Tuesday's Horse News

Red Bucket: Rescuing horses takes hard work and tears

Posted by VGFarrell on Jul 24, 2012 in Horse Rescue

Founder Susan Peirce of Red Bucket Equine Ranch hugs “Baldwin,” who, before being rescued, was going to be fed to mountain lions. (Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/Staff Photographer).

Canan Tasci reporting for the Contra Costa Times writes:

The founder of Red Bucket Equine Ranch and its 400 volunteers are on a mission to save and rehabilitate horses who have been abused, neglected or malnourished.

To date, Red Bucket has rescued 109 horses and found permanent homes for 48.

“We’ve taken horses that are shattered; they don’t even expect to be fed, let alone us being kind to them,” said Peirce, who has rescued horses from breeding scandals, euthanasia or even being fed to mountain lions.

One of the rescued horses had been found by animal-control officers standing in a pool of her own blood after being used to bait pit bulls

We have all heard the horror stories of dogs and cats, even miniature ponies, used to bait and torn apart by pit bulls. However, never a grown horse. All monstrous. But this is what those who are on the front lines of animal rescue deal with.

What is significant about the Red Bucket Equine Ranch story is the attitude of the people who founded, Susan Peirce and her husband David, and Mary Behrens. Based in Chino Hills, California, they run it as a business, an approach which does not exclude what all authentic rescues have, plenty of heart.

The article states:

“We believe in the intimacy of the horse. When a horse comes to us, they have nothing of their own, so when they come here they get a red bucket and they get a name,” Peirce said.

Once the horse gets a bucket with [his or her] name on it, [he or she] also gets a goal and a training plan to prepare [him or her] for adoption.

The bucket she refers to is red of course, hence the name Red Bucket Equine Ranch.

Read full story, view video >>

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BLM destruction of America’s wild horse herds unrelenting amid drought conditions

Posted by VGFarrell on Jul 24, 2012 in Wild Horses

Wild Horses Drinking Water. Google image.

NEVADA

The Associated Press reports:

WINNEMUCCA — Federal land managers have completed a roundup of wild horses around the Jackson Mountains about 60 miles northwest of Winnemucca.

The Bureau of Land Management said 647 “excess” mustangs were removed from the range in Humboldt and Pershing counties during the gather that ended in early July.

Anne Novak of Protect Mustangs said the BLM should impose limits on mining and ranching if it wants to improve rangeland health. She said horses cost the American taxpayer nothing when they live in the wild.

See also “BLM concludes Jackson Mountains wild horse gather“; Report and Video, My News 4 – KRNV, Reno, Nevada; July 6, 2012.

COLORADO

NBC News KKCO Channel 11, Grand Junction, Colorado reports:

The Bureau of Land Management is starting to gather up wild horses near Rangely. It’s hoping to move 50 horses from the West Douglas Herd area out east.

Last month the BLM identified a herd that was running low on water due to the drought. Authorities decided the best solution would be to move the horses to a temporary holding facility. The gather will last 30 days, or until 50 horses have been gathered, whichever comes first.

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The BLM say the mustang roundups are necessary because of drought and the condition of the horses.

However, prior to mustang removals in the Jackson Mountains reports claimed that the cattle had plenty of forage and water in spite of the drought conditions. So why didn’t the horses?

Additionally, images provided by BLM Nevada prior to the Jackson Mountains roundup where they alleged mustangs were in poor condition were unconvincing even to the untrained eye.

Insofar as Rangely is concerned, the roundup of 50 horses was allowed by the Judge in a lawsuit filed by wild horse advocates to protect the West Douglas herd. He fell for the BLM drought excuse it seems.

HorseTalk reports:

Veterinarian Don Moore, who grew up in Rangley and has watched the wild horses in the area for over 50 years, said:

The West Douglas wild horses have endured many droughts in the past. If a drought was going to kill these horses, it would have done so a long time ago.

Concerning mustang fatalities at the hands of BLM contractors used for the roundups, Ginger Kathrens adds:

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.

So the relentless pursuit of American wild horse and burros continues to the tune of millions and millions of taxpayer dollars year after BLM year when the nation’s wild horses and burros can take care of themselves for absolutely nothing. All we need to do is leave them alone.