Saturday, October 31, 2009

Wild Horse population riding off into the sunset « Straight from the Horse's Heart

Wild Horse population riding off into the sunset « Straight from the Horse's Heart

Wild horses may not be dragging anyone away – they are too busy being slaughtered and harassed, advocates say. They are also pretty tangled up in a debate about their fate.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Citizens call for immediate moratorium on wild horse round-ups « Straight from the Horse's Heart

Citizens call for immediate moratorium on wild horse round-ups « Straight from the Horse's Heart

The Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA), an umbrella organization comprising over 60 member organizations, announced today it is joining the growing chorus calling for an immediate moratorium on the gathering of wild horses and burros by all government agencies. Already calling for a moratorium are The Cloud Foundation, The Animal Law Coalition and noted expert, wildlife ecologist, Craig Downer and Mustang author Deanne Stillman.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Reports Reveal More Deaths and Sloppy Record Keeping by BLM as Groups Call for Investigation « Straight from the Horse's Heart

Reports Reveal More Deaths and Sloppy Record Keeping by BLM as Groups Call for Investigation « Straight from the Horse's Heart

HOUSTON, (Horseback) – In the sometimes bewildering world of the federal Bureau of Land management, things get confusing – even confounded annoying.

Such was the case when Horseback Magazine began to investigate the deaths of 11 horses we found on a comprehensive report released by the Washington office on fatalities during the agency’s wild horse “gathers” since the beginning of last year.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Wild Horse Debate Gallops On « Straight from the Horse's Heart

Wild Horse Debate Gallops On « Straight from the Horse's Heart

The Obama administration’s first try at resolving the debate over the wild horses of the West has not gone over well with some. Animal rights groups say that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s proposal to relocate thousands of mustangs to preserves in the East and Midwest would compound years of federal mismanagement of the horses.

Habitat for Horses becomes first Equine Sanctuary accredited by GFAS « Straight from the Horse's Heart

Habitat for Horses becomes first Equine Sanctuary accredited by GFAS « Straight from the Horse's Heart

Today the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries, announced Habitat for Horses became the first equine rescue and sanctuary accredited to its standards and, thereby, recognized by GFAS. The accreditation signifies the official implementation of clear and respected international standards for the public, donors and government agencies to recognize credible sanctuaries that adhere to the true mission of providing safe haven and humane care for abused animals.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Commentary: Love, Loss and Lessons of the Wild Horses « Straight from the Horse's Heart

Commentary: Love, Loss and Lessons of the Wild Horses « Straight from the Horse's Heart

I have sat at this computer and tried to put into words my feelings after viewing Ginger Kathrens‘ third installment of the “Cloud” series on PBS last night. It’s not coming easy as there are a variety of emotions at play.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

What is the BLM Hiding? « Straight from the Horse's Heart

What is the BLM Hiding? « Straight from the Horse's Heart

HOUSTON, (HORSEBACK) – Horseback Magazine requested access an upcoming Wyoming BLM roundup, even offering a signed release by our observer and photographer if they were permitted to watch the operation up close from beginning to end alongside the BLM contractor’s pilot and wranglers..

The contractor, Sue Cattoor responded to the request that was forwarded by the government agency to her company. Request denied.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

All the Pretty Beach Horses « Straight from the Horse's Heart

All the Pretty Beach Horses « Straight from the Horse's Heart

Can the descendants of horses left by Spanish explorers coexist with native plants and animals on North Carolina’s environmentally sensitive Outer Banks? A study will tell.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The Deadly Gathers of the BLM « Straight from the Horse's Heart

The Deadly Gathers of the BLM « Straight from the Horse's Heart

The Bureau of Land Management’s concerted effort to thin the herds of wild horses on land it manages has proven deadly, so deadly in fact, that for each of the last two years (and this year’s not over yet) there have been fatalities on almost half of the “gathers” the agency has conducted.

Habitat for Horses – Tabitha’s Story « Straight from the Horse's Heart

Habitat for Horses – Tabitha’s Story « Straight from the Horse's Heart

She stood by the fence looking scared and lonely. Her bone thin body held no warmth to protect her against the chilly breeze that whipped across the muddy, weed-filled pasture, making her shiver even harder. She was slowly dying of starvation.

As we pulled the Habitat for Horses truck up next to the road, she made a weak effort to whinny to us, hoping, no doubt, that we had feed or hay. She had gone so long without, but she still hoped that some human would care enough to help her.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Horseback Magazine Honored by Equine Health Care Professionals � Straight from the Horse's Heart

Horseback Magazine Honored by Equine Health Care Professionals

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HOUSTON, (Horseback) – Author and journalist Steven Long, editor of Horseback Magazine and Horseback Online, was recognized Monday for outstanding journalism based on his investigative work in the delivery of quality health care for Texas horses in a story on the continuing battle between equine dentists and the veterinary establishment. He was also cited “for his work protecting the rights of personal choice of Texas horse owners.”

Monday, October 19, 2009

Help end, not expand, horse slaughter

Help end, not expand, horse slaughter

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Rep. Ed Butcher relies on the same old arguments of horse slaughter proponents in his effort to whet a new appetite for American horses in Asia (”Author of Montana horse slaughter plant bill courts Chinese investors,” Oct. 1). Butcher ignores the fact that most Americans abhor the very idea of slaughtering horses for their meat.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Wild horse plan rekindles cattle grazing debate « Straight from the Horse's Heart

Wild horse plan rekindles cattle grazing debate « Straight from the Horse's Heart

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A new federal proposal to manage wild horses is rekindling debate over another fixture of the Western range: cattle.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Montana’s Horse “Butcher” invents new definition for “Red” State


Montana’s “honorable(?)” Ed Butcher is not content with simply being dipped in horse blood and dubbed the Ringleader of one of the most ornery gangs of GOP thugs in the entire United States. Heck no, he attempts to carry it a step further and show the good people of Montana just how much he really loves the All-American color of RED by actively soliciting and inviting the communist Chinese to build illegal businesses in Montana.

The voters of Montana are still seeing the angry color after the self-proclaimed equine expert and politically incorrect politician rammed an impotent and useless bill down their throats opening up the door for the construction of outlawed horse slaughter plants in their fair state. And he was not content with just throwing open the barn door for every type of sleazy foreign businessman in the world to waltz into Montana, and try to make a fast buck by killing American horses for human consumption in foreign countries, no, that was not enough. He virtually took away the rights of any sensible Montana resident to protest such construction by requiring the protester to front a bond that would have to represent a sizable chunk of the entire protested project. Gosh, how sweet is that in our wonderful land of the free?

But now, with all of Ed’s magical shades of red dancing before our eyes, he throws in another hue that really just knocks our boots off; he wants to invite Communist China to move on into Montana and start killing off horses for food, which is against Federal law. Gosh, Montana has gone from being the land of beautiful mountains and wide open skies to becoming a pocket of perverted politics and a hot bed for Communist expansion; you gotta love this guy.

We published an article about this atrocity several weeks ago in hopes that it would help in muzzling this buffoon, but no, he continues to push the local newspapers into publishing his tripe under the guise that it is news when in all actuality it is simply public documentation pointing straight for his ouster; he has GOT to go.

How can any state, in this Union, allow an elected official to pass laws that attempt to usurp standing federal law, laugh in the face of his constituents and then actively solicit foreign companies to build in his state under false pretenses? Let alone invite the Reds in, isn’t anyone paying attention? It’s bad enough that Republicans are leaderless and devoid of a platform but this untethered bulldog has ruined and will forever tarnish their name if they don’t cut their losses and let this dog go.

And “Red Ed”, do you read the newspaper? This little tidbit hit the wires yesterday…yes, it has multi-syllable words in it and it might take you a while to digest but give it a shot.

On Oct. 8, 2009, the United States Senate passed the final version of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R.2997). The House of Representatives approved the bill the previous day. This bill provides funding for the USDA for fiscal year 2010 and contains a provision that might be of interest to both you and the voters of Montana who will probably be calling for your removal, soon.

The bill contains a provision prohibiting any funds, again, from being used by the USDA to inspect horse meat for human consumption. While there are currently no plants operating in the United States that process horses for human consumption, this bill effectively bars any such plant from operating in the U.S. for fiscal year 2010.

This bill will now proceed to the President for his approval, which is expected.”

Guess what, “Red Ed”, you wasted all that time and all that taxpayer money to pass a dead bill that is not only against the law but laughs at and mocks the very Federal laws that you vowed and swore to uphold. Kind of makes your actions and conduct appear to be somewhat, ahhh…errr…mmmm….suspect, illegal, criminal? Help me; I am searching for the right word, here.

But don’t fret “Reddy Eddie”, word on the street has it (in fact you quoted it) that the Reds have several eating establishments in the Northern Provinces where they serve up your favorite dish “Fillet ‘O Filly” every night and for you they are prepared to grant a discount.

So enjoy your Flicka Fillet, hope it gives you heartburn (oh, that would mean that you would have to have a heart, sorry, my mistake). We know that you will be ordering it “rare” as red is your favorite color…and with any luck, you will be seeing a lot of it, very soon.

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Friday, October 9, 2009

Wild Horse Expert Claims BLM Cheated Horses Out of Half Their Habitat

HOUSTON , (Horseback) – A prominent wild horse expert says there was considerably more land set aside for wild horses in 1971 than is currently claimed by the Bureau of Land Management. Craig Downer, a wildlife ecologist, calls the agency’s claims a national outrage.

Downer frequently speaks at wild horse conferences and has written numerous papers on the North American Mustang.

“With guidance being the true tenets of the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971, P.L. 92-195, the “where found” provision should be more broadly interpreted and researched according to the year-round occupied habitat of each equid herd extant in 1971,” he told Horseback Online.

MORE

Monday, October 5, 2009

Opinion: Montana's Horse "Butcher" turns to the Communists

arlier this year, Montana’s Rep. Ed Butcher, Republican (yes; that is really his name) shoved down the collective throats of the state’s public and Legislature a bill, HB 418, that would not only open the door for the construction of horse slaughter plants but also defensive and divisive wording that virtually strips the good people of Montana of their rights to protest said construction.