For years the BLM has been rounding up herds using helicopters and an irresponsible method of gathering the herd which disrupts herd structures.
ISPMB has years of study on herd structures which ultimately could help the BLM make better decisions as to how roundups should occur.
We need to keep the herds together for further study.
Below are photos captured by wildlife photographer Carol Walker during the 2008 Sand Wash round up.
Helicopter round ups not only destroy herd structures, they terrify wild horses including pregnant mares and young foals as they run for their lives!
Too many horses pushed too fast by BLM contractors caused a jam of panicked horses at the gate to the trailer. A grey mare (later to be named “Beautiful Woman Standing” by ISPMB) gets shoved and hits the gait’s upper bar.
The grey mare (Beautiful Woman Standing) falls under all the other panicked horses as BLM contractors just watch.
More terrified horses are continued to be loaded into the trailer stepping on the body and face of the mare. Nothing was done to help her or control the situation.
The grey mare, partially under the trailer, appears to be dead. The loading is finished but the grey mare still lays there motionless and bloody.
After over 15 minutes, she got up shaking and bewildered. The grey mare stands there in a daze before they drive her into the trailer.
Her first day at our ranch. She is under weight. She has been at Canyon City for nearly three years. She had a foal at her side at capture which was adopted. She was pregnant and foaled again and that foal was adopted. Her first day at our facility there is a sadness about her.
UPDATE:
This is Beautiful Woman Standing at ISPMB today. There is a big difference in her since her first day here. Although she is bright, shiney, and alert, she is still leary of people.
UPDATE:
This is Beautiful Woman Standing at ISPMB in 2019.
