Source: The Cloud Foundation
Team effort secures a future for slaughter bound mustangs
RENO, Nev. (August 23, 2013) – On Wednesday US District Court Judge, Miranda Du, lifted a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) which allowed for the sale of 149 unbranded wild horses captured by the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe in northern Nevada. Realizing that these unbranded wild horses were likely bound for slaughter in Canada and Mexico, Ginger Kathrens of The Cloud Foundation (TCF) reached out to Victoria McCullough of the Triumph Project in Wellington, Florida. McCullough in turn asked Florida State Senator Joseph Abruzzo to begin negotiating with the tribe and an offer was accepted today.
Behind the scenes, this effort was a collaboration of not only The Cloud Foundation but other organizations committed to horse protection. These include Suzanne Roy and Deniz Bolbol of American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign (AWHPC), Ellie Phipps Price a northern California businesswoman, Madeleine Pickens of Saving America’s Mustang, Jim Hart of Liberty for Horses, Sally Summers of Horse Power, and Neda DeMayo of Return to Freedom who agreed to provide homes for the 149 animals, which includes 16 mares with foals.
“What an incredible, collaborative effort by all involved.” said Ginger Kathrens. “Acting as a team, and with Victoria’s tremendous support, we are able ensure a future for mustangs that were a heartbeat away from a long journey to slaughter.”
Through the collaborative efforts of the wild horse advocacy groups, and private parties, the purchase of all 149 wild horses has been negotiated. The horses will be going to their permanent and temporary homes in California and Nevada today and tomorrow.
This purchase would not have been necessary if the US Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) weren’t negligent in their duties to protect wild horses and burros as charged by the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act. The Wild Horse & Burro Act imposes criminal liability for “willfully” removing wild horses from public lands converting wild horses to private use, maliciously causing the harassment of a wild horse or selling a wild horse on private land. This entire roundup should have been stopped by the BLM and USFS until they determined that no wild horses would be included. Instead, the very agencies charged with protecting our wild horses turned their backs.
Initially the USFS planned to bankroll the helicopter roundup of horses from USFS, BLM and reservation land and transport of horses to a slaughter auction, but the USFS issued a “stand down” when TCF, AWHPC, Return to Freedom, and Western Watersheds threatened to file suit for noncompliance with environmental regulations and violation of first amendment rights. Unfortunately the tribe proceeded with the roundup and removal with the intention of selling all the horses at the Fallon Auction house, known for selling to kill buyers.
Both the USFS and tribal members claimed that all the horses were domestic and owned by the tribe, but after examining each of the 467 horses, 149 were discovered to be unbranded. Under the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act, “wild free-roaming horses and burros” means all unbranded and unclaimed horses and burros on public lands of the United States. The horses were rounded up in an area only a few miles from the Little Owyhee Herd Management Area, and many were driven onto the reservation from federal land with BLM and Forest Service approval.
“The entire deal was fraught with subterfuge. Had it not been for the secret leaking out, all of the horses rounded up would have been transported to a slaughter auction at taxpayer expense,” states Kathrens. “This is a blatant misuse of American taxpayer dollars. With 80% of Americans opposed to slaughter, why should taxpayer dollars be used to fulfill this action?”
Over 300 branded horses were sold at auction on Saturday. Approximately 150 were purchased by local residents and rescue groups, the remainder were purchased by kill buyers
Related Articles
- Fate of 149 unbranded mustangs rests with court (horsetalk.co.nz)
- Judge halts sale of unbranded horses at auction (horsetalk.co.nz)
- Feds Stand by As Unbranded, Federally-protected Wild Horses Are Captured and Sent to Slaughter Auction (rtfitchauthor.com)
- Wild Horse Advocate Says BLM Round-up Facility is Failing Horses (rtfitchauthor.com)
Categories: Equine Rescue, Horse News, Horse Slaughter, Wild Burros, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Thanks for posting RT. It has been a crazy two weeks but as always Ginger fought on tirelessly until she knew these horses would be safe. A huge thanks to her and to Victoria McCullough.
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Thanks to all of you for all that you do to save our horses. There are many of us receiving emails to make us aware of what is going on, sometimes good, sometimes bad. I try spreading the word so that more people will be aware too. We are praying to God that our goal is reached and that our horses will finally be protected. God bless all of you from all of us on the sidelines.
Carrolle Jaques
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I sent a donation. That’s fine…BUT—- I pay my taxes and “trust” (that’s a joke) that the federal agencies tasked with caring for the wild horses on their guaranteed ranges, will “do the right thing”. So now I pay for land, helicopters,wranglers,transport—and rescue. I wish I could buy the west………so disappointed in our federal govt. No spines. Not a backbone anywhere. Thank you rescuers. You are the heroes.
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Hero’s indeed, the calibrations of everyone involved is UNBELIEVABLE, it gives my stomach that tinkled feeling of just invigoration, honestly makes me SO PROUD of all who helped so, so much for ALL our horses, my goodness it is just amazing…. I am so thankful and grateful TO ALL……… My heart is smiling, we DO have an AWFUL LOT of GOOD, GOOD people in this world WHO DO CARE and make a difference….. Thank You much love to you all and the sweet horses 🙂
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There is a special place in heaven for all of you angels who have worked so hard to save beautiful horses from horrible circumstances. Bless you.
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YAY!!!!!
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Ginger and all……you never cease to amaze me with your perseverance and steadfast loyalty to the wild ones….my respect and gratitude to all involved…….
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I am so happy that these horses are going to be saved from the horrible torture of the slaughter plant. But there is something that is angering me so badly. Why do these dirty deals of the BLM get no mention on the cable news stations? Why arent they doing any stories or documentaries on the plight of our wild horses? its as if there is no one that cares other than the advocacy groups that work so hard to protect our horses. Perhaps if there were more coverage of our wild horses in the hands of the cruel BLM and its supporters in government, people would really know whats going on and maybe it wouldnt be so easy for them to do their backroom dirty deals against the horses! This whole story should be highly covered on the cable news stations so that people would become aware of just how dirty and uncaring this administration is! If i hadnt happened on this blog site by accident, i would never have known about all the abuse and ill treatment of the wild horses. They ought to be so ashamed of themselve for trying to do this to innocent animals just so they can make a quick buck!
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Tasks to all the horse advocates including Victoria McCullough and Madeline Pickens fit all they’ve done. Laura who Leroy saying to check with Deniz to try to keep things coordinated. And especially to all the unnamed supporters who Gabe their time and money to save these horses….thank you.
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I wonder if the wild horses going to Pickens will be gelded and the mares given birth control. She also needs to answer about where some of her “retired” thoroughbreds wound up. I know of at least two that seem to have disappeared upon the end of their racing careers.
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lets not look a gift horse in the mouth. try to be thankful for what she has done, it is far better than where they were going to end up.
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I am so happy for these Horses , and am so Proud that all these wonderful people collaborated so skillfully in the Honor of these and all horses………… Thank YOU !!!!! You guys all our MY HEROS, Again Thank You !!!!! Bravo !!!!
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Reblogged this on Donkey Whisperer Farm Blog.
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I am so happy and relieved these horses are saved. My heart aches for the branded horses who will have horrifying death!
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