Thursday, February 03, 2011

Sixteen Foals





photos by Karen Hopple

Palomino Valley BLM Wild Horse Facility
The Sun J truck, carrying mustangs trapped on the Antelope range, arrived at 2:20 pm, 2/2/11.
The driver wore pink boots and pink knit gloves. She wouldn't give her name but verified she's a Sun J employee, then ducked under the truck to escape questions before helping facility manager John Neill unload* the wild foals.

The first horse tumbled out backward, but kept her balance. Most horses were sorrels,but there were also bays, duns and paler horses,including a palomino.

Bodies huddled together as close as possible, the foals stared at the truck which still held their mothers. Others scanned their surroundings. The red chestnut foal with blaze, pictured at blog-top, was clearly traumatized. Panic kept that expression frozen on her face. She and a few others sought the comfort of nursing from other foals.
This method of self-soothing proves these babies are too young to be separated from their mothers, even though they may meet BLM's "weanling" guidelines.


Despite that, the mares were funneled into another pen. Mares and foals crowded against the fence between them.Since some horses wore paint markings, perhaps they'll be allowed to pair up today.
All horses looked lean and healthy. Two older mares were thin, but moved well.
According to John Neill, many horses have been trapped and shipped to PV this week:
Sunday
52 horses 32 mares and 20 foals
Monday
35 horses 34 mares and 1 foal
Wednesday
42 horses 25 mares and 16 foals
More than anything, I'm concerned about the Monday numbers -- too few foals. Where are they?

Please share this information with your friends at work, at church, at social functions. People will care, if they know.
The cost to our country is huge.
Sincerely,

Terri

* done by poking whip/bag spook-sticks through the pierced steel sides of the truck

Labels: Antelope Complex, foals, John Neill, Palomino Valley, Sun J contractors

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Posted by Terri Farley @ 10:13 AM

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Comments: Terri

I have been watching the gather reports and just realize that they are calling these foals "yearlings" and not mentioning any foals on the official Antelope gather report.

I have been scratching my head for the past two weeks wondering where the foals were .. now I realize the BLM is calling them yearlings! Clearly they are not.

And I agree .. . Where are the babies? Too few foals no matter what the BLM calls them to warrant the removal of thousands of horses. The population will never recover if these numbers are correct.

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office/blm_programs/wild_horse_and_burro/Antelope_Complex_Gather/gatreports.html
  HI Lisa,
I can't figure out the BLM's motive for using one birthdate for all mustangs. I wonder if this will influence the counting of the "phantom foals" born in captivity.
I'm guessing BLM doesn't even know the answer to that, yet.
I've also noticed that there have been no updates since Tuesday. I need to talk with someone on the scene to understand if that's just sloth on their part, or if the media attention to abuse has halted the helicopter.
I hope!
  In previous gather reports, even last month's Callagan gather, they called them foals, not yearlings.

Maybe they are trying to use a different term to avoid criticism? It doesn't sound as "bad" for yearlings to be run for miles and miles in the frigid temps, does it?

Roundups continue. 9 gathered on Friday.
  Lisa wrote in reply to Terri's post

In previous gather reports, even last month's Callagan gather, they called them foals, not yearlings.

Maybe they are trying to use a different term to avoid criticism? It doesn't sound as "bad" for yearlings to be run for miles and miles in the frigid temps, does it?

Anne comment: I have the same opinion; yearlings sounds better;
yet so many Foals suffer roundups;

I am glad other people "see the BLM fraud and deceit; rounding up Foals; calling them "Yearlings ! aw
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