Saving America's wild horses

Carol Walker on CNN tonight!

Straight from the Horse's Heart

Carol Walker, Director of Field Documentation for Wild Horse Freedom Federation, whose photographs and reports from Wyoming and the BLM’s Rock Springs holding facility have documented the Salt Wells wild horses, will be on

CNN tonight (7 p.m. Eastern Time) with Jane Velez-Mitchell.

Thank you to both Jane and Carol for getting out the word on the chilling story of the plight of the wild horses.

Carol’s photographs and reports can be seen on her website, Wild Hoofbeats, here and here.

Carol Walker and her mustang companion, Mica.

     photograph by Carol Walker

Eyewitness Report: Wild Horses – December is the Cruelest Month for Salt Wells Creek Part 1

Straight from the Horse's Heart

Report from Carol Walker, Director of Field Documentation for Wild Horse Freedom Federation as published on her blog Wild Hoofbeats
Forward by R.T. Fitch ~ co-founder/president of Wild Horse Freedom Federation (WHFF)

“Two weeks ago, noted photographer Carol Walker traveled to Wyoming on behalf of WHFF to witness for the wild horses as they were stampeded to capture by the BLM’s helicopter contractor.  Unfortunately the stampede concluded over the Thanksgiving weekend when the public was banned from observing but Carol did have the opportunity to view the conditions at short term holding and the release of PZPed mares.  Carol’s photos, shown in slideshow format exclusively, here, at SFTHH and later on her Facebook page, created quite a stir within the advocacy and around the world.  So much so that Carol will be interviewed sometime next week on CNN so stay tuned for details.

Here at WHFF and SFTHH we shared Carol’s daily field reports and photos but now that she has made it home to a warm abode she has published her thoughts and descriptions of the photos that she snapped on her personal website, Wild Hoofbeats.com.  We share only the opening paragraphs, here, in hopes that you will jump over to her site to view the photos, read her detailed report and comment with your thoughts.

Again, we want to thank Carol for making the trip, suffering the sub-temps and sharing her observation with this readership as the days ticked by…thanks Carol and to the Cloud Foundation advocates who were present earlier in the week at the roundup!  Keep the faith my friends.” ~ R.T.

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photography by Carol Walker, soundtrack from Opus Moon’s Wild Horse Anthology “Let Them Be Wild And Free” available on iTunes, produced by R.T. Fitch

Carol: A week before Thanksgiving I received a press release from the BLM Rock Springs office that stated that the Adobe Town /Salt Wells Creek Roundup was going to begin tomorrow.  I had been calling and emailing the Rock Springs office of the BLM every two weeks since the Decision Record was issued for this roundup in August, asking when they were planning to start. I was given no warning. I was certain that this was occurring at all this year was due to pressure from the Rock Springs Grazing Association who has been demanding that all wild horses be removed from private lands on the checkerboard area of the Salt Wells Creek Herd Area and the Adobe Town Herd Area.

I was told that public observation opportunities could be limited due to private land on the checkerboard, and to get there soon if I was to observe.  I could not get there at the beginning, but I was there for the end.

They removed 668 wild horses from Salt Wells Creek, a huge herd area with over 1 million acres.  Only 39 stallions and 40 mares were returned to the area, and 3 horses died.

http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Wild_Horses/13atsw-gather.html

The horses were not rounded up on Thanksgiving, but they were the Saturday after, with no public observation allowed.  The contractor, the Cattoors, were trying to finish this up before an arctic cold front entered Wyoming…(CONTINUED)

Please click (HERE) to read the rest of story and view more photographs

http://www.wildhoofbeats.com/blog/wild-horses-december-is-the-cruellest-month-for-salt-wells-creek-part-1

Click (HERE) to read Carol’s live report on Short Term Holding

Click (HERE) to read Carol’s live report on the release of the mares

A Christmas Legend

Video: National Day of the Horse Message from Equine Advocates

Straight from the Horse's Heart

From Equine Advocates and endorsed by Wild Horse Freedom Federation

We’re about to send our E-Blast on this, but I wanted all of you to see our new video with a special message about Wild Horses & Burros…and Horse Slaughter. With the help of Ginger Kathrens and Terry Fitch, whose amazing images helped me tell the story of Hayden, a Wild American Mustang captured on the Pryor Mountains during a brutal round-up in 2009 when he was only two years old. Hayden arrived here on October 1, 2013. He will be the pasture mate of Nelson, the other Wild Mustang who lives here at the sanctuary (Nelson’s buddy had passed away and we had been searching for a buddy for him for quite some time.)

I literally was able to trace Hayden’s entire life from the day he was born until now and that is thanks to Ginger and Terry, who both witnessed his capture firsthand and documented it…And then Ginger had his baby pictures when he was a foal. It is short message, but I am hopeful it will have an impact in inspiring more people to become more involved in Wild Horse & Burro issues heading into the New Year.

Enjoy!…And please feel free to forward.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqOU4md39Ak (Preview) 

xoxo
Susan

Click (HERE) to visit the National Day of the Horse on Facebook

Tonight! Wild Horse Wednesday!

Ginger Kathrens on the radio tonight!

Straight from the Horse's Heart

We’ve renamed our radio show!  A huge thank you goes to Emmy Award winning graphic designer Jeff Price of Jeffrey Price Design for donating his time and talents in designing our new radio show logo!   – Debbie Coffey

7:00 pm PST … 8:00 pm MST … 9:00 pm CST … 10:00 pm EST

7:00 pm PST … 8:00 pm MST … 9:00 pm CST … 10:00 pm EST

Listen Live Here!

Call in # 917-388-4520

You can call in to the live show with questions!

The shows will be archived, so you can listen anytime.

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Tonight’s guest will be GINGER KATHRENS, the Founder and Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation, who has been described as “the Jane Goodall of wild horses.”  Ginger Kathrens is an Emmy Award-winning producer, cinematographer, writer and editor as well as an award-winning author.  Her documentary filmmaking trips have taken her to Africa, Asia, Europe, Central and South America and all over the U.S.

Kathrens filmed and produced the acclaimed Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies and Cloud’s Legacy: The Wild Stallion Returns for WNET’s Nature series on PBS, and Cloud: Challenge of The Stallions.  Five years in the making, it is Kathrens’ latest chapter in the life of the charismatic wild stallion she has documented since his birth in May of 1995.  Her documentation of Cloud represents the only continuing chronicle of a wild animal from birth in our hemisphere.

Kathrens was the co-producer and cinematographer of the two-hour Discovery Channel special, Spirits of the Rainforest, which won two Emmy Awards including one for Best Documentary.  Additional projects for Discovery included The Ultimate Guide: Horses and The Ultimate Guide: Dogs.  Kathrens also wrote, edited, and produced over two dozen segments of the Wild America series for PBS, and has filmed for National Geographic, Animal Planet and the BBC.

This radio show is co-hosted by Debbie Coffey, Director of Wild Horse Affairs at Wild Horse Freedom Federation and Marti Oakley, PPJ Gazette.  This series of radio shows will feature upcoming guests including Elizabeth Lovegrove of Wild Horses Kimberly in Australia, who will talk about the recent aerial culling of 7,000 brumbies (Australia’s “feral”/wild horses).

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To contact us: ppj1@hush.com, or call 320-281-0585

LISTEN TO ARCHIVED RADIO SHOWS:

11/6/13 – John Holland, President of Equine Welfare Alliance discussing the latest in horse slaughter issues. Click HERE.

11/13/13 – Marjorie Farabee, Director of Wild Burro Affairs for Wild Horse Freedom Federation and founder of Wild Burro Protection League (under Todd Mission Rescue) and Carl Mrozak, videographer (Eagle Eye Media), with work appearing on CBS, PBS, the Discovery Channel, the Weather Channel and other networks.  This show focused on wild burros.  Click HERE.

11/20/13 – Simone Netherlands, Natural Horsemanship Trainer, founder of respect 4 horsesOrganization, and director & producer of the documentary “America’s Wild Horses.”  To see the trailer for the documentary, click HERE.  To listen to this radio show, click HERE.

11/27/13 – R.T. Fitch, President of Wild Horse Freedom Federation and author of the much acclaimed book “Straight from the Horse’s Heart: A Spiritual Ride through Love, Loss and Hope.” R.T. also runs the blog “Straight from the Horse’s Heart,” which posts current news and information and gives a comprehensive education to the public on issues in connection with wild horses & burros and public lands issues.  Also, Ginger Kathrens, founder and Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation, joined in on the show to talk about the Salt Wells & Adobe Town roundups. Click HERE.

12/4/13 – Craig Downer, wildlife ecologist and a member of the Board of Directors of the Cloud Foundation.  Craig is the author of the  book “The Wild Horse Conspiracy” and has a websitehttp://thewildhorseconspiracy.org/.  Also, Robert Bauer, Wildlife Biologist. Craig and Bob debunk the Bureau of Land Management’s “junk” science about wild horses and burros. Click HERE.

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To contact us: ppj1@hush.com

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/marti-oakley/2013/12/12/ginger-kathryns-on-wild-horse-wednesday

Cowtown Rodeo Horses Sent to Slaughter

December 13th: National Day of the Horse

Straight from the Horse's Heart

Information Supplied by Equine Welfare Alliance; jointly supported by Wild Horse Freedom Federation

Join the event on Facebook and invite your friends and family!

This is the 3rd Annual Event on Facebook. It’s a day to share your thoughts, photos and personal stories of how horses contribute to us, to our society and the special bond we have with horses. It’s a day to contact your legislators to urge passage of the SAFE Act, PAST Act and to enforce the 1971 Wild Horse and Burros Act.

Let’s unite and make this the largest event ever.

Join the event on Facebook and invite your friends and family!

https://www.facebook.com/events/699403540069891/

The first National day of the Horse was recognized in congress in 2004. This event was created to remind congress and others what this day and the horse represents. Congress needs to finally ban horse slaughter and pass the SAFE Act and stop the roundups of wild horses.

Please feel free to share pictures of your horses and stories about what the horse means to you.

Encouraging citizens to be mindful of the contribution of horses to the economy, history, and character of the United States and expressing the sense of Congress that a National Day of the Horse should be established.

Whereas the horse is a living link to the history of the United States;

Whereas, without horses, the economy, history, and character of the United States would be profoundly different;

Whereas horses continue to permeate the society of the United States, as witnessed on movie screens, on open land, and in our own backyards;

Whereas horses are a vital part of the collective experience of the United States and deserve protection and compassion;

Whereas, because of increasing pressure from modern society, wild and domestic horses rely on humans for adequate food, water, and shelter; and

Whereas the Congressional Horse Caucus estimates that the horse industry contributes well over $100,000,000,000 each year to the economy of the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress–

(1) encourages all citizens to be mindful of the contribution of horses to the economy, history, and character of the United States;

(2) expresses its sense that a National Day of the Horse should be established in recognition of the importance of horses to the Nation’s security, economy, recreation, and heritage; and

(3) urges the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States and interested organizations to observe National Day of the Horse with appropriate programs and activities.

More News from R.T. Fitch, Straight from the Horse's Heart

I-Team: BP Connected to Wild Horse Roundups?

Part II of George Knapp’s Investigative report into what the BLM is REALLY doing!

Click Image to Visit Channel 8 and view Video

LAS VEGAS — The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has put a laser focus on BP and their operations all over the planet. Turns out, the oil giant has left a trail of toxic waste in Nevada. But is there also a BP link to wild horse roundups?

Federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, the Minerals Management Service, and Fish and Wildlife have been accused of looking the other way as BP skirted environmental rules and safety standards in the gulf and elsewhere.

For a long time, critics of the Department of the Interior have alleged that oil and gas companies, and other industries, are allowed to run roughshod over public lands, plundering what should be public resources. So, would it be a surprise if it happened here?

The BLM’s Calico Hills roundup last winter proved to be the bloodiest mustang operation in memory. The government captured 1,800 wild horses from half a million rugged and remote acres in northern Nevada. More than 100 horses died, some at the roundup site, most at the holding facility. In addition, dozens of pregnant mares aborted their young.

Wild horse advocates are used to seeing horses removed from the public range to make room for cattle, but they began to suspect another possible motive.

“The fact of the matter is, there appears to be a connection between the Ruby Pipeline and the removal of the Calico wild horses,” said filmmaker and naturalist Ginger Kathrens.

Kathrens was perplexed why BLM would proceed with a roundup, against the advice of a federal judge, in the dead of winter, and when the BLM’s own reports indicated there was little or no justification for the operation on the range itself. The horses and the land were in good shape.

She and others started focusing on plans for the Ruby Pipeline, a gigantic project to transport natural gas from Wyoming to Oregon while slicing through five separate herd areas. The 42 inch pipe would require a six foot trench nearly 700 miles long and a parallel, all-weather access road through land that has no roads.

The implications for horses and wildlife were obvious. The pipeline company, El Paso Corporation, left some hints in the paperwork it filed.

“In the documents they supplied to FERC, it talks about the removal of wild horses in the course of conducting their project. So why in the world would we not be suspicious,” said Kathrens.

In April, suspicions peaked when the project coordinator for the pipeline told a reporter that “All hell would break loose” once the plan was approved, and that the pristine land along the route would “look like Hiroshima.” Would that be a reason to thin out the horse herds? The BLM and El Paso both vigorously deny the Calico roundup was related in any way to the pipeline, but it is clear from documents that the mustangs were discussed by both at several points in the permitting process.

An alternative pipeline route was considered that would bypass the herd areas and go through land already disturbed, but it would have cost more. BLM approved the plan that would be cheaper for El Paso but more costly for the land.

“We are the Bureau of Land Management, not the Bureau of Wildlife, not the Bureau of Horses,” said BLM district manager Gene Seidlitz.

In BLM’s management of public lands, wild horses almost always lose out to economic interests, especially livestock interests. But BLM has also been good to the oil and gas industries, and the Ruby Pipeline will be a huge money maker, according to company projections, not only for El Paso but for the gas companies.

As it turns out, one of the largest users will be BP. A contract obtained by the website AboveTopSecret spells it out.

As the Gulf of Mexico oil crisis has demonstrated, the Department of Interior has previously bent over backwards to benefit BP and other oil producers. And even if it’s not the case here, it’s fair to ask questions.

“We have a perfect right to wonder about all this stuff,” said Kathrens.

Related articles by Zemanta

• New Evidence Links BP to the Controversial Elimination of Protected Wild Horses From Federally Mandated Land by the BLM (ppjg.wordpress.com)
• Cloud Foundation Voices Opposition to California Roundup (horsebackpublishing.com)
• New Evidence Links BP to the Controversial Elimination of Protected Wild Mustangs From Federally Mandated Land in Several Western US States (prweb.com)
• EWA and Animal Law Coalition Call for Federal Investigation (horsebackpublishing.com)

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Young Crusader Declan Gregg Advocates for America’s Horses within the pages of National Geographic

story by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska
forward by R.T. Fitch of the Wild Horse Freedom Federation

“Folks, you won’t be cheated out of your ‘Feel Good Sunday’, today, as we focus on our resident, junior, equine advocate Declan Gregg who has now carried his quest for the safety and well being of American Equines all the way to the pages of National Geographic.  Below we have included some of the text from the interview with Declan but we highly encourage you to visit the link to the National Geographic story where you can read the feature in it’s entirety and comment directly at Nat Geo.  We are proud to have such a fine, young advocate standing amongst us.   Declan, you GIVE us hope and empower us to strengthen our faith in the future.  Be safe.” ~ R.T.

“I was the first ever recipient of the ASPCA’s Junior Equine Angel Award…”

Dr. Jordan Schaul interviews another young crusader. To date, Jordan has introduced our audiences to young wildlife crusaders determined to help Taiji’s dolphins and South Africa’s rhinos. Here at home, another young crusader with a compelling story is making a difference for our most majestic of companion animals—horses.

Declan Gregg ~ photo courtesy of Children 4 Horses

Bio (Submitted by mom, Stacie) Animals are an important part of eleven-year-old Declan Gregg’s life.  He loves them all, but has a special place in his heart for horses.  “They are amazing, beautiful, animals, who are not only our companions and friends, but also our healers,” says Declan.  “I feel a special connection and bond with them that keeps my soul alive.”

In 2011, after hearing about the inhumane and cruel practice of horse slaughter, then nine-year-old Declan, decided that he needed to raise his voice.  Declan created Children 4 Horses and started his own blog (www.children4horses.blogspot.com), and page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/children4horses), to spread the word as an advocate for horses.  Declan worked closely and diligently with the Million Horse March campaign.  He held a “Letter Writing Party” at his local shelter, the New Hampshire SPCA, to collect letters from children hoping to inspire lawmakers to end the slaughter of American horses.  Declan collected over 225 letters that day from local New Hampshire children.

Jordan: Please tell us about your lobbying efforts on behalf of humane horse care?

Declan: My dedication to horse advocacy took me to the nation’s capital twice in 2012, where I represented over 1,000 children from the United States and abroad. I presented letters and drawings to legislators in Congress and the Senate. I held a press conference alongside Congressman Jim Moran (VA) and representatives from other national horse advocacy organizations, where I spoke out against the slaughter of America’s horses, both domestic and wild. During that visit, I personally visited several legislators in the House and Senate, including Congressman Frank Guinta of New Hampshire, where I shared my opposition to the inhumane treatment of horses and subsequently garnered the Congressman’s co-sponsorship of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R.2966/S.1176).

I also met with HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) President, Wayne Pacelle, to discuss ways I could continue my advocacy work with the organization.

Declan speaking in D.C. March 2012 with Congressman Jim Moran ~ photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

In 2012, I joined forces with the “Horses on the Hill” campaign, returning to Washington DC, and spoke before celebrities, Congressmen and Senators to lobby against horse slaughter and advocate for the protection of horses under H.R.2966/S.1176.  In addition to my two Washington visits that year, I testified at a hearing for a bill opposing horse slaughter at the New Hampshire State House in January, 2012.

n 2013, I travelled to Washington DC for a third time, to attend the “Horses on the Hill” event and met with Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire as well as other legislators, and spoke about current legislation which protects horses from inhumane treatment.  I subsequently garnered the co-sponsorship of Congresswoman Shea-Porter of the SAFE Act (H.R.1094/S.541).

My efforts are not only focused at the federal level, but also back home in New Hampshire.  I have been on several radio shows and created videos (http://www.youtube.com/user/sgsquared1), to lend my voice on behalf of horses and raise awareness for horse advocacy issues.

Declan in D.C. with Author/president of Wild Horse Freedom Federation R.T. Fitch (R.T.’s favorite photo) ~ by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

I have spoken to children’s groups like 4-H Clubs, Girl Scouts and after school programs at the NH SPCA, and will be making a presentation at my school, about horses, their humane care and horse advocacy issues.  I love sharing my passion with other kids and educating them.  I want to show them that their voice is important too and that they can stand up for animals just like adults do.  I ran successful fundraising campaigns for both local and national charities that help horses, and far surpassed my goals with the help of people from all over the country.

I ran successful fundraising campaigns for both local and national charities that help horses, and far surpassed my goals with the help of people from all over the country.  Every year, my younger brother and I give the animals a Christmas present, by sponsoring them through the New Hampshire SPCA’s “Adoption Angel” program.  I am currently petitioning the Governor and NH State legislators in the House and Senate (http://tinyurl.com/m7luymd), in opposition of the state’s “Ag-gag” bill (HB110) and will be meeting Governor Hassan prior to the bill going to the floor.

Jordan: How do you feel about the attention you’ve drawn personally?

Declan: I am honored to have been awarded the 2012 ASPCA’s Humane Kid of the Year for his advocacy of horses and was excited to take my family to New York City with me to accept the award and deliver a speech to a packed room of over 500 people….(CONTINUED)

Please Click (HERE) to read the rest of the story and to comment directly at Nat Geo