On October 7, the following members of Congress introduced a bipartisan bill on behalf of protecting wild horses and burros: Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), and Dina Titus (D-NV).
The bill, called the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Protection Act of 2022, is a significant step in the right direction for protecting wild horses and burros from federal mismanagement.
Some of the major reforms to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) Wild Horse and Burro Programs includes:
Repeal the Burns Amendment, which amended the original 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to allow for the commercial sale and slaughter of wild horses and burros;
End the cash incentives for adoption that have resulted in hundreds of wild horses and burros going into the slaughter pipeline;
Prevent the use of killing as a population control method and restrict the use of euthanasia only to life-threatening situations;
Prioritize humane population managementwith tools like fertility control instead of inhumane helicopter roundups and removals; and
Encourage partnerships with military veterans and non-governmental organizations in order to keep wild horses and burros wild.
The educational camp “Hanging With Horses” is offered to those who complete “The Care & Keeping of Horses” camp. This year’s Hanging with Horses was full of enthusiastic campers who learned even more about basic horse care and handling through arts/crafts, story telling, videos, books and additional hands-on experiences with a full-sized horse (Splash) and two of FRER’s rescue horses (a pony named Cricket and a miniature horse named Tilly).
Campers also learn information on horse abuse issues (in an age appropriate curriculum), how to report potential abuse, and the basics of emergency/disaster evacuation for horses.
They also had a chance to put together horse-related skits using information learned from the camp curriculum.
Here is a brief summary from Day One of the annual “Care & Keeping of Horses” Camp:
Dear Parents,
Thank you for sending your awesome children to Horse Camp! We started by going on a horse hunt, finding horses everywhere! We learned about different breeds, and how horses move. We were visited by Farrier Dave and learned the parts of the hoof. We played a horse/trainer game, learning how to safely lead a 1,000 pound animal as well as how to correctly use a halter and lead rope. We watched a short DVD about Front Range Equine Rescue. Each camper should have come home with a calendar. We appreciate your family understanding our hope to educate the younger generation to help us stop the abuse and neglect of horses. We groomed all three horses and we mucked the field. We played a prey/predator game to learn about the trials and hardships of wild horses. We ended our time together hearing the story about “Molly” the horse who got a prosthetic leg after hurricane Katrina. Campers are encouraged to read their horse books and hopefully share something they learned from their book with others in the morning.
Yours in Horses,
Marion and Gianna
(Note: Marion is FRER’s Executive Director and in charge of education/events/volunteer activities based in Colorado; her daughter Gianna is her #1 assistant at the summer educational camps).
On other camp days, participants learned about basic veterinary care, general horse anatomy, watched demonstrations from different types of riders and trainers, put together horse related collages and more.
In June 2012, we saved several horses from a low-end auction in Colorado. One of those horses was a little paint filly we named Anna.
An initial veterinary exam showed that Anna was about 18 months old. She had thickening near her knees which was diagnosed as epiphysitis. A second vet confirmed this diagnosis as the swelling was confined to the end of the radius while the knee bones themselves appeared to be normal. Anna also had a good range of motion.
With some dietary restrictions and making sure she didn’t do any “hard” work (or play), we let Anna continue to grow up and receive appropriate dental and farrier care as needed. By July 2013, a follow-up exam showed that Anna’s legs were normal and she would be able to go into light training.
In 2014, Anna was adopted to a wonderful home who has kept us updated on their progress together. Here is a recent update for 2018:
Anna has been doing cattle work this past summer and she really seems to enjoy the boxing classes at the cutting shows. We finished year end in the top 10 in Open Boxing with the Southern Colorado Cutting Horse Association and 5th place year-end with the Colorado Obstacle Challenge Series group. Also took her to a Buck Brannaman clinic. I felt so small next to him, but what an awesome experience!
Our thanks go to Barbara for giving this once cast-off little filly a loving, permanent home and to Sandy at Victory Hill Training Center for pairing the two of them up!
Winter is Here, Make Sure You and Your Horses Are Ready
Ideally, you should start preparing before the winter weather arrives with regard to your horse care routine. But it’s never too late to make sure your horse is receiving proper care as colder temperatures and frozen precipitation set in. The following are just a few tips to keep horses healthy and happy during the winter season.
While Mother Nature prepared your horse for colder days and nights with the growth of a winter hair coat, horse owners might need to adjust feed, shelter and water requirements. You will want to have a well-fitting, waterproof blanket available for sharp temperature drops or if your horse did not grow a good winter hair coat. Horses who are not in good health or at a healthy weight will need blanketing so that they are not shivering by morning, even if kept in a barn.
Feeding horses in winter is similar to feeding them during the rest of the year except horses require more energy (e.g., calories) to help maintain their body temperature. Increasing the amount of hay you feed is often the best way to do this, especially in areas where grazing becomes more limited to non-existent.
Studies have indicated that energy (or calories) obtained from hay is more readily converted to body heat than that found in concentrates like grain. It has also been shown that the more concentrates a horse is fed, the greater the chance of developing colic. Feed changes also increase the chance of colic so always make changes over a period of time, gradually increasing (or decreasing) the amount of feed. It’s also a good idea to pre-purchase a good winter hay supply so you don’t end up having to pay higher prices or worry about winter shortages which can occur.
Shelter is necessary year round, but especially during the winter months to protect horses from the effects of wind and wet weather. Wind chill affects horses just as it does people; even a healthy horse can die of hypothermia in a blizzard if it does not have adequate protection from the elements. Young foals, older horses, underweight or ill horses are more susceptible to hypothermia. A clean and dry shed or stall in a barn with good bedding is ideal. A simple wind break with no roof is not adequate.
Water is very critical to maintain your horse’s health. Providing water during winter can be challenging due to frozen hoses, spigots, water buckets, and even your frozen fingers. Research has shown horses drink more water during inclement weather if the water is warm (this can help reduce colic risk too). Chopping ice out of water containers is not a good solution. Fresh unfrozen water must always be available. Take the time to purchase bucket or water tank heaters appropriate for use in your horses’ water containers. Make sure your electrical outlets carry enough current for tank heaters and always check the heaters (or automatic waterers) for malfunctions. Also, protect electrical wiring from horses’ teeth.
Always make sure your horse is up-to-date on appropriate veterinary and farrier care. Continue your regular worming schedule which is recommended for the region where you live. If you missed a dental check-up for your horse in the Fall, be sure to include it in the Spring unless an issue is suspected currently.
Remember too that regular exercise is important for your horse year-round; make sure that your horse can get turned out for a time even when it’s too cold to ride.
Education about horses and responsible horse ownership is a critical part in helping to prevent equine abuse and neglect. Horse owners and the “horse-loving” public can benefit from participating in educational clinics or events.
Front Range Equine Rescue hosted a clinic for a Girl Scout troop who were earning their horsemanship badge. Front Range’s education coordinator hosted the group at her facility in the Black Forest (CO).
Participants learned about basic anatomy, how to clean a stall, groom a horse, lead a horse at the walk through a simple obstacle course, learn about the differences of English and Western saddles as well as observe a horse’s gaits (walk, trot, canter).
The Scouts also played a “predator/prey” game and ended the day with “what did you learn”. All of them are now anxious to attend one of Front Range’s summer youth camps to learn more and spend more time with horses!
We thank all of the girls for their enthusiasm, the troop leader for coordinating the event with us and rescue horses Tilly (a mini), Cricket (a pony) and their friend Splash (paint mare).
A Denver news affiliate recently reported on unsanctioned horse races in rural Colorado.
These races are made to look incredibly similar to sanctioned horse races. However, there are very few rules which lead to the horses being abused on a horrific level.
Too many horses suffer from legalized horse racing. The abuse at illegal races held at secret locations is appalling. Sadly it is not limited to Colorado.
Many of the broken down horses from these races end up in the hands of kill buyers.
Your help is needed to keep horses cool and ward off flies, skin conditions like fungus and rain-rot or other summertime woes…
Summer has arrived in almost full force here in Florida. The Virginia foster farm is starting to feel the heat (and humidity) and even our horses in Colorado are seeing some hotter days.
The summer season brings special needs for horses including protection from temperature extremes, heat or precipitation issues, and flies or other pests like ticks. Front Range Equine Rescue works hard to provide optimal care for each and every horse in our rescue program. Unfortunately summer conditions are tough to completely fight.
I hope you can contribute to help fulfill our hot weather wish list. Supplies run low quickly!
FLY SPRAY/TRAPS/MASKS
These are used to keep as many flies away as possible. We have other methods to work on the fly population as well, but the sprays and traps as well as using masks to protect horses’ eyes are a mainstay.
NATURAL REMEDIES
We go through a lot of a garlic-based supplement (Bug-Lyte) and organic Apple Cider Vinegar. These products are given to the horses’ with their food and have various health benefits including immune boosting and fly protection.
With over forty horses under our care between CO, FL, and VA we go through many bottles of fly spray and other products. And because horses will be horses, sometimes fly masks get torn during play so we like to keep extras on hand. I’m sure you can imagine that fly traps are a constant purchase as well!
Can you help us ward off flies and treat skin issues caused by summer conditions? Donate to Help.
FANS
We are in need of fans to keep horses in FL and VA cool. While our barns are well ventilated, it’s critical to keep air circulating. We keep fans hung for each stall as well as using larger agricultural fans in barn aisle ways.
Right now, we need to replace 5 fans at the VA foster farm and add another large agric-ultural fan here in FL for the retirees. Stall fans cost $70 each; the large ag fan is $385.
I greatly appreciate any assistance you can give so we can stay on top of these weather related challenges. Several of the rescues at the VA farm developed rain rot after very wet conditions during May. They are being treated with a special shampoo and other products. Here in Florida, I’ve dealt with “summer sores” and signs of skin fungus on a couple of the horses. All are doing well with treatment, but we need to stay on top of it. Thanks so much for anything you can do!
I’m happy to report that funding to help rescue horses Cricket and Duke for their veterinary needs has been raised.
We greatly appreciate everyone contributing to make sure these two deserving horses receive the care they need to continue recovering from abuses they’ve endured.
Special thanks to Jan in Texas and Gary in Florida to ensure we reached the goal needed for both horses.
Cricket’s Surgery
You may recall that Cricket was close to full health except for a recurring abscess on her right hip. We were told this sweet girl had been used at low-end Mexican rodeos in the illegal “sport” of horse tripping.
Her veterinarian suggested surgery to see if a bone fragment was the possible cause. Cricket recently underwent surgery and it was discovered that a patch on the hip bone’s surface had died and needed to be scraped off with some tools.
When a bone is hit hard enough (as with a sharp fall), it can cause bone to die off.
Cricket
Cricket sleeps off the sedation post-surgery.
Cricket
Cricket undergoing surgery.
Duke’s Healing Process
Duke is scheduled for additional chiropractic treatments to assist with recovery from back injuries. As you may recall, poor Duke was terrified of entering a starting gate at the race track. Clearly he fought attempts to force him in and suffered injuries as a result.
Once healed of his physical pain, Duke will have his trust and confidence rebuilt for going into enclosed spaces. It was so sad to see him trembling with fear when asked to load into a horse trailer the day we saved him from heading to slaughter.
Duke’s future treatments will be in 2-3 week intervals. He has shown some improvement after two initial treatments. We are cautiously optimistic he will be able to carry a rider again and become a pleasure/trail horse. Click here to learn more ways you can help.
SNOW STORMS POUND COLORADO!
The recent March blizzard, followed by more snow storms over the following week, wreaked havoc in Colorado. We have 14 horses currently under our care in northern Colorado at a private farm. While all of our horses are okay, portions of a hay supply were ruined as the relentless wind drove snow underneath the tarped hay.
“It was so nasty out that the visibility was only about 40 feet at times, and the wind and snow completely overran our barns, practically making them useless.”
Can you help us replenish the damaged hay supply?
We need $500 to replace the damaged bales and would like to have it delivered as soon as possible. To learn more ways you can help, visit our What Can You Do? page.
Thank you!
I know you have many options with your charitable giving. Thank you so much for supporting Cricket and Duke and the many other horses under our care.
Together we truly make a positive difference for horses.
For the horses,
Hilary
No gift is too small and everything will truly help!
Your tax deductible donations to Front Range Equine Rescue save the lives of at-risk horses. We need funding to provide feed/hay, veterinary care, farrier services, as well as expanded facility projects including fencing and barn construction at the new NC farm.
We don’t know a lot about Cricket’s past but she is about 7 years old and was emaciated along with other injuries upon arrival. The story given to us was that she was used for tripping/roping practice at low-end Mexican rodeos. Horse tripping is illegal and done in secret.
Cricket was thoroughly examined for fractures, breaks or dislocations. Fortunately, none were found and she did not show neurologic symptoms. She was treated for a leg injury which healed over time.
Unfortunately, she has developed an ongoing abscess in her hip. The vet believes a foreign object or perhaps a bone chip from being thrown to the ground when tripped during her rodeo days may be lodged in there. Now she needs surgery to locate and remove this object in order to fully heal.
We need to raise $600 to pay for Cricket’s surgery and recovery care. Can you help Cricket?
This very sweet 3 year old gelding had a hard time in his short racetrack career. Last month we received a call from a racetrack worker about a kind Thoroughbred gelding who was heading to slaughter. He was being thrown away because of starting gate fears. We rushed to pick Duke up before the meat truck could arrive.
After careful evaluation, it is clear Duke not only banged his head when trying to load into the starting gate (he has a permanent small knot on his head as a result), but clearly had fallen over, more than once. The result of his terror and being beaten to get into the starting gate has left him with several injuries to his back. The good news is we believe all are treatable.
We had an equine chiropractor examine Duke and provide an adjustment. When Duke was re-checked, there was some improvement. However, Duke needs additional treatment before we can progress with further evaluation to ensure his safe future.
We need to raise $450 to cover additional care for Duke.
We’ll have a lot of reconditioning to do for poor, sweet Duke to overcome his terror of small spaces. But until we can get him pain free in his back, we won’t be able to fully recondition him for training evaluation.
At Front Range Equine Rescue, we see horses like Cricket and Duke too many times. We have a proven success record of getting them well again and into great new homes. But we cannot do it without you joining our effort to ensure we provide the best care for them. Horses like Cricket and Duke deserve better than what they’ve experienced in their young lives so far!
I greatly appreciate your loyal support and hope you can help us “do right” by these two very deserving horses.
For the horses,
Hilary
HOW TO HELP:
Your tax deductible donations to Front Range Equine Rescue save the lives of at-risk horses. We need funding to provide feed/hay, veterinary care, farrier services, as well as expanded facility projects including fencing and barn construction at the new NC farm.
By the end of 2015, FRER had filed appeals with the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) on behalf of the Kiger and Riddle Mountain herds (OR) and West Douglas Creek herd (CO).
The BLM filed to have our appeals dismissed; our attorneys filed replies to the BLM’s opposition.
Just recently, the IBLA failed to follow long standing precedent with regard to “standing” and ruled that Front Range could not pursue its claim against the BLM with regard to the Oregon herds.
On January 27, FRER sued the BLM and the IBLA in federal court. We are pursuing our case because the BLM is in violation of the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act with respect to the Kiger and Riddle Mountain herds.
The BLM is artificially manipulating the genetic make-up of these herds to produce a “specialty” breed of horses it can sell for a profit. Our argument states the BLM is in direct violation of the Congressional mandate to let wild horses remain in their natural state, and to never create a zoo-like atmosphere on the range.
While the defund remains in place for the current fiscal year, there is no time to “sit on our laurels”.
We are working harder than ever to ensure:
No return of U.S. slaughter plants
Increasing awareness of alternatives to slaughter
Educating on safe re-homing options
Stopping U.S. horses from being butchered in slaughterhouses across our borders
February 4: Valley Meat in New Mexico, and all related companies and individuals, were permanently prohibited by a court order from slaughtering horses for human consumption, and from manufacturing, selling or distributing horse meat products in New Mexico. This is the result of the lawsuit brought by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office and joined in by Front Range Equine Rescue and four Roswell citizens.
This is a huge victory after our three years of legal efforts to stop horse slaughter in New Mexico.
Front Range Equine Rescue wants to give a tremendous thank you to all of our donors who helped with this monumental, grassroots effort and to the NM Attorney General’s Office and four Roswell residents.
This is a critical milestone, but the battle continues on as there remains a great deal of work to be done to responsibly end horse slaughter. This victory means we stopped the expansion of horse slaughter. The NM plant never opened so no additional horses were killed. It is critical to note that U.S. horses shipped to Canada and Mexico even when U.S. plants operated before. They would continue to do so if any U.S. plant opened. Federal legislation is needed to ban horse slaughter within the U.S. and across the borders.
Sebastian and Cinnamon join us as the first rescues of the New Year. They came to us from a kill buyer and were assessed for lameness issues due to overgrown hooves. Both are very sweet and friendly. Sadly, an older horse from the same kill buyer came to us and died from unknown causes before the vet could arrive to evaluate him. A few days later, good news arrived when Angus (a 2015 rescue) found a fantastic new home. Then another call from a kill buyer with a young gelding.
This poor horse could barely stand due to an old injury never treated or healed correctly. The damage to his hind leg/hoof were too severe to save him.
As I’ve always said, our work is both heart-warming and heart breaking.
At this time, FRER is supporting a dozen horses in Colorado in our partnership with Shiloh Acres Horse Rescue. Several of the horses are ready for adoption to new homes.
Appealing the Federal Decision to Eliminate Wild Horses
LARKSPUR, Colo., September 9, 2015
Front Range Equine Rescue, a nonprofit working to end the abuse and neglect of horses, announced today it has appealed the federal decision to eliminate the population of wild horses in the West Douglas Herd Area of northwest Colorado.
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to remove all wild horses from this sensitive region over the next three years, which FRER contends is a violation of federal law. FRER has begun the appeal process with the Interior Board of Land Appeals – focusing its efforts to protect wild horses on public lands on the Board and its review process.
According to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, the BLM has a mandate to protect the health and welfare of all wild horse herds on public lands. FRER says the Act protects these horses from unwarranted elimination, and that removing the entire herd from its native rangeland will also cause catastrophic loss of genetic diversity in the herd management areas surrounding the WDHA, which over time causes herd health problems.
“The BLM is intent on removing an entire herd, but both the language and spirit of the Wild Horse Act protect wild horses from elimination,” said Hilary Wood, President of FRER. “This irreversible action will permanently alter the natural diversity of the range and damage herd health in the adjacent areas that are also under the BLM’s management.”
Battleground
“The WDHA has long been a battleground as horse advocates took to the courts to block individual BLM roundups, but even if successful, these lawsuits do not address the long-range issue of the BLM’s plan to wipe out the WDHA population in the next three years,” said FRER’s attorney Bruce Wagman. “Filing our appeal, before the BLM has eliminated the herds, will protect this historic herd once and for all.“
The BLM plans to begin eliminating horses in the WDHA with a roundup of approximately 167 horses as soon as this month. This leaves approximately 200 horses in the region, which the BLM intends to remove in the upcoming years. After the BLM contractor’s low-flying helicopters round up the herds, they will be put in BLM holding facilities, and available for adoption or sale at auction.