The first look inside the Winnemucca facility
On May 16, BLM allowed the first members of the public to tour the Winnemucca facility in Paradise Valley, NV. The facility exists on 100 acres, has 42 pens, and is approved to house 4000 wild horses and burros.
The facility began holding horses in 2022. This is the first time the public has been given access.
Our report on the facility is in two parts: the pre-tour report shares jarring information we gained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and then an onsite observation report from the facility tour.
Breakdown:
From December 28-Feb 8, BLM captured 2,692 wild horses from the East Pershing Complex and reported that they shipped 2,663 wild horses to this facility (26 died onsite at the roundup, 3 escaped). On numerous occasions BLM shipped direct from trap without sorting mares/stallions/foals at temporary corrals prior to loading semi trucks and shipping to this facility.
After arriving at the facility, 39 had died on or before February 29th.
The total deaths of wild horses during capture, transport and in the just the first weeks post-capture: 65.
During the East Pershing roundup render receipts from the facility show 103 deaths.
In fiscal 2023, the BLM Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) team did not inspect one single short-term facility (BLM or private). The internal team reviews of 2022 listed varied levels of noncompliance with standards of care. (BLM CAWP landing page)
Make an Impact:
As you make your calls to Congress on the spending bill, please add to your requests that Congress designate funding specifically for rulemaking for an enforceable welfare policy.
Can you call (202) 224-3121 (the House switchboard) today and ask to be connected to your rep.
Please demand that funding be designated for BLM to begin the rulemaking process to finalize a desperately needed enforceable welfare policy.
Winnemucca Facility (East Pershing) Pre-tour report prepared: C.Kaluza
The roundup
The largest roundup of FY 2024 occurred at the East Pershing Complex located in Nevada. The roundup ran from Dec. 28, 2023, and ended Feb. 9, instead of the scheduled end date of Feb. 28, 2024. The complex encompasses 2,191,650 total acres and BLM set the AML at 345-555 for the entire complex.
Our WHE observers were able to capture the terrible events in exclusive videos and extensive reporting, something the public has relied on our team to do for the last 15 years. WHEs trained observers provide detailed written accounts relative to humane handling during the roundup and our team creates a visual record through photographs and mini-documentaries each day.
We also continue to track the roundup operation into holding facilities through extensive research. In 2022, through a comparison of 5 distinct roundups, we found that the average death rate from trap through the first 6 months is 12%.
More than 1 in 10 of the wild horses that enter a BLM trap pen will die in the first 6 months. (WHE resource page)
Above: East Pershing roundup edited down to 5 minutes. Unforgettable events such as the horse being dragged on the ground for a distance with a wrangler atop, a mare and her foal jumping through the wings of a trap only to be chased and roped by wranglers on horseback causing the foal’s death when both should have been allowed to be free after their escape (news media search link).
The calls got louder for the roundup to stop as newborn foals began to appear and winter storms moved in and out of the area. As with all Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in the West, BLM does not gather data to set a site-specific foaling season and instead relies on arbitrary observation from the 1980s.
BLM reportedly gathered 2,692 animals, less than the goal of 2,875 wild horses by the helicopter-driven method to a trap set up, 19 days shorter in duration than approved. Whatever the reason they give for stopping, the fact remains that this was a brutal roundup and foaling season had begun and heavily pregnant mares were being run.
BLM reported they shipped by semi truck 2,663 wild horses to Winnemucca Off-Range Corrals in Winnemucca, NV.
BLM appeared to shirk any resemblance of humane handling of the captured horses on the days the person in charge on site (Incident Commander) directed for horses to be loaded onto semi trucks and shipped directly to Winnemucca instead of to the temporary holding corral in the vicinity so horses could be unloaded and sorted by sex and age, and then fed, watered and rested, before shipping the following day, which is the normal practice. This new practice was not shared with our observer onsite. After our repeated requests to be allowed access to observe freshly-captured horses at temporary holding corral, BLM finally informed our observer (myself) of the change.
This action may have impacted the rapidly rising death rate at trap, 26 had died. However, the deaths did not stop, they were simply listed as facility deaths and not reported to the public.
The facility
Winnemucca is built on a flood plain and the subject of litigation for its location and lack of accessibility to the public. On private land, privately contracted, is a reason BLM uses for not allowing the public to have routine access to view the care of the horses and their living conditions. This is unacceptable. The public should at least be allowed weekly access to visit facilities on private land, particularly if it is taking in newly captured wild horses or burros so the public can assess care. BLM has been increasingly favoring facilities located on private land, as opposed to public land like Palomino Valley Center, Reno, NV, where the public has access to view and assess and adopt. Horses and burros at these privately contracted facilities cannot be seen to get adopted until months, sometimes years, after capture… if at all. There is no view of the horses from public roads.
BLM never announced that they were shipping wild horses/burros to the disputed facility.
However, on Dec. 9, 2022, I attended the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council, Capitol, Carson City, NV. Alan Sheperd (BLM) presented to the council and mentioned captured horses, 500, had been transported to Winnemucca facility. The public had not been informed of this until this moment, and since that time has been asking for access to view the horses at Winnemucca.
Transcript: Alan Shepherd, Deputy State Director for Resources, Lands and Planning for the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada, “Our fourth facility, and our newest online facility, that just came online a few months ago officially is our Paradise Valley facility outside of Winnemucca, Nevada. Once it is completely built out it will be a 4,000 head facility. It is another contract facility, private property. We have people that have a presence there with staff in taking care of those animals. Same thing with Indian Lakes we have staff there as well. Currently at Paradise Valley we have 500 animals there right now. We don’t want to inundate them with a big bunch of animals at least so we can have a little operation and, you know, get comfortable in what their system is. So what we did is we took 250 mare pairs over there. They were prepped and ready for movement out of our facility here at PVC, moved them over there, and let that contractor, you know, start to take care of those animals and get their experience before we bring any more animals in there.”
It is now May 16, 2024, and the first time the public or media has been allowed to view the horses. BLM continues to approve taxpayer-funded facilities that are privately contracted without BLM requiring taxpayers be allowed regular access to visit in the contracts.
Pursuant to our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and continuing investigations into out-of-public-view facilities, we followed the East Pershing Complex horses from capture to Winnemucca facility.
One Excel spreadsheet was provided, which was created “Date run: 4/4/2024.” The layout makes it difficult to obtain an accurate inventory of East Pershing Complex horses who arrived from the gather: how many arrived, died, and currently residing (inventory). Throughout the spreadsheet animals occupied more than one row, only one row, and umpteen empty rows. We took on the task and did a hand count.
Samples of sorting deaths in the spreadsheet. From the data given, it appears 39 East Pershing deaths occurred by February 24, 15% death rate. Of the 39 deaths, only 8 had been freeze marked.
Note: No ages are listed on the spreadsheet.
We know that during the East Pershing roundup rendering receipts for carcass disposal show that the facility had 103 animals rendered (deceased). The odd spreadsheet format might take meticulous effort to sort through, but render receipts are simple representation of deaths. East Pershing horses began arriving at this facility December 29. In the month of February alone, 70 horses were rendered. (Screenshots of render receipts during the East Pershing roundup in slideshow, December-February)
Winnemucca Facility Tour Observation Report: LLeigh
BLM provided no site-specific information. They did not even provide an exact inventory count of the numbers currently housed in the facility. Basically, BLM gave vague information about which horses were in the facility (beyond clearly stating the East Pershing horses and some from Antelope were at the facility). My request for specific information (on which horses were at the facility, which pens, how many) was actually met with an expletive. I basically had to just say “chill out.” From on range to holding facilities, I have never understood the emotional response from BLM when you ask for specific info. You can simply refuse without taking it personally as if my asking is an attack of some kind. It is just a logical request, not a personal insult.
Below: During the tour there were instances of odd repetitive injuries like this facial swelling. At least 2 dozen of these injuries were documented (still processing images).
It may have something to do with the low rail on the fencing over the feeding troughs; as the feed gets low, the horses may try to get through the narrow opening? We did not see this injury in pens where they were not using these fences with the low cross bar above the troughs at this facility.
We also do not see this injury in other facilities where the low cross bar is NOT present at feed troughs.
Below: Fallon and Sutherland, no low cross bar with opening (examples for comparison). Note (to answer a question from the public) The troughs are on the outside of the pen for ease of feeding in every private facility we have seen. Yes, it is true that in most facilities open to the public, feeding is on the inside of pens. A truck drives by and simply fills the troughs. Troughs on the inside would be safer, but require more time to fill. These corrals are modelled after livestock feedlots; minimal effort required.)
Below: Winnemucca facility with low cross bar and opening horses can get heads over, but also under when hay level gets low.
Winnemucca
We can only guess at the cause as the tours are fast and you are given extremely little observation time.
The first tour of this facility occurred on May 16, 2024, 10 a.m. The same volunteers attended this tour as attended the first tour of the Broken Arrow facility on Indian Lakes Rd. in Fallon 15 years ago. What we saw has clear indications that this facility mirrors the beginning of the Fallon facility: animals being housed in pens that are not complete, basic safety issues are neglected, record keeping omissions and sanitizing reality is underway.
It has been 3 months and 7 days since the last wild horse captured at East Pershing arrived. It has been 4 months and 18 days since the first East Pershing captives were offloaded. No observation was permitted to access immediate impacts of capture. No access was permitted to determine facility readiness and condition (remember, this facility is in a flood zone). We cannot stress enough just how wrong this is. BLM repeatedly obscures the ability to document capture and temporary holding corrals. In recent years, BLM has been approving “off-limits” facilities at a rapid rate denying the ability to adequately assess operations and animal welfare issues.
A few weeks ago, with heavy rain and some snow, we would have seen the issues with drainage when you build in a flood zone. Even the county took issues with the location when it was proposed for fear of groundwater contamination of fecal run off.
This week we see the pending issues with sandy soil, blazing sun and wind… the lack of a shred of shade, not even a windbreak that might offer the smallest bit of shade. There are no sprinklers for dust control.
When asked if this facility would put in sprinklers or shade, the reply from BLM was “It’s not in the contract.” Does the contract state the facility needs to house humanely? If it does, it seems it is up to BLM to decide what is “humane.” If BLM CAWP actually has teeth, as they claim, housing horses and burros humanely IS in fact in the contract and any measure needed to reach that standard would be required. (Please take the action in this article and urge your members of Congress to designate specific funding for rulemaking for an enforceable welfare policy. Yes, Congress already mandated humane management and handling. But BLM is like a bad child that thinks “cleaning their room” can mean shoving everything under a bed. Congress needs to give them clear direction.)
BLM says “we have strict welfare standards,” “we care,” “we comply with current acceptable equine practices.” If you adopt from BLM you are required to have shelter in order to meet requirements that are humane. Yet BLM does not hold public-funded contractors to the same humane standard.
Above: A number of mares were nursing 2 foals and at least a dozen mares seemed to be interested in foals on the other side of fences that did not appear to have mothers in attendance.
The lower rail on the fencing between pens holding foals had no barrier. There are no windbreaks or any shade of any kind except the shadows thrown by fencing or water troughs. Foals will try to lay in that meager shade, or just get curious, and wind up on the wrong side. Anyone that has owned a new foal knows you need a barrier. In many areas the ground was simply sand and created even wider gaps.
Close look at low rail on the alley side of all the pens without feed trough.
The pens on the far side of the facility had no feed trough to at least block the gap near alley way. At first, BLM said they were feeding on the ground because foals try to get into the troughs. Then they said the troughs were going to be installed.
Once more, we can only guess that the large number of mares nursing 2 foals is due to some potential fence issue and not an extraordinary genetic propensity for twins. Twins in horses is rather rare.
Above: Even though there is pen after pen of yearlings, BLM said no adoptions will be facilitated during this tour. So if you see an animal that you wanted to make your new family member, you will need to hope you see it on an internet adoption some day. BLM did commit to another tour of this facility in the fall, but there will be no guarantee these horses won’t ship out by then. (Note: Some of the feet on these youngsters are getting long.)
We had gotten a couple of requests to find specific horses from the roundup that would be easy to spot by potential adopters. It is a shame that BLM won’t let them leave.
There was a woman that lived locally that wanted to adopt a horse. She was told that even if she came back on the tour in the fall, when BLM would allow a horse from the facility to be adopted, she would have to travel several hours north of Reno to pick up the horse. She would not be able to take it from this facility to her home, in the same town. Her disappointment was palpable.
She is not the only local to express displeasure with the system. We do know the local county boards had a lot of concern about this facility, where it was being built and ground water contamination.
Above: In the “sick pens” this little one stood alone looking across the alley at mares and foals. BLM said this baby was orphaned during the roundup. There were 3 other “orphans” in a pen together. Another foal was penned in that area with what appeared to be a mare or long yearling. We asked if they were eligible for foster. BLM said “no.”
If it is true that this little one was orphaned over 3 months ago during the roundup as BLM stated, this is heartbreaking that foster is not an option for this baby. The lack of physical contact with other horses is really bad for a horse.
When you spend a lot of time documenting horses in the wild, seeing them in these facilities… that one glimpse you get that represents months, or even years, of their ordeal… it is really hard not to simply become far too upset with a system bent on mass removals without science, data, logic, and fall into despair or rage.
If you ran into this stallion on the range, would your heart flutter a bit? Here he is just a number. In fact, he is not even a number yet as he has not been freezemarked. An older stallion, he will head for a lifetime in long term holding or sold through the notorious “sales program” for as little as $25. and in the most critical risk category of landing in the slaughter pipeline.
Below: I did see some other obvious injuries.
The trailer\wagon we were on moved fast, and it was hard to see horses in pens beyond the pens adjacent to the alley we were travelling. BLM briefly noted there were “sick pens” and “horses in bad shape” that were “back there,” and quickly began the tour moving down the first row. I spotted an injury and tried hard to get a photo, but cannot enlarge until they are downloaded, and I am still reviewing them. Many of the images are blurry because they were taken from a long distance on a moving wagon.
Please bear with us while we take the time necessary to process all the images and videos.
These facilities are nothing more than “feedlots.” Tour-after-tour, facility-after-facility, nothing you see is tailored to humane care and husbandry practices for equines: No shade, no shelter, no dust control (horses are nasal obligant breathers and dust control is vitally important to stop respiratory illness), not even fence line clearance concerns, etc.
These are feedlots.
In over 15 years of documenting holding facilities, the occasions where BLM and contractors are interested in improvements are incredibly rare. BLM mostly simply defends the indefensible.
The facility is the last leg of a long process in the continuum of shortchanging our wild horses and burros.
A sanitized tour once or twice a year, only after months have gone by after capture and the place is “cleaned up,” and enough time has elapsed for obvious injuries to be moved out of sight or die is not transparency. Incomplete and muddled responses to FOIA requests is not transparency.
The only way we are going to see improvements in the care and handling of wild horses and burros by BLM is if BLM is required to open the welfare standard to public comment. Right now, you cannot comment on welfare in roundup plans. You cannot directly comment on CAWP as BLM finalized the standards without opening them for comment. WHE is battling this issue out in the court.
One way YOU can help to make changes would involve demanding that Congress direct BLM to open the welfare standards up to create an enforceable policy through “rulemaking” to comply with the humane management requirements of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
As you make your calls to Congress on the spending bill, please add to your requests that Congress designate funding specifically for rulemaking for an enforceable welfare policy.
Can you call (202) 224-3121 (the House switchboard) today and ask to be connected to your rep.
Please demand that funding be designated for BLM to begin the rulemaking process to finalize a desperately needed enforceable welfare policy.
We know you all want to see baby pictures. These are babies born to mares from the East Pershing Complex and some born to mares from the notorious summer roundup of 2023 at Antelope. Although BLM did not give us any actual numbers of mares from Antelope, four incompletely constructed pens in the back held mares/foals from Antelope. It is so sad these babies have not been born into intact family bands on the range… ranges that are in the direct “wildfire preparedness” concern line announced last week by the state due to nearly record breaking grass loads after the wet winter.
This all begins in the failed on range program. A real lack of data sits at “ground zero.” We have news coming in that fight soon.
We need your help to continue to document, expose, work toward reform with lawmakers and litigate. Our wild ones deserve to live free on the range and free from abuse.
Thank you for keeping WHE on the frontline in the fight to protect and preserve our treasured wild ones.
Categories: Lead, Wild Horse Education
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