On the Eve of the Fifteenmile Wild Horse Roundup in Wyoming
October 15, 2019Day 2 of the Fifteenmile Wild Horse Roundup in Wyoming
October 20, 2019Fifteenmile Wild Horse Roundup in Wyoming Day 1
The day before the Fifteenmile roundup began, I was lucky enough to spend time with a family band who did not seem to mind humans, a truly atypical response from these very wild and flighty horses. The sun came out from the clouds just long enough to get some images as they were standing in the sun then ran by us.
We headed to the BLM office at 5:45 in the morning then headed out for over an hour drive. As we drove to where we were placed to observe we saw a mare and foal run up the hill as dawn was filling the sky with light. They had no idea of what was about to come.
Unfortunately our location was not a good one. We walked and then had to climb a steep red rock hill and at th stop there was jute spread across concealing the drop off behind us. We were told we were 1.5 miles from the trap but we could not see the horses run into or at the trap itself. We could see dust erupt and very occasionally heads come up above the sage brush when they reared up through binoculars but that was it. There was no opportunity for meaningful observation, of the kind where we could see if the horses looked winded and sweaty, if they were being run too far too hard, and no way to see any problems like injuries running into panels or attempting to leap out. When we are close enough to see we can often offer suggestion that may help in keeping the horses safe. But not this roundup. Wecould see them running by but that was it. When requesting a different closer location where we might observe the horses going into the trap we were told “the BLM selected this location and the contractor agreed.” Well I keep asking for a better location.
The first group of beautiful wild horses was captured at the Fifteenmile Herd roundup. There were 40-50 in the first group, hard to count when they were such a tight group like a river moving across the landscape. We are at least 1.5 miles from the trap and we cannot see the horses going into the trap behind the rock formations.mare and foal ran up the road in front of us as the sky was filling with light.
On the second run of the helicopter about 83 horses were in a huge group, 36 broke off and ended up in the trap. The others mostly pintos ran off back the direction they came – a very long way off, the horses were very tired especially a grey stallion at the end. Two bachelors ran for the hills and got away at least for now.
In the third run of the helicopter about thirty horses fought hard to avoid getting pushed into the trap. A bay mare ran away and the wrangler rode after the foal through the draws and tall sage and roped it and brought it in. I do not know where the mother went. We had seen them running up the road in front of us before dawn when we arrived.
We just saw a huge line of horses running not from the helicopter but headed toward a waterhole – right behind the trap sight. They saw the trap and headed out up the mountain. Meanwhile there were 40 coming in front of the helicopter behind us. Sorrels, bays, pintos, grays, a buckskin and they were driven into the trap – we can just see ears and dust. The helicopter landed and we are waiting to see if they will go after the big group today or quit. We plan to wait to see the horses in temporary holding which is near the trap. Just heard they are done for the day and we estimate about 200 horses were captured. We are going to temporary holding to see those horses in an hour or so.
After 2 1/2 hour wait we finally are allowed to go see the horses whose temporary pens are next to the trap. The stallions are in the first pen and they are restless and calling for their families, who were calling back. Beautiful horses. We made our way around the pens, seeing younger stallions, mares, mares with foals. The foals are wet like they had been run a long way.
We were told 211 horses were captured, one injury a mare that was being treated for a gash, and no deaths. After visiting them, we drive to our hotel in the fading light.
25 Comments
Thank you for being there to witness this soul crushing roundup. I’ve been to others and it honors the horses. Hugs to you.
Who and how much did you and I pay for this animal abuse?
WILD HORSE AND BURRO PROGRAM HELICOPTER DRIVE TRAPPING GATHER – WY FIFTEEN MILE HMA
Recipient CATTOOR LIVESTOCK ROUNDUP INC
This contract was awarded to Cattoor Livestock Roundup Inc with a potential award amount of $244,360.
https://www.usaspending.gov/#/award/86802392
The contractor, Cattours is being paid $244,360 of our taxpayer money.
per horse? they get a LOT more than $244 / contract!
I thought they were paid $700 per horse captured and that included foals(!). And yet, foals are never purportedly included in the removal numbers – or ‘aren’t counted .
Thank you for your report and for being there these magnificent wild horses. It saddens my heart they are being rounded up. They are so gorgeous & Free and full of spirit and life and such a great Testament to us all of this beautiful Wild Land in the Mustang history. Many of us feel like something is dying and don’t know what to do. We sign the papers we sent the request we’ve been proactive. Please just keep us informed on what can be done. I wished I were independently wealthy and could buy thousands of Acres just to relocate them to freedom…
America doesn’t need more beef it needs a 50 year moratorium on all its borders to diminish threats and growth, and it needs to let the American Mustangs be the living embodiment of this great Nation, history and Mustangs, wild horses…..may their whinnies ride the wild winds into eternity….
Yes, thank you for being there. I’m finding it difficult to express my feelings right now. But please know that I am sincerely grateful to you and am keeping you and these incredible horses in my thoughts.
That’s so wrong for the BLM to not provide an observation site for people to bear witness to actually SEE horses coming in to the trap. Of course the contractor agrees, makes it easier to hide the cruelty and animal abuse of our poor horses being taken from their rightful land. They don’t want suggestions to improve the welfare of the horses, they are making that crystal clear. Should be illegal since the overdriving of horses is against state of Wyoming animal cruelty laws. I don’t understand how they continue to get away with this animal abuse. Thank you Carol for being there. Very sad indeed.
It’s incredibly disrespectful that you couldn’t be closer to the trap. I absolutely don’t agree with the BLM’s decision to keep you so far away.
Thank you for all you do for our wild ones!
So sad to see this terrible situation unfold. I grieve for the horses that will be taken away. Thank you Carol and your team for being there.
Thank you for bringing this to 3everyones attention. I find it so incredibly sad to see this, brings tears to my eyes. Why can’t they just leave them alone….
Carol do you know what happened to foal they cruelly roped and brought in separated from mama!?? They should have let that foal go with mama!!!
The foal was brought in and the mare as far as i know got away and is still free. They roped the foal and brought it in because it was all alone.
Thank you so much. If this is against the law in Wyoming than Why? Is it being condoned! And yes I too am sick of signing all these petitions to Nothing getting done. Makes me sick just pay my taxes and shutup. No one does anything!????
rich cattlemen vote…horses don’t…the cattlemen want free grazing on the public’s Federal land, so they want the horses gone…
They should Not be allowed to graze cattle in ANY heard management areas, PERIOD.
Agreed.
Ask to see the mare who’s being treated for the gash in a few days….
ask to see the mare who’s being treated for the gash in a few days, and see whether she’s still around…
They said they shipped her to Rock Springs for treatment so I cannot go see her.
exactly. If you go to Rock Springs, you won’t see her there either, i bet….
this is what the wild horse ppl have seen….BLM now holds roundups on private property to deny public viewing…..the horses are separated into 3 pens…one for stallions, one for mares, and one for foals. Legally they can shoot an injured horse. The stallions are injured fighting with one another and by trying to get through the fence…the mares are injured trying to get through the fence to their babies…and some of the foals either collapse from exhaustion/ have bleeding feet because their hooves are softer and have been run right off the baby. All of the above are usually shot (bullets cost less than 25 cents, and the BLM don’t have to ‘waste money’ trying to get the horses adopted. Foals born in the pens legally don’t exist…they’re not ‘wild’….so they’re shot too. (Mares go into labour from the stress) Welcome to the BLM roundups!
Where do you get your information about the babies? I don’t believe you. I’ve seen the babies born at the facilities go up for adoption and still classed as wild mustangs. I don’t believe you when you say they are shot; that’s just angry talk.
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Thank you Carol for documenting what you can and for backing up your information with links that varify what you say is true. It’s such a passionate topic it’s hard to not let your emotions run rampant and it’s hard to find such honest observations being separate from the emotional outcries you must feel while witnessing these events.
I have plans to go to Rock Springs in January to adopt a couple of foals and I promise you I will take good care of them.