Press Release from the Cloud Foundation
Federal judge allows only partial removals and cautions BLM
A West Douglas Family Band ~ photo by Toni Moore
DENVER, Colo. (July 4, 2012)—Yesterday in a telephone meeting with the Federal Court, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was given the go-ahead to remove only a portion of the wild horses in the West Douglas Herd on Colorado’s Western Slope. BLM’s Environmental Assessment (EA) stated they would remove horses both inside and outside the herd area. The Honorable Judge Collyer limited BLM’s removals to only 40-50 horses. BLM’s environmental documents contended were “in danger,” from drought.
“We’re relieved that Judge Collyer allowed only a partial removal of a herd the BLM has been trying to eliminate for decades, ” states Ginger Kathrens, Executive Director of the Cloud Foundation. “But we’re disappointed that 40-50 wild horses will lose their freedom and their families while our Nation is celebrating its independence and freedom.”
“The West Douglas wild horses have endured many droughts in the past,” states Don Moore, DVM, who grew up in Rangely, Colorado, near the West Douglas herd and has watched the wild horses in the area for over 50 years. “If a drought was going to kill these horses, it would have done so a long time ago.”
Dr. Moore adds, “The condition of these unique horses and the range is paramount to advocates. We’re concerned for their safety and well-being during capture and transportation, especially during extremely hot weather.”
“BLM closed the Texas Mountain area, so how can advocates monitor the operation and verify that the horses are being treated humanely?” questions Kathrens. “Simply saying all is well and the horses are being treated humanely doesn’t fly anymore after the hundreds of horses, including little foals, have died from what BLM characterizes as ‘non-gather related’ injuries.”
In addition to the Cloud Foundation, Plaintiffs include Colorado Wild Horse & Burro Coalition, Habitat for Horses, Front Range Equine Rescue, and Don and Toni Moore. Litigation to protect the remainder of the West Douglas herd continues, as BLM continues their push to remove the entire herd.
“The West Douglas horses, like all our wild horses, belong to the American public,” reminds Kathrens. “And Americans should speak up for them now, before these symbols of freedom are gone forever, living on only in history books and romantic memoirs of the ‘good ole days’.”
Related articles
- BLM Thinks It Has Won, in Reality They Have Lost (rtfitchauthor.com)
- Wild Horse Advocates Level Another Legal Blow Against BLM’s Bogus Emergency Gather (rtfitchauthor.com)
- BLM Backdoors More BS Against West Douglas Wild Horse Herd (rtfitchauthor.com)
- Wild Horse Groups File Preemptive “Motion for Stay” to Stop Possible Back-Door BLM Roundup (rtfitchauthor.com)
Categories: Horse News, Wild Burros, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
We HAVE been talking but nobody has listened! The BLM needs to be disbanded!
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The Judge should send someone in to investigate and verify BLM’s claim. Evidence SHOULD be provided.
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Dear Louie, As I see it everyone of the BLM Round ups are not only NOT NECESSARY, , but are Illegal, right from the start !!!!! Yes The BLM needs to be fully investigated !!!!
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population growth rate last year was zero. this judgement is unnacceptable.
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The Needless castration of Our Wild Mustang Stallions, is truly the worst Criminal Action they have done for this is only one of the horrible things they inflected on the Mustangs, they should be Jailed and the KEY THROWN away !!!!! Is there any viable Stallions left????? Hitler was Guilty , the BLM is in the same Category as he was………….. My heart breaks for the Stallions and all the Mustangs …………….
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Arlene. I totally agree with you. This isn’t a round up. It’s a genocide. For the courts not to recognize that I feel places them in cahoots with the BLM? Someday people will look back and say,” Hey, whatever happened to those Mustangs”, or even worse “what’s a Mustang?” I see living proof of their heritage in my Rocky Moutain horse, Merlin, whose Entire being and genealogy reflects that heritage.If the BLM isn’t stopped these cross breeds will be all we have left of that magnificent horse and their heritage. It makes me ashamed to be an American.
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We have got to come up with a IRON CLAD way of stopping them, Those MUSTANGS BELONG TO AMERICA >>>>>>>>>>>>>The BLM NEEDS TO STOP AND STOP NOW…………………………………… I am sick of talking about it , I want Action to stop them………………….They use and waste are money people , they maim our MUSTANGS tear their Lives apart, what is wrong that they cant be stopped?????
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Dear Jagadamba Dasi, it also makes me ashamed…………….. I know you have probably heard this saying before but it applies here , A thing of Beauty is a joy forever……. to me it is the horses…………………..
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I am happy, that I saw the words spoken by ” Ginger Kathrens”, Executive Director of the Cloud Foundation, She said; “The West Douglas horses, like all our wild Horses, belong to the American Public, and Americans should speak up for them, before these symbols of freedom are gone for ever” Yes, Yes, Yes, Lets not talk, but do something. I am going to call all the Animal rights organizations, the TV.stations, etc. So many people, still don’t know, what the BLM is doing, killing our Horses. Who ever READ this, please, “DO SOMETHING” NOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!
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This is where, if we had the funds and the place to bring them, an intervention could be arranged. To keep the family bands together and not geld stallions. Why are removals permanent? To whittle the numbers down. Yet this little historic herd should have the chance to be reunited. I so agree here;
“The West Douglas wild horses have endured many droughts in the past,” states Don Moore, DVM, who grew up in Rangely, Colorado, near the West Douglas herd and has watched the wild horses in the area for over 50 years. “If a drought was going to kill these horses, it would have done so a long time ago.”
We need to keep this lawsuit funded, friends. Please keep helping and we can continue to look for alternatives. These horses are fence savvy I believe and could be brought to local ranches by the band to wait for the recovery of their range… if it needs any. We should ask they not be taken to short term holding but remain locally.
Permanent removal is wrong and unjustified. I think they should have been left alone but we all know what BLM intends. What we want needs more power behind it.
RT and Terry, Will a vigorous call and write in blitz help? What can we do? Donations are still needed. Please, if we can do something tell us what it is?
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What the judge should have done is limit the number of stallions they take to.. oh.. 1? i guess depending on how large the west douglas herd is (I’m sure it is admirably large) nevertheless i’m sure there are plenty of stallions in the herd to make up for that number oh say.. in a years time?
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oops
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One issue about emergency removals that never seems to come up: Why does it have to be PERMANENT?
Crisis averted. Horses go Home. What’s the problem?
BLM removed the Saylor’s because (in theory) all the forage had burned. Not all those removed were returned, but some were when the HMA began to recover.
So why MUST this be permanent, when the conditions pertinent to their removal won’t be? Unless the Bureau knows something about the climate Nature doesn’t, this drought will end. These horses can, and should, go home.
That is the illogic behind ’emergency’ removals. Unless saving these animals from dying of thirst isn’t the primary action (no; not naive), there is NO reason why they can’t go home, is there?
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We need money to keep the suit going and to address this Lisa. As well as working towards a bill to protect and keep horses on their ranges or moved to safety but not removed forever. Am I right there is a $40 million dollar adoption and training fund coming??? That spells permanent loss for younger horses but a better chance at forever homes.
If we had the power, and why the heck don’t we have it- to negotiate changes that would stop the overwhelming preferences and policies of BLM!? Can we sue to negotiate changes? Public outrage needs to be fed and educated by a solid group working on PR for the wild ones. This is not impossible if we had the organization and people volunteering. We need a large group of advocates to take this kind of work on. People make change.
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Dear Lisa, From the standpoint that these people are illegally removing Mustangs from the Range for evil and greedy purposes(and we know what purpose ) They want these Mustangs GONE, do you think once they have them in their clutches they would ever return them???? Everything thing they have done from the moment they started they have screwed up…….They are HELL BENT for removel !!!!! You can bet Ken Salazar told them to remove them forever !!!!!!
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Again…..Very few are listening. Instead of costing the horses their lives, I do not see what the problem is with the BLM other than the fact that they just DON’T WANT THE WILD HORSES AND BURROS TO SURVIVE. The weather every where has become a problem, but I’m sure the Wild Horses and Burros know how to survice in these adverse conditions. Too bad the American people could not start some type of petition of NO CONFIDENCE for BLM..At least the judge did saw fit to block the total removal. Again, we need that BLOW OUT PROTEST IN WASHINGTON, DC and bring massive numbers..and come up with viable plans showing the solutions from the Advocates point of view…I pray for the herds night and day that our God will keep them safe from harms way and some how provide us with funding. I know it can be a long shot, but I keep praying for their safety and the safety of all those on the front lines. God Bless You All!
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I just phoned The Nature Conservancy’s National Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Explained the situation to them. They had no knowledge of this… The young lady will contact their field offices in Colorado and Nevada.
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We certainly need new allies. I know that the members of many of our big conservation groups are not all aware of what is going on and some who do do not agree with the management not supporting wild horses.
We need a small ad campaign in a few well chosen periodicals to find funding and new volunteers. I wanted to do this last year but those I worked with were not open to it. It could help us… worth a try.
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Jane that is wonderful. Can you follow up and see if it really happens. Maybe more of us should call there. Number???
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What gets me is that they are leaving so few they will zero out within the next year or two because there are too few of them. Sad! but that is the BLM’s plan all along. Get rid of them!
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blm claimed to me in an email that the humane observers ’embellish’ the inhumane treatment of the mustangs. blm told me the observations are ‘crap’., exact word! i don’t see how the photodocumentation can be ’embellished’ or be ‘crap’
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I wonder if any of the TV stations in one of the towns could be talked into using one of their helicopter’s and a camera to video what is going on. The BLM can’t close airspace around the roundup.
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The phone number for the Nature Conservancy’s Headquarters, Arlington, VA.. is:703-841-5300. For the field offices in Colorado and Nevada, go to the Conservancy’s web site. One operator suggested that we contact The National Wildlife Federation. Check their web site for an 800 #. Another option: Phone Defender’s of Wildlife.. See their web site.
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Thank you.
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I have contacted both Places one I called the other I emailed am patiently awaiting answers !!!!!
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Barbara Griffith has a very good idea.. Helicopter coverage.I live in Ohio. That won’t be of any help. I have also contacted my Democratic Senator, Sherrod Brown.
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Dear Jame, I am in Ohio also !!!!!
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Helicopter.. Why not contact Madeleine Pickens at her Facebook or web site. She has access to her personal helicopters and a film crew. It sure is worth a try!!
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I doubt she would do that. Last time she went to a round up in her helicopter, she caught all sorts of flack. The BLM was all over her and said she was lucky they didn’t file charges. Of course, though, they were exaggerating. But who knows what the BLM would do. They are worse then the Mafia, no offense to the Mafia.But you get my drift.
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there is a problem with this statement that the mustangs would be in danger from drought. I know for a fact a wild mustang is a helluva lot more resourceful then your captivity raised horse. If a wild horse cannot find water in the area it is at it simply moves on. A band of horses is typically nomadic in this sense. always on the move, the lead keeps the band moving so that they are always near a constant source of water and as far off from a predator as possible. Someone. please tell me if I’m wrong in any regard of this post.
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BLM has hemmed them in so that when they go about their normal migrations for forage and water they get turned back by more fences and the cows are there or a new mine is using that water. As soon as they “go off HMA” they are also targeted for removal as the infamous “excess
horses”. This has all been done systematically over the years. Reduce the actual land they are allowed on then declare them excess. It is insidious and it continues with the West Douglas herd which is small; 150 horses.
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CALL IN THE SHERIFF
http://www.thegravitygroup.org/2009/09/power-and-authority-of-county-sheriff.html
The Battle for America will be decided in your county at your front door. If he is willing, a local County Sherriff, with the full backing of the US Constitution and recent US Supreme Court decisions, can interdict and veto the exercise of Federal police power within his county. Right now, it is vital that we restore the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. The greatest threat we face today is not terrorists; it is our own federal government. If America is conquered or ruined, it will be from within, not a foreign enemy. The founders of our nation were afraid of one thing more than any other… government having too much power! Remember, they escaped from the tyranny of an oppressive and controlling government when they established this nation. They fought and died for it, and now we are letting these same freedoms they fought for slip away. The government is out of control. One of the greatest threats to our God-given Constitutional American Liberty is our own federal government. Under Article 1, Section 8, the federal government does have authority under eighteen enumerated assignments, eighteen duties. Anything outside of that, they have no authority to do it. Therefore, about 98 % of everything they do is outside of their Constitution authority, and therefore, illegal.
The President of the United States cannot tell the County Sheriff what to do in his own county. Neither can Congress. Neither can the Supreme Court. The County Sheriff is not the Gestapo of the federal government. Quite the opposite. The County Sheriff is elected by the people – not employed by any branch of the government. He takes an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Therefore, his loyalty is towards protecting freedom and the written rule of law.
Ultimately, the County Sheriff is the check to balance any overreaching authority of the federal government. He decides which laws are Constitutional and will be enforced and which laws violate his citizens’ rights and will be ignored. And for the choices he makes, he will answer directly to the citizens of his county – not the federal government. Obviously, it is imperative that you know who your Sheriff is, what your state’s Constitution says regarding County Sheriffs and what your Sheriff believes in. Remember, in our country, the people are the highest authority and have the ultimate responsibility.
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Lovely Louie! You might think a sheriff would want to know he or she could do this!!
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Again, please EVERYBODY, call your TV. stations, your Radio stations, Community groups, Tennants associations, ANYBODY, you can think of, Tell them what is beeing done with our Horses, about the lies,the BLM is telling them in Court. We have to get an ” OUTCRY” of the American people, we have to be heard in the Court’s. The Judges have to listen to us. We have to hurry, before the BLM send more Horses to be SLAUGHTERED!!!!!!!! We have to do things NOW.!!! Don’t forget,” we are the voice of the voiceless”. We have to act NOW!!!
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The BLM feels at liberty to “doctor” their stats and claim they are the ‘real’ ones and submit those to the Federal authorities in a report which get published. THen they procede with the destruction of band, herds and families of these beautiful animals and call it necessary! We all know it’s Bull! They know it’s Bull! But they also know there is nothing we can do about it, because “they” have “submitted” the “appropriate” paperwork and background that justifies their position. It is despicable! Everyone knows who they really work for! The cattlemen, Mining tycoons and whoever else are paying them the money to move those horses off of that land, that’s who. The American people have seen this before, look at what happened with the Native American’s when the Railroad wanted to come west!
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