"Sheldon Mustangs Set To Vanish Into History- Update from Laura Leigh"

Howdy Folks, -

This is an update from Laura Leigh founder of Wild Horse Education ~

"Sheldon Mustangs were once part of an area where the government contracted for cavalry remounts. It is estimated in military records that nearly 500 horses a week shipped to Europe at the height of World War I, many of them taken from the area now known as Sheldon."

Wild Horse Education
For Immediate Release 6/17/2014
Contact:Laura Leigh, President wildhorseeducation@gmail.com 
Marta Williams, Vice President/Public Relations WHE.Action@gmail.com 

 Sheldon Mustangs Set To Vanish Into History 

"(DENIO,NV) The final countdown has begun for the removal of wild horses and burros on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Sheldon (NWR) has announced the final removal of horses and burros from the over 575,000 acre refuge. The removal of 70 burros will begin on July 14 and horses will begin some time in August. Last year burros were removed without any prior public notification.

Last week a case status conference was scheduled in ongoing litigation against Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for July 1, 2014. The litigation brought by Bonnie Kohleriter and Laura Leigh, founder and President of Wild Horse Education, addresses both an historic lack of access to horse and burro roundups at the Refuge and Sheldon Mustangs repeatedly finding themselves in the slaughter pipeline.

It is known that Sheldon solicited for new contractors this year to take the mustangs. Several new contracts have been approved. At this time Sheldon has made no official announcement as to any arrangements made to ensure that horses will not be sent to those likely to fail to provide protection.

In federal court John Kasbohm, Director of the Refuge, told the Judge that Sheldon changed it's contract from the year prior and that horses removed in 2013 would be protected. Very quickly it was discovered that these "changes" were inadequate. J&S Associates (Stan Palmer) was allowing individuals to take horses for suspicious purposes. Sheldon horses have undergone mass vasectomies and hysterectomies on the range that has resulted in less than a 5% birth rate on the range, yet horses were taken by one individual for "breeding." It was also discovered that older mares were shipped for purposes of "rodeo." In one such incident an employee of J&S posted on Facebook for people to "come and get 'em" post that referenced these horses in the context of a possible rodeo occurring onsite at J&S and multiple replies that included taking some of the horses to slaughter.

In prior years J&S could not account for all of the horses they received, a recipient admitting to taking horses to slaughter and foals in their care deteriorating from improper care. A few of these foals were rescued from J&S with the whereabouts of others still not known. The rescue came too late for one foal named "Apatchy," because of the spot on his flank, who was euthanized due to malnutrition and severe permanent damage to his feet.

"We are working on getting clarification on the specifics of the plans for the Sheldon Mustangs," stated Laura Leigh, "We hope to hear that issues have finally been rectified and for the first time in the history of Sheldon that real effort has actually been made to ensure that the descendants of America's war horse are not betrayed again and sent to a horrifying death."

Sheldon Mustangs were once part of an area where the government contracted for cavalry remounts. It is estimated in military records that nearly 500 horses a week shipped to Europe at the height of World War I, many of them taken from the area now known as Sheldon.

"It is incredibly tragic that the historic value of a living symbol of American history has no value to those that manage America's Wildlife Refuge system," said Leigh "The horses were there before the Refuge. They have existed in this intact ecosystem and contribute to it's beauty. It is heartbreaking that we will never have our historic herds to view in Sheldon again. It is devastating to think that the last of the Sheldon Mustangs may go to slaughter."

What will be the final chapter in the legacy of the Sheldon Mustang? We await the final announcement from Sheldon."

  ---  This is a sad day indeed ~ Gitty Up, Dutch Henry 

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Wild Horse Education is devoted to gaining protections for America's wild horses and burros from abuse, slaughter and extinction. Main website: http://WildHorseEducation.org 

We have written numerous articles on the history of the horses and burros that inhabit the Refuge. http://wildhorseeducation.org//?s=Sheldon 

We are currently working on our short film on the Legacy of the Sheldon Mustang, "Forsaken," with a new rough cut expected soon. You can view the "trailer" here: http://wildhorseeducation.org/sheldon-nwr/ 

Litigation remains active pending final announcement.

We are out documenting the last of Sheldon Mustangs on the range.

You can join our "action team," in case we must make a rapid response at http://SheldonHorses.Wordpress.com