More News from the Calico Roundup
January 29th, 2010 | 
Author: 
Downed mare struggling to rise at Fallon 1/26/10 Photo Credit – Craig Downer
Mare who had spontaneous abortion that day at Fallon. Photo taken 1/26/10 by Craig Downer
Since we posted this item, the BLM has reported the deaths of four more horses at the Fallon facility, bringing the total number of deaths to 26 horses. In addition, several people have raised questions about some of the horses looking very thin in the video below. Here is what a wild horse expert has to say about this situation:
“A horse’s condition is more compromised in the winter, especially older horses, pregnant horses or those nursing foals. The additional stress of roundup, capture and separation only adds to their fragile condition. What is so sad is that not only do many of these horses have to endure a helicopter chase, capture and transport…some will be euthanized in the end. Some horses are too stressed out to eat hay or drink out of troughs when they are in corrals. These free ranging herd animals suffer more than we can see. They are wild horses, they are not even ‘tamed’ wild horses. They are born, live and die on the range and I am sure if they could speak they would prefer to live out their lives…season to season, on their range with their herd”
Neda DeMayo
Founder, CEO
Return To Freedom, American Wild Horse Sanctuary
News of brutality and suffering continues to stream from the BLM’s wild horse holding facility in Fallon Nevada, where the death count from the Calico Mountains Complex roundup now stands at 22 horses. New deaths include a mare who crashed into a gate and broke her neck, and more horses — including a stallion and a 12 year old mare — found dead in the Fallon holding pens. Many of the latter deaths are being attributed to “failure to adjust to dietary change,” raising the likelihood that these horses suffered horribly due to colic before dying, separated from their families, at the Fallon holding pens. (See complete fatality summary below.)
According to John Neill, the BLM employee in charge of both the Fallon and Palomino Valley holding facilities, 15-20 mares suffered from spontaneous abortions. The trauma and terror that the BLM has subjected these pregnant horses to is likely to have played a role in many or most of these miscarriages.
BLM is also reporting that 20-25 horses are being treated for injuries and lameness caused by the roundup.
IDA observer Deniz Bolbol witnessed the suffering of the horses first-hand when she visited Fallon this week and saw a downed mare struggling to stand and another mare in the midst of a medical emergency, appearing to be having a spontaneous abortion but being unable to expel the calf. The BLM has since stated that the horse suffered a spontaneous abortion earlier in the day and was passing the afterbirth (apparently with difficulty) when Deniz took the video.
Deniz’s video below shows the horrible reality in which the Calico horses now find themselves. Only weeks ago, they were running free on the range with their families. Now, after enduring the trauma and terror of a helicopter stampede, they are interred at the BLM’s feedlot in Fallon, stallions separated from their mares, mares separated from their foals, horses going down and dying from colic, or maybe just giving up in the face of their sad fate.
The mounting Calico death and injury toll illustrates quite clearly the inhumanity of the BLM’s wild horse and burro program. If this was being done in an emergency, such as after a fire where the horses were demonstrably starving, then we might be able to say that the fatalities and injuries are unfortunate, but the action was necessary to save the horses. But the BLM’s entire wild horse management policy rests on these massive roundups, removals and stockpiling of horses. The program subjects horses and burros to this trauma every 3-5 years in most herd management areas.
The policy doesn’t make sense. From a financial perspective, it’s a train wreck. The Calico roundup alone is costing taxpayers $1.7 million, and the annual tab for BLM’s roundups and maintenance of horses in short-term feedlots and longer-term holding pastures exceeds $50 million. Reform is what’s needed and needed now.
Americans are speaking out in unprecedented numbers to save the wild horses, whose existence free on the Western range strikes a deep chord in so many people. Protests continue. Last week saw rallies in Sacramento, where advocates braved pouring rain, to speak up for the mustangs (see TV report here) and Tucson, where pro-wild horse citizens lined the streets.This week advocates will take to the streets in Phoenix and Boulder.
Help us save the horses. If you can organize a rally or educational event in your community contact hope@idausa.org. And be sure to take action here.
CALICO MOUNTAIN COMPLEX ROUNDUP FATALITY LIST
(Taken from BLM “Gather Activity Updates” and fatality report )
NOTE: Although the BLM reports 19 deaths at the Fallon holding facility, it has provided information only on 17 deaths. Three deaths have occurred at the trap site.
1/27
One filly found dead of unknown cause
Three mares of poor body condition killed; one spinal injury and one sole abscess and pelvis injury
1/25
One stallion was found dead, cause of death unknown
1/23
One mare crashed into a gate and broke her neck
Two mares killed due to poor body condition; not able to transition to new diet
One mare found dead in corral
1/21
One mare downed on transport truck arrived at facility; subsequently died
One colt suffered hoof sloughing as a result of the roundup; killed by injection after treated for 12 days
“About 20 to 25 horses at the facility have received treatment for various injuries or lameness.”
1/18
Foal born on 1/14 was killed on 1/15 because s/he could “not thrive”
1/14
Two mares and one stallion found dead; attributed to “failure to adjust to a change in feed”
1/13
One 12-year-old mare die after being at facility for four days; “weak and poor condition”
1/11
One mare found dead over the weekend; “result of dietary feed change”
1/7
*One 20-year old mare was killed; “poor body condition that was unlikely to improve”
1/1
*One colt run to death; “pre-existing pulmonary condition”
12/30
*One 20-plus-year-old mare shot by riffle at the trap site; “unlikely her condition would improve”
*Indicates death at trap site.
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Please note how poor the horses are, skinny, then ask yourself how many would have starved to death this winter.
Are you as a group willing to take responsibility for that?
The horses WERE in great condition till the BLMN GOT ahold of them. The BLM lied about the range and said it was in poor condition – then they removed horses then al of a sudden the BLM says the range is in great condition so they are increasing cattle 300 %. We are tired of BLM corrupt brutal liars and demand they be prosecuted and imprisoned for fraud , horrific horse abuse and lying nonstop the AMERICAN PEOPLE AND CONGRESS.
How do you know that the horses were in great condition before the BLM rounded them up? Were you out there everyday watching each herd and how they looked? I doubt it. The reason the BLM rounds up the mustangs is to insure that they will survive. If left alone on such little available range, they population of mustangs would grow to the extent that they would eat everything until they all starved to death. When a horse is born, it is either male or female, with their reproductive organs intact. Therefore, since the stallions can’t geld themselves, they would continue to breed and breed and breed. Now I have no problem with this, until you factor in them overpopulating and starving. I myself have owned two BLM mustangs, the second I just adopted last year. They are amazing horses and I would do anything to protect them and save them. My first mustang is the reason I am where I am today and no one could ever replace him. If it wasn’t for the BLM, I never would have found my best friend in him, that horse was my whole world. I support what the BLM does, even with the few deaths that happen in the process. They are simply trying to save these horses, and so what if there are a few other benefits to other people in the process, they are still saving the mustangs. The question in the end is, would you rather have the very few that die from the stress and diet change of the round up but still have thousands still running free, or the thousands running free die of starvation and therefore the extinction of the american wild mustang? You decide if you can handle their blood on your hands.
That doesn’t excuse HUMAN brutality at all.
They would have died free, as part of the natural ecosystem that birthed their species in the first place. Those who ‘couldn’t adjust to the dietary change’ wouldn’t have died at all, nor would the colt have had his hooves literally run off, nor would the mares be aborting. Most of them are NOT in poor condition (horses in poor condition cannot conceive, and most of those mares are pregnant), but running and sweating for as long as they were made to in FREEZING weather DOES have serious physical consequences for ANY ANIMAL. Left to their own, they would have moved as little as necessary for most of the winter, and found shelters, and food, and eaten snow for water. And done just fine.
Mustangs are not idiots and do not need mollycoddling like domestics do, but they also don’t need to be abused.
Of course, it would be cheaper for the BLM to just drop them hay if they are starving, but that makes too much sense for the BLM to do, apparently, and they’d have to fight their energy and cattle buddies to do it.
hello; the answer is: 1. none; no horse would have “starved; if left out on the range; the BLM chose the mid winter just when the horses are using up their fat reserves; in an attempt to fool the public; have you seen the pix of Fallon?; the first horses rounded up were plump; not even close to thin;
2. a horse can get extremely thin before falling; for example; I have seen MANY pix of “starving horses; when a horse is truly starving; there is no mistaking it for being thin; you can tell a “starving horse in a minute and believe me; these horses are not starving
conclusion: If no Horses would have starved this winter; and they would begin putting on weight this spring with advent of the fresh wild grass they eat;
and if 26 horses have died in about 30 days at Fallon; and this is attributable in some cases; “bad feed…(failure to adjust to feed); then which would say is worse; “NO horses starving in the wild; (9 out of 10 mammels use up their store of fat during winter;
or 26 Horses perishing at the hands of the BLM; you do the math:
no round up ? 0 horses perish
BLM round up ? 26 Horses perish
and: if the BLM does find a thin horse; they do not try to save the horse! they do not give the thin horse special feed or supplements; The BLM does not Save Starving Horses!; they create situations of bad feed; which is why I think so many horses perished;
the contractor left old straw from the building of the pens and the straw got wet and moldy; BLM says the Horses use this straw for bedding; I say the horses are eating the straw; this is causing sickness;
If a Horse eats old moldy straw; the Horse will get sick; and then no shelter; not even a tree? In the wild the horses got many types of wild clean straw and hay; in the blm pens they get only one type of hay
this is poor feeding managment; this creates Malnutrition; the BLM creates Malnutrition in horses;
the BLM takes nursing Foals right from a Mare’s udder;
puts the Foal on pellets; this creates “malnutrition;
Malnutrition (lack of essential nutrients; creates disease; so any way you look; BLM creates manlnutrion + disease; esp. to Mares by rounding up the Wild Horse
anna conn usa
ps to Ray; have you seen the pix of the “downed mare at the top of the IDA Wild Horse and Burro page which is where I am writing this from ? The otherwise healthy Mare; after being run for 15 miles or so; “is having difficulty standing up; wonder why ?
The Stress the BLM put the Horse through with the Round up; the processing; the freeze branding on some; the paint spraying on other horses dorsal area;
the separating of the:
a.herds from the land b.Stallions from Mares c. Mares from Foals; all the stress of being chased by a big silver bird; put in pens; new feed; chlorinated water; old hay; proved too much for the Mare ! so she died(most likely shot); whereas before the roundup;
This Mare was Grazing Peacefully in a clean fresh meadow like she has done every day since her birth;
and suddenly this Mare finds herself in a cold barren pen; so the BLM abused the Mare too far; this is inhumane; this is what we are all against and fighting to stop; we believe in fair treatment to Horses.
Anne, Your campaign against this roundup are very misguided. I have been around horses all my life, I grew up on a ranch where we spent years on horses, around cows and wildlife. My 30 work history entails maintaining water wells and springs for ranches. I know what an animal should look like this mid winter and sorry but those horses are in trouble.
Have you seen horses dying from starvation? I have photos if you haven’t, not pretty and something the ranchers, the BLM and any local wishes to avoid by this gather.
Sure as hell and despite efforts a few will not survive the gather but thats ten time better than having a big die off from starvation.
A final point, a natural death is brutal for most things wild. An animal for lack of teeth or hair or disease weakens over a period of time..weeks months..until it can no loger stand or a preditor gets it down and starts eating it before its had a chance to die. If one of my animals are terminaly sick I will not let it suffer, a kindness to have it put down.
In response to Ray: If you look at the pictures above, the other horses around the mare in trouble are in very good shape. The only pictures I have seen with horses in trouble are the older horses.
I have been a saddle maker for many years and can spot the condition of the horse very easly. I work with horses on a daily basis.
There is a big difference between a wild animal living a full life and one that is chased until it has no hoof wall, at a very young age.
If you go to Yellowstone in the winter time you are not allowed to bother the bufflo in any way, for fear that they will expend too much energy to make it through the winter. The same should be true for these horses. Both are protected wild animals.
This roundup is very crul to the animals. Running a mare till she aborts is simply not right. We are a better country than this.
Ray, condoning brutality is just “not human.” Nothing you say is going to convince any intelligent, compassionate human being to agree with you. Please join us in the 21st century and enough with the “cowpoke” bs. Your comments are as full of it as the BLM’s. There are a nation FULL of knowledgeable horsepeople who know better.