written by Steven Long, Editor and Publisher of “Horseback Magazine“
Ken Salazar
WASHINGTON, DC, (Horseback) – California’s Sen. Barbara Boxer released a letter demanding answers from Interior Secretary Ken Salazar regarding the embattled Bureau of Land Management. It’s Wild Horse and Burro Program is under fire after the deaths of scores of horses in a mid-winter “gather” in Nevada’s Calico Mountains.
The horses were stampeded into holding pens after a grueling chase by a roaring helicopter over rockey ground in freezing weather. Two foals died after losing their hooves in an excruciating lingering death.
Dear Secretary Salazar:
I am writing to thank you for your recent attention to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) Wild Horse and Burro Program and to seek information that would help me evaluate your proposed reforms to this program.
Wild horses and burros are majestic symbols of the American west and are beloved by many people for their remarkable intelligence, grace, beauty, and power. Unfortunately, these charismatic animals have also been at the center of great controversy for many decades.
Commercial harvesting once threatened wild horses and burros until public outrage led to their protection under the 1971 Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. After working to recover these species for many years, the BLM has recently begun trying to reduce populations once more due to concerns that the animals are now overpopulated. The BLM contends that unchecked population growth has led to decimation of forage, starvation, competition with native animals, and land use conflicts. However, many animal rights advocates contend that the animals are healthy when left alone in the wild and that the BLM’s efforts to control populations are jeopardizing the survival of these iconic species.
To better understand your recent proposal for reforming the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program and evaluate these different arguments, I would appreciate it if you could answer the following questions:
What techniques are used to estimate wild horse and burro populations, assess the genetic viability of herds, and determine appropriate management levels? Has there been any independent verification of the BLM’s techniques or data to ensure that they are based in sound science?
What are the disadvantages of allowing wild horses and burros to remain unchecked in the wild? Has there been any independent documentation of the BLM’s claims about the health of these animals, their impact on environmental conditions, and the need to remove them?
How does BLM ensure the humane treatment of wild horses and burros during roundups and retention in holding facilities? Has there been any independent confirmation of the humaneness of the BLM’s treatment of these animals? Are there any alternative methods for rounding up the horses that might be less disruptive to these animals and possibly make them more suitable for adoption?
Do you have any specific sites in mind for the National Wild Horse Preserves that would be established under your new proposal? How many acres would be needed for these preserves? How many preserves would be federal and how many private?
How much would it cost to establish and manage these National Wild Horse Preserves? Can you provide me with a cost-benefit analysis comparing this proposal with the status quo and with leaving the horses where they are currently found?
This is a complex and emotional issue with important long-term ramifications for the future of our wild horse and burros. I appreciate your attention to this matter and your look forward to your timely response.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
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Categories: Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Get ’em Barbara! Right on!
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Barbara asks some great questions! Here is another Barbara-Senator Barbara Mikulski from Maryland who is a senior member of the Appropiations Committee—the committee that gives Dept of Interior their money! She is also on the sub-committee that includes the Dept of Interior. Here is the website for the Appropiations Committee. She also has a great crabcake recipe on her home page!
http://mikulski.senate.gov/About/Committees/index.cfm
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I might add that Barbara Mikulski has a wild pony herd residing in her state, NPS Assateague ponies so she should be definitely contacted about Salazar’s plan to bring wild horses East!
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Thank you Barbara Boxer!!!
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Got up, turned on my cranky yet magnificent computer beast, and there it was.
FINALLY someone is asking the right questions! A very powerful someone at that. I hope this letter circulates throughout Washington and every state.
Senator Boxer, I can’t thank you enough. You’ve lifted my spirits and renewed my hope.
R.T, since it’s been published, are we free to forward this article/letter to government officials and others?
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I would also like to know if it si alright to forward….My senator- Wyden, sits on the natural resourses and energy comittee-this will carry significant weight with him….YOU GO GIRL! boxers or briefs…I say BOXERS!
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Excellent Questions Senator boxer asked; esp. about the treatment of the Mustangs “during roundups; and about “alternative methods; there is an alternative method other than the helicopters; that is “a bait with hay only “trap; this is what will be used to round up about 50 horses near a hiway in a few weeks; soooo..; there is another roundup being planned; but this one may save the “Stangs; becuz there are nr. a high way and 2 Mustngs have been hit; I think someone leaves Hay out for them so: a. the people putting Hay out should be fined; b. the horses should be trapped with hay bait AND THEN SHOOED BACK TO THE RANGE ; 9they should not be rounded up to Fallon; bumma !
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Go get em Barbara!! Good news to start my Saturday. Will be watching to see how this all pans out!!!
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Thank you Barbara. Well written and finally a straight forward request. Salazar needs to be held accountable. This needs to stop, hopefully Senator Boxer begun a change of direction in a positive manner for these well deserving and majestic animals.
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We should all write and thank Senator Boxes even if we are not among her constituency. Then urge our own Senators and Reps to do likewise!
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Way to go, may Barbara’s concerns and questions spread to ALL of our representatives!
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I’m sure glad Boxer is taking an interest. She should look into how the wild horses are being unfairly marginated upon the public lands, even within their own legal herd areas, and to the disproportionate resource allocation they are receiving on these legal areas. This must be rectified.
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Excellent letter. Thank you Senator.
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I have started refering to this as “horsegate”…and I want a special prosecuter appointed.
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While I didn’t mention a moritorium here is my letter to Senator Boxer. Since I live in CA I am one of her constiuents. I don’t know if that makes a difference. I hope for the most part I did well.
Hi Mrs. Boxer:
At last someone is asking all the right questions of the BLM. I can’t tell you how excited I am that you wrote the letter you did. Wow you asked some of the most “right questions” ever.
Here’s what I know as an advocate.
In 2008 the BLM said that one HMA (herd management area) was fine with the several hundred horses running there. Then they gave out a bunch of cattle grazing rights and all of a sudden there were too many wild horses. This happened in two months time. One month there were 500 horses and now there were 3000.
I’m sure you know that horses don’t breed that fast. Gestation for a horse is 11 to 11 1/2 months–330 days to 360.
The contractors that I have seen since Sept are the Cattoors. You should know that Dave Cattoor in 91 (thereabouts) pled guilty to capturing wild horses for slaughter. His wife says it was a misdeamor and other reports say it was a felony. Either way it kind of boggles the mind why this man who was found guilty/pled guilty to hunting wild horses with a helicopter to round them up–now has a multmillion dollar a year contract to do exactly what he did 20 years ago–only this time its done legally.
Yes, many wild horses are thin in the winter. Winter is brutal on ALL WILD ANIMALS. In Ginger Kathrens latest video on Cloud there is a mare who is thin as can be–she gave birth and not only survived but her baby did too. These horses know what survival is all about. They are not hot house show horses.
I’m not sure how the ranchers are allowed to do this but they can fence off water on the land there leasing–with no regard to the horses. Other animals are able to get over or around the fence but the horses are not able too.
The techniques used to estimate the wild horse numbers can be drawn right out the air. Others who have been doing this far longer than I have told us this. Ginger Kathrens is a wonderful example. Although she does live in Colorado she has been filming Cloud since the day he was born in 1995. She has vast experience with the Pryor Mtn. Mustangs.
The Calico Roundup which just concluded was an absymal failure. First we are told there were 3100 horses out there between 5 HMA’s. After brutally running close to 2000 mustangs they suddenly stopped. They just simply announced one morning that they had reached the population goals. They were going to remove about 2800 hundred horses from that 3100. They have assured us that there are still some 600 horses out there but to date–no one has seen pictures or video to prove this.
We have not seen any independent verification of anything they do.
They ran Calico on PRIVATE PROPERTY. Thereby being able to conduct business without any humane observers. They finally allowed 10 people 3 times a week but Elyse Gardner (she has been a licensed court reporter here in CA–she lives in Novato I think) tells us it was all very strict. You could video tape this but not that. You could go here but not there.
Now that the BLM is processing these horses for being able to move to other states for holding/adoption they will not allow humane observers to observe any of this. They allow them only on Sundays for two hours.
There was a judge in Dec in Wash that told the BLM that moving these horses to long term holding in areas that weren’t seen in 1971 may well be against the law. The BLM was advised to not do this roundup. Yet, they did anyway.
The Cattoors based on their website will tell you that the Pryor Mtn Mustangs are so use to people and vehicles that when they send a helicopter up the moutain the horses just calmly walk down. I have seen many videos of horses RUNNING. Foals (young horses) come in so sore footed they can’t stand.
Calico is a tremendous piece of what is wrong witht the BLM. Running wild horses in the dead of winter over very rough terrain is going to lead to some very sick horses. The first mare they put down they said was thin and not thriving. Granted she have used a few groceris. Nothing that spring wouldn’t have cured. But the BLM after that all they said was “this or that horse was thriving” and blam they shot the horse. Or the horse was found dead in the corral the following morning and no one was around to tell what had happened. The BLM won’t give us pic to document did the horse really break its neck as they claim.
They actually ran the hoofs right off of two youngsters. The vet care given these babies (one was about 8 months and the other 9 months) is too horrible to contend. The vet care some wound care on one day and some bute (painkiller like an aspirin)and then left for 4/5 days to return and then repeat the process.
Do you remember when Barbaro got laminitis? The bone in the hoof (coffin bone) seperated from the hoof wall. This is what happened to both these youngsters. They were not given 24 hour care. They weren’t given pain meds except when the vet came. In those two incidents–the hoof sloughing was caused by the roundup.
Now about the mares that spontaneously aborted. That’s BLM speak for miscarrying because of what they did. Those mares were heavily pregnant and would have been giving birth to live foals in the coming months. They lost their babies because of all the running they did (stressor no 1), change of food (extreme stressor no 2), being around people (stressor no 3)–you get the idea. At last count I saw 30 mares aborted their foals because of the actions of not only the BLM but the contractors.
How about the night in late Jan. It had been heavily raining and they couldn’t get the truck in to move the last 30 horses. Elyse Gardner told myself and a few others how “Sue Cattoor had read somewhere that horses could go for 24 hours without water”. Yikes!, those horses had been run for miles, given food, and not cooled out properly (there are cooling out procedures you must attend to working with horses) but NO WATER. Those horses went about 16 hours or so without water.
The humane observers asked and asked for wind breaks to be put up for the captured horses. BLM wouldn’t. Part of the adoption process says you will provide shelter. Courage and Hope (the two youngsters that had their hooves run off) both lay on the cold frozen ground for days before being shot. No windbreak. No other horsie friends to hang with. They couldn’t walk so my question is how did they feed and water these two in particular?
The Salazar Plan for his zoo’s is a horrid idea. It absolutely goes against the Wild Horse Annie law. Those horses legally can’t be removed to the midwest or east. The reason Salazar wants his zoos is because of the Ruby Pipeline and cattle rights.
For a great example of how the BLM foisted horses off on Jason Meduna you should contact Pam Nicoles. Her stallion El Mariachi was at 3 Strikes an approved ranch by the BLM. 9 months after El Mariachi was dropped off he was a bag of bones. His ending was happier than most. Michael Blake (who wrote Dances with Wolves)let Pam keep El Mariachi and a mare at his very remote ranch in Arizona. But Jason starved 60-70 horses and neglected another 170 approximately. He was just found guilty of animal abuse and is in prison for at least 20 months. He got 5-10 years.
For tons of information that I think would be extremely valuable to you I recommend the following sites. Most of them can be accessed by links found at thecloudfoundation.org. These are totally legit sites and you need not fear about viruses and such.
Thecloudfoundation.org
Pam Nicoles Photography
Elyse Gardner Blog
Alexbrownracing.com
KLAS tv–that the’s local news channel in Las Vegas. George Knapp has done about 3 documentaries on the wild horses. There were 2 about Calico. And his piece on Stampede to Oblivion is one not to be missed.
I apologize for the length of this letter. I hope that it has proven to be of value. Should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call. If I don’t have the answers–I will research for you and find them.
With appreciation
Margaret
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Excellent letter, Margaret! Let’s hope Senator Boxer checks out those links you provided too.
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I am glad to see that Barbara Boxer has written Mr. Salazar regarding the BLM’s handling of our wild horses and burros. I hope that more of our elected officials will ask hard questions and ask for answers from the BLM and Salazar.
We don’t need half assed answers from them, we need intelligent solutions and we need for the BLM to abide by the controls that were set up in the past for these animals.
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Finally our Senator Boxers back-hope she protects CA & OTHER WILD HORSES FROM BLM-Brutal Lying Murderers.
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Margaret, thanks so much for your much-need letter to Barbara Boxer. Please send it to everyone. The real issue is cattlemen/ranchers paying for that land to graze their cattle. BLM is breaking all the laws and no one is calling them on it. They might as well be hiding weapons of destruction (most certainly that’s what’s taking place right under our noses). The destruction is the laws they are breaking and they are getting away with it – over and over again, no matter what political party is in charge. It’s about the money. Follow the money and for heavens sake, punish the greedy lawbreakers! Animal rights activists – where is your voice in this ugliness? Why aren’t you screaming? Have you all been paid off to keep quiet? Yell!
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I’m hoping that my letter along with others help Mx. Boxer get a “real feel” for what is going on. One letter no matter how well written is that person’s own opinion. However, that changes when A TON of people write and explain in their words the things going on. I know the points I missed someone else will cover. And vice versa.
My fear is that the Slaugher Czar will either ignore Senator Boxer’s letter or will just tell her whatever he thinks she wants to hear. She can start with the extremely poor vet care given Courage and Hope. She can write Pam and ask about El Mariachi. And then move on to Ginger. The problem is those two folks aren’t in CA so can really listen to what they have to say since they aren’t her constiuents? That’s why I recommended them. It gives her a place to work from. And when she does here from Ginger she won’t just shine her own.
The BLM histroically has blown off reports telling them to stop what they are doing. But Ms. Boxer is tremendous when something gets under her skin. She becomes a “pit bull” in the very best sense of the word!
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Senator Boxer’s questions were almost verbatim from a letter I sent to Senator Feinstein, who was to chair the original sub-committee hearing on Wednesday.
Both are California Girls.
The only question missing was the break from protocol in allowing the Calico Captives to be held by a private citizen who is also a stockman.
Is this hope I’m feeling? Do the Big Girls actually pay attention to Public requests? Or did somebody other than Advocates notice the large piles of Horse Crap piling up in the DOI’s yard??!
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My letter to Senator Feinstein:
“Thank you, Senator Feinstein,
Let me preface this by saying I am a Wild Equine Advocate; I hope that doesn’t put you off as this missive isn’t about saving Wild Equines. But I am requesting an accounting.
Secretary Salazar will be going before Commitee, requesting over $40M to acquire land for use as a Wild Equine Sanctuary; this is in addition to an estimated $63M for the Wild Horse and Burro Program. We Advocates were admonished last year about the increased costs involved in caring for over 34,000 in holding facilities around the country. This was during the height of out of control gas and hay prices, both of which were largely to blame for the increased cost of care.
Well, unless I’m being given the wrong information by the Department of Agriculture web site and most Gasoline and Diesel indices, the costs of these items have dropped dramatically and stabilized. Add to that the complete passivity of the WH&B Program as it applies to Equines still on the range, I’m left to wonder WHY – why the program costs have increased 43% since last year; why the sudden urgent (and costly) need to irradicate Wild Equines from Management Areas; and why are those animals removed from the range given to the care of privately owned facilities as opposed to the BLM Holding facilities.
We all advocate for those causes near to our hearts, so I’m not asking for your promise or endorsement for the Wild Equines. I will take care of that to the best of my abilities. But I AM asking – how is this money being spent? The Wild Equines receive no supplemental feeding, no veterinary care, nor are the various ranges they occupy reseeded or replanted as it may apply to the Equine’s welfare. I understand there are people employed by the BLM, but does the WH&B budget include salaries for those not involved in the Program? What is the Salary Index in relation to the budget?
I also realize, Senator Feinstein, that, given the more important and substantial issues facing our country the matter of Wild Equines is a virtual blip on the screen. But it is the issue of the Program costs that concern me right now. I have done the research. I can find NO valid or logical reasons why this Program is costing so much, nor why, aside fom the purchase of the proposed Sanctuary property, it should cost so much more in FY10 and 11. Verifying the data Publicly available from the BLM, I’m finding huge discrepancies in the numbers (of Equines and acreage) quoted and reasons given for roundups and sustainability levels on those ranges. (The BLM purports it takes approximately 1200 acres of range to sustain a single Wild Equine.) But still no indicators of where the vast majority of the Program money goes.
Please, Senator Feinstein. There is only so much as a private citizen I can accomplish. I have to trust and believe and discharge this to you. If the DOI and BLM will not make themselves accountable to me, then make them accountable to YOU.
Thank you for your time.”
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The BLM is putting the wild horses in holding pens to create the need to bring back horses slaughter. Once the horses are in the pens costing the government more money, they will push the need to bring back slaughter to save the county money and generate revenue rather than cost.
This is so transparent and obviously!.We need to demand that the politicians do what we the people want not what deep pocket lobbyist want!
Salazar is a life time cattleman and wants all of the range land for cattel, period he is serving his own needs here and ignoring the majority of his constituents.
Write letters, make phone calls and organize protests, we need to open the eyes of more voters to put pressure on Salazar.
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I think it will be interesting to see where Salazar wants his “sanctuaries.” In the states that are considering re-opening horse slaughter in the Midwest and East–IL, MO, KY?? I also find it curious that all these states, at the same time, have re-opened discussion on legislation on this issue just as Salazar unrolls his plan to ship horses East.
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Could Salazar-gate inquest, be close on the horizon.?
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