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The Wild Horses in Wyoming’s Checkerboard Will Not Be Forgotten
October 19, 2017
On Giving Tuesday Please Support Wild Horse Freedom Federation in Our Fight to Save America’s Wild Horses
November 28, 2017

Does the End of the Checkerboard Roundup Mean the End of the Lives of Wyoming’s Wild Horses?

Published by Carol Walker at October 20, 2017
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Does the End of the Checkerboard Roundup Mean the End of the Lives of Wyoming’s Wild Horses? by Carol J. Walker

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The largest groups of wild horses I had ever seen being driven at once by helicopter

As we drove down County Road 430 toward the Colorado border, I had a sinking feeling that we were headed toward Bitter Creek Road, where 167 wild horses have already been rounded up and removed. I was initially told that no more than 200 horses would be removed from this area, that there would still be horses there. But now, since the helicopters could fly into Adobe Town at the every southern border with Colorado as well as in Salt Wells Creek from this location, that this was why we were going here.

The winding road up Kinney Rim

The winding road up Kinney Rim

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In fact, 236 wild horses were rounded up this day, 54 for Adobe Town and 182 from Salt Wells Creek. This stunningly beautiful area is in the shadow of Kinney Rim, one of the stunning and immense formations of hills in Adobe Town and Salt Wells Creek. Just up over the rim and about 12 miles over was Eversole Ranch.

Coming from a long way away

Coming from a long way away

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Galloping in

I did not hear any helicopters for a long time – they had headed south toward the border, and I think they were bringing wild horses from quite a long way away.

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The Judas horse being led out to lead the horses into the trap

The Judas horse being led out to lead the horses into the trap

I have never seen so many wild horses being brought in by helicopters at one time before, and I hope to never see it again. The BLM will often tell people that the horses come in at a walk or a trot. No, these horses were galloping in, and I could see the sweat gleaming on their sides. The first groups coming in slowed at the end, they did look tired – I do not know how far they had been driven.

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Coming into the trap

Coming into the trap

Dust rises from the helicopter and the horses

Dust rises from the helicopter and the horses

Horse trailers to transport the horses

Horse trailers to transport the horses

I watched group after group come in and the Cattoors did not even have enough vehicles ready to transport them all, so the horses waited in the pens outside the trap.

Horses on the way to temporary holding

Horses on the way to temporary holding

The last big group brought in caused the most excitement. It was a huge group, and as they started in between the wings of jute leading on either side of the trap, I saw the grey horse in the lead balk, refusing to move forward. Suddenly, I see wild horses bursting out of the jute, both on the side furthest from me, and also closest to me. I see a foal and stallion trying to get over it, then the sorrel foal takes a tumble over.

The greys in front slow to a stop

The greys in front slow to a stop

As the group bursts out on the other side, they also try to jump over the jute on this side

As the group bursts out on the other side, they also try to jump over the jute on this side

The sorrel foal in front falls down

The sorrel foal in front falls down

The foal gets back up and runs with the rest of the horses

The foal gets back up and runs with the rest of the horses

The sorrel foal gets up almost immediately and runs with the other horses. I am thrilled by the horses’ spirit in running away, escaping from the cruel trap, but I know that the victory is short lived. Both helicopters are circling around the horses as the crew is setting the jute wings back up. I know that their freedom is illusory and short lived but I am still cheering them on under my breath. I did not dare cheer out loud as earlier a member of the public also attending got angry about my commenting that seeing the beautiful horses being driven in was sad, and she confronted me aggressively. I did not need any additional stress this last day.

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Stunning pintos

Stunning pintos

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The horses ran for a while, but the helicopters soon had them back into groups headed back into the trap. The helicopter cam quite close behind them as they headed into the trap just to make sure they made it this time.

Back into the trap

Back into the trap

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Back into the trap

Back into the trap escorted by the helicopter

I left as they were still counting horses. I knew that they must be very close to their goal. Indeed, the final count for the Roundup was achieved with bringing in just 10 more adult horses and 5 more foals. 1560 adult horses and 408 foals have lost their freedom in this roundup despite our lawsuit that contends that removing more than 1560 wild horses total was illegal. Removing 1968 wild horses from Adobe Town, Salt Wells Creek and Great Divide Basin will leave all three of these Herd Management Areas with less wild horses than the low end of Appropriate Management Level. This is also illegal.

Older mares at Rock Springs corrals

Older mares at Rock Springs corrals

Three older mares

Three older mares

Instead of being sent to Canon City, Colorado and Rock Springs as they have been since I have been observing roundups in Wyoming since 2005, these horses are being shipped to a private facility in Axtell, Utah and another private facility in Bruneau, Idaho that do not allow public observation or adoption. How bitterly ironic – when these horses are in the most danger of being killed, when they urgently need people to save them, they are inaccessible. I have been told that members of the public can contact Lisa Reid of the BLM to request the ability to visit and adopt these horses. Some will also be left at the Rock Springs corrals which are scheduled to open to the public again in January after the horses are processed.

Mares at Rock Springs

Mares at Rock Springs

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Foals eating hay

Foals eating hay at Rock Springs corrals

More foals

More foals

Two mares doing mutual grooming

Two mares doing mutual grooming

Two older mares

Two older mares

These wild horses are in dire jeopardy right now, as are the rest of the 46,000 wild horses currently housed in short term holding corrals as well as in “off range pastures” which are often feedlots. The Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board recommended using “the lethal option” to manage the wild horses and burros under the Bureau of Land Management’s care. That means killing and or sending to slaughter 46,000 healthy wild horses and burros.

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What can you do to help?

Please call your Senators this week. Our wild horses are depending upon you to be their voice and save them from senseless slaughter and killing.

Call Your Senators and the Senate Appropriations Committee now -this week is it! Keep calling and faxing all members of the Senate Appropriations Committee –and particularly the members of the Subcommittee on the Interior- asking them to oppose any language allowing BLM to sell without restrictions wild horses in holding or authorizing the killing of healthy wild horses in holding or on the range as “management option”.

Senators on Appropriations Committee:

Phone                     Fax

(CHAIR) Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS)       202-224-5054        202-224-5321

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)             202-224-5744        202-224-3416

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)             202-224-6665        202-224-5301

Sen. John Boozman (R-AR)               202-224-4843        202-228-1371

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)           202-224-3841        202-228-3954

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)               202-224-4041        202-224-9750

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE)                202-224-5042        202-228-3075

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)                202-224-3041        202-228-0285

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HW)               202-224-3934        202-228-1153

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)                202-224-2152        202-228-0400

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS)                202-224-6521        202-228-6966

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)            202-224-2541        202-224-2499

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA)               202-224-4623        202-228-0447

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)              202-224-2523        202-224-2693

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)           202-224-4654        202-228-0629

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO)                  202-224-5721        202-224-8149             (Pro-slaughter shill, Don’t bother with him)

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT)                 202-224-2644        202-224-8594         (Don’t bother with him)

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT)               202-224-2651        202-228-1236          (Don’t bother with him)

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)             202-224-2841        202-228-3194

Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM)                  202-224-6621        202-228-3261               (He is our sponsor, no need to contact)

Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND)                202-224-2551        202-224-7999

Sen. James Lankford (R-OK)             202-224-5754        202-228-1015

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)               202-224-3753        202-228-3997

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)                  202-224-4642        202-224-4680

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)             202-224-5972        202-224-3808              (He is also our sponsor, no need to contact)

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)            202-224-4944        202-228-3398          (Pro-slaughter shill, Don’t bother with him)

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)              202-224-0238        202-224-3479

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)               202-224-2621        202-224-0238

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)              202-224-5653        202-224-9787

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)       202-224-6472        202-224-7665

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)                202-224-3954        202-228-0002

To find out more about Wild Horse Freedom Federation and our work to keep wild horses and burros wild and free on our public lands visit www.WildHorseFreedomFederation.org

Donate Here: http://wildhorsefreedomfederation.org/donate/

Spread the word

12 Comments

  1. Does the End of the Checkerboard Roundup Mean the End of the Lives of Wyoming’s Wild Horses? - Wild Horse Freedom Federation says:
    October 20, 2017 at 11:06 pm

    […] Source: wildhoofbeats.com […]

    Reply
  2. john helmer says:
    October 21, 2017 at 4:48 am

    makes me sick to see this torture of our horses.

    Reply
    • Catherine Hula says:
      October 24, 2017 at 2:40 am

      Please call your senators and tell them that you do not want these horses killed or sold to anyone who will our wild horses and burros.

      Reply
  3. Maggie Frazier says:
    October 21, 2017 at 5:41 pm

    Looking at these obviously WELL FED & healthy horses being removed, frankly, only to satisfy the livestock industry and the mining industry – no sense to this whatsoever!
    Makes me sick too.

    Reply
  4. Mary Young says:
    October 21, 2017 at 11:11 pm

    They look so sad and exhausted. Wild Horses in Wyoming is so worried about them especially the foals with winter coming on. What has become with consent decree? Will the New Ruling on AML in Utah have an effect of reversing the WY courts decision or final management plan. (which is to zero Salt Wells and Divide Basin currently).

    Love these horses, How I wish I could collect all 2000 and take them to a safe never to be traumatized again home. They mess with wild horses like they mess with livestock. How many more sheep do they think they can add to the already 50,000 (which only costs the rancher 1.84 each for a whole season to graze). errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

    Thank you for your work..

    Reply
  5. denise blake says:
    October 23, 2017 at 10:16 pm

    THIS IS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE,IM IN TEARS AND I BET THOUSANDS MORE PEOPLE ARE IN TEARS,AT THE CRUELTY IN THIS,YOU ALL OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES BEING INVOLVED IN THIS RIDICULOUS IDEA OF SLAUGHTERING ALL THE WILD HORSES MAKES ME SICK

    Reply
  6. Wendy says:
    October 24, 2017 at 12:43 am

    It makes me sick and angry to see these healthy horses rounded up for the love of money and greed. Has anyone ever thought of darting (temporary sleep) the judas horse?

    Reply
  7. SE says:
    October 24, 2017 at 9:36 am

    thank you for the list of phone numbers. calling them all on my day off later this week. It is torture what they are doing and our tax dollars are paying for them to do this.

    Reply
  8. Virginia Leary says:
    October 24, 2017 at 12:47 pm

    When will this barbarism end??? This land was these horses way before it was outs. Put all the $$ into a large swath of land for all the rangers to use. LEAVE AMERICA’S HORSES ALONE!!!!!!!

    Reply
  9. GUEST says:
    October 24, 2017 at 5:53 pm

    How can I locate one of the horses you photographed that has caught my eye?

    Reply
    • Carol Walker says:
      January 10, 2018 at 9:16 pm

      Good question. Look for my blog tomorrow.
      Carol

      Reply
      • Carol Walker says:
        January 11, 2018 at 4:26 pm

        Here is my blog post explaining why you cannot get a Horse that you select: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/blog/the-bureau-of-land-management-blocks-public-observation-and-adoption-of-wild-horses-rounded-up-in-wyoimings-checkerboard

        Reply

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