeniable, with liberty and freedom for all.” ~ R.T. Fitch
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Wild Horse Freedom Federation, Inc. is a Texas registered non-profit corporation, a Federally registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and has now registered as a non-profit corporation with the States Attorney Offices of all 50 states. All donations to WHFF are 100% tax deductible. Federal Tax Identification number: 45-2526314
Lenas Buddy Nic, rider Shane Steffen and his wife, Beth Lenas Buddy Nic, a late-blooming horse who didn’t endear himself to his trainer at first, shined at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity today, carrying Shane Stef...
A lot of folks have been asking us about all the wildfires that are happening in the state of Colorado. There are a lot of them occurring. One question on a lot of peoples’ minds: what does this mean for the wild horses? Right now, none of the fires burning in the state are threatening [...]
Please note that several of the photos in the articles are "Extremely Graphic." While we had an interesting debate about publishing the photos, we'd rather show you the reality than just say the words. As the pro-slaughter industry has proven, words said to prove a point are easily twisted to hide the truth, while un-Photoshopped pictures simp […]
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there and to my mine in particular. Love you bunches Mom! (Piceance Creek/East Douglas HMA, Colorado). Photos are for viewing purposes only. Most images are available online at: http://www.NickolesPhotography.com. Images by Pam Nickoles Photography, along with all site content are copyright protected and owned solely by […]
Here is another way to stop the FCC from ignoring public health issues. If Thomas Wheeler heads the FCC it will be the fox guarding the henhouse… Please sign this petition to US Senators: Reject Obama’s nomination of Thomas Wheeler to head the FCC Reject President Obama’s nomination of Thomas Wheeler to head the FCC […]
Sorry for being MIA for the past few weeks. I’ve had a lot on my plate, but will try to keep up a bit better soon. I’m kinda posting this on the fly today but thought y’all would like to know that one of our PSA poster children has been at it again and not […]
On Sunday, I was driving in Salt Wells Creek Herd Management Area in the Red Desert of Wyoming. This area is over 1 million acres in size, vast and beautiful in parts, with power plants, a few ranches, wildlife (which includes deer, antelope, and wild horses), plus cattle and sheep. You can drive for over ...
Firefighters Save Horse Trapped In Icy Pond « CBS Denver
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INDIAN HILLS, Colo. (CBS4) – A horse wandered onto an icy pond overnight, fell through the ice and was stuck for hours.
The incident happened early Sunday morning on Parmalee Gulch Road in Indian Hills. Crews worked quickly to save the horse’s life.
The ice-covered pond is in part of an enclosed horse pasture. Heavy snow Saturday made it difficult to tell the difference between solid ground and the thin ice. Karly Reece never imagined what would happen next.
“I almost puked. It was horrible, it was terrifying,” Reece said.
Reece had woken up to feed her horse Scarlett and pony Coco, but Scarlett never came. She looked out at the pond and realized Scarlett had fallen in.
“I walked over there and all I see is her head out of the water, so I called 911 and Animal Control and they called the vet and every fire department was out here.”
It took vets and firefighters about 45 minutes to pull Scarlett out of the water. They brought her into a barn to keep her warm until more help arrived to take her to a nearby animal hospital.
“She was real scraped up from either the ice or the weeds out there, so she had cuts. She was bleeding, she was shivering, she could barely stand.”
CBS4 cameras were there as vets and Animal Control walked Scarlett from the barn to an awaiting trailer. They had to wrap tin foil and blankets around her to keep her warm. If they hadn’t gotten there when they did, the horse could have died.
“She’s significantly hypothermic, so her body temperature isn’t reading on our thermometer, so that’s a big concern,” veterinarian Ashleigh Olds said. “Sometimes even if we get them warmed up they won’t recover from that.”
Nobody knows exactly how long Scarlett was in the freezing water. Reece was just relieved to see her rescued and alive.
“We were all screaming ‘woo!’ All the firefighters, I was, my sister was,” Reece said.
Reece said Scarlett is recovering but is at risk for frostbite and colic.
Despite a federal judge’s decision halting a roundup last year, the Bureau of Land Management is once again seeking to “zero out” a small herd of wild horses in Western Colorado, triggering fresh protests. The West Douglas Herd, located south of Rangely, is comprised of approximately 100 horses distinct from a larger herd to the east. BLM officials insist the area is “not suitable” for horses and has been seeking to round up the mustangs for relocation or adoption for decades.
But late last year US District Judge Rosemary Collyer halted the latest proposed roundup, ruling that the BLM had exceeded its authority and failed to prove that the herd was overpopulated or consisted of “excess” animals.
Undeterred, BLM has prepared another environmental assessment that proposes a roundup of the entire herd, possibly using helicopters as well as bait-trapping, this October. That prompted a detailed critique of the plan from the Colorado Springs-based Cloud Foundation that raises some interesting arguments concerning the herd’s viability and the cost of removing it.
Cloud Foundation director Ginger Kathrenspoints out that BLM’s own data shows the herd’s population has remained static for years, with even a slight decrease since 2005. Yet the environmental assessment assumes a 20 percent annual increase in population for the next five years to justify the roundup.
Although the BLM hopes to offer many of the horses for adoption, the adoption rate hasn’t kept up with the roundups. There are now nearly as many wild horses in government-maintained pastures and holding facilities as there are roaming the range.
“Please consider that the removal of a mustang costs already strapped American taxpayers over $2,000 in addition to a possible $2,098 to $4,700/year holding cost for the rest of the horse’s life if they are not adopted or sold,” Kathrens writes. “Why not apply the initial savings of over $172,0000 to range improvements, livestock and fence removals, noxious weed treatment, water improvements, and any number of projects that would improve the West Douglas area for wild horses and all other wildlife species?”
But BLM’s assessment insists that the herd’s removal is necessary “to establish, maintain and preserve a thriving ecological balance” in accordance with the 1971 law directing the agency to manage the herds.
Don’t expect the controversy to get resolved neatly anytime soon. By the time the scheduled roundup approaches this fall, the first stampede will probably be one of free-roaming attorneys, headed back to court.
The Cloud Foundation, with thanks to Xtomic and our website creator, Jay Ferguson, live-streamed the Department of Interior Public Workshop (June 14) and the BLM Public Advisory Board Meeting in Denver, Colorado (June 15). We felt that the public workshop was an excellent start and look forward to future workshops and conference in which the DOI (and specifically BLM) begins to work with the public to manage our wild herds. Step one is to enact an immediate moratorium on the ongoing roundups.
Public Workshop: Monday Morning (HERE) Monday Afternoon (HERE)
At Former Meetings the American Public was Treated with Disdain
Listed below is a recent press release from the BLM with vital information regarding their next Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meeting. It is of the utmost importance that as many concerned American citizens attend and speak out in behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. It takes a lot of guts for the everyday, regular U.S. woman or man to stand before this board of finger tapping, sighing, disengaged group of special interest appointees and speak their minds, but it can be done. It must be done as we have no choice but to do the right thing and attempt to save the few remaining wild horses that still run free on their designated public land.
Keep the faith, be safe and be there if you can – the horses are counting on us. R.T.
Level of Interest the BLM shows for Public Opinion and the Truth
WASHINGTON, (BLM) – The Bureau of Land Management announced today that the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will conduct a public workshop and hold a regular meeting in June at a two-day event in Denver. The workshop on Monday, June 14, will provide the public with a unique opportunity to express their views, comments, and suggestions regarding Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s wild horse initiative, which he and BLM Director Bob Abbey announced last October. The Board will hold a regular meeting on wild horse management issues on Tuesday, June 15.
The public workshop and the Board meeting will take place in Denver, Colorado, at the Magnolia Hotel, 818 17th St., Denver, CO 80202. The hours of the Monday workshop are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time; the Tuesday Board meeting is set for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. The hotel’s phone number for reservations is 303-607-9000. The business agendas for the public workshop and Board meeting can be found on page 26990 of the Thursday, May 13, Federal Register.
On Monday, June 14, the public will be able to provide feedback and input concerning Secretary Salazar’s initiative, the details of which can be accessed at the BLM’s website (www.blm.gov);
On Tuesday, June 15, the public may address the Advisory Board at an appropriate point in the agenda, which is expected to be about 3 p.m., local time. Individuals who want to make a statement should register with the BLM by noon on the day of the meeting at the meeting site. Depending on the number of speakers, the Board may limit the length of presentations, set at three minutes for previous meetings. Speakers, who should address the specific wild horse and burro-related topics listed on the agenda, must submit a written statement of their comments, which may be sent electronically to the BLM by accessing the following Web address. Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the National Wild Horse and Burro Program, WO-260, Attention: Ramona DeLorme, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, NV 89502-7147. Written comments pertaining to the Advisory Board meeting should be submitted no later than close of business June 7.
For additional information about the meeting, please contact Ramona DeLorme, Wild Horse and Burro Administrative Assistant, at 775-861-6583. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may reach Ms. DeLorme at any time by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.
The National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board provides input and advice to the BLM as it carries out its responsibilities under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. This law mandates the protection, management, and control of these free-roaming animals in a manner that ensures healthy herds at levels consistent with the land’s capacity to support them. The BLM manages about 37,000 wild horses and burros that roam BLM-managed rangelands in 10 Western states; the agency also feeds and cares for more than 35,000 horses and burros that are maintained in short-term corrals and long-term Midwestern pastures.
The Advisory Board meets at least twice a year and the BLM Director may call additional meetings when necessary. Members serve without salary, but are reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses according to government travel regulations.
The BLM manages more land (253 million acres) than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Director of the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, Don Glenn, Lying to the American Public at the Last Advisory Board Meeting
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