Letter from Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund

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Virginia Range foal 2012 (Photo © Amy Ernst)

Dear Anne,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for going out of your way to help raise money that enabled the Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund to save 30 of our beautiful Virginia Range wild horses from the Fallon auction on Wednesday, September 27th.

Our organization owes you a debt of gratitude for getting the word out to so many caring and dedicated wild horse advocates.  We asked for help and those who believe that wild horses should be free responded with an incredible outpouring of support and donations that I find quite remarkable.  These people have never met our horses or know their names, don’t know their lineage or family losses or joys.  They don’t see and admire their beauty everyday like we are lucky enough to do. So why would so many people respond to save a group of horses they never knew or would ever meet?

Our Virginia Range horses are clearly in danger of disappearing and that can be credited directly back to the management of the State of Nevada Department of Agriculture.  The public is sensitive to and proud of the wild life and open spaces that have marked this country as a bastion of freedom of choice, voice, and expression.  Those qualities are exemplified and reflected in the majesty of our wild horses.  They are gentle, loving animals that have feelings and souls, love deeply and mourn emotionally.  There are many good people who recognize the worth of these horses and value what they represent.  People have spoken and expressed their opinions through their participation in this rescue effort.  We know we have support, now we have to step forward and affect change that will help our horses survive into the next century.

Again, we owe you, your organization and your supporters more than they will ever know.  I have attached a few pictures of today’s release of the Virginia Range 30 horses into a temporary pasture where they will wait for their forever homes.  We know these 2 bands as Big Angel’s band and Sandy and Lobo’s band.  Some of our volunteers have known these horses for years and were devastated when they were picked up by the NDA.  While the hillsides won’t be the same without them, we know they are now safe and we will be making every effort to find good qualified adopters for them.

Thank you again for everything you and your organization have done for these horses!!!!

Shannon Windle
President, Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund

At the auction to save wild horses from kill-buyers

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Virginia Range wild horses

Hidden Valley Rescue is at the auction right now blessed with funds from wonderful groups and individuals hoping to save the 30 wild horses from a horrible fate.

Check back for updates.

6:26 p.m. The advocates are still waiting to bid on the wild horses.

6:45 p.m. We just got word from Shannon that they saved them all–7 foals and 23 horses! Kill-buyers were there and the bidding was high. Evidently there is a lot of law enforcement at the auction and signs posted everywhere “No Cameras”.

9:00 p.m. The wild horses are spending the night at Camelot before moving to their temporary pasture Thursday. They will be loaded up and moved to the pasture in the morning.

Accused advocates speak out

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PRESS RELEASE

Lacy J. Dalton – Willis Lamm – Shirley Allen

Regarding Allegations of Abandonment of Horses

September 26, 2011

Recently the Nevada Department of Agriculture pressed charges against Lacy J. Dalton’s Let ‘Em Run Foundation, Willis Lamm and Shirley Allen alleging failure to mark or brand animals grazing on the open range, abandoning an animal, and allowing an animal to be deprived of necessary food or drink.  The complaint involved the release of eight Virginia Range horses onto over 100,000 acres of private rangeland with the landowner’s permission.

Dalton, Lamm and Allen categorically deny the charges.  Department records show that all of the animals were provided with USDA recognized individual animal identification.  The defendants will show that the range had ample grass and water and that the animals were monitored after their release.  We appreciate District Attorney Maddox’ willingness to listen to all the evidence that will be forthcoming.

At the request of the Department of Agriculture, the defendants previously had assisted in the release of some 55 horses owned by the Department in the same location, also with the landowner’s permission.  Those horses continue to share the same range as the eight Virginia Range horses released by Let ‘Em Run last year.

Let ‘Em Run is also prepared to present evidence of conduct by the department aimed at discrediting a number of horse and animal advocates who have been openly critical of illegal departmental activities.  Several of these advocates have filed claims with the Attorney General’s Office.

This is the same department that found it amusing when charitable organizations recently paid over three times the market value for Virginia Range horses in a shill bid scandal.  In a television interview Director Barbee simply stated, “It’s perfectly legal.”

The horse advocates will continue to protect the horses of the historic Virginia Range herd from the horrid fate of the slaughterhouse.  The people of Nevada expect Lacy, Willis and Shirley to fight for sensible and appropriate management of these horses as the people of Nevada believe is necessary.  Meanwhile we all, especially in Virginia City, must remain vigilant to protect our citizens and horses.

The State of Nevada needs to recognize that the right of Nevadans to hold their government accountable is what separates America from the rest of the world.  Freedom is always worth fighting for.

# # #

News 4 Reno reports: http://www.mynews4.com/news/local/story/Criminal-complaint-filed-against-horse-advocacy/DKAYKCZkp0uPs-oMYVBdsg.cspx

 

Urgent donations, foster homes and adopters needed for historic mustangs or kill buyers will get them

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Captured wild horses Nevada Jan 2012 (Photo © Anne Novak, all rights reserved.)

Wild Horse Annie’s horses are being pushed through the livestock auction again next Wednesday September 26th in Fallon, Nevada.

Update 10:30 p.m.

“Miracles are happening. Hidden Valley has found a large pasture for the 25 wild horses for tomorrow as a very, very temporary holding area. Thank heavens.” ~Anne Novak

 

Update 6:00 p.m.

News 4 Reno aired Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund’s call for help here.

Update at 5:50 p.m. Tuesday September 25, 2012:

“I just got off the phone with Shannon Windle, President of Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund. She’s still at her 9-5 job and told me that only $13,000 has been raised so far to buy the horses but that’s not enough to house them.

She will look into other donations coming in when she gets home from her day job. I have heard other groups are raising money for this and we are so grateful that everyone is helping save these wild horses.

We have been looking for solutions because the foster care pens are maxed out and it’s hard to find people with 6 foot fencing to hold in the wild ones. She decided that getting panels to build more corrals is a good solution. So Hidden Valley is raising money for the corral panels and looking for horse people with extra space who are willing to foster Wild Horse Annie’s beloved Virginia Range horses. Hidden Valley will provide the corrals, feed and is responsible for vet care, etc.

Tomorrow is the auction. Hidden Valley cannot save the wild horses from the kill-buyers if they don’t have the money to purchase them and if they don’t have a place to put them. Pray for miracles and take action to save these historic wild horses.”

In gratitude,

Anne Novak

Executive Director for Protect Mustangs

 

Check back for upates

 

 

Wild War Horse (Photo © Cynthia Smalley, all rights reserved.)

Update from Sunday September 23, 2012

“It’s 10:30 p.m. Sunday night and I just finished talking with Shannon Windle, president of Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund. She told me they only have $3,300. in donations to buy the 25 wild horses next Wednesday September 26th. Last week they paid $11,000. for 23 wild horses. If the money isn’t raised they can’t buy the horses. Please help save these horses from the kill-buyers. Please donate and save a life.” ~Anne Novak, executive director of Protect Mustangs

Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund was prepared financially to save the first South Reno 23 but their funding and foster care is maxed out so here is what we need to do:

  1. Raise money for Hidden Valley to get the South Reno 25 horses at auction, pay for feed, care and transportation
  2. Find adopters in and out of state.
  3. Send the Sept 19th wild horses to adopters ASAP
  4. Recruit new foster care for the new load coming in Wednesday
  5. Line up adopters for the Sept 26th wild horses
  6. Get hay donations to feed all these horses
  7. Get 150 MUSTANG panels to house the Sept 26th load of horses

Because the livestock auction staff likes to bid against the wild horse advocates to jack up the price and their commission, the small wild horses are going for up to 3 times the market value of a heavier horse. A mare and foal pair sold for $1000 last week.

The foster-cares are full after last week’s rescue of 23 Virginia Range horses. So we need to create solutions and build more corrals with panels to hold 25 more horses until we can adopt them out.

Mustang panels are 6 ft high and must be made of sturdy steel. We found a bulk price of $126. a piece. Hidden Valley needs 150 panels.

Let’s all chip in whatever we can and hope the auction house will be compassionate this week and not bid against us.

Laura Bell filming the Reno 23 saved by Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund on September 19, 2012 (Photo © Cat Kindsfather)

Please send your donations to save Wild Horse Annie’s horses directly to Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund: http://hiddenvalleyhorses.com/main.php?c=donate

You can also send a check/money order to:

Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund
P.O. Box 20052
Reno, NV 89515-0052

For information about donating, fostering or adopting please call:

Shannon Windle: 775-297-2955

Anne Novak: 415-531-8454

Thank you for doing what you can to help save America’s wild horses from going to slaughter.

Protect Mustangs flag designed by Robin Warren

 

Have wild horse advocates been falsely accused?

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Advocacy groups have released wild horses with Nevada Department of Agriculture in the past

Photo courtesy of Let “Em Run Foundation

In the recent KRNV story about the south Reno horses going to the livestock auction, Nevada Department of Agriculture’s staff appeared on camera claiming that the cooperators weren’t being used because they released horses onto the range. Where is the proof?

A Virginia Range pinto gelding named Dickie disappeared from the Tahoe Reno Industrial Complex (TRIC) property around March 2012 and magically appeared overweight later on in another county at Clearwater in Reno. How does this happen?

Photo of Dickie on July 14, 2012 used ot compare with his file photo for ID

The Department of Agriculture’s statement implied that the wild horse groups were involved in something improper. Yet in the past groups did release horses – belonging to the department – at the direction of the department – under the direct supervision of the department.

The largest release involved 55 horses freed at TRIC. It was covered by the media and a short film was made of the release. The short still can be found on the Internet. Here’s a link to one copy.

Call Governor Sandoval and ask him to stop Nevada from selling historic wild horses at auctions frequented by kill-buyers 775-684-5670 or 702-486-2500

Sources:

Let ‘Em Run Foundation: http://www.letemrun.com/index.html

Least Resistance Training Concepts group: http://www.whmentors.org/

Alliance of Wild Horse Advocates Sept 7th update: on Dickie and livestock sale: http://www.aowha.org/war/ndoa_horse_sale_1203b.html#dickie

KRNV Story: http://www.ktvn.com/story/19548710/wild-horse-controvesey-heating-up

The controversy over wild horses in Nevada is heating up again. A group of about two dozen organized a demonstration in front of the Capital in Carson City on Friday. And earlier this week an emotionally charged confrontation between a private landowner and a wild horse advocate took place in south Reno. (It was later posted on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6uZPdD_PWM )

An unidentified woman charged at the camera protesting that horses were being trapped and moved rather than simply fenced out. The landowner caught it on his cell phone and launched it on YouTube.

“This is a fence out state!,” insists Tonia Tavcar. “If landowners don’t want horses on their land they don’t have to trap them and send them to slaughter, they can just fence them out!”

“It seems logical, I admit,” says Ed Foster, Public Information Officer with the State Department of Agriculture. “But we are charged with responding to complaints when stray animals, including horses, are a nuisance and doing something about it. But we don’t have the authority to make a landowner put up a fence!”

Foster adds the drought is fueling problems as more horses search for food and water. And he says for a while they did sell horses back to the advocates at a very low price. That he say, seemed to work until those same horses resurfaced on the range and were picked up again.

It’s all resulted in a lawsuit filed Friday, by the State of Nevada against the advocates for releasing the animals.

Foster says since his department no longer gets funding to house or administer birth control to the animals and has no option but to remove any problem animals and sell them as livestock.

Horse advocates say they’ll continue to fight for the future of animals so many other states would love to have roam their land.

The lawsuit names advocate Willis Lamm. It charges the ‘Let ‘em Run Foundation’ with failure to brand or mark their animals, abandoning an animal and allowing an animal to be injured or deprived of food and water – all misdemeanor charges.

We also contacted the office of the landowner, Mike Diloretto about this story, but he is out town.

KRNV story Written by Erin Breen

BLM to Begin Antelope and Antelope Valley Herd Management Areas Wild Horse Gather

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From a BLM press release:

Ely, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Elko District, Wells Field Office and Ely District, Schell Field Office are scheduled to begin on or about Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, to gather and remove 200 excess wild horses from the Antelope and Antelope Valley Herd Management Areas (HMAs), located about 60 miles south of Wells and 50 miles north of Ely, Nevada.  The helicopter gather is necessary to prevent a further decline in animal condition caused by minimal forage growth and reduced water availability due to severe drought conditions.

Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the Antelope HMA is 150-324 wild horses.  The current population is 468 wild horses.  AML for the Antelope Valley HMA is 115-259 wild horses.  The current population is 641 wild horses.  BLM has been monitoring the condition of the wild horses due to the on-going drought conditions. Wild horses in in the Antelope and Antelope Valley HMAs are in moderately thin to very thin body condition with further declines beyond the point of recovery anticipated if actions are not taken.  The affected parts of the HMAs are within the Boone Springs, Valley Mtn., Antelope Valley, West White Horse, White Horse, Sugarloaf, Ferber Flat, Utah Nevada South, Badlands, Goshute Mtn., Deep Creek and Chin Creek Allotments.

Wild horses removed from the range will be shipped either to Palomino Valley near Reno, Nevada, or the Gunnison Correctional Facility in Gunnison, Utah, to be prepared for the BLM wild horse adoption program or for long-term pastures.

The potential impacts of the actions that will be taken during the gather operations have been analyzed in the Antelope Complex Capture Plan and Environmental Assessment signed in December 2010.

The public is welcome to attend the gather and is encouraged to check the gather hotline nightly (775-289-1880) for departure times and other pertinent information.  For additional gather information, including what you need to know before attending the gather and visitation protocols and ground rules, go to http://on.doi.gov/TeQ5Gj.

For more information, contact Chris Hanefeld, BLM Ely District public affairs specialist, at (775) 289-1842 or chanefel@blm.gov

The BLM manages more land – over 245 million acres – than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.

 

–BLM–

Round Two: Nevada on rampage to wipe out Wild Horse Annie’s historic herd

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Beloved around the world yet Nevada sends their mustangs to possible slaughter

A family of wild horses from Wild Horse Annie’s herd in The Meadow, May 2012 (Photo © Anne Novak)

The wild horses from Rio Wrangler and Steamboat Area are going to be sold at auction on September 26, 2012 in Fallon, Nevada about one hour east of Reno.

Donations are needed to save Wild Horse Annie’s horses from the kill-buyers. Please donate here. Homes are needed for these horses as well.

Wild Horse Annie’s herd, the Virginia Range mustangs are at risk of going to slaughter. Call Governor Sandoval 775-684-5670 and ask him to halt this atrocity. (Photo of Velma Johnston aka Wild Horse Annie)

Here is the notice from the Nevada Department of Agriculture announcing the round-two sale September 26, 2012:

NOTICE OF ESTRAY ANIMALS AS PER N.R.S. 569.070 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following described animal(s) has been taken up as an Estray Animal(s) VRE Horses #1872, #1873,#1874, #1875, #1876, #1877, #1878, #1879, #1880, #1881, #1882,#1883, #1884,#1885,#1886, #1887, #1888, #1889, #1890, #1891,#1892, #1893, #1894,#1895, #1896. The Estray Horses were found in the Rio Wrangler and Steamboat Area. The described animals are being held at The Nevada Prison Ranch, 5500 Synder Ave., Carson City, Nv. The Estray Stallions will be gelded prior to placement. Estray #1872 Sorrel Mare Star Snip RH Sock Flaxen Mane and Tail, 8 years Estray #1873 Bay Mare, Star Strip RH Pastern, 6 years Estray #1874 Bay Mare, Small Star RH Pastern Bite Marks on Right Side of Head, 5 years Estray#1875 Black Stud, Star, 1 year Estray #1876 Bay Mare, Offset Star Strip Snip RH Stocking, 4 years Estray#1877 Brown Mare, Small Snip RH and LH Stocking, 2 years Estray #1878 Sorrel Filly, LH Pastern, 4 months Estray #1879 Sorrel Mare, 10 years Estray #1880 Brown Stud, Star Offset Snip LH Pastern Blue Left Eye, 4 years Estray #1881 Black Stud, Star, 2 years Estray#1882 Brown Stud, RH Coronet, 2 years Estray#1883 Bay Mare, Star Strip Snip RH Coronet, 10 years Estray #1884 Bay Filly, Star RH Coronet, 5 months Estray #1885 Bay Mare, Star Snip LH Pastern, 6 years Estray #1886 Bay Stud, Small Star, 2 years Estray #1887 Bay Stud, Star Light Strip Snip LH&RH Coronet, 7 years Estray #1888 Bay Stud, Star Strip Snip LH &RH Sock LF Sock, 3 years Estray #1889 Bay Stud Colt, Star Light Strip, 4 months Estray #1890 Bay Mare, Star Strip RH Sock LH Coronet, 10 years Estray #1891 Bay Mare, Strip Snip, 2 years Estray #1892 Bay Stud Colt, Star Light Offset Strip, 4 months Estray #1893 Bay Mare, Partial Strip Snip LH &RH Sock RF & LF Pastern, 5 years Estray #1894 Bay Filly, Star LF & RF Sock LH Sock, 4 months Estray #1895 Sorrel Filly, Light Strip Snip LH Sock Rh Pastern, 5 months Estray #1896 Bay Stud Colt, Bald Face LH &RH Stockings LF Sock, 5 months AS PER N.R.S. 569.080, if an estray animal is not claimed within 5 working days after the last publication of the advertisement, as required before sale or placement, said animal (s) will be available for sale or placement by the Division of Livestock Identification on Wednesday, September 26, 2012, at the Nevada Livestock Market, Fallon, NV. NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 4780 East Idaho Street Elko, Nevada 89801 1-775-738-8076 By:/s/ Katie Swisher No. 787445 Sept 19, 2012

Watch the news report from round one of save the wild horses here.
Please donate to help save Wild Horse Annie’s herd from possible slaughter.
Donations to the Hidden Valley Protection Fund can be made here: http://hiddenvalleyhorses.com/main.php?c=donate

Wild horse advocates endure bidding war to rescue horses

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Virginia range 23 rescued from auction house fate

From a Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund press release:

Captured Virgina Range Horses

The Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund (HVWHPF), in an effort to save the first 23 of an estimated 74 Virginia Range wild horses trapped by the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), attended an auction today, September 19th, at the Nevada Livestock Marketing, LLC, located 1025 Allen Road, Fallon, NV where the horse were sold to the highest bidder.

NDA Brand Inspector Blaine Northrop diligently and methodically organized the delivery of the horses to the auction floor in a manner specifically designed to minimalize stress and trauma to these animals and ensure the bands or families would remain intact.  Once the bidding started at approximately 7:15 pm, HVWHPF successfully out bid several kill buyers and one individual who obviously ran the bid up far higher than what any of these horses should have sold for.  A normal bid price for such horses should not have exceeded $175 – $200 per head, however by the sale of the 12th horse the individual had raised the price to over $1,000 for a mare and baby pair.

At that time, one of the auction attendees recognized the individual to be that of Jack Payne, the owner of the auction house, Nevada Livestock Marketing, LLC.  After Mr. Payne was recognized, he continued to bid on the remainder of Virginia Range 23 and continued to intentionally raise the bid.  The Department of Agriculture agents on locations at that time were questioned by HVWHF volunteers about the legality of Mr. Payne bidding without first disclosing that he was the owner of the auction house and also the act of intentionally raising the bid to an amount obviously much higher than the expected bid range price.  The agents were unable to confirm whether this action was appropriate, commenting that it was a public auction and open to anyone.  Representatives from the NDA were able to confirm the identity of the individual as that of Mr. Jack Payne, the owner of the Nevada Livestock Marketing, LLC.

The HVWHPF is questioning the legitimacy of the transactions that took place this evening at the auction of the Virginia Range 23, formerly the property of the NDA until all were safely acquired by the HVWHFP.  Is it appropriate for an auction house owner to partake in and intentionally raise the bid on any product to be sold in that auction house?  Did these actions cause the auction house to gain financially by increasing its commission on the sale?  Did this auction house cause the people of the State of Nevada to overpay the commission charged by the auction house to the Department of Agriculture to handle the sale of these 23 horses?

The HVWHPF will be requesting a full and immediate refund from Nevada Livestock Marketing, LLC of all the funds spent at its facility in the acquisition of the Virginia Range 23 wild horses.  All the money allocated to the rescue of the wild horses comes from donations received from local, national, and international sources.  The HVWHPF is an all-volunteer registered 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the Virginia Range wild horses.

Additionally, another 31 Virginia Range wild horses are scheduled to be sold at auction at this very same facility on Wednesday, September 26th.  The HVWHPF will be requesting that the NDA stop all plans for this auction pending a full investigation of the activities of the management of the Nevada Livestock Marketing, LLC related to the auction of the Virginia Range 23.  The HVWHPF will also ask NDA to reconsider a plan that would allow for all NDA horses removed from the range to be placed with qualified, accredited rescue organizations, allowing the organizations’ donated funds to be better spent on efforts to find permanent placement for these creatures rather than lining the pockets of those who would deceive and do wrong.

HVWHPF asks that, in the spirit of Velma “Wild Horse Annie” Johnson, children of all ages write to Governor Sandoval asking him to reinstate a Wild Horse Commission that will work with all interested parties to ensure that our Nevada Heritage Horses become a vital and valuable part of our state culture and will show that we can live harmoniously with these precious relics of our past.

Please donate to the fund to save Wild Horse Annie’s horses here: http://hiddenvalleyhorses.com/main.php?c=donate