Triple B, 2019

By Laura Leigh on July 10, 2019

Updates posted most recent at the top from Triple B, 2019.

Our Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy (CAWP) team is onsite continuing our ground breaking work to hold BLM accountable to the law.

The only organization in history to take BLM to court (and win repeatedly) against abuse at roundups.

In 2015 our work led to the creation of the first wild horse welfare policy since the 1971 Act was passed to protect our wild horses and burros.

Our work continues to create changes, tighten the policy, and hold BLM accountable.

Until we can gain equity in land use, remove corruption, minimize (or stop) roundups, stopping abuse is an absolute priority.

Can you help us to stay in this fight?

Updates posted most recent at the top, scroll down for previous days. (We are editing a recap on the entire operation and our post roundup action.)

Day 8

The last day of Triple B ended with 3 escaping the trap. A single wild horse was being driven in, moved toward the jute and pushed his way through. As the pilot began pursuit, two others drew him off the single wild horse. The two began to run in and must have also pushed through, out of view, and headed up the hillside toward observers (including a film crew that did not engage with us in any way).

Operations ended for the day. Operations ended for the Triple B roundup of 2019.

We will have a full recap of the Triple B, including our ongoing actions, soon.

Roundups are always an exercise in sleep deprivation after spending the day at the trap, evenings editing, updating, legal teams, juggling range data team, and more. This roundup overlapped both the Advisory Board Meeting in Idaho and the Senate hearing yesterday. (see more here)

We want to take a moment to thank our roundup team for working hard each day to monitor and engage immediately for the welfare of each single wild horse and for gathering the data we need to keep making changes in the big picture. Good job!

Stats from last day:

captured: 108 (36 Stallions, 56 Mares, 16 Foals)

shipped: 130 (51 Studs, 54 Mares, 25 Foals)

deaths from BLM website (not our words):

10 year old Cramello Stallion was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to chronic condition (Blind)

19 year old Roan mare was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to chronic condition (Blind)

Totals for operation:

captured: 804 (319 Stallions, 351 Mares, 134 Foals)

dead: 14

Brand new baby. Little bay foal captured today. This may be the foal BLM killed today (Day 7)

Day 7

Captured: 128 (41 studs, 61 mares, 26 foals)

Shipped: 81

Two were killed, both foals. (more stats at the bottom)

Today our team, once again, had to remind BLM of the current temperature limits in CAWP. The temp guidelines were determined in a (paid) cooperative with UC Davis. UC Davis has no data base on wild horse captures. UC Davis set the high at 95 degrees to review operations for termination that day (the limit should be 88, based on our statistics. We are still working on multiple changes to CAWP). Currently, at 92 degrees, we remind BLM to start shutting down operations.

BLM has started posting temperature statistics with their reports. However, during todays operation it was confirmed that our gage matches BLM’s. Our gage hit 93 today. BLM claims the high was only 88. Valley to ridge can differ significantly. So we do a 3-5 degree range after reading the gage, we include both the high and low, not just the low. Today the gage read 93. BLM only uses the lower range in summer and the higher range in winter (they recognize that range, but only in the direction it favors continuing operations).

About 1.65 miles from trap; Studs, Mares and babies in full run.

BLM ran three pilots, two helicopters.

BLM likes this trap. The wild horses try to flee through the draw and are relatively easy to get to go into the wings. For the convenience of humans; instead of changing trap they are driving wild horses further. (Based on our team observation effort.)

Tonight we included supervisors in DC to our request that they move trap, reduce numbers in holding pens (too many wild horses, too much fighting).

We will update you tomorrow if trap moves, or if BLM Nevada does not understand CAWP, and litigating is becoming the only option. Our data shows that this district (and the state of Nevada) has a trend of incidence that move from operation to operation. The issues, when pointed out, might be rectified for a day.

BLM needs to cancel any further operations in the state of Nevada until they hold a training on CAWP.

The deficit in the state has been demonstrated beyond any doubt.

Wild horses came in wet, often very wet.

Day 7 stats:

Captured: 128 (41 studs, 61 mares, 26 foals)

Shipped: 81

Two were killed.

Foal, bay, that BLM says died due to water toxicity (run too hard and hot, so when it drank it got sick)

Foal, sorrel, was injured during transport.

Total: 696 captured, 12 dead.

Of the 12 killed, 5 were foals.

Wild horses came in wet

Day 6

On day 6 BLM remained at the same trap, however the weather was not the overcast skies of day 5.

captured: 67 (26 Stallions, 32 Mares, 9 Foals)

shipped to PVC: 127 (40 Stallions, 65 Mares, 22 Foals)

On day 5 the pens at temporary had reached capacity. On day 6 they remained at capacity. (photo day 6)

BLM also killed 3 more horses, bringing the total to 10 dying at temporary holding.

BLM website explanation:

4 year old buckskin mare was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to Acute condition (fractured skull)

7 year old white mare was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to pre-existing injury (Blind)

9 year old sorrel stud was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to pre-existing injury (Club foot)

Be aware that many of the wild horses BLM terminates are usually captured the day before, unless the injury occurs immediately.

On Day 5 BLM captured 173. They moved the horses off range, and through processing at temporary, quickly. This usually leads to multiple injuries. The pens also became crowded, this also usually leads to multiple injuries.

Just because you can catch 200 wild horses does not mean you are prepared to “catch” 200 wild horses. (we will have more on this soon)

Our team remains onsite. There are several wild horses in holding we are monitoring, more soon. The CAWP team has been very busy and we will have our week “in review” video out after day 7, today, completes.

Total after day 6: 568 captured, 10 dead.

Day 1-5 below.

photo: Day 5

Day 5

An extremely long day…

173 wild horses were captured. We were 12 hours onsite. We will load video and more images asap (in the morning). This trap site is one used at all Triple B operations, including the one in 2011 when Wild Horse Education won the first case(s) in history against abuse. We were not permitted to sit in the same location as in 2011. However, we do know that loading at trap was rapid and processing at holding, simply by the number of horses and the speed of trailers leaving the valley.

We did observe some injuries at holding, one a major facial laceration. We were told only one lame, “older,” horse was being monitored for lameness that was deemed serious. We will update you if he is put down in the morning. Today was the first day we saw a full load of wild horses processed (we will have video in the morning).

We have a number of concerns that our CAWP legal team will be attending to tomorrow and we will update you on the process as it moves forward.

Operations begin again in the morning at down. Check back for full video/photo report (this page is updated frequently).

Captured: 173 (82 Studs, 69 Mares, 22 Foals)

Shipped: 41 (13 Studs, 22 Mares, 6 Foals)

no new deaths

As of Day 5, total captured: 501 (216 Stallions, 202 Mares, 83 Foals). Seven deaths.

It should be noted no fertility control is planned at this operation.

Broke free from the drive to trap, day 4

Day 4

Today was very different than yesterday (see below for day 3). The video above is the first group going into the trap (unedited). Two horses broke from the group and headed up the mountain (prior to the drive to trap) and were let go. The black that breaks at trap mouth is also not pursued. Today we did not see relentless pursuit for miles and miles.

Our CAWP legal expert engaged BLM. BLM took the concerns seriously and you could see the effort made today. If a horse broke from the group being run, showed that it would be difficult to bring back into the group, BLM let it go. A band with a very young baby, that could not be moved slowly, was let go. A band with another very young foal was allowed to rest coming down the mountain; if the foal lagged behind, the pilot allowed the band to regroup. Only at the final push to the trap was the youngster left behind, within walking distance to trap, and immediately brought in.

It is unfortunate that our CAWP team had to address these issues in the first place (day 3). But for today, we could see BLM make a real effort to communicate between working parts, slow things down.

Make no mistake, we do not want our wild horses captured. We work very hard every day to gather actual data and engage to preserve critical wild horse habitat, fight against corruption and inequity. There are better ways to manage our wild horses on the range, where they are wild horses, and we will continue that fight.

However, key to our work is to be a voice, in the moment, during capture against neglect, abuse and carelessness during capture. Our team is trained in CAWP protocol and policy. Our CAWP team stepped up, did their job and, this time, it worked the way it should and there was improvement.

The last run, although safe, was heartbreaking to witness. A mare could not keep up. She did not flee. She slowly walked up, past observers. She looked back at the trap, over at the vehicles parked at the road, before heading out of sight.

There is so much more work to do to keep them free… her long, lonely walk, says so very much. In one glance she speaks to the past failures in management. Yet in the next she is a reminder off all those that are still free and need our voices to work hard to keep them that way.

Killed:

BLM website

Foal, Bay, was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to chronic condition (extremely weak tendons)

WHE note: This is the cost of running youngsters so hard on day 3. Tendon laxity or contraction is very common in foals. “Weak tendons” is not a medical diagnosis. A “lax tendon” is common and usually resolves itself in equines, unless severe (unusual), or “run for 15 miles full speed being chased by a chopper.”

Of the 7 deaths that have occurred at this operation, 4 are foals. The cost of a July roundup.

Captured today: 42 (15 Stallions, 19 Mares, 8 Foals)

Shipped today: 83 (39 Stallions, 31 Mares, 13 Foals)

Total captured in 4 days: 328, 7 killed.

Foals captured Day 4

Day 3

Day 3 we were just under 1.4 miles from the trap. The second day to soar into the 90’s. Multiple youngsters lagged behind.

However, our CAWP (Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy) legal expert had to engage BLM staff after a stud, mare and foal were run for 90 minutes. Singled out by one of the pilots, the small band ran until the baby went down, behind. At the end of the day he was roped and taken to trap.

Our legal team has engaged and we apologize for this short report. We will provide more details when time allows.

It appears BLM will issue the appropriate written warnings. If any conduct that violates prior court rulings, or CAWP standards occurs again, we have prepared all the appropriate channels and, if necessary, will bring litigation. At this time BLM has given all indications that they recognize the infraction and are taking measures to ensure it will not repeat.

Our observers, and legal team, have made arrangements to monitor the remainder of this operation.

The foal has survived the run, we will update on condition in the morning. BLM has said they will share a photo with the public on Flicker and has already provided our observers with opportunity to view the photo (and an obstructed glimpse of the foal through snow fencing).

We will update you with more detail as time allows. We are up at 3, and do not get to sleep until after 9. Long days, but this work lies at the core of all we do. Our wild ones are precious and every precaution must be taken to ensure their safety.

Captured today (day 3)

94 (47 Stallions, 34 Mares, 13 Foals)

Two euthanized today for injuries:

6 y.o. Palomino mare was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to acute injury (laceration)

9 y.o. Bay Mare was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to acute injury (laceration)

Total captured: 286 (119 Stallions, 114 Mares, 53 Foals)

Total shipped: 188 (71 Stallions, 80 Mares, 37 Foals)

Injured youngster, laying down, day 3

Day 2

Trap moved to a new location today. Preliminary numbers put the total for two days at over 200 captured (we will update after we confirm and review).

captured: 75 (40 Stallions, 24 Mares, 11 Foals)

shipped to PVC: 113 (31 Studs, 56 Mares, 26 Foals)

total captured: 192

died: 4

BLM website:

Euthanized today: Foal, Sorrel, was euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070 due to poor prognosis for recovery due to chronic condition, (extremely weak tendons).

Our CAWP team monitored temperature. BLM used to be able to roundup as long as they wanted. Now they need to stop when it hits 95 degrees. (our teams can statistically prove that over 88 degrees poses consistent safety risk and are working, among other revisions, to change the current policy).

note: BLM made an error yesterday. NO WILD HORSE was put down because it was starving. No one in the field knows why that was put on the website. A chest laceration and two leg injuries were responsible for yesterdays three deaths. BLM will change their website.

A fast video. We will add more as soon as possible.

Day 1

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We are having serious internet issues that should be resolved today for the in-field team.

We left at 3 am. and returned at 8 pm. It was very long day.

There were more people at the trap and viewing was abysmal. We did not sit at the same location at this trap as Fen 2018. Two members of media were present.

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BLM rounded up 117 (32 Studs, 56 Mares, 29 Foals. They euthanized 3.

FROM BLM WEB SITE:

Filly, Sorel, was humanely euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070, due to a hopeless prognosis for recovery due to pre-existing condition, starvation, emaciation and weakness.

14 year old, Sorel, Stud, was humanely euthanized in accordance with IM 2015-070, due to a hopeless prognosis for recovery due to pre-existing condition, starvation, emaciation and weakness.

We observed no “starving” wild horses. If they were there? BLM kept them hidden from viewing.

UPDATE: We spoke with BLM COR today. He said he has no idea why someone posed “starving.” The older horse had a chest laceration and the two young ones, leg injuries. BLM said they will update tonight.

We did see mine traffic not impeded from driving directly through trapping, while trapping was occurring, and causing repeated interference. One run continued for more than 15 minutes after bands turned from the trap and were pushed again and again toward the trap area.

This is the same location as 2018, the area of the Bald Mountain mine expansion where trucks routinely travel over 50 mph on dirt roads and the horses are labelled “safety hazard.”

We did see injuries to feet.