You can pay $40 for adults and $20 for each kid and go 2 days a week for 2-3 months to take a “tour” to see wild horses, which by the way, and NOT mentioned in this article, are not family bands, but ALL THE SAME SEX.
(Remember when you could go on public lands for FREE, and look at wild horses any old time you wanted to? This new scheme is “ECO-TOURISM” – a way for money to be made (and limiting the use of) something that was once free. Is anyone wondering why the BLM isn’t offering eco-tours of oil and gas lands and mines?
While we’re glad these wild horses didn’t end up on Tom Davis’ truck, the BLM is managing the wild horses to extinction. READ ON…
Source: LARAMIE BOOMERANG
Nearby ranch serves as BLM’s first wild horse ecosanctuary
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| The first wild horses arrived in October 2012 at Deerwood Ranch. The horses, according to the BLM, came from the Rock Springs Corrals and Canon City Training Facility and were considered unadoptable. Courtesy photo |
Breathtaking awe sometimes comes over Jana Wilson when she watches the animals on her property.
“It’s just heartwarming to me to see them out roaming free,” said Jana, who owns Deerwood Ranch with her husband, Rich. “They’re an icon of the West.”
Deerwood Ranch, located about 30 miles west of Laramie, in Centennial Valley, is a family-owned operation that’s been in the cattle ranching business for about 30 years.
However, the ranch took on a new purpose late last year — becoming the Bureau of Land Management’s first wild horse ecosanctuary.
Today, the 4,300-acre ranch is home to 228 wild horses gathered from the state’s public rangelands.
The Wilsons and the BLM expect that number to expand to 250-300 horses in the future.
Public tours of the ranch — available Fridays and Saturdays — are slated to begin June 28 and run through Aug. 31.
Jana said she’s given some informal tours of the ranch to interested people.
The response, she said, has been “overwhelming.”
People from Switzerland recently visited for a look at the horses, Jana said. They came away impressed, she added.
“They were just amazed at how great they look and how nature takes care of them,” Jana said. “This is something neat for people to see.”
The tours beginning later this month can accommodate 2-6 people at a time and will take place from 2:30-5 p.m.
The cost is $40 for adults, $20 for children 7-17 years old, and children 6 and younger are admitted for free.
Jana said proceeds go back to the BLM to provide for the horses.
The Wilsons, who are University of Wyoming graduates, began the process of housing the horses in 2010.
BLM specialists conducted a site visit and “liked what they saw and the ball was then rolling to get the ranch eligible,” according to the agency.
The Wilsons made numerous adjustments to the ranch to accommodate the horses, including replacing fencing, replacing cattle guards with solar-powered gates and making minor changes to loading chutes, according to the BLM.
The BLM gave final approval to the ranch in October 2012 and the first horses arrived the same month from the Rock Springs Corrals and the Canon City Training Facility.
“For a variety of reasons, these horses were considered unadoptable and ended up at Deerwood Ranch,” according to the BLM.
Jana said visitors will enjoy seeing the horses in their new environment.
“They’re beautiful,” she said. “They’re shiny, and they’re healthy.”
For more information on Deerwood Ranch or the tours, call 399-9956 or visit www.deerwoodranchwildhorseecosanctuary.com.
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- 2 Million Bucks: BLM is Mismanaging Wild Horses and Burros – ‘DOINK’ (rtfitchauthor.com)
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Categories: Horse News, Wild Burros, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
YIKES! Quoted from the article above with the ranch owner talking about a set of Swiss Tourists viewing the horses:
“They were just amazed at how great they look and how nature takes care of them,” Jana said. “This is something neat for people to see.”
SHE SAID IT!!
IF NATURE TAKES SUCH GOOD CARE OF THEM, WHY DOESN’T THE BLM JUST LET NATURE TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM !!!??? JUST LET NATURE DO WHAT IT DOES, OR HELP IT A LITTLE? DUH, YOU KNOW, LIKE MAINTAIN PREDATORS (NATURE), VALUE HERD STABILIZATION (NON-INTERVENTION EXCEPT FOR SOME FERTILITY CONTROL). “NATURAL” STUFF LIKE THAT?
YIKES!
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exactly !!!!!!
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Exactly
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I’m all for the wild horses being able to take care of themselves in family bands in the wild. However, even though this is not natural since they are all one sex, I would prefer to see them like this roaming a beautiful ranch rather than standing aimlessly in the BLM pens or going to slaughter. Sometimes we have to see something good in a thing that we did not choose.
I do not want to see all wild horses housed this way, or housed at all. Let them run free.
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As I read this article, the Joni Mitchell song “The Day Paradise Put Up A Parking Lot” kept going through my head, especially the line “round up all the trees (horses) and charge the people $1 just to see them.”
True, this is much better than slaughter. It is more like a zoo or wildlife habitat. I have mixed feelings about those, too.
The part about using the money to feed them made me wonder if non-profit equine and farm animal sanctuaries have thought about raising money this way too. The sanctuary where I volunteer has forever rescues who are not ridden and live on nearly 1,000 acres in mixed bands of mares and geldings with almost the freedom of wild horses, food, and vet care. They are sponsored rather than adopted. A lot of urban people do not see horses much. I bet they, too, would pay a donation to see them up close – from the other side of the fence – and perhaps give them a carrot (unlike wild horses, most of these are tame, but even the former wild ones from tribal round-ups have learned to accept treats).
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The line is “they paved paradise and put up a parking lot” But it still fits…..
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You are right. It is really called “Big Yellow Taxi” and the phrase I was thinking about was “They took all the trees (horses) Put ’em a tree (horse) museum And they charged all the people and arm and a leg just to see ’em”
Scary that this is a song from the 1970s and the BLM is still going in this direction – allowing fracking and cattle grazing on our public lands, and trying to eliminate our wild horses as nuisances to their “enterprises.”
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This is very unnatural to just have the same sex in herds. The BLM does it again. But at least the horses are running free and not on some slaughter truck heading to Mexico or Canada. When will the BLM ever get it right for the wild horses. My suggestion to the BLM is leave the wild horses alone with their natural family bands and you would not have all these problems that you have created.
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Yes this is better than anything,, but seeing them in this state of same sex herds is not what we
want either. Making money off them is Wrong!
The BLM employee’s need to be fired!
Hire a new people for the BLM who are on the same page to benefit the Wild Horses and the American tax payers, or start a whole new organization dedicated to the Wild Mustangs themselves.
Joan Gulifoyle needs to go NOW!!….Liar, Deceitful “Wolf” in Sheep’s clothing……….
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I’d sure like to know what the variety of reasons they couldn’t be adopted is…or are. Or is it just easier to ship 228 horses off and pay another private citizen to watch them running about in their artificial world.
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Some things to consider. The McCullough Peak horses roam FREE between Lovell and Yellowstone National Park. You need a 4 wheel drive. I’m not sure that there is any permitted tours but you can check. Also the Pryor’s are not that far from Lovell and the Pryor Center does have a permit this year to do tours.
You may be asking what’s the difference? Fair question. For someone like me who doesn’t have 4 wheel drive and hasn’t done that much off road driving a “tour” may be your best bet. If you go on one without a permit and something happens you’re on own on. If something happens BLM can and will take action on the permit. And yes, I’ve seen it happen.
As for this ranch some things to keep in mind. Laramie is just east of where BLM intends on that massive round up. I was near there a couple of years ago outside of Rawlins. It just doesn’t seem fair to round up all these horses when there is plenty of land for all. The burden to the taxpayer is overwhelming. And I am totally against slaughter. I know one person who tried to tell me “Don’t you think any horse age 10 or over would willingly give his life to feed the hungry?” No.
This ranch charges 150 dollars a night to stay in their guest cabin. If you choose to camp–Rawlins has a reasonable KOA for half that price. It’s about 2 hours away but with tours starting mid-afternoon there is plenty of time to commute back and forth. You’re in pretty high desert so bring lots of sunscreen. You’ll have to ice chest it or eat out.
I guess most important is while these horses are safe from slaughter they are all geldings. This really means you will see a group of horses roaming together, maybe a spat or two but you won’t see family bands and that interaction that Ginger speaks so eloquently about.
40 dollars is a lot of money for a 2 1/2 hr tour. You can pay 100 dollars and go ALL day to the Pryors. I mean meet at the Center and go and go and go.
This money is going back to BLM? Exactly for what? Sure seems like BLM is raking in the dough. They get money for adoptions and who knows what they do with those funds. Now they’re getting funds from this sanctuary. Those funds should be helping pay for maintenance on the vehicles, gas and any upkeep to the ranch that the horses tear down. (Like repairing fence or fixing potholes stuff like that). It also requires a two person minimum. This isn’t fair to a one person family. I can’t control what others do or don’t. If I go I shouldn’t have to be dependent on dragging someone with me who may not give a flip about the horses. And yes, I do know folks who don’t care.
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You can go and see the McCullough Peaks Heard for free and don’t necessarily need a 4-wheel drive. They can be viewed, if lucky, very close to the street. If you drive a little inlands there’s another group. Just drive slow (which you should do anyway). I have been there and it was amazing.
As for the payment back to BLM. Yeah right! Who believes that. I doubt the ranch owners do all that just out of their kindness. Do they really want us to believe that they maintain the ranch land for free, make sure they have food and water, etc.? Don’t think so. There’s always money involved.
However, I guess it’s the lesser evil being on that ranch; much better than, as somebody else said, standing in some dirty, muddy and crowded BLM holding pen.
I sure hope there will soon be a solution to all this – they should run free and all the tax money spent on having them rounded up, and put in holding pens for the rest of their lives, can go to make sure they can run free…
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Hmmm..$40 poorer person and $20 for kids? Oh the BLM is so full of chow manure and of course double subsidies for a cattle rancher..oh wow. And once they are done with their freak show, what will happen to the horses? Back to the KKK pens, or will they be slipped out the back door to a slaughter house across the border? Sorry, it doesn’t smell right to me..
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It is costing the American taxpayer, 90, million a year now and growing for this program and they have no shame asking us to pay another 40 to go see them??? Three Stooges Land Management-didn’t know there were any horses left at Canon City the BLM had not sold to T. Davis for slaughter..Lucky them, all the beautiful Spanish adobe towns SA horses went directly to slaughter
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Ironic isn’t it? The europeans love that the American wild horses carry the blood of the ancient Spanish horses, that’s why they want the grullas and greys. Instead, these fairy lands think the tourists will flock to see the BLM quarterhorse breeding program. Once the tourists know the horses they are llooking at are not the ancient offspring, they will see these “sanctuaries” for the mockery they are.
The real sanctuaries have been operating for years on shoestring budgets saving bloodlines. Those are the ones who keep the horses alive without a per head bounty and if the public knew the true value and beauty of the horses the path would be well beaten.
I remember Sandra’s purchase of Grey Beard and the other SA horses. Remember that BLM would be gelding hundreds of stallions at one time because they had a big buyer ready to take them. BLM thought so much of the beautiful Adobe Town/Salt Wells horses that they first gelded them en masse and then shipped them straight to Davis. I wouldnt be surprised if they didn’t just ship them direct to the borders using private sector transporters and his bill of lading.
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Ecosanctuary – I don’t know how the BLM defines the word but obviously not the same way I do.
Even in zoos they have reproducing sexes – this is insane
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You said it, Paula.
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What the BLM has done to our Mustangs is a crying shame !!!!! These people do not deserve our taxes , I and you pay them to preserve and protect, i am mighty sick of them, wasting money on lies !!!~!! and worst of all all our Mustangs are suffering because twisted lies, they use our Mustangs and abuse them and we can not do a darn thing to stop them !!!! this is not America as i believe it should be !!!!! The Mustangs are needed and wanted , get out of town BLM !!!!!! you are not needed !!!!!!
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I’m right there with you, Arlene! It’s really pathetic how they’re abusing our wild horses and the American people at the same time! What a disgrace to charge people to see them, when they should be left in the wild, as family bands, and viewed in the wild, where they belong. Guess they decided to take a page out of Madeline Picken’s book?! Greed and corruption surrounds us!
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To BLM Where can I go to see real wild horses–really free—not gelded–maybe a couple of foals? You have castrated the west. You have negated freedom. I will not pay for a tour. That was not the 1971 deal. You just don’t get it. StepinSally, StepupSally Stop the Insanity. I’m not falling for the BLM “softer side”– Oh Look Ma semi-wild fenced- in geldings….how sweet.
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Ann you can or could go to McCoullough Peaks. It’s about halfway between the Pryor’s and Yellowstone. You need a 4 wheel drive and my understanding is its best to take at least two SUV’s. You can also drive the Sand Wash Basin Loop. I’m gathering info now on how the loop looks for a little car. No you can’t go off road but the county road surrounding the SWB is suppose to be county maintained.
And no you don’t have to take the Pryor tour. Personally I recommend it because Burnt Timber is not a road for beginner’s or anyone not accustomed to SERIOUS offroad driving. Sykes-which Ginger has talked about off and on through her documentaries is sssooooo bad very few people will even consider driving it and they have experience driving offroad mountainous terrain.
This is only a suggestion. You might consider paying for a one day tour with the Pryor center to see Burnt Timber and understand what you are in getting in for. After that you’ll know if you can manage this or not.
Other advocates have been known to take folks. I don’t what they charge or anything about their activities. Ask some of regulars who blog about their adventures.
You can also ask Debbie Coffey, as I think she’s been out in NV about conditions. NV is a toughy for me. Between horse tripping and ranchers hatred for the horses I have definitely have a hard time spending money there.
I think it’s the Jackson Mtn. Herd that’s about to have 30 horses returned to freedom. Not sure exactly the location or if it’s manageable by my little car.
My experience the first time I saw Cloud in real life–I remember my face dropping down into my hands. I had been dreaming of that moment for a year. And there he was right in front of me! Ginger brought Cloud to our living room’s, and Cloud stole my heart. His daughter who was taken last year in bait trapping is in a good forever home. There was a little one born in captivity and they said whoever took her and mom–they couldn’t live more than two hours away. They were taken by in locally.
Now Cloud and Feldspar have little Encore who looks just like her daddy! Last time I saw Feldspar she was with Flint. Cloud stole her just a couple weeks after I was there.
Weird as it may sound call the local BLM office where you want to go. They’ll know if there any permit tours if you choose that route. They’ll also know current roads conditions–whether crews have been through to groom county roads or not. They also sell topographical maps which may or may not be of help to you.
I’m sorry I can’t be of more help because I don’t know where you live or where you might want to travel too. There is also the Salt River horses that Simone Netherlands knows lots about. She’s not available right now in that there was a fire right near her home in the past couple of days. They are a very interesting group of horses WHO DON’T HAVE FEDERAL PROTECTION.
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Looking at the big picture… this is not really about the horses… this about the privatization of public assets. The powers that be which wish to shrink the government and hollow it out to the point where it is run by corporations as “contractors” intend to deliver all public assets into the hands of profiteers without regard for culture, historical significance or quality of life, and use our tax dollars for this giveaway.
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I agree Margo. Our public lands, open spaces, the animals who live there, the water and resources – even the sunsets and sunrises are a cash cow to selfish, wicked minded financial predators.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
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Ditto!
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I have mixed emotions about this situation. First since nature takes such good care of them… then why did we round them up in the first place? And why aren’t they still there? And I thought they had been rounded up because they were not fairing well “Out on the Range” When will they be returned to their natural place? And why is some prosperous cattle ranch… choosing to change their livestock from cattle to Mustangs?
It wouldn’t have to do with the daily cost and fees being paid to the Cattle Ranch @ $5.00 per head! a day! to let nature take care of them… all the whilst on private land… Because the object is to let them live a full free natural and wondrous life, (that they already had out on OUR public lands for FREEE ).. bought and paid for by the American ppl to the tune of $5.00 a head to the land owner.. And a double indemnity would be that, because NOW American “Owned” horses (remember bought and paid for)…. cannot be accessed by the rightful owners’ US the American ppl to make sure they are in good health.. and or receiving proper medical attention as needed.. What a deal, and all from our own American govt.
Got to love them!
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