Updates from the deadly Calico Roundup by Craig Downer and Elyse Gardener
Below are the photos of the roundup that took place today (Saturday, January 2, 2010) showing how the captured band stallion, “Freedom,” valiantly fought for and regained his liberty although he had to leave his family of 8 adult mares and 2 colts. Jumping a 6-foot fence and immediately thereafter breaking through a barbed wire fence and injuring himself, this was an awe-inspiring, do-or-die effort demonstrating the loathing of captivity to a wild horse and his need for freedom. We can only pray for his recovery from the injuries the sustained from the barbed wire.
Before his escape, he became hung up by his front legs when he reared with all his might to attempt an escape from the narrow fenced area where he was being examined by Sue Cattoor and her wrangler.
Also included here are shots of the capture of his entire band, the 11 horses including Freedom himself.
More to come. Right now we are just sending stills. We have videos and interviews, but these photos really do capture the anguish and drama of the roundup for these majestic icons, our treasured American wild mustangs.
Sincerely,
Craig C. Downer, Wildlife Ecologist
Additional Note: On New Year’s Day, the BLM rounded up 10 wild horses but only captured 9 because a 6-month old foal died en route. APHIS vet at the scene, Dr. Al Kane, reported that after being chased by the helicopter for “1/4 mile” the little foal was behaving strangely, lying down periodically. It is reported that the pilot radioed Dr. Kane that this foal was having problems and Dr. Kane went out to see the foal who was found dead. Dr. Kane said that he did a necropsy in the field and discovered congenital heart defect and said that foal couldn’t have handled any exercise and probably wouldn’t have lived to adulthood. They left the body in the field and refused to allow the public observers to witness the body.
Band stallion, Freedom, in the lead. You can see the Judas horse, trained to run into the pens so the wild horses will follow, being released. - Craig Downer
During examination, Freedom attempts escape and gets caught up on the fence while Sue Cattoor looks on. - Elyse Gardener
Preparing for final herculean effort to clear 6-foot fence to freedom. - Craig Downer
Freedom escapes only to hung up in barbed wire - Craig Downer
A horrible victory, injured with entire family left behind - Craig Downer
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Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
http://www.aowha.org/war/calico0910.html On the south side of the corral complex were a number of smaller special use corrals for horses that for one reason or another were being kept separate from the larger populations. In this instance one of the smaller corrals was used for two mares with nursing foals and the orphan from the debilitated mare that was euthanized at the trap site.
See? there is no doubt the Foal Trooper IS the Foal of the Mama who was “shot…!
and now Sue Cattmoor is saying: this is not true ! I pusue you; Sue the Perjurer !
(Sue doens’t get the reports are on record and if she cannot alter the orig. report OR she can be investigated for “altering Vet. reports and other similar !
Sue is not going to make false claims about Trooper’s Mum; no way no how…anna usa
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Just a FYI, the BLM is moving forward with it’s plans to place 805 horses on a 16,000 acre ranch in Montana, will pay $1.31/day per horse, and will supplement them w/ hay 4 months a year. By my calculations that is 20 acres per horse, which they say is fine, yet, Calico has 3000 horses on what, 500,000 acres and that is too many horses???? that’s 500 acres per horse.
and what a waste of taxpayers money: that’s is about $1,000 a day; not includ. hay;
stop the silliness BLM; the american people are not “made out of money ! the Horses were eating For Free for 400 years; that was sensible !
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When buffalo do begin their migration, they will find some of their habitat improved; Buffalo Field Campaign will be removing a significant stretch of barbed wire fence on the Gallatin National Forest along land adjacent to Duck Creek, which is a favored migration corridor for bull bison. Too many times BFC has documented buffalo being run into this fence during hazing operations. Removal of the fence should also help keep buffalo off of Highway 287, since they will have a much easier time accessing this habitat. This area was once a public lands cattle grazing allotment and has been vacant for years. The Forest Service finally permanently closed it to cattle, and tomorrow, BFC will lend a hand to free the land so that buffalo and other wildlife will no longer have to negotiate this cruel stretch of wired injustice.
This is just a copy from the Buffalo Field Campaing how they will “remove thousands of yards of Barbed Wired from Yellowstone nationa park; good news = ps
Did I forget to say: Go Freedom Go; run; join another band; u can make it Freedom !
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That is great news about the buffalo! Is it possible that something is being done right somewhere!!!????!!!!!
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It is a long time coming. It took 12 years to do this. I can only hope that more will be coming along with this concession. mar
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hi Janet: re: BFC taking down thousands of yards of “barbed wire @ Yellowstone…a.
yeah; the Buffalo Field Campaign is excellent; you can sign up for weekly or monthly updates from the field; the BFC live in cabins @ Yellowstone and monitor the Buffalo; to make sure they are ok; and they do legislative work too; I like the way the writer wrote:
BFC will lend a hand to free the land so that buffalo and other wildlife will no longer have to negotiate this cruel stretch of wired injustice.
this curel strectch of wired injustive…clever wording; I The Yellowstone Buffalo (Bison and Buffalo are the same); is America’s Oldest Living Buffalo Herd;
dating back perhaps milenium…(ps BFC also stopped Buffalo hunts; basically; anna
I understand the wild horse roundups have been going on for 30 yrs; this must stop!
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FEDERAL LAW ~ Wild Horse Annie Act
**A 1959 American law that sought to restrict the use of motorized vehicles by cowboys rounding-up wild horses on public land.**
In the US Code, it is Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 3, ¶47.
The name came from the woman who spearheaded the legislation, Velma B. Johnston, later known as “Wild Horse Annie”.
The Act (since slightly amended but still “on the books”) was as follows:
“Whoever uses an aircraft or a motor vehicle to hunt, for the purpose of capturing or killing, any wild unbranded horse, mare, colt, or burro running at large on any of the public land or ranges shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
“Whoever pollutes or causes the pollution of any watering hole on any of the public land or ranges for the purpose of trapping, killing, wounding, or maiming any of the animals referred to (above) shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.”
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Whoever pollutes or causes the pollution of any watering hole on any of the public land or ranges for the purpose of trapping…
very good info; because the BLM set up water traps over the Tuscarora Range and then said they are “watering the mustangs…
my foot; that is a water-trap; which is several large troughs of h20
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oh ps “18 Tuscarora Mustangs have “bitten the desert dust…
shame on the blm ! blantant lying fools ! plus a mare @ PVC
19 in total..just in 3 days of roundups?; blm: mustang abusers !
to the blm: your days are numbered…mark my words…anna usa
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