by R.T. Fitch
Emmy Award Winner Ginger Kathrens
Considering the occurrences of the past week it is heart wrenching to view the preview of PBS’s upcoming premier of Emmy Award winning cinematographer Ginger Kathrens’s third Wild Horse installment, Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions. The awesome preview can be viewed by clicking HERE.
It is a shame that this unique part of our natural American history and culture has been treated with such abuse and disdain during the BLM’s trumped up “required” gather, last week. One of their primary reasons for conducting this inhumane and uncalled for round up was that horses were dying of starvation in the upper elevations. Ladies and gentlemen, that is an outright LIE and misrepresentation of the truth. I personally was blessed with being able to view those “upper elevations” and if my horses had that much to eat I would be ecstatic. Jim Sparks, Billings field agent for the BLM, justified his actions with the comments that the horses were starving; we have hours of video and thousands of photographs to prove the contrary. Mr. Sparks is not only incorrect in his statements but also has admitted, publicly, that he doesn’t know much about horses. That comment speaks volumes and has now put this special herd at risk.
The horses that were rounded up were fat, formerly happy, had great hooves and were healthy until the BLM ran them through
Cloud while in captivity 9/8/09 - Photo by R.T. Fitch
95 degree heat and hobbled babies and caused mares to colic. All for no reason. (We photographed each and every one, from a distance as we were not allowed too close…of course.)
So please continue to call your representatives for action on removing the BLM from managing our national treasure, our American mustangs and be sure to view PBS’s special on Cloud and his herd, filmed before your government ripped his family apart and ruined the lives of this very special herd of wild horses. The future of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horses is now in question, as well as many other herds, due to the corrupt mismanagement and illegal operation of YOUR federal agency, the Bureau of Land Management
.
Many thanks to Ginger, her foundation and all those who fight against the abuse rained down upon our publicly owned wild horses by the BLM. One day, we Americans may have a say on policy and regulations versus being victimized and abused by the likes of an agency such as the BLM…keep the calls coming.
Stop BLM illegal round ups, NOW!
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Categories: Horse News, The Force of the Horse, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Ginger, thanks for being there. I now have a “wild” mustang who is a total love. Her relations deserve not to have the same fate she had before I adopted her.
Sue, FL
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I hope everyone knows The BLM confirms on its own website that “sale-eligible horses (over 10 years old) will go through the sale authority process (oral competitive bid for one round then first come-first serve).”
Horses from Cloud’s Herd will be Slaughtered | Animal Law Coalition (16 September 2009)
http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1025
http://snipurl.com/rwneq
I know there are people ready to take the older ones, but will they have to compete with the killer bidders that day or what?
I’m trying to compose more letters to write, but I’m SO angry I can’t decide what to write. I’m trying to be reasonably polite, but it’s getting very difficult….
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so very sad that this “had” to occur. Still cursing the BLM for their unjust actions, which cannot be undone. We tried to speak for the horses, but were ignored. Too many control issues with those who could get away with this—-so much for transparency and accountability, we were promised with this administration!
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HHHMMM. Being ignored by our elected officials, state & federal agencies. All too familier. Same experience here as we battled HB 418 all of last year here in Montana. What is the saying? “Money talks”. One guess as to where the money is. Many many thanks to everyone for continuing to take precious time to call, and write on behalf of the horses. Just as many thanks to the leaders, in this battle for the horse. We will not give up!!
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Aloha from Hawaii. I use to live in Colorado where I adopted a mustang over 15 years ago. Best horse I ever owned. Now in Hawaii and rescuing abused and neglected horses. My heart goes out to all the wild horses and wish there was something I can do. I would love to be there to see and feel the love for the wild from these majestic animals.
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Betina: Lucky you live Hawaii!
What a dream THAT would be for me. Back to Hawaii and working with horses. I’ve had both, but not at the same time.
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Can Ginger testify before Congress in order to garner support of the ROAM Act? She most certainly has enough evidence to prove that the wild horses of our nation should remain free forevermore. Congress needs to witness, firsthand, the horrific abuse that was inflicted upon Cloud’s Magnificent Herd by the BLM as well as the corruption which permeates the agency from within!
We need to be the voice of these most Treasured American Icons.
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I concur that we now need for people like Ginger, John Holland, RT Fitch, et al who witnessed the Pryor roundup and consequences to the horses to go before Congress to testify……Rep. Grijalva (spelling?) and Sen. Mary Landrieu could make this happen…for the ROAM Act. Now that Conrad Burns has admitted that the driving force behind the Burns Amendment was none other than Nevada Senator Harry Reid, we need to start a movement to have Reid discredited as Senate Majority Leader (now I know why I just never liked this guy) and work to have him defeated in his re-election bid. We also need to push for access to the BLM holding pens for a census to verify number of wild horses and burros actually there. Don’t let up….keep calling, emailing, faxing.
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We, Terry and I, would be more than happy to testify. We are no strangers to the Hill and to act as a combined voice for the horses would be an honor!
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Hurray to al who will attend in Wahaington DC.
I unfortunatly am unable to make that trip at this time, nor am I able to make calls.
Some strategies for us e-mailers, bloggers –
1. When you select your senators, you usually have to select topics. I have been selecting Natural Resources, but will start sending several e-mails to the same person, under different topics – Wildlife, Energy, Other, etc.
2. As I understand it, everytime you open a PBS website to view comments or watch a video it moves that up the lists. So go often, and leave a comment too as you see necessary. Some of the comment sections are being taken over by pro BLM, anti wild horse comments. We need to keep that balanced. This is where I really “started” to understand this issue, and will be the place for others to get engaged as well.
Any ideas on this – right, wrong, other ways?
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I pray we are successful in our quest to save these majestic animals, once revered as icons of our heritage. What is happening in our country? It’s really sad that the very same agency (BLM) that’s supposed to protect them will in effect cause their demise. I HOPE WE’RE NOT TOO LATE.
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I am so tired of this cruelty. It is CRUELTY! No matter how the BLM or other Government Bodies dress this issue up it is CRUELTY. It is outrageous that this pain is inflicted on innocent animals who, and I must EMPHASIZE HAS AS MUCH RIGHT ON THIS PLANET AS THE PEOPLE INFLICTING SUCH PAIN on them. I have started to read this article but unable to finish because of the pain I feel. When is this going to STOP! CLOUD and his herd have a RIGHT to roam the mountains- FREELY. I ask the people involved to contact me. – These animals need a voice (I know they have many who feel as strongly as I do) and I am offering MINE! So please before you start another of your cowardly ‘missions’ I ask you to give me and others like me who care deeply for CLOUD and his offspring a call. Lat us know what you plan on doing – I doubt you will. Cowardly acts are NOT Publicized!
Mary Baker Dittman
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Wild Horse Annie is rolling in her grave. God have mercy on us as Americans that we do not value our wild horses. Why are people in government positions that do not honor the wishes of the American people? Mr. President I have an idea to save our tax dollars: BLM needs to be disolved and Salazar removed. We have fought this fight for over 40 year and the Wild Horse Act was to save the Horses and burros. How many thousands have been killed and slaughter? Enough!
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You are so very, very right, Donna.
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THE BLM NEEDS TO STOP IF THEY CAPTURE ANYMORE HORSES THE ONLY THING THAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM IS THEY WILL BE KILLED THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENINGTO ALL THE CAPTIVE HORSES NOW ANYWAY!!!AND THEY SAY THEY ARE KEEPING THEM UNDER CONTROL BUT THEY AREN’T ALL THEY ARE DOING IS MAKING WILD HORSES BECOME EXTINCT ALL WE WILL HAVE IS CAPTIVE AND CAPTIVE HORSES AREN’T THE SAME THEY DON’T HAVE THE SAME WILD CHARACTERISTICS AS WILD HORSES AND WILD HORSES ARE 10X HEALTHIER THAN CAPTIVE HORSES ANYWAY!!!! WILD HORSES DON’T NEED US TO “HELP” LET THEM LIVE THE WAY GOD MADE THEM TO LIVE!!!
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