Triple B is back on the roundup schedule. This removal is slated to work in conjunction with USFS and remove wild horses that have “strayed” outside the HMA. BLM is the lead agency for the operation. http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/herd_management/tentative_gather_schedule.html

However this area has a history YOU should know about.

Horse hit with chopper Triple B

A summer roundup in 2011 gathered more than wild horses for the BLM. It earned them the first court orders in history against the inhumane treatment of wild horses. A grueling 5 week long roundup had WHE’s Laura Leigh onsite documenting the treatment of wild horses. Documentation showed multiple instances of inappropriate conduct. The tension continued to increase. In August a horse was hit with the skids of the chopper to keep it moving. Leigh took her documentation into federal court. The court granted a Temporary Restraining Order against pilot conduct citing BLM justification as a “blame the horse affront.” The Judge further stated that he could “see with his own eyes” what had happened in the footage shown to the court. The roundup stopped.

Later, due to another win in federal court by Leigh, the end of operations did not make the matter “moot,” meaning BLM could not get the case dismissed claiming the discussion was over as the working documents, and BLM claiming the area was still over AML, made the discussion still one for the courts. At that time he granted a Preliminary Injunction to operations, the first in history to inappropriate conduct.

More strong language from the court after horses driven through barbed wire at Owyhee

As public outrage grew BLM did an internal investigation that admitted the “alleged” conduct did in fact occur. This document was presented to the court and a Judge that wanted to know what BLM “was doing about it.” You can read an analysis of the report here: http://wildhorseeducation.org/2011/12/11/analysis-of-blm-report-on-triple-b-conduct/

Since that time BLM has been working on what they call a “Comprehensive Animal Welfare Plan,” or CAWP. CAWP has created studies and grants and… multiple promises of a policy that will become a reality. We have every expectation to see a version of CAWP come into effect very soon. However to date, BLM has had multiple meetings on helicopter use with NO changes to any operating procedures. The “SOS” (same old s___) “SOP’s” (Standard Operating Procedures) are still attached to all documents pertaining to removals.

In 2013 the National BLM issued to all districts a “Memorandum” after 2 more court orders were gained against conduct by WHE and it’s President Laura Leigh, http://wildhorseeducation.org/2013/02/01/blm-issues-humane-memorandum-in-the-wake-of-federal-court-actions/. This “memo” came after the “memo” issued in 2011 that was in effect after Triple B, but was in effect as we gained 2 more court orders against inappropriate conduct. (2011 memo: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/Communications_Directorate/public_affairs/news_release_attachments.Par.51335.File.tmp/TripleBReport.pdf

Horses run to a lather at Antelope in sub freezing temperatures

Caring humanely for wild horses and burros is not rocket science. BEFORE another federally protected wild horse is driven into a trap by helicopter BLM MUST create a POLICY that protects them. IN light of the history of current practices “gathering” BLM multiple court orders and stopping operations on the ground, that result in huge expenses and continued inappropriate actions to wild horses, it is irresponsible to continue to allow any operation to occur in the “we have always done it this way” protocol in place.

UPDATED: A policy is going to be announced soon and be in the new contracts.

JOIN US NOW!

Take the actions on this page calling for “Humane Care NOW!” http://wildhorseeducation.org/humane-care-now/

And please help us stay in the field, gain documentation, present alternatives and FIGHT when we need to. http://WildHorseEducation.org/donate