The video above is just an overview of the day including the horse dragged by ATV to trailer. Longer videos of incidents are published throughout the update.
NOTE TO BLM: If you have an issue with what we have published you have been asked numerous times, at numerous roundups, to please put it in writing and send to our team lead, you have the email address. Please stop verbally demanding we change what we write and intimidating onsite observers.
East Pershing Update
Deaths at East Pershing have risen to 24. Cumulative totals at the bottom of the update.
On 1/29/24, BLM only captured only 7 horses in a relentless pursuit. There were 3 deaths listed.
Our onsite team member described the day in a phone call with our team lead saying: “Like they were trying to practice for rodeo.”
Adult horses were being roped by multiple wranglers all over the valley. This area is inside the boundaries of the Herd Management Area (HMA) and this is not a “zero out” with no reason for this type of pursuit to be approved by BLM. The BLM lead was onsite.
During the second run horses disappeared behind a small hill leading into trap. It appears there was trouble at the trap and horses fled. Several wranglers headed out and, along with the helicopter, pursued adult and yearling/younger horses throughout the valley.
Several ropings took place. One horse (possibly a yearling) is roped and another goes back toward the incident and then flees. It appeared that the second horse to be roped (the one that turned back) fought and fell. When the horse rose its gait appeared “off” (reminiscent of the young colt that was roped and killed after a leg injury earlier in the operation, 01-06-24, week 2).
However, the roundup did not stop when one of the horses appeared to be injured. Wranglers and choppers continued to pursue and rope other horses.
Only after the roping was done did BLM turn their attention to addressing the downed horse. They apparently dragged over a small tarp (or other object like a strap? and rolled the horse using a rope (possibly on an injured leg? See trailer video below) to flip the horse onto it. Then they dragged it by an ATV (with a wrangler sitting on it) to the trailer.
This is what a slip sheet looks like above
BLMs current Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) standards state:
“Dragging a recumbent WH&B without a sled, slide board or slip sheet is prohibited.”
“Non-ambulatory or recumbent WH&Bs must be evaluated on the trailer and either euthanized or removed from the trailers using a sled, slide board or slip sheet.”
All video is taken at distance. It does not look like an actual slip sheet was used. A board is only removed from the back of the ATV when the horse is dragged onto the trailer.
The horse, obviously appearing seriously injured on a front leg, is taken to the trap where other horses are loaded onto the trailer. You can see the horse hobble on the trailer. The road to temporary holding is extremely rough (BLM even gave a warning to observers; unusual even on rough roads).
BLM killed 3 horses. They labelled all of the chronic conditions: 8 year-old Grulla Stallion for club foot, 4 year-old Dun Mare for swayback, 9 year-old Buckskin Mare saying she was missing left eye. None of these match the apparent limb injury (dragged horse) we witnessed. We are looking into what happened after BLM took the horse to an off-limits to viewing holding corral.
UPDATE: BLM said the mare was “not injured” and was simply “uncooperative” so they “tied her and used a sled.”
Our observer remains on location.
It should be noted that the BLM personnel in charge are the same ones that were in charge at the Antelope Complex. WHE carries active litigation moving through the court system now to address the fact that there is no enforceable welfare policy.
This roundup is being run through the BLM Winnemucca office in Nevada.
We are getting questions about the program. We have a resource page for people looking for reports you can access HERE.
Cumulative totals:
Captured: 2,048 Wild Horses (853 Stallions, 935 Mares, and 260 Foals)
Shipped: 2,021 Wild Horses (838 Stallions, 926 Mares, and 257 Foals) to the off-limits facility in Winnemucca NV. BLM has never allowed any observation at this facility.
Deaths: 24 (captured day 1 and euthanized the next morning BLM said: 10 year-old Bay Stud – blind in left eye; 7 year-old Bay Stud – right front club foot; 16 year-old Bay Stud – blind in left eye; 14 year-old Bay Stud – blind in right eye; 14 year-old Bay Mare – blind in left eye; 20+ year-old Bay Stud – blind in left eye; 4 year-old Bay Mare, Euthanized – broken neck; 12 year-old Bay Mare, Euthanized – broken left rear leg; 7 year-old Bay Stud – previous injury, broken right front leg that healed on range crooked; 20 year-old Sorrel Stud – blind in right eye; Yearling Sorrel Colt – dislocated front right knee. On the same day: 20+ year-old Sorrel Stud – left front knee /cannon fracture; 17 year-old Bay Stud – left front knee / cannon fracture. 8 year-old BLACK stud incorrectly marked as bay, BLM said was club foot. 8-year old Bay Mare – Equine Lordosis- sway back; 15-year old Sorrel Stallion – pre-existing condition; soft tissue injury to right rear fetlock; 17-year old Roan Stallion was put down BLM said “due to pre-existing condition, broken left front knee; 18-year old Bay Stallion – BLM said shattered nose prior to gather, poorly healed resulting in respiratory issues; 12-year old Dun Stallion – Blind; 1-year old Bay Filly – Euthanized due to pre-existing condition, Blind. BLM killed 3 horses, 20-year old Sorrel Stallion – arthritis, 8 year-old Grulla Stallion – club foot, 4 year-old Dun Mare – swayback, 9 year-old Buckskin Mare – missing left eye)
Released: 3 Wild Horses. Although BLM lists horses were released, no daily report notes releases. We can only assume they count a horse escaping from trap or temporary holding as “released” as has become BLM’s common soft wording for a horse jumping out and escaping after capture.
Our wild horses and burros need to be protected and preserved wild on the range. They also deserve to be free of abuses. We need your help to stay in the field and to continue to keep the lawsuit active in the courts now to bring about an enforceable welfare policy.
Thank you for keeping us running for the wild.
Categories: Lead, Wild Horse Education
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