Tag Archives: Mustang

Now is the time to protect wild horses

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Protect Mustangs . org & Photo © Taylor James

Jackson Mountain yearlings. They have lost their home, their families and their freedom. (Photo © Taylor James)

To everyone who loves horses,

Native wild horses need our help after the 4 year Salazar Attack designed to pummel them toward extinction.

Let us not forget these federally protected wild horses have been wronged every time they have been cruelly removed from their land, ripped from their families and killed because of roundups or slaughter.

Now is the time to stand up and demand Congress stop the roundups!

Let’s join together to insist that all of the 50,000 wild horses–stockpiled in taxpayer funded holding–be returned to the Herd Management Areas (HMAs) on public land. Remember, the HMAs were set aside in 1971 as safe places for wild horses and burros to live with their families as an integral part of the environment.

Write your senators and representatives today! Make appointments to meet with their aides.

Please sign and share the petition to Defund and Stop the Wild Horse & Burro Roundups

If you live out of the country send us an email (Contact@ProtectMustangs.org) stating why the wild horses of the West must be saved!

In gratitude,

Anne Novak

Executive Director of Protect Mustangs

Indigenous wild horses managed to extinction

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Photo ©Rachel Anne Reeves all rights reserved

Photo ©Rachel Anne Reeves all rights reserved

THE WILD HORSE IS NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA

By Ross MacPhee, PhD, Curator – Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

It needs to be more widely understood that the horse’s status as a native North American species is beyond serious question.

A “native” species, in evolutionary terms, is defined as one that differentiated or diverged from its immediate ancestor species within a specific geographical locale. The contemporary wild horse in the United States is recently derived from lines domesticated in Europe and Asia. But those lines themselves go much further back in time, and converge on populations that lived in North America during the latter part of the Pleistocene (2.5M to 10k years ago).

The morphological (fossil) evidence and the more recent DNA evidence (although preliminary), points to the same conclusion: the species Equus caballus—the species encompassing all domestic horses and their wild progenitors—arose on this continent.

The evidence thus favors the view that this species is “native” to North America, given any rational understanding of the term “native”. By contrast, there are no paleontological or genetic grounds for concluding that it is native to any other continent.

From a scientific standpoint, it is completely irrelevant that native horses died out in North America 10,000 years ago, or that later populations were domesticated in central Asia 6000 years ago. Such considerations have no bearing on their status as having originated on this continent.

Reintroduction of horses to North America 500 years ago is, biologically, a non-event: horses were merely returned to part of their former native range, where they have since prospered because ecologically they never left.

CLICK HERE for Scientific Assessment of the Wild Mustangs of America – MANAGED TO EXTINCTION, written by Ross MacPhee, Curator, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History.

CLICK HERE to Review Information about Craig Downer’s Book entitled THE WILD HORSE CONSPIRACY.

“Traditional Dakota/Lakota people firmly believe that the aboriginal North American horse did not become extinct after the last Ice Age, and that it was part of their precontact culture.

Scientists know from fossil remains that the horse originated and evolved in North America, and that these small 12 to 13 hand horses or ponys (sic) migrated to Asia across the Bering Strait, then spread throughout Asia and finally reached Europe. The drawings in the French Laseaux caves, dating about 10,000 B.C., are a testimony to their long westward migration. Scientists contend, however, that the aboriginal horse became extinct in North America during what is (known) as the “Pleistocene kill,” in other words, that they disappeared at the same time as the mammoth, the ground sloth, and other Ice Age mammals. This has led anthropologists to assume that Plains Indians only acquired horses after Spaniards accidentally lost some horses in Mexico, in the beginning of the XVIth (16th) century, that these few head multiplied and eventually reached the prairies.

Dakota/Lakota Elders as well as many other Indian nations contest this theory, and contend that according to their oral history, the North American horse survived the Ice Age, and that they had developed a horse culture long before the arrival of Europeans, and, furthermore, that these same distinct ponys (sic) continued to thrive on the prairies until the latter part of the XIXth (19th) century, when the U.S. government ordered them rounded up and destroyed to prevent Indians from leaving the newly-created reservations. Although there is extensive evidence of this massive slaughter, no definitive evidence has yet been found to substantiate the Elders’ other claim, but there are a number of arguments in favour of the Indian position.”

CLICK HERE for Scientific Paper Entitled: The Aboriginal North American Horse.

Cross-posted from: http://thisnthatn.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/the-aboriginal-north-american-horse-managed-to-extinction/

Baby Diamond was rescued!

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Cruel way to drag foal by pulling bailing twine around their neck (Photo © Bo Rodriguez)

Cruel way to drag foal by pulling bailing twine around their neck (Photo © Bo Rodriguez)

 

Good News! Baby Diamond (pictured above) and her Mama were rescued from the auction by our friends at Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund. The pair has found an adopter.

“Thank you to everyone who protested, networked and donated to help save the 41 Virginia Range wild horses from probable slaughter,” said Anne Novak, executive director of California-based Protect Mustangs.

“It goes to show the love and respect that not only Nevadans have for the Virginia Range horses, but also the people across the country and around the world who contributed money needed to purchase these horses back from the state of Nevada,” said Shannon Windle, director of the Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund.

Members of the public around the world are encouraged to contact Governor Sandoval and tell him you don’t want native wild horses sold at auctions where kill buyers shop. Ask him to give the horses to local advocacy groups rather than sell them into the slaughter pipeline.

Call, email and/or fax Nevada’s Governor Brian Sandoval,
http://gov.nv.gov/contact/governor/

Office Phone: (775) 684-5670

Office Fax: (775) 684-5683

Tweet ©GOVSandoval  Use #NEVADA to let the Governor know you want them protected!

Let the Nevada Bureau of Tourism know you don’t like this! @TravelNevada on Twitter and

Mailing Address

Nevada Commission on Tourism
401 North Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701

Call Us

  • Direct: (775) 687-4322
  • Toll-free: 1-800-NEVADA-8
  • Fax: (775) 687-6779

 

 

Call, Write & Tweet @GOVSandoval #Nevada Governor Sandoval is allowing #wildhorses to be sold at auction ~ Kill buyers attend

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PM HV Rambo's band

Rambo’s band in freedom in Reno (Photo © Ellen Holcomb)

Beloved wild horses at auction against the public’s wishes

Right now 41 wild horses from the Reno area including Rambo’s band are at the Fallon Auction where kill buyers come to buy horses for slaughter.

Governor Sandoval refused to step in and stop the auction despite protests. Read his response here: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jan/08/despite-activist-pleas-sandoval-permit-wild-horse-/

Advocates and concerned citizens are hoping to save these iconic mustangs from being sold into the slaughter pipeline.

We have been in touch with Shannon Windle, President of the Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund who has arrived at the scene and is working on saving horses. She said there are a lot of horses.

Contact Governor Sandoval to tell him you don’t want native wild horses sold at auctions where kill buyers shop. Ask him to give the horses to local advocacy groups rather than sell them into the slaughter pipeline.

Call, email and/or fax Nevada’s Governor Brian Sandoval,
http://gov.nv.gov/contact/governor/

Office Phone: (775) 684-5670

Office Fax: (775) 684-5683

Tweet ©GOVSandoval  Use #NEVADA to let the Governor.

Let the Nevada Bureau of Tourism know you don’t like this! @TravelNevada on Twitter and

Mailing Address

Nevada Commission on Tourism
401 North Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701

Call Us

  • Direct: (775) 687-4322
  • Toll-free: 1-800-NEVADA-8
  • Fax: (775) 687-6779
Protect native wild horses! © Protect Mustangs.org

Protect native wild horses! © Protect Mustangs.org

 

BREAKING NEWS: Oakland to protest Reno’s wild horses facing slaughter

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Reno: Damonte wild horses trapped w/ cruelty

Nevada trapper drags 4 month old foal by string around neck to send to auction (Photo © Bo Rodriguez)

For immediate release:

BREAKING NEWS: Bay Area Residents Protest Killing Wild Horses near Reno

Barbie Hardrock stands up for American mustangs from Europe

OAKLAND, Ca. (January 4, 2013)–Protect Mustangs, the Bay Area-based wild horse preservation group is organizing a peaceful protest during rush hour tonight outside the Rockridge BART Station (College Ave. in Oakland) from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Members of the public of all ages are gathering to show they want the cruelty & slaughter of indigenous wild horses to stop now. The preservation group recently learned of Nevada’s interest in opening a horse slaughterhouse to kill wild horses on tribal land near Reno. Many protests are being held in conjunction with the Carson City Protest, organized by the Wild Horse Preservation League, where the protestors are marching at midday to deliver Governor Sandoval letters from around the world asking him to stop the cruelty and let the advocates help the horses find homes or sanctuary.

“We stand together to demand a STOP to the crimes against America’s indigenous wild horses,” explains Anne Novak, executive director of Protect Mustangs. “We enjoy photographing the very horses they want to slaughter when we go to Reno/Tahoe. These horses are on the edge of Reno. Did you know horses evolved in America and wild horses are a reintroduced native species?”

“We have been working with The Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund and other groups to bring awareness to the crisis,” continues Novak. “The public around the world is outraged. Some people even refuse to travel to Nevada because of this. Citizens have requested Governor Sandoval stop trapping native wild horses and selling them off at auctions–where kill-buyers go to pick up horses. He has done nothing–only turned a deaf ear.”

Other protests are being held such as the primary one in Carson City, one in Mill Valley tonight at The Depot Plaza sponsored by Wild horse Protection Act as well as protests held in Phoenix, on the East Coast, Europe and elsewhere.

“We are sharing out posts of people protesting today from around the world. Our first photo came in from Barbie Hardrock’s band, Roquette, in Europe,” says Kerry Becklund, director of outreach for Protect Mustangs. “Join the movement to protect wild horses on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ProtectMustangs.”

“American mustangs are so beautiful to watch living in freedom but now they are hard to find because there aren’t many left,” explains Hardrock who enjoys visiting the American West to take photos of wild horses.

“Native wild horses create biodiversity and reverse desertification when managed using reserve design,” states Novak. “Roundups and removals are cruel–slaughtering them is a heinous idea. We want to make sure they are protected.”

# # #

Media Contacts:

Anne Novak, 415-531-8454, Anne@ProtectMustangs.org

Kerry Becklund, 510-502-1913, Kerry@ProtectMustangs.org

Contact us for photos, video and interviews

Links of Interest:

BREAKING: Shocking meeting minutes reveal Nevada wants to slaughter wild horses! Read them here: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=3405

News reporting: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/b4490271c8d34f06a683a62a375d2f2e/NV–Wild-Horse-Slaughter

Protect Mustangs in the news: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=218

America’s wild horses are native: http://protectmustangs.org/?page_id=562

Requests to Governor Sandoval: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=3189

Barbie Hardrock protest photo: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151389882539756&set=o.233633560029004&type=1&theater

Rocquette’s website: http://rocquette.com/

The law and the BLM roundups: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=3248

Mill Valley protest sponsored by Wild Horse Protection Act. Jan 4th 5:00-7:00 pm at the Depot Plaza. Info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/296738457113266/?suggestsessionid=5884581321357255870

Here are ways you can take action: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=454780331247658&set=a.240625045996522.58710.233633560029004&type=1&theater&notif_t=photo_commentMore information here: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=3343

Sponsored by Protect Mustangs www.ProtectMustangs.org where you can find a lot of information on the wild horse crisis.

Protect Mustangs is the California-based preservation group whose mission is to educate the public about the American wild horse, protect and research wild horses on the range and help those who have lost their freedom.

Barbie Hardrock joins Protect Mustangs' Oakland protest through the web (Photo © Rocquette)

Barbie Hardrock joins Protect Mustangs’ Oakland protest through the web (Photo © Rocquette)

 

Peaceful Protest to Protect America’s Iconic Wild Horses Jan 4th in Berkeley-Oakland

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PM HV Girl with sign trap to slaughter

Join us for a peaceful protest Friday, Jan 4th outside the Rockridge BART Station during the evening rush hour from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (on College Avenue @ Oakland/Berkeley border) to show we all want the cruelty & slaughter of indigenous wild horses to stop now!

We stand with our fellow advocates in Nevada to demand a STOP to the crimes against America’s iconic wild horses! We stand with the American public who wants ALL wild horses protected (BLM & NDoA). Stop the roundups!

This is a family friendly protest. Bring signs and candles!

Let people know that they can have their peaceful protest wherever they are. One person and one sign is enough, more people and signs are great too! Take a pic and post it to our FB page we will share out! https://www.facebook.com/ProtectMustangs

 

Here is the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/530479583642398/

Associated Press Reports: Nevada Horse Advocates Fear Slaughter http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Nevada-horse-advocates-fear-slaughter-4165757.php

 

 

URGENT! Stop Wild Horse Slaughter & Cruelty in Nevada

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Protect native wild horses! © Protect Mustangs.org

Protect native wild horses! © Protect Mustangs.org

 

Take Action to Save Wild Horses 

Gather in peaceful protest on January 4th (in conjunction with the Carson City Rally) in hometowns around the world to STOP the Slaughter of Native Wild Horses. Let your friends know what is going on. TOURISTS speak out! Do you support NEVADA’s cruel treatment of iconic mustangs?

Post pics holding your signs on Protect Mustangs’ FB wall and we will share them out!

Post here: https://www.facebook.com/ProtectMustangs

Make your voice heard, contact the White House, your Congressional Representative and your Senators to request they halt the roundups, stop the slaughter of U.S. wild horses and burros as well as return all wild horses in holding to the range.

Come to the Carson City “Slaughter is not the Answer” Rally in Nevada’s Capitol. From 10:30 a.m. -1 p.m on January 4th. In front of the Nevada State Legislature building 401 South Carson Street, Carson City, NV. Info: Bonnie Matton 775-720-6086

Send your letters in to Hidden Valley by 9 p.m. PST Jan 3rd. Your letters will be taken to the Governor at the end of the Jan 4th Rally in Carson City.

email: hiddenvalleywildhorses@gmail.com

We need your HELP! Please write an original letter off this form letter and send it to Shannon Windle, President of Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund. She is taking it to the Governor!

Dear Governor Sandoval,

I am appalled by the current treatment of Nevada’s Virginia Range wild horses. These horses belong to the State of Nevada and their fate ultimately lies in your hands. 80% of Americans are opposed to horse slaughter; now the Virginia Range wild horses are being dumped at livestock auctions by the State of Nevada – the first step in the slaughter pipeline. To treat one of this State’s natural resources with such disregard is reprehensible. You, as the highest ranking official of the State of Nevada, have the authority to stop your Department of Agriculture from this inhumane treatment and its continued determination to wipe them off the range altogether.

To preserve these icons of Nevada’s western heritage, please direct the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDoA) to take the following steps immediately, before these horses are gone forever:

1. STOP sending all Nevada Virginia Range wild horses to the livestock auction immediately. These horses are entering the slaughter pipeline and being put at direct risk of ending up at slaughterhouses in Canada and/or Mexico. I am opposed to having Nevada’s horses served on dinner platters in foreign markets.

2. STOP the random trapping of these horses. Poor to no planning has resulted in 153 horses being removed from the Virginia Range. The opportunistic methods being implemented to trap Nevada’s horses has had almost no impact to the public safety concerns that the NDoA is using as an excuse for the taking up of these horses. I oppose the indiscriminant taking up of Nevada wild horses.

3. RE-ENGAGE the cooperative agreements previously entered in to between NDoA and wild horse advocate groups. These agreements originally allowed non-profit funds to be used to relieve the burden on the tax payer regarding the management of the Nevada wild horses. I support cooperative agreements that allow NDoA to hand over Nevada’s horses to the care of advocate groups that use their donor funds to find them good, quality forever homes.

4. RE-ENGAGE wild horse advocates willing to assist in the on-going management of the Nevada horses as provided in NRS 569. I oppose the current policies affecting Nevada’s wild horses that have led to reactive versus proactive decision making regarding which horses to remove, have led to the use of dangerous techniques implemented in the taking up of horses, put the public at risk of injury during these round ups, and caused entire communities to become outraged at the activities in which the NDoA has engaged.

5. ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT new legislation and departmental policies that will protect and preserve the Nevada Virginia Range horses. I support these living symbols of our pioneering American spirit and laud them as proud symbols of Nevada’s past, its courageous present, and its strength of tomorrow. I encourage you to ensure they are protected and become the focus of enjoyment for both tourists and residents of current and future generations.

The next meeting of the Nevada Department of Agriculture Board of Directors isn’t scheduled until March. By then, several hundred more horses might be removed from the range. Additionally, there are 41 Virginia Range wild horses scheduled to be sold at the livestock auction on January 9, 2013.

Please act now to protect the Virginia Range wild horses so a long-term solution can be found.

Sincerely,

 

Sign, print your name and address.

Mail your letter to Hidden Valley Wild Horse Protection Fund, PO Box 20052, Reno, NV 89515 or scan and email it to hiddenvalleywildhorses@gmail.com no later than January 3, 2013.

 

All letters will be delivered in person to the Governor’s office in Carson City on Friday, January 4, 2013.

Cruel way to drag foal by pulling bailing twine around their neck (Photo © Bo Rodriguez)

Cruel way to drag foal by pulling bailing twine around their neck (Photo © Bo Rodriguez)

Reno: Damonte wild horses trapped w/ cruelty

(Graphic by Anne Novak & Denise Delucia for © Protect Mustangs.www.ProtectMustangs.org May be used for social sharing. Photo © Bo Rodriguez)