Normally I send my updates over to GrassRoots horse and put up a “snippet” here or discuss something specific here… today I’m posting the report because I am looking for discussion.
The mare that fought so hard to stay with her stallion has caught our eye. I noticed he was still at holding and was told yesterday he would be released… my response “What release” and let me know where and when.. and then a plea to let us bring the mare back to go with him as a gesture that there is an “open to change” hope…
Update:
The dialogue to release the mare at PVC with the black stud is now moot. The stud was released today without any pre-notification to the public that a release was going to occur.
45 horses today before operations were called for wind. The same location is to be used tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s forecast is again for high wind, this time with rain and snow. The local news is calling the storm “significant” and putting out travel warnings… yet the BLM plans to run our horses for the next two days.
Another storm system is expected for the weekend.
Perhaps spending the entire first half of this roundup clearing specific allotments in the Antelope HMA was not a wise decision and staff now find themselves pressed to hit “quota” regardless of the safety to horses?
However “safety” to horses now requires that public is kept 1.5 miles away after the photographs circulating have created so many questions about this roundup. (Ability to document anything meaningful is next to impossible).
Please remember this location is remote and flat. Significant weather can create hazardous travel conditions literally in a flash. Trailers heavily loaded with wild horses could get stuck or flip. If horses get stuck would this contractor simply leave them overnight?
They plan to ship am to PVC but with roundup operations still planned the holding corrals will not be emptied. It appears the concept that temporary holding may not be a safe place for horses if winds hit the forecasted speeds is foreign to the agency tasked by Congress to manage these animals humanely.
Can you see condition of any horses from here?
“Safety” for horses and contractor keeps me 1.5 miles away from the trap… yet horses will be driven in an area where the slightest precipitation can create hazardous driving in a heartbeat.
“Safety?” can anyone give me the dictionary that BLM is using for terminolgy because it sure as h*ll aint’ Miriam-Webster!
