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Sunday, February 28, 2010
Visiting Day at the Feedlot  Dear Readers, Two hours each week, the public is allowed to see their captive wild horses at the feedlot style corrals in Fallon, Nevada. So I went today. What I hated most was a group of young ones trying to do the truly joyous "let's run!" thing and have four of them end in a pileup because there were so many in such a confined area. Lots of fresh freeze brands on the mares. Even the ones in hospital pens. I will transcribe my notes soon, but I have to say the most surprising thing I heard was that the gather/facility death toll was LOWER than than it usually is because the Calico horses are less "crashy" (further defined as prone to spooking) than horses from other herd areas. The official death toll posted by BLM was up to 57 on Friday and one member of our group was told four more died Saturday. Oh, and the word "processing" (for vaccinations, freeze branding, age determination, etc) has been struck from BLM vocabulary and the official word is "preparing." I'm sure that makes it feel better. T. Labels: BLM, Fallon corrals, feedlot, mustang deaths, wild horses Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 9:50 PM 4 comments  
Thursday, February 25, 2010 BARREN  Rachel Yoder - Artist Labels: BLM, helicopter roundups, mustangs, wild horses Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 8:20 AM 5 comments
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 Mustangs in Misery  Dear Readers, What did you do on Saturday? Did you have breakfast in your pjs? Hang out with your friends? Sleep in a warm house? On Saturday, I talked with Senator Harry Reid about BLM's treatment of our wild horses. Since then, at least six more wild horses have died at BLM's modern state of the art facility. A two-year-old filly died after sustaining a serious spinal injury A 10-year-old mare was found dead of "foaling complications." Her full-term foal was not properly positioned in the birth canal, and they both died. A four-year-old filly was euthanized due to "poor condition" A 25 year old stallion was put down due to poor condition Two 20-year-old mares were put down because they never recovered from the stress of the capture You can read the government account of all that's happened to the wild horses since they came into contact with BLM here: Calico Horses I warn you, it is not pretty. It is also a sickening use of my tax dollars. Wind and rain are predicted for Fallon, after snowstorms and still there's no shelter for the horses, only a few plywood panels on one side of the hospital pens. Beset by thoughts about greed, Terri Labels: BLM, Fallon, mustangs, wild horse deaths Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 6:27 PM 5 comments
Monday, February 22, 2010 The Mutton Bunch Dear Readers, I've made no secret of how much I enjoy the work of wild horse photographer Mike Terrell, but I don't think of told you about this unique herd. Quoting from his website... The Mutton Bunch, as named by local residents, is a band of wild horses who have adopted, or been adopted by, a previously domesticated sheep. She (I've been told it's a "she") has lived with these mustangs for over four years. She is watched over by the stallion, interacts with the mares and babies, and displays an obvious bond with these horses. It is an amazing sight. Check this out! Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 6:35 PM 2 comments
Sunday, February 21, 2010 MARCH FOR WILD HORSES  Girls Horse Club March for Wild Horses submissions are open!!!!! Contribute wild horse stories/artwork after reading what/how to submit located here: GIRLS HORSE CLUB : MARCH FOR WILD HORSES! Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 1:37 AM 9 comments
Saturday, February 20, 2010 Saving a Stallion  photo by Mark Terrell Wild Horses of Nevada Dear Readers, I'm in love with this horse, a Medicine Hat stallion, captive at BLM's Fallon corrals. Although I have very mixed feelings about naming wild horses, in my imagination he has a name. And a story. During the last two days I've been writing it. I can't seem to stop. I hope to keep track of him and see that he's set free in the spring. Do you know any stories about Medicine Hat horses? Please respond to this blog post if you do, and we can share what you know with other readers. Best to you, Terri Labels: BLM, Eagle Lakes, Fallon, Medicine Hat, mustang, phantom stallion, wild horses Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 10:25 AM 8 comments
Thursday, February 18, 2010 Why is BLM so fussy?  photo by Deniz Bolbol shows how close choppers get to wild horses The BLM announced a strict new visitation policy to the Fallon wild horse facility. Ten people each week, on Sunday for two hours will be allowed to view the horses. This INCLUDES humane observers. read more at In Defense of Animals'blog Their excuse? BLM staff has lots of work to do, branding, vaccinating, etc. This excuse concerns me because I've watched these tasks go on at the Palomino Valley holding pens and not only didn't I interfere, but no one huffed around saying, "I can't work when you're looking at me, Terri." In fact, no one seemed to notice I was even there. So why is BLM being so fussy now?  photo by Mark Terrell (watch for more!) Labels: BLM, Eagle Lakes, Fallon, humane observers blocked, mustangs, Palomino Valley, wild horses Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 4:50 AM 9 comments
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 PHANTOM fansite  Dear Readers, I just heard from an enthusiastic and creative reader that she's launched a new place for Phantom Stallion readers to meet. Phantom Stallion Time has polls, interviews (we are working on one right now!)and all kinds of fun things. Here's a link to go visit: PHANTOM TIME If there are other Phantom sites you like to visit, let me know! Reading rocks, Terri Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 6:29 PM 4 comments
Sunday, February 14, 2010 Strange Valentine's Date  Dear Readers, You've been so wonderful about sticking with the horses (and me) through a zillion grim blog posts, I have to share this with you. I just did a Guest Blog on a friend's site and it was fun. Please cruise around her site. I loved Linda's book DEAD GIRL WALKING! Can't wait to read DEAD GIRL DANCING :) Terri Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 2:38 PM 4 comments
Saturday, February 13, 2010 This could be huge  HEADS UP and thanks to my readers for tipping me off to this wonderful opportunity for the wild horses AND all students K-12 My fingers are shaking on the keys when I think of how GOOGLE has become a verb (wait, I'm an English teacher, but that's not what I'm really excited about), and what that means: a GAZILLION people would learn about wild horses in captivity and how many of us are unwilling to let them go without a fight! Here's the news: DOODLE 4 GOOGLE The theme for Google's new logo competition is "If i could do anything i would..." So many of you out there are talented artists! Let's rock the world by creating a theme for Mustangs!! Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 8:24 AM 1 comments
Thursday, February 11, 2010 Range runners in captivity Dear Readers, I just returned from the Fallon facility and learned that a mass gelding of mustangs begins on Monday. I haven't transcribed my notes yet but when I asked why the "tours" will end (they will resume on selected Sundays), Susie Stokke, the BLM staffer leading us around said "we have work to do" and verified that they would be gelding about 900 stallions and colts old enough to be weaned. It's going to be an awful, bloody business and it's made worse by the cage. I've seen these used to contain horses for vaccinations and freeze branding, but missed the fact that the metal cage can be turned and rotated so the gelding can be performed through the bars. Stokke verified that every male horse will be gelded. It's standard procedure, she said, like neutering cats, so that there won't be "indiscriminate breeding" by adopted horses. I'll write more later, and share photos from Mark Terrell, an amazing wild horse photographer who accompanied me, but this issue has a time element, so I've contacted In Defense of Animals and the Cloud Foundation for help. I've also heard from Holly Hazard of the Humane Society of the United States. If there's any chance that the Calico horses will be preserved as a heritage herd -- and I saw once more the unique characteristics of these horses which made them the model for the fictional Phantom's herd. One smoky dun with dread-locked mane just stole my heart, but then so did a fuzzy bay baby and a majestic Medicine Hat stallion who carried himself like royalty in exile. If these male horses are all castrated, there's no do-over. The gene pool for the Calico Mountain horses will have been reduced to the few horses BLM left on the range, and though they may be hardy survivors, nothing will ever be the same. Terri Labels: BLM, Calico Comples, Calico mountains, castration, Fallon corrals, gelding, Holly Hazard, IDA, mustangs, the Cloud Foundation, wild horses Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 12:55 PM 5 comments
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 Head up, with a notebook and camera "Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." — Edmund Burke And on that note, I'm going out to the mustang holding pens in Fallon tomorrow, to see what I can see and do what I can do. Hugs, Terri Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 7:37 PM 5 comments
Girls Horse Club Helping the Horses  Dear Readers, The horses have some great friends! Orphans like the mustang below will not be forgotten if the Girls Horse Club has anything to say about it. Although she's super busy, the Lead Mare of Girls Horse Club is re-opening the barn doors to help the wild horses! Please go visit: GirlsHorseClub Have fun! Terri Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 5:37 AM 5 comments
Tuesday, February 09, 2010 What are you reading ? Happy Tuesday, A couple months ago I was offered the opportunity to do an interview with http://nightstand.com/ and even though I was slow getting back to Dave, King Reader at Nighstand, he was patient with me and WOW, it was fun once I got started answering questions. I think you'll enjoy going through the archives and learning what some of your favorite authors read. What are YOU reading now? Best, Terri Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 4:05 AM 1 comments
Monday, February 08, 2010 Young Rural Leaders  HI, If any of you are interested in rural issues and would like to learn more so that you can be a leader in your community, please check out this free opportunity. It sounds like an incredible stepping stone to help yourself and the rural areas we love. Rural Youth Assembly I bet you could make friends that would last a lifetime, too! Best, Terri Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 5:27 PM 0 comments
Sunday, February 07, 2010 Killing colts as world watches makes BLM uneasy  A rest before dying/photo by Lora Leigh Dear Readers, Someone at BLM has realized we're watching, and we care. After nearly 2000 beautiful horses were captured and injured, the Calico Complex round-up was halted. Now, the Eagle territory round-up has been postponed: Ely, Nevada – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has determined there is not adequate time to safely conduct the proposed Eagle Herd Management Area (HMA) gather prior to the beginning of foaling season, and therefore, will defer issuing a decision on the proposed gather until later this year after the foaling season. We're having an impact. Terri Labels: BLM, Calico, Eagle Herd Management, foals die, wild horse deaths, wild horses Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 4:08 PM 7 comments
Friday, February 05, 2010 word from BLM The Calico round up has ended, they say. Of course, they say only one wild horse death was related to the round up. Everything else was due to pre-existing conditions. More news as I get it. Watch for your newsletter tonight. Hugs, Terri Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 5:21 PM 3 comments
Thursday, February 04, 2010 Calico Death Toll 39 horses 69 aborted foals Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 11:29 PM 5 comments
Monday, February 01, 2010 Cowboy Poetry Festival  Two favorite images from the Cowboy Poetry Festival in Elko, Nevada? This poster (above) and all the Western finery. Best to hear and see? Corb Lund, oh my. For more, watch them flip by here: National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Permalink to this blog post Posted by Terri Farley @ 12:54 AM 0 comments
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