Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Exclusive: Wild Horse and Wild Burro Good News and Bad News from Twin Peaks HMA | Straight from the Horse's Heart

Exclusive: Wild Horse and Wild Burro Good News and Bad News from Twin Peaks HMA | Straight from the Horse's Heart

Last weekend several experienced wildlife observers with binoculars and long-distance camera lens thoroughly combed 77 miles of the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area (HMA) and found only 27 wild horses and 5 wild burros.  Is this good news or bad news?  This is good news for those few wild horses and burros that remain on their legally designated land, but bad news for the Twin Peaks HMA as a whole.  The forage has grown back from last summer’s fire and there is an abundance of food as was obvious by the condition of the few vigorous and healthy wild horses and burros that were observed, but this is still a small and discouraging number of wild horses and burros. This survey is consistent with previous surveys and documentation supporting the impacts of an enormous and devastating roundup in 2010. There seems to be few remaining wild horses and burros in the Twin Peaks HMA. In our two days of ground observation the BLM’s mantra of the term “excess” was on our minds as we traveled numerous miles; most of which had no wild horses or burros or even signs of wild horses and burros.  This public land is set aside by Congress principally for wild horses and burros, but there are very few that remain since the roundup of 2010.  It is hard to believe when the BLM says there are 1,750 out here again…

Thursday, August 22, 2013

US Judge Clears Way for Nev. Tribe’s Wild Horse Slaughter Sale | Straight from the Horse's Heart

US Judge Clears Way for Nev. Tribe’s Wild Horse Slaughter Sale | Straight from the Horse's Heart

RENO, Nev. — A federal judge cleared the way Wednesday for a Nevada tribe to sell 149 mustangs over the objection of critics who claim the unbranded animals are federally protected wild horses that should not be auctioned off for possible slaughter.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

A Statistical Analysis of Slaughterhouse Sue | Straight from the Horse's Heart

A Statistical Analysis of Slaughterhouse Sue | Straight from the Horse's Heart

Hi, my name is John Holland, and I am a data-holic. I usually spend my day furtively downloading statistics and information; analyzing it, graphing it, correlating it and trying to glean insights into the true workings of the horse world.

But today is different. Today, I was inspired to opine by a thing of great rarity in our struggle; a well researched article. It appeared in the Saint Louis Post Dispatch titled Horse slaughterhouse plans stalled in Missouri and it convinced me we are winning this struggle, at least for the moment.

SFTHH Exclusive: Youthful Equine Advocate Launches Horse Awareness Video Series | Straight from the Horse's Heart

SFTHH Exclusive: Youthful Equine Advocate Launches Horse Awareness Video Series | Straight from the Horse's Heart

It’s ‘Feel Good Sunday’ and once again our good friend Declan Gregg and Children 4 Horses have been working hard to bring appropriate equine awareness to the public…Thanks Declan and company!” ~ R.T.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Video: Federal Judge STOPS Horse Slaughter Plants | Straight from the Horse's Heart

Video: Federal Judge STOPS Horse Slaughter Plants | Straight from the Horse's Heart

U.S. District Court Judge M. Christina Armijo granted a temporary restraining order against the Valley Meat Co., which received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to become the first processing facility for horse meat in the U.S. in seven years.
“The burden is high, but plaintiffs have demonstrated to this court that potential harm to the environment outweigh defendant’s concerns,” Armijo said from the bench, effectively shutting  the Roswell facility and another proposed horse slaughterhouse in Sigourney, Iowa, from opening as early as this Monday.

Friday, August 2, 2013