story by Larry Hyslop of the Elko Daily Free Press
“They will most likely view these domestic horses…”
Madeleine Pickens at the 2011International Equine Conference ~ photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation
Lots of recent talk has revolved around the Northeastern Nevada wild horse eco-sanctuary proposed by Madeline Pickens’ group, Saving America’s Mustangs (SAM). It would hold BLM captive wild horses on an eco-sanctuary created out of the Spruce Grazing Allotment.
SAM has another plan involving domestic horses on private ground and on two grazing allotments. Their 560 horses were originally gathered off the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe’s Reservation and purchased by Ms. Pickens at the Fallon Auction Barn.
The Warm Creek Ranch is undergoing a grazing permit renewal, during which the BLM is completing a routine Environmental Assessment. In the permit, the species of grazers on the Snow Water Lake and Warm Creek Allotments is being changed from cattle to horses. SAM could later return to cattle but not both at the same time. This is a routine change that other Nevada ranches have received.
The conversion from cattle to horses is being done at a 1 horse equals 1.2 cattle, since a horse processes more forage than a cow. Whereas the old grazing permit for the Snow Water Lake Allotment and Warm Creek Allotment allowed no more than 235 cattle, the new permit allows only 200 horses. These horses would spend about eight months on these grazing allotments, which are public land.
These are domestic horses and therefore, must carry brands on public land. This part of the eco-sanctuary does not involve any federally-managed wild horses. The use of these allotments accounts for less than half of the ranch’s horses and the rest will stay on private ground all year.
Although most of the Warm Creek Ranch is on the East side of U.S. 93, south of Wells, the Warm Creek and part of the Snow Water Lake Allotment is located on the west side of the highway. This will necessitate moving horses across the highway twice a year. The permit renewal also stipulates drilling two new wells and repairing three other wells. If the permit is granted with no problems, horses could be on the allotments next spring.
I asked Madeline Pickens about her plans for ecotourism. During the first year, visitors will arrive mostly as tour bus groups. These groups will be taken out on horse-drawn wagons to a viewing stand where they may be served lunch. They will most likely view these domestic horses, since the eco-sanctuary wild horses will be too dispersed for easy viewing. Madeline also described possible custom safaris where people might enter the eco-sanctuary on horses and camp for three-four days while viewing horses.
When asked how the eco-sanctuary process was advancing, she replied “they (the BLM) can take as long as they want.” She says with the long-term holding costs for captive wild horses and hay prices, the BLM is wasting taxpayers’ money. “The door is open for them”, she and SAM are ready to accommodate the BLM.
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Categories: Horse News, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
This is a fantastic idea, coming at a time when so much news regarding these horses have been discouraging at best. I applaud Madeleine Pickens for making a difference.
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Dierdre, the BLM will be removing wild horses off of 3 HMAs, and putting THEM in short and long term holding, to make room for the geldings at Madeleine’s eco-resort. And where you could once go and walk for free, you will now have to go on a bus/wagon and sit in a designated area and probably would have to pay a pretty penny for those eco-safari’s. This is not a fantastic idea, and there will be 8-12 other eco-sanctuaries – will they also replace HMAs?
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This is pretty convoluted. Wild horses should remain wild whether on public land or Madeleine’s eco-resort as wild horses. However, no new stallions should be gelded or wild horses captured until there is an objective count made of our wild heritage horses. No- eco-sanctuaries should replace our HMA, but our wildlife need protections afforded by law. Otherwise, I’m glad Madeleine saved the Paiute horses from slaughter, and they deserve to be on her land. Wish we could save another 100 horses auctioned today at Fallon.
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I agree with you.
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“SAM could later return to cattle but not both at the same time. This is a routine change that other Nevada ranches have received.” Routine, huh? They sure denied this to us a few years back when we were very interested in this being done. What bull. Why hasn’t Soldiers’ Meadows by the Calico Mtns. been converted? The ranch there wants to convert to horses and Neda DeMayo (spelling?) of Return to Freedom has horses waiting in pens now nearly 3 years to go out there!
And Madeleine says BLM can take their time? We are still trying to stop a runaway train here on removals. We don’t have time!
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What a mess.
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Boy, she sure had all of us fooled didn’t she??
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Am I understanding this correctly?
“The conversion from cattle to horses is being done at a 1 horse equals 1.2 cattle” (from above article)
SIZE OF Wild Horses on HMA: 14-16 hands and 900-1100 pounds
“Cows such as Hereford, Angus (including Red Angus and Black Angus), and Shorthorn mature between 1000 to 2000 lbs (or 454 kg to 907 kg), occasionally higher particularly with Angus and Hereford.” [and bulls much more] – especially with current genetic cloning etc.
Thus for every 1000 pound steer or cow on public land the horses are figured at one-thousand two-hundred pounds?
(not to mention that sheep devour forage like an invasion of locusts and yet they are considered 5 sheep to each horse AUM and weigh between 150 – 200 pounds for ewes – thus 750 to 1000 pounds for FIVE mouths eating away)
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Doesnt seem quite kosher does it? A horse “processes more forage than a cow” REally???
They just make all the rules – no science – no common sense – just “my way or the highway”.
What a crock
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Madeleine Pickens’ idea is ludicrous But with all of her husbands money she can buy anything…. Even a government agency. Why would I want to spend money to go see a bunch of gelded horses that are trapped in a giant pasture? I can see that in my own back yard for free.
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