"Feature Friday–American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign"

Howdy Friends,

 

For today's Feature Friday we have a guest blogger, Grace Kuhn of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign (AWHPC). AWHPC is dedicated to preserving American wild horses and burros in viable free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage. I hope you'll read and share this important information about a coalition of dedicated people giving voice to the voiceless. And please, for the horses' sake, and our future generations, consider joining and supporting AWPC. ~ Dutch Henry

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"The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign (AWHPC) is a coalition of more than 60 horse advocacy, public interest, and conservation organizations dedicated to preserving the American wild horse in viable, free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage. AWHPC was founded by Return to Freedom, a national non-profit dedicated to wild horse preservation through sanctuary, education and conservation. RTF operates the American Wild Horse Sanctuary in Lompoc, CA and is AWHPC’s parent organization.

 

What would wild horses tell us if they could speak?

Wild horses and burros are fenced in, fenced out, given the scraps of forage in Herd Management Areas after the BLM allocates the vast majority to livestock. They are forced to live under unnatural conditions. They’re being set up for crisis by BLM’s failure to utilize fertility control and to reduce livestock grazing in designated wild horse and burros' habitat areas.

This policy of favoring private livestock over protecting wild horses and burros continues, despite the fact that livestock grazing on BLM land is authorized solely at the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, whereas protection of wild horses and burros are mandated by an act of Congress. 

Across the West, ranchers are threatening illegal action against the BLM to defend what they believe is their "right" to graze private livestock on our public rangelands, even during extreme drought conditions, and, all too often, the BLM caves in to their demands.

Recently, the BLM revealed that in designated wild horse and burro Herd Management Areas 77% of forage is allocated to livestock, leaving less than a quarter of forage resources for federally protected wild horses and burros. Public lands grazing is a remnant of Washington's interest in settling the West by providing a financial leg up to covered-wagon pioneers and private interests alike. Ranchers pay a fee, far below market rate, for each mother cow and calf they turn out to graze on BLM acreage.

And things may be getting even worse for our cherished herds. Just this week, a bill was introduced by U.S. Representative Chris Stewart (R-UT) on behalf of ranchers and their local representatives that aims to bypass a Congressional prohibition on the sale of wild horses and burros for slaughter.

Americans need to take a hard look at the brutal and inhumane practices the federal government uses to erase wild horses and burros from our public lands to clear the way for commercial interests. Each and every wild horse or burro that falls victim to this program is a lost icon of the freedom and untamed beauty that make this country great. Americans have got to speak up and demand an end to these practices before it’s too late."

Please join us in this important struggle,
Grace Kuhn
American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign 

"Feature Friday- Joseph Piner, Independent Documentary Filmmaker"

Howdy Folks,

 

When situations move Joseph Piner, he does more than talk. He picks up his camera and makes a movie. An independent documentary film maker since the 1980’s he’s made films that grab hearts and evoke action in a wide range of issues. Dedicated to informing the public about concerns too often ignored, or at best mildly addressed, Joe works to shine the light that others might see, understand and get involved. Set to be released this fall, his latest documentary, “Free Spirits – Saving America’s Wild Horses,” positions a bold spotlight squarely on the plight of America’s wild horses and burros, as well as the BLM’s abuses inflicted on the wild ones, and the lies and corruption.

When Joe heard about a fellow who adopts and trains BLM wild horses, and brings at-risk youths to his Ranch to introduce the two to each other, hoping to change both the at risk youth and the wild horses lives, he knew he had to tell their story. “I finally visited his ranch and was very impressed by the stories he told about our wild horses. I had no idea that there were wild horses running across the open ranges of the west. I did my research and was blown away about the plight of these horses and saw that this was a much bigger story than a man adopting wild mustangs. From that moment on, ‘Free Spirits –Saving America’s Wild Horses’ was a go to make a full feature documentary about saving the American wild horses.” Joe explained.

“What I have learned is that we better get it together before it’s too late and we lose these beautiful creatures. At this rate it won’t be long until they’re gone from their natural ranges in the west and our kids, grandkids and future generations will never see these beautiful powerful animals running across the open plains … all they’ll see is these massive holding facilities with all our American treasure warehoused, languishing with broken hearts and spirits inside.

Joe filming in the badlands

“I’ve also learned through making this film, the BLM needs to stop making management decisions based on a system filtered down through the cattle Industry. They do not listen to a word environmental groups, horse advocates, and horse lovers are saying. The people I’ve interviewed have come up with good strong management plans, such as we need to manage these horses on the range and not round ups, we need to stop killing the horse’s natural predators just to name a few.

“As for the environmental groups, wild horse advocates, and horse lovers, they need to come together and join forces to make positive change. I see too much fighting with each other while we all want the same thing. Everybody has a different way of doing things, it does not mean that one way is right over the other. Stop being jealous, fighting and putting each other down and come together for the horses, if that’s what you are truly about. A wolf pack doesn’t take down pray four times its size by itself – no they join together and take down large animals and the hole pack gets to eat. All I am saying is join the pack and take down your large prey which would be the wild horse situation.” Joe said.

Wild horse drinking in Nevada

Join Joe on Facebook HERE  

Watch the movie trailer HERE 

Have a look at the movie website HERE  

Joe was a contributor to my upcoming feature article in TrailBlazer magazine, “The Last Wild Horse In America Died Today,” and it’s an honor to feature him and his thoughts here. Thanks Joe!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

" Laura Leigh - Wild Horse Education - “Voices For The Voiceless” - Feature Friday

Howdy Folks,

Laura Leigh founder Wild Horse Education,  was also one of the contributors to my upcoming feature article in TrailBlazer, "The Last Wild Horse In America Died Today." Its an honor to feature here today ~ I first featured Laura in November 2012, with this story and it is appropriate to revisit it today ~ 

Laura Leigh - Wild Horse Education -“Voices For The Voiceless”

How do I write this? Friends who know me, and know my style, know that I write about, "People & Horses Helping Horses & People," in an upbeat and happy way. Celebrating the good that people do. Championing the horses who heal people, change lives and give their spirit so that those who need healing can realize a new beginning. Every now and then, in order to celebrate the good people do, I must write about things as tears stream from my eyes to drip on the keyboard … This is one of those stories.

How do I write about horses chased by helicopters to the point of total exhaustion, and death? How do I write about tiny foals running in a desperate panic to keep sight of their mommas, running as fast as their tiny legs can manage, sometimes running right out of their hoofs, and left to die. How do I write about helicopter pilots ramming the slower horses repeatedly with the skids of their helicopters? How do I write about horses being hosed with water in the holding pens soaking them so completely the tiny foals freeze to death? How can I write about the crowded, filthy holding pens? How do I write about the truckloads of once noble and proud spiritual wild horses being trucked to slaughter? I don't think I can.

But Laura Leigh, a freelance photojournalist, founder of Wild Horse Education (WHE) is documenting in photos and videos the excessive and inhumane roundups that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is conducting against wild horses and burros. Laura was the first to bring the public daily reports of the conditions at the roundups, and continues to be the best source for information on what is happening in the field for our wild horses and burros. WHE has been essential in providing the public with documentation and investigation of the BLM practices in the roundups and long term holding of these captured wild animals, who in reality belong to the American people. The body of work is more than a collection of photos and video. It has been used to fight in Federal Court for the welfare and well-being of wild horses and burros.

Laura Leigh on the job working for the horses

Laura has been an advocate for the rights of horses for many years. Yet her attention turned to wild horses in a daily marathon of documentation and research after looking into the eyes of an eight month old colt that was suffering from hoof slough (feet falling off) during the BLM Calico roundup of 2010/2011. She named that little red colt "Hope Springs Eternal." After being refused the opportunity to aid the colt, he subsequently died. Laura has worked every single day since then to stop the madness.

When her work began sparking public criticism, BLM sought to restrict her access to their operations and facilities. Laura, fighting for the very lives of our helpless wild horses, filed a lawsuit against BLM. The fight to document wild horses, wherever they are in the system, has been a "battlefield" in Federal Court. The case that has become known as the "First Amendment" suit won a landmark decision in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in February of 2012 and is scheduled to head back to the courtroom in February of 2013.

Her second suit against the BLM for "Humane Care," if it wins, could put an end to the cruel practices now ubiquitous in the BLM wild horse and burro program. WHE was able to halt two BLM operations through injunctions and restraining orders related to these suits. Just recently, WHE joined on as part of the investigation team into the allegations that BLM participated in the sale of mustangs from their feed lots to kill buyers. This case too is pending.

Two years ago Laura gained the first Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in the history of the BLM’s "Wild Horse and Burro Program" to inhumane conduct. Since then her documentation has gained a second TRO and an Injunction to conduct. The case against inhumane care of wild horses is still active in Federal Court.

An investigation by Laura's organization was essential in helping journalist Dave Philips, a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter, break the huge story that clearly illustrates the relationship with the BLM and kill-buyers. Currently the IG's office is investigating on a Federal level and the state of Colorado has turned over information to the DA's office for prosecution

These cases, investigations and documentation, are supported solely through donations to Wild Horse Education. This group is really doing the work in the field and getting the results in the courtroom protecting the voiceless who need our voice.

Please visit the Wild Horse Education site http://wildhorseeducation.org/  … Spend some time viewing the videos, looking at the pictures … You may not believe your eyes  … Also on the home page is a box that says "Educate Yourself: Myths and Facts." Here is the link to that and it is one of the best guides to what is wrong and what is going on that I have seen.  … http://wildhorseeducation.org/2012/11/10/educate-yourself-myths-and-facts/

Please share this blog and their link with your friends, ask them all to tell their friends, spread the truth, and give support.  So many lives depend on our voices and our help. What's being done by the BLM is not only wrong, it's cruel. With enough public notice and outcry, we can stop the BLM and save our wild horses and burros.

God Bless and Gitty Up, Dutch Henry