Swasey, 2020
The Swasey roundup of 2024 intends to capture 166 wild horses and release 10 studs and 10 mares. Mares will be treated with the 4-10 hormonal vaccine GonaCon. Mares who had IUDs placed will be checked to see if they are still in place and if there are issues. We were informed that the 8 IUD mares are priority for capture and may be among the mares released if they “check out.”
The Swasey Herd Management Area (HMA) comprises 120,113 acres of public and state lands. BLM states that the appropriate number of wild horses is 60-100.
Wild horses are being shipped to the off-limits to the public facility in Axtel. The same facility where burros from the ongoing Blue Wing roundup were shipped.
Captured:
189 Wild Horses (57 Stallions, 99 Mares, and 33 Foals) BLM got special approval to increase target and capture “ohh HMA: horses between Swasey and Onaqui.
We do not have breakdown but have numbers. As of 1 p.m. on July 24, 157 wild horses have been captured. BLM was approved to remove 166. Tomorrow should be the last day of this operation.
Shipped: 188 Wild Horses (57 Stallions, 98 Mares, and 33 Foals)
Deaths: 1
Mare euthanized, missing left eye.
Newest reports will appear at the top. Scroll down for earlier reports. We are continuing to load video to this page as time allows.
7/25
On the way to trap there was lightening and rain in the pitch darkness. Trap moved to catch “off HMA horses.” On the way back in, after the sun rose, our observer could see where she was. She had been near this area two years ago on her way toward Onaqui. We believe these horses are perhaps “off HMA” Onaqui?
During the first run we were swarmed by biting gnats.
32 (7 Stallions, 20 Mares, and 5 Foals) captured.
First death: Mare (we do not know color or age) put down, missing left eye.
7/24
12 (5 Stallions, 6 Mares, and 1 Foals) captured
Roundup will likely reach target number tomorrow.
7/23
60 (21 Stallions, 29 Mares, and 10 Foals) captured. It was 97 degrees when operations ended. It was 3 degrees hotter at the temporary corral.
Above: After the 2020 roundup 8 mares were released with IUDs. The hip brand IDs is a tracking number. These mares were priority for capture. It looks like many of them either failed or were dislodged. we hope BLM discloses all information on the health of these mares and any foals they may be carrying.
Above: This foal lagged behind and was left of range after capture. You can hear the mare calling to him. We do not know what she said, but he listened and moved further away…. several times. Instead of retrieving the foal, BLM said “it would join the next group” and our observer expressed that was unlikely. The foal did not join and was roped on the far side of the valley.
Above: When an even younger foal was left far behind and tried so hard to keep up, the pilot pushed the band in. In a really bad call by those in charge, the roundup kept going. THREE additional runs were allowed before anyone stopped to look for the baby. We are not entirely sure that trap even knew as those at the observation location had to inform trap of the color of the foal and direction it fled. It took nearly 2 hours from the time the foal dropped off until it was found, apparently, hiding in a ditch.
When a baby drops off everything should stop immediately! No excuses that you need to get the others in before temperatures rise, “AML,” or any other excuse. Go find the baby.
If a pilot does not inform trap that a foal falls off, they simply can’t see it. Sometimes foals are really small and, perhaps, the pilot can’t see them. This last run is an example of why foaling season and deviations to foaling season as BLM experiments with various fertility control methods, must be defined by data and the old cowboy myth that all herds magically foal at the same time (March-June) need to end. (Take the action item at the bottom of the update page and call your reps in Congress to get designated funding in the Appropriations bill or BLM to undertake “Rulemaking for an enforceable welfare policy, please.)
Observers showed their value at trap this day. There was a brief time BLM relied on observers to spot things like that foal and inform trap. In this district things like that not only happen, but BLM seems to welcome the input. In most districts there is zero communication and in many, zero access to even observe enough to know if foals drop off (like at Blue Wing where the number of foals coming in is less than half of what BLM says the foaling rate is on that range).
Above: The foal was roped and loaded. We were permitted to watch the foal arrive at trap. It was given a syringe of electrolytes and offered a drink before being offloaded into the mare pen to try to find mom.
We are still processing video from this roundup and will load more as time allows.
7/22
7 (4 Stallions, 2 Mares, and 1 Foals) were captured. One band and a bachelor band of 3.
Above: The tiniest of babies was captured.
Below: Even if care is taken, foaling season (or any band with a new baby at any time of year) is simply a dangerous situation. This newborn gets kicked by an agitated bachelor.
Above: We went to holding and the mare and foal had the big pen to themselves. Baby took a hard kick after capture and our observer was concerned. The huge bay is the babies father. We realize during export the video cut off the top of his head and will reload. Admittedly, we are working really fast during long days and juggling multiple roundup operations.
We will load more as time allows.
7/21
42 (10 Stallions, 21 Mares, and 11 Foals) captured. All horses captured yesterday, shipped.
The first two grouping of bands came in before 8:40. Temperatures ranged from the low to the upper 60s. It was 3 hours before the final grouping approached trap. Between 8:30 and 11:40, temperatures rose to around 96 degrees. The last trailer left holding when temperatures hit 97.
At temporary holding, it was 2 degrees warmer. The horses will be shipped in the morning.
Younger studs were not sorted from older studs. Each day in the stud pen, all of the studs try to get to their families and keep other studs from getting to theirs.
One stud will always gain dominance after fighting, that can sometimes get pretty brutal, to keep the others away from the alley. We always worry about the young males that are looking over the fence to get to mom and try to stay out if harms way.
Today this big dark buskskin seemed to be the dominant. He came in the last load and we did watch him go through the chute. As he came out the other side he could see his mare and could not get to her. He let out a very deep vocalization.
In the last run we did observe foals that appeared “off” on the back end and an older foal that stumbled. We were given enough time at holding to observe each one moving.
As stated yesterday, we have extensive video we are editing and will publish soon.
7/20
The first band came in at around 8 a.m. and was loaded right away to go to temporary holding. The tiny foal, mare and older sibling stayed at trap and were loaded later in the day. The day started overcast around 70 degrees.
The next run had a beautiful roan with the most amazing mane and tail.
This band stopped and did not want to go into the trap. Wranglers chased them in.
We have extensive video from today including a band of 3 that came in fast. We will edit and upload as time allows.
We were actually able to watch a small bit of sorting as the last band trailered out was still being sorted as we arrived. These two did not want to enter the chute.
BLM has been placing temporary holding more and more on private property and not negotiating the First Amendment Rights of the public to view.
Here we had an “old time” tour where we were given ample time to assess the condition of the captive horses.
In the slideshow above, we share the faces of the captives.
There was one horse we are actually concerned about. A young bay male, above. It looked as if he was injured and his posture repeatedly expressed pain. We hope he makes it.
Our team remains onsite.
Our team is working hard to report in-depth from roundups and range. We are also at the table, doing investigative work and in the courts. Our litigation includes the battle for fair management planning and we do have an active case in the courts against abuse.
Please make a call. Our wild ones desperately need an enforceable welfare policy that is crafted with transparency, public participation and complies with current welfare standards for equines.
The phone number for Congress is: (202) 224-3121. You should put it in your speed dial. Call the number tell the operator who your representative is (or where you live if you do not know) and you will be connected to an aide in the office. Ask to register your concerns and request. Ask that an amendment to the funding bill for the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program be crafted to simply create a line item for funding for “Rulemaking to create an enforceable welfare policy.”
We need your help to keep running for the wild.
Our friend in Wyoming, wildlife photographer Jim Brown, designed this poignant t-shirt. He is donating all proceeds to help us continue our work. Click HERE.
Jim posted this on his Facebook page about Krazy, the horse on the shirt. We thought we should share the story with you.
Stay tuned for an action item to address the North Lander Complex in Wyoming.
Categories: Wild Horse Education
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