Good morning!

We could really use some help in NC fighting horse slaughter... any Tarheels out there who could spare some time and energy?!

Please email antislaughterlobby@earthlink.net for details...

Thanks

Love to Barbaro. Thanks Alex

Hiya, FsOB. I checked on the Senate Web site last night re. the status of S 311. I didn't see anything indicating that it would be voted upon on Monday. I hope this helps. I'll try to write a letter to Paul Sorvino this weekend. TGIF! If I am not on tonight, it's because I am serving at a spaghetti dinner at our church. The benefit is to help two families whose daughters have brain tumours. May your day be a productive one! RMH

Good Friday morning FOBs - TGIF - Hooray!!

Roll call - reporting in. I will make the calls and report back tonight.

Mary L. - thanks so much for the Spirit video.

Have a great day everyone!!
Janice
A forever FOB

Good morning, TGIF.

Have a great weekend.

Morning skritches to the BBH, Sir JH, Gorgeous George, and all of the rest of the wonderful gang in Equine Heaven. Hope they got the water mopped up...

As for us, here, down below:

ShelleyA and Debra, WI are on the road so no official post yet, but:

IT'S FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY
AND EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT TO DO!!!

Cheers,
Friar Tuck

####
Friar Tuck
Where is Debra and Shelley off too?
IT'S FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY is always cool.

Strategy for Friday November 30

FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY………FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY

This is the day that you can go over the lists from the week and catch up on calls that you may have missed. It also gives some of you the chance to give another call to someone that you feel may be close and just needs that “extra” push. Please make sure the calls you make are from THIS weeks list since those are the particular legislators that we’ve been asked to target.

We have all witnessed more cosponsors signing on over the past couple of weeks and that is never just a coincidence! There is definitely a big push behind the scenes to ensure support for our bill so let’s join that push by making lots of calls this week.

It is important that we become very aggressive with our calling. Letters of support from senators who would rather not cosponsor but will vote for our legislation, have been requested. These would be very helpful in moving the bill forward with leadership. They should be sent to Senator Landrieu’s office.

These calls are to gain co-sponsors and support for HR503 and S311. As difficult as it is, please concentrate on the transport of the horses to slaughter more than the conditions in Mexico. We can’t let anyone who is not well informed come to the conclusion that it would be better to have the plants in this country because of the conditions in Mexico.

Remember, WE ARE BARBARO’S VOICE…..let it be heard!!
Shelley and Debra

Good Morning Barbaro

As always your star was so clear and bright...but you know you will always shine in our hearts. We love you!!!!

Good Morning Family/Fans of Barbaro

FREE FRIDAY....LET US MAKE THIS AN AWESOME DAY!!!!

Please call, fax, email.

Also remember our rescues, please help any way possible...the ones suffering human or animal, our Fallen Angels, our wildlife and our loving family.

Please if possible write letters to Paul Sorvino...he loves horses like we do....and we need him and so many more to help save our beloved horses.

Also, if you have a dollar, stamp, and a Christmas card....mailed one to Retired Equine Adoption Society or any and all rescues...dollars, nickels, dimes...they all add up.

Remember the help on the db board for rescues...there is so much to be done....and the FOBS GET IT...AND WILL GET IT DONE TO THEIR ABILITY.

Have a nice day.

#####
Good morning Alex.
Good morning Tim and Fair Hill
Our Fallen Angels...we know what brutal slayings you went through...that is why we are going to get this bill passed.

Hay, FOB's!

###
Have finished the "Free-for-All". We've got the momentum - if anybody can accomplish miracles, this famblee can.

###
MaryL, I loved the video. Cried nearly the entire way thru...thank you so much for creating that.

###
RobynH, prayers for those two little girls and their families...why it is always the little ones who sometimes have to show us courage in the face of overwhelming challenges???

###
Will compose my letter to Paul Sorvino over the weekend.

Everybody have a wonderful Friday...you are all the greatest.

Healing, Love, Peace
ONS
Padme

Good Morning Sweet Barbaro in Heaven!

Good morning Bobby's Lil Angel, Spirit, Jonah, Rosie, Misty and all the fabulous animals at MHR

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!

For Barbaro, for Fitch, for Apache, for Ho'pats and all horses.

Ro & Brady

Only until tonight at Midnight
(9:00 p.m. PST) for The Miracle Horse Rescue November Hay Drive. Don't miss a chance to win Kathleen Parsons BEAUTIFUL Legacy Print. One chance $5.00 or 3 chances $8.00

Doc Wilbur Memorial Hay Drive

Ro & Brady

####
YAY! Great news about Curlin racing as a 4 year old (hopefully)! I think he will be AWESOME!

Goodmorning ALL.....

Hans is doing his second day at work today....

Today will be extremely difficult as he has his Cardiac Rehab exercises a t the YMCA before he starts work and he is already tired from yesterdays day at work......
Diabetic medication has been cut in half to account for the exercise so we don't have mega low blood sugars with his diabetes.....it will be an interesting day????

Pray that all goes well and that the diabetes stays under control....

God Bless your day of calling today....

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION !!!

Love to ALL....HUGS

####
PLEASE LIGHT UP CANDLES FOR BARBARO AND HIS FRENS....ONE BY ONE...THE CANDLE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN...AND THE CANDLES ARE GONE....

Food Morning Everyone,
I just saw this great story and wanted to share it with you.

Good Morning Barbaro,
Time to wake up sweet boy. I love you!

Midstate Teen Tries To Rescue Canadian Horses

Posted: Nov 29, 2007 09:30 PM
Featured Videos
Midstate Teen Tries To Rescue Canadian Horses

DICKSON, Tenn. - A Dickson County girl is trying to prevent the slaughter of horses kept on farms for medical purposes.

Lane Baker was horrified when she found out that some horses are used all their lives to make medicine before they die.

The 14-year-old cares for nine horses. She also looks after her five younger siblings.

While surfing the Internet one day she found out efforts to rescue these horses.

The animals are in Canada where on some farms females are impregnated and used for different reasons. For example, their urine is a key ingredient in a drug commonly used to reduce the symptoms of menopause.

Lane found 100 mares and foals that are no longer needed by the farms. They are scheduled to go to the slaughterhouse by Friday.

"I was broken hearted," she said. "I decided to do something about this."

Lane is helping a rescue group that is trying to arrange adoptions for the horses.

She put signs up in stores and took out a newspaper ad, which she paid for with chocolate chip cookies.

The response has been overwhelming, said Lane's mother Terri Baker.

"The phone has not stopped ringing for Lane," she said. "It's been so exciting because so many people want to help these animals."

"They just need a little love and attention," Lane said. "They could be the next world champion, for all we know."

She said she hopes to save at least one horse.

"If I can save just one I'll have a party," she said.

Lane has helped find new homes for 50 horses.

Her family is considering adopting a couple of the horses.

Tens of thousands of horses are killed for human consumption each year.

To contact Lane Baker, email bakerslane@bellsouth.net.

Robyn,
If you have Paul Sorvino's address would you email it to me, I tried to find it the other day with no luck...thanks.winddancer56@cox.net

g'morning y'all. Cool about Curlin- nice to see a top three year old go into a fourth year on the track!

Barbaro Christmas Cards

####Alex-I bet you are catching a bit of grief this a.m. over the football game. Sorry about the Packers and Farve. I hope he isn't out too long.

Stay safe and have a good weekend.

Good Morning Famblee

ROLL CALL.....I'M HERE AND I'M CALLING

Will write my letter to Paul Sorvino over the weekend. If anybody isn't aware of this current event check out the DB http://forums.delphiforums.com/alexbrown/messages?msg=17355.1

I think we may need to amp up the calls on Monday given the AQHA situation.

Yippppppe for Curlin!

Maribel,
Good news on Hans.

##

ROLL CALL....ME TOO! ME TOO! I am HERE and I've sent my 'stinkin' faxes!!! Senator Casey, included:) I sent along the latest VEW Report to he and Senator Obama!

I hope everyone has a GREAT Friday!!

I'll catch up with CJ's list later today, must be away very many hours:/ I'll be missing the "HAPPS" at ABR:(

Lynne-Barbaro's Forever Friend in CA

how 'bout them Cowboys!!??!!

All Rainbows For Our Angel Horses And Angels Here.

Special Words Of The Day: All Rainbows
God's Love....Flowing....To Us....His Heart....
Loves Angels.......

Barbaro (8)
With You........

His Presence........
His Love........

The Circle Of Love........
His Halo Glowing........
His Wings Glowing........

The Wings Of Prayer........
Praying Hands........
Sacred Prayers........
S311........
The Wings Of Love........
Glowing........
Open........
Reaching........
The Rainbow Of Support........
Bonding........
The Rainbow Of Tranquility........
The Horse In The Sea........
The Rainbow Of Miracles........
God Is Love.......

God's Rainbow Of Love........Appears........

Angels On This Earth........Famblee........

Affirmed

###Mirabel, continuing prayers to Hans for a good day. Hopefully he will have the weekend off, to rest up.

Hugs to you,

Judy

ohhhhhmyyyyygoooddddddddd.
I am actually here, in my own home, having survived a glitch or two on this new system...and NOW!!!
TAAA DAAAAA....NEW PUTER. (when i encounter technical difficulties, i usually chant, dad was an engineer dad was an engineer dad was an engineer...)

I am dizzy...must lay down with dogs to revive my brain.....I am kvelling mit nachas, CJ!!!

##

JONNA......WELCOME 'HOME' GIRLIE:)

YIPPEEEEEE-SKIPPPPYYYYYYY FAMBLEEEEEE!!! JONNA'S BACK UP AND RUNNNNNNNINNNNNNNNG:):):)

NOW.....GET BUSY AND START WRITING....'cause we have MISSED you just AWFUL!!!!

Lynne-Barbaro's Forever Friend in CA

I Love You So A Lot Angel Maribel. My Prayers For You Angel Maribel And Angel Hans.

Glowing Rainbows........

Affirmed

So Very, Very Happy To See You Here Angel Jonnagrey. I Love You So A Lot.

Glowing Rainbows........

Affirmed

Jonna,
You are a crazy nut! Did you go to the land of oz?

Happy you are Happy!

Friday, November 30th... The last day of another month. They are selling Christmas trees outside Raleys store. $35.99, and the first smells of Christmas are the best. On the phone Jennifer Wright says this will be the best Christmas ever. Her first with Rocky, who came from a feed lot in Elk Grove. No one knows for sure what breed Rocky is. Jennifer bought him a bright blue blanket, and each night he gulps down a tub of warm bran mash. If you would like to tell me why this will be the best Christmas ever, I will share on the morning journal.

Mikka Thorson says this will be the best Christmas ever because her brother gets a vacation from the Army. 15 days, and Mikka is hoping for snow in Tahoe so they can ski together.

For Joe and Cathy Shelton, this will be the best Christmas ever thanks to readers of the morning journal. In 2007 we have placed 405 horses in new homes. Whenever I ask for help, you respond. I asked (some called it begging) for more foster homes, and soon we had a long list to screen. I asked for help with overflowing feed lots, and the very next day we were loading horses with smiles on their faces.

And then slaughter was stopped in America, and we partied until the cows came home. Readers would tell me over and over that when slaughter is banned there would soon be thousands of horses with no where to go. I argued with you. Said no no. Told you slaughter is brutal and slaughter is not the way to treat an animal that is so important to the history of our country. I truly believed others would take responsibilty for their own horses.

But I was wrong. I had to ask (some called it begging) for more help. You were right. All of a sudden feed lots have 2 or 3 horses to a pen. Instead of 1 cattle trailer a week leaving Elk Grove for slaughter in Canada, there are now 2 and 3 trailers a week. Livestock auctions which at one time would only feature cattle, are instead featuring horses. And you should see how skinny they are.

And the blackmail phone calls. Take my horse or else. Readers once again responded, and for 23 straight days we have placed an unwanted horse in a new home. 23 days in a row. Today will be 24, and we are grateful to a private donor who paid for 2 injured off the track thoroughbreds. Both were at feed lots, waiting for transportation to slaughter. Instead both horses will be transported to their new homes this morning.

And now you know why this will be the best Christmas ever. Because when I ask, or beg, or even hint, the response is unbelievable.

I can tell you about a lady in Sacramento who would not even replace her old broken down television, because she prefers her limited income to be spent on caring for her gelding who she loves like crazy.

I already told you about 13 year old Cora Mason, who gave up her Christmas money just to rescue a horse.

I wish I could write about a pregnant young lady in Oregon, but she tells me hush hush. Her baby is due December 27th, and to honor the birth she is sending us $400.00 to save a horse. For the young lady in Oregon, this will be the best Christmas ever.

I ask and you respond. Whatever the situation. Whatever the need. We know that many of you struggle with bare necessities, just to provide for your own horses. And to provide for horses you have never before met.

We raise high our morning cup of Folgers. Here Here. To the best Christmas ever. One thing readers have taught me for sure. Anything is possible...

Joe

An Oldie But Goodie. Barbie Doll came to us from the race track in 2003. Her cannon bone was broken, but now she is fine, and her husband is Del Mar Cool. Barbie Doll is not available for adoption. We are sort of addicted to her.

Turn The Corner is below on the right, and we call her Corny. She came to us from the race track on October 18th, and in less than 2 months she has gained 100 pounds. Corny is an easy keeper.

Good reading. *Warning one slaughter picture*

http://www.americanherds.blogspot.com/

Roll Call, reporting for duty!
Made calls & e-mails.
Preparing for my trip to DC and more lobbying. Plan on leaving Sunday.........but the Twin Cities are expecting the first major snow of the year....anywhere from 6" to 8"! If necessary, I'll hitch a horse to a sleigh to get outta' here!

Anyone wanting me to meet with senators or representatives from your state who have not co-sponsored send me details at my e-mail address. I'll be in DC for as long as the senators stay in session. Latest word, two weeks, but they may stay until Christmas!

Please call the following:
Barack Obama - 202-224-2854
obama.senate.gov/contact/
He has committed to vote YES! But call and urge him to co-sponsor even though his office says he won't. Then ask that he send a letter of support to Senator Landrieu. The aide I work with said they are getting more calls and many are requesting the letter of support!

Senator George Voinovich - 202-224-3353
http://voinovich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?
FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm
He is just beginning in earnest his research on S. 311. I've met with his people once and I'll be meeting with them again and also a strong possibility of getting the senator in the meeting. Leverage for that is the calls, faxes and e-mails. The more support, the easier it is to get meetings.

Senator Robert Casey -202-224-6324
http://casey.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Pa. residents calls carry a lot of weight, but all calls count. Ask him to co-sponsor because Senator Specter is a co-sponsor.

Senator John Sununu -202-224-2841
mailbox@sununu.senate.gov
New Hampshire calls are way down. The aide I met with says calls from N.H. are important. The senator is getting pressure from farmers to NOT support the bill. There's a chance here but everyone, especially N.H. residents, have to step up!

Senator Richard G. Lugar - 202-224-4814
senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov
Indiana residents need to really step up, but all calls count.

Daryl
shanamrdiv@yahoo.com

Thursday, November 29, 2007
Stalled

http://www.americanherds.blogspot.com/

It was New Mexico law enforcement agents that began investigating the selling of wild horses to slaughter in 1992. This investigation centered around the direct participation of BLM employees and contractors selling wild horses for slaughter with both the knowledge and approval of BLM managers. Their scheme involved the use of satellite ranches and horse sanctuaries to hide the horses for profit operation. (1)

The Grand Jury investigation into illegal wild horse slaughter began with two BLM employees: Mr. Galloway and Mr. Sharp, both working under the direction of Steve Henke, currently still employed by BLM as a District Manager in Farmington, New Mexico.

In 1995, the Grand Jury issued subpoenas intending to inventory more than 1,200 horses at a BLM sanctuary in Bartlesville, OK but a Department of the Interior lawyer in New Mexico, Grant Vaughn, wrote a letter telling the prosecutor that his agency could not comply with the subpoenas and efforts to access any information about these facilities was successfully thwarted. (2)

Over ten years later, a different investigative report has just been released by Valerie James Patton, which includes some serious questions surrounding BLM sanctuaries in Bartlesville, OK and the more than 8,000 geldings these sanctuaries now hold.

Ms. Patton’s Investigative Report centers around an anomaly of exclusive gelding exports from the Santa Teresa Livestock Port of Entry between New Mexico to Mexico, where USDA export records indicate record breaking levels of geldings have been, and are still being sent to Mexico under a “non-slaughter status”. The current total of these non-slaughter geldings shipped into Mexico has now reached over 3,000 for this year alone.

Her report on the possible illegal shipment of these horses compares the Texas export numbers of non-slaughter geldings with the Santa Teresa Port’s export numbers, notes that Santa Teresa does not send any other kind of horse through their port under a non-slaughter status and asks hard questions about what Mexico is doing with these geldings that are now numbering into the thousands, as they are obviously not for breeding purposes.

Furthermore, her report states that the only currently known source for such a continuous supply of geldings is BLM sanctuaries. The report gives significant treatment to statistics, numbers, locations, interviews, newspaper articles, government connections between U.S. and Mexican officials, and as the evidence mounts, a powerful case is presented which demands an official investigation into the both the source and the destination of these non-slaughter geldings.

Except it looks like that is going to be very difficult…..

Her report also includes the results of a recent on-site investigation by Animals’ Angels investigators who were denied access to Santa Teresa’s facilities and what little information New Mexico officials offered turned out to be false - these officials included USDA employees. Yes, this is the same USDA that flipped Congress the finger when they voted to withdraw funding for horsemeat inspections in efforts to shut down the American horse slaughter trade in 2006.

In another AP news article by Martha Mendoza published in 1997, Trail’s End for Horses: Slaughter, over 200 BLM employees were cited as adopting wild horses and burros with most unaccounted for and some employees acknowledging they were sent to slaughter while Pascal Derde, the proprietor of Cavel West Slaughterhouse in Redmond, OR, reportedly "displayed a sheaf of BLM certificates for horses he recently butchered".

Gabriel Paone, a Department of the Interior ethics official was quoted as saying there was nothing wrong with BLM employees adopting wild horses and then selling them for profit. "They’re not doing this as public officials." Paone said. "They’re doing this as private citizens."

In an article by American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, The Story Behind The Burns Amendment, a plan is outlined showing which way American wild horses were headed. “A few years ago, a Montana rancher proposed to send 10,000 wild horses to Mexico, the second largest horse meat supplier in the world, for his private enterprise craftily dubbed the "Sonora Wild Horse Repatriation Project."

Apparently, the boldness of this proposal created so much opposition it was ultimately defeated - perhaps an even craftier enterprise was needed to move our horses into Mexico.

The political consequences of openly killing wild horses and burros was foreseen during the July 1998 Field Hearing held in Reno, NV (see Year of the Horse II) as John Balliette, Contractual Natural Resource Manager, Eureka County, NV stated, “I also urge you to be cautious with euthanasia, especially for large reductions. Personally, I would view putting thousands of horses down as a terrible waste of a resource. I also believe the first time several hundred horses are euthanized in one spot, a political firestorm will follow”.

Needless to say, Mr. Balliette was correct but it didn’t take several hundred to do it.

In November 2004, the Burns Amendment was “slipped in” and became a reality for our wild horses and burros in 2005. Forty-one wild horses were slaughtered in an Illinois slaughter plant, some of the first sold under this new For Sale Authority and public outrage caused BLM to temporarily suspend sales between April 25 thru May 19, 2005.

BLM also rewrote and strengthened the adoption contracts before resuming sales but considering past historical violations, even by the agency itself, as well as no true legal consequences to those who violate these contracts due to Congress continuing to give BLM the authority to sell them “unconditionally”, there is little hope that violators will actually be prosecuted if our horses and burros end up hanging from a hook.

According to Ms. Patton’s investigative report, the shipment of unusually high numbers of non-slaughter geldings sent through Santa Teresa, New Mexico to Mexico began on August 16th, 2005 – just three months after BLM resumed selling our wild heritage to sealed bidders.

Advocate and watch dog groups have been requesting details about the For Sale Program but meaningful answers have not been forthcoming and the BLM only publicly provides a running total of the wild horses and burros that they “sell”.

So here we sit…..

Unprecedented numbers of wild horses and burros have been swept off public lands authorized by completely absurd assessments, BLM cut adoption events over the last few years during a time when they needed this outlet most, the cost of capturing and holding our wild horses and burros in these mysterious sanctuaries continues to skyrocket and suddenly we find New Mexico in the news - again!

Yet Congress sits stalled – refusing to investigate the Wild Horse & Burro Program or demand accountability, refusing to repeal the Burns Amendment, and refusing to open an investigation into these non-slaughter geldings being exported from New Mexico at record levels.

Some speculate these geldings are being shipped to Mexico as unwilling participants in a popular form of Mexican entertainment called Horse Tripping, as illustrated in the header photo. Even so, most horses used for these events end up in Mexican slaughterhouses once the ropes have cut their flesh too deeply or their legs finally brutally break.

The Humane Society of the United States has recently released a video on the reality of Mexican Horse Slaughter, often performed by repeatedly stabbing a knife into the horse’s spinal cord until it is paralyzed, though not unconscious for its slaughter. There is little question the final destination of the majority of these “non-slaughter” geldings will share the same fate of those so graphically depicted in this video.

In 1998, Mr. Balliette also recommended a sale authority that would be “sunsetted” once the numbers on the range and in the adoption pipeline were brought down to manageable numbers before more “politically correct” population control methods were again employed.

Maybe Congress is waiting, as Mr. Balliette suggested, until a sufficient amount of America’s wild horses and burros have been “disposed of” before bringing the vote to the floor…. or maybe they will never repeal it - after all, it’s only the majority of the American people who so passionately love wild horses and burros and have showed their overwhelming support time and time again for mandating their protection – but does anyone in Washington care?

Tell Congress to stop stalling and protect
OUR WILD HORSES AND BURROS
!NOW!

Non-Slaughter Geldings To Mexico

In efforts to bring awareness to the weekly shipments of these Non-Slaughter Geldings being sent to Mexico from New Mexico for over two years now, the American Herds Hot News Section will now display their weekly exported totals until -we pray -these shipments are investigated and finally brought to a halt.
(1) Horses to Slaughter - Anatomy of a Cover Up with the BLM (1997-04-01) http://www.peer.org/pubs/whitepapers_id.php?row_id=14
(2) Mendoza, Wild Horses Criminal Case Shut Down, http://igha.org/BLM12.html

Posted by Preserve the Herds at 12:00 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Closing The Deal

“The government’s continued lackadaisical attitude toward the mustangs makes it necessary for private conservation groups to constantly remain alert and follow the administration and enforcement of the law. Otherwise, the horses’ traditional enemies will succeed in slowly but surely eliminating them.” -The Politics of Extinction by Lewis Regenstein, 1975.

So how long have a handful of individuals been trying to eliminate wild horses and burros from the American scene? As far back as their American history goes……

In fact, there is so much available evidence clearly showing inappropriate and often illegal activities against wild horses and burros, only the illiterate could be convinced otherwise.

In his book, Wild Horses: Living Symbols of Freedom, wildlife ecologist and author, Craig C. Downer states how it began, “It was the White life style which caused the mustang’s demise, along with that of the buffalo….The horse allowed the Indian to withstand the White settlers and, so, the horse came to be regarded as part of the whole Indian “problem”. A prejudice against wild horses has remained as a part of the tradition to this very day among ranchers and farmers as well as others in the West.”

Mr. Downer asserts the 18th century saw the pinnacle of wild horse populations, estimated then at nearly 10 million strong but by the turn of the 19th century, their numbers had been reduced to 2 million and in the late 1950s, when Wild Horse Annie began creating public awareness for the plight of the wild horse, it was estimated their numbers had been gutted to a paltry 25,000 throughout the West. (1)

When public love and outcry sparked Congress to pass the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act in 1971, those still prejudice against the wild ones have been seeking to overturn their federally protected status ever since.

In 1973, legal proceedings were initiated by a New Mexico cattleman who unsuccessfully tried to overturn their federal protection in Kleppe vs New Mexico (June 17, 1976).

Betsy A. Cody, Specialist in Natural Resources produced a report for the Congressional Research Service on Wild Horse and Burro Management, which stated, “In 1984, BLM started to allow individuals to adopt large numbers of animals for free. Approximately 20,000 horses were adopted while this fee-waiver program was in effect and several thousand of these animals reportedly ended up in glue or pet-food factories.(2) The program was stopped in 1988 due to public outcry.”

Karen Sussman, President of the International Society for the Preservation of Mustangs and Burros (ISPMB) submitted a Report to the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands June 5, 1998, that stated, “Regulation changes proposed in 1984… allowed BLM to gather an unprecedented number of wild horses during the two year period that the rule changes were pending.”

“Another 1984 regulation was implemented known as fee-waivers/mass adoptions which allowed 100 or plus horses to be given to adopters. Ranchers adopted them and turned around and sold many to slaughter after title passed.”

“During these years, with BLMs approval, several attempts were made to allow BLM to sell “unadoptable” horses for slaughter by initiating language, which never got out of committee in Congress. The Range Omnibus bill which included the slaughter provision made it to the floor of Congress but was defeated.”

The Government Accounting Office (GAO) released their audit and report in August 1990 of the BLMs Wild Horse and Burro Program titled, Rangeland Management, Improvements Needed in the Federal Wild Horse Program, which included scathing indictments of wild horses being regularly sent to slaughter and unfair treatment by BLM.

American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign provides a Link to a 1997 report released by the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), Horse Slaughter -Anatomy of a Cover-Up, which explicitly details BLM abuses, wild horses and burros going to slaughter and a complete lack of accountability in the wild horse and burro program that many believe still continues today.

The PEER Horse Slaughter Report states: “BLM has tolerated and in some instances facilitated the routine and illegal trafficking of wild horses to slaughter. The agency has obstructed efforts by its own law enforcement officers to expose commercial theft of wild horses, fraudulent adoption schemes and fictitious "sanctuary" herds not only to avoid embarrassment but also to maintain the flow of horses off the range.”

“The BLM began a crackdown on wild horse-to-slaughter operations in 1993 under former Director Jim Baca. BLM investigators began compiling evidence documenting:”

*
theft of wild horses during BLM sponsored "gathers" or captures;
*
"black booking" or phony double branding of horses so that duplicate branded horses could disappear without a paper trail;
*
manipulation of wild horse adoptions where one person holds the proxies for a group of supposedly separate adopters and the horses all end up at slaughter;
*
use of satellite ranches to hold horses for days or weeks as stopping points on the way to slaughter;
*
fraudulent use of wild horse sanctuaries--ranches subsidized by the federal government to care for unadoptable wild horses deemed excess and removed from the range--as fronts for commercial exploitation.

“Lawyers from the Department of Justice also urged that the case be dropped because the tolerance within BLM for the horse to slaughter trade was so widespread that it would be unfair to single out any one person for prosecution.”

Associated Press reporter, Martha Mendoza also did a series of articles on the travesty occurring, such as Wild Horse Criminal Case Shut Down, which involved additional investigative reporting that found a long-standing history of cover ups, abuses and wild horses and burros being sold for slaughter.

Bill Sharp, who worked for the BLM before retiring in 1994 was quoted as saying, "If I really was worried about intent then I probably wouldn't have adopted out any horses, because I believe 90 percent of these horses go to slaughter."

While evidence piled up that indeed, America’s wild horses and burros were routinely being sent to slaughter with many BLM employees actively participating, looking the other way or being too afraid to speak out, the Grand Jury Investigation was successfully slammed shut in 1996 without any of the hard won evidence ever being heard.

Congress responded by turning a blind eye – to this day, they have failed to demand any investigation or accountability of these allegations and have failed to require BLM to submit biannual reports on the Wild Horse and Burro Program, as required by law, since 1997.

In July 1998 Congressional Subcommittee Hearing in Reno, Nevada (see last post, Year of the Horse II), the Honorable Delegate from the Territory of American Samoa, Eni Faleomavaega, continued to press for answers; “…there are allegations that thousands of horses are being slaughtered and there are further allegations that BLM could not even account for some 32,000 adopted animals, and that even BLM employees may have been participants and may even have profited in the slaughter of thousands of wild horses.”

His questions, and ours, have never significantly been addressed.

The prosecuting attorney for the derailed Grand Jury investigation, Alia Ludlum, stated, "I believe that my investigation was obstructed all along by persons within the BLM…..I think there is a terrible problem with the program and with government agents placing themselves above the law."

And so, with improprieties, abuses, and illegal activities against wild horses and burros being sanctioned and covered up at the highest levels, Larry Johnson, Director of Nevada Bighorns Unlimited and currently serving on the 2007 Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, stepped up to the plate.

In March 2000, Mr. Johnson submitted statements in concert with BLM under a Wild Horse Attachment to a Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Natural Resources to urge their support for “The Restoration of Threatened Watersheds”, citing wild horses and burros, not livestock, were one of the major threats to both watershed health and wildlife and as such, funding was needed to drastically reduce their populations across the West.

The Nevada Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses was also cited by jubilant anti-wild horse supporters as being the key factor in convincing Congress that their removals were truly a necessity in Nevadas 2000 Public Land Policy Update (pg.17).

In October 2001, armed with Congressional approval and funding, BLM proceeded to launch the most aggressive removal campaign ever implemented, rounding up over 70,000 of our wild horses and burros over the last six years.

With the Sales Authority waiting in the wings, BLM officials successfully escaping federal indictments, prosecution or any accountability at all, years of frustrated efforts to strip federal protection of America’s wild horses and burros was finally rewarded - our Land Lords just sat back to wait…..

Photo taken from BLM Internet Adoption Website http://www.blm.gov/
#9259 – Two Year Old Mare - Captured 1/17/06 – Sand Springs East HMA, NV

(1) Report prepared by the ISPMB, Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, June 5, 1998.
(2) GAO RCED-90-110 Rangeland Management, Improvements Needed In Federal Wild Horse Program, pg. 31
http://archive.gao.gov/d23t8/142041.pdf

Posted by Preserve the Herds at 12:22 PM 0 comments

Sunday, November 25, 2007
Year Of The Horse II

The second big event that happened in 1998 was a Congressional Subcommittee Hearing of National Parks and Public Lands held in Reno, Nevada on July 13th titled, Field Hearing on Range Issues and Problems with the Wild Horse and Burro Act and Its Implementation.

It was here that a handful of men began laying the groundwork to amend the Wild Free-Roaming Horse & Burro Act to include a “Sales Authority” clause to allow them to be slaughtered as well as exploring all possibilities for disposing of America's “excess” wild horses and burros.

The need to grant BLM the authority to slaughter America’s wild horses and burros was openly discussed by many with testimony citing them as merely feral “like alley cats” and that BLM needs to be able to manage them as livestock, a position supported by then BLM Director, Pat Shea.

Nevada rancher, Demar Dahl, offered this practical insight by stating, “We eat them. The horse is a resource….I love good horses, but there are a lot of horses that are just to be eaten and that is their best use…..And I can tell you right now, there are a lot of wild horses, BLM—horses with a BLM freeze iron under the brand, that go through the sales to the killer plants today. And any horse sales that you want to go to where they put killer horses through, you will find a number of wild horses….So it is happening already, we just need to recognize it.”

John Balliette, Contractual Natural Resource Manager from Eureka County, Nevada stated,“Some real double standards exist when it comes to sale authority. Each year our country sells thousands of privately owned horses for slaughter. But the mere mention of sale authority of ''wild'' horses with the possibility of slaughter is offensive to some. Horses are the only large ungulate on Federal lands that are not harvested for consumptive purposes. If harvesting one large ungulate is acceptable, why is harvesting horses unacceptable? Horses must be viewed as are other large ungulates on Federal lands, a renewable resource that can be effectively managed by harvesting excess numbers.”

Senator Dean Rhoads, Chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee for the Nevada Legislature and a rancher himself led the charge to implement a Sales Authority with such statements as, “I usually do not go to the sales yard so I have no idea who buys them, but I assume that some of them are bought by people that take them home and break them. Others are probably bought that ends up in the slaughterhouse. But that is just the thing that we have been doing for centuries.”

Nevada Lincoln County Commissioner Rey Flake reminded everyone that “Ranching on public lands is also a legacy of the west” and presented this vision to Congressional representatives for his model of what the Wild Horse & Burro Program should look like, “We need to consider the idea of having one or two herds of horses in each state.”

Senator Rhoads supported Commissioner Flakes statement by affirming the idea for a few public-viewing centers citing “…we would probably put up some vistas and interpretive centers and so forth” then also added, “Then you could remove all the other horses from the west on much of our grazing lands.”

The following individuals all testified and supported a need to introduce legislation to allow BLM to sell “excess and unadoptable” wild horses and burros or explore all means to dispose of or destroy them:
Utah Congressional Representative James Hansen, Nevada Congressional Representative Jim Gibbons (now Nevada Governor), NV Legislative Senator Dean Rhoads, NV Assemblyman John Carpenter, NV Elko County Commissioner Anthony Lesperance, Ph.D, NV Lincoln County Commissioner Rey Flake, NV Eureka County Natural Resources Manager John Balliette, National Wild Horse Association Field Director David C.J. Tattam, Arizona Game & Fish Department Director Duane L. Shroufe, and NV Rancher Demar Dahl.

Current Nevada Senator John Ensign, who introduced S. 1915, a bill to amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes, was also present as a Congressional Representative at this 1998 Field Hearing.

Representative Ensign made no comment throughout the proceedings regarding the selling of America’s wild horses and burros for slaughter. His statements were limited to,“How much of the policy is actually being directed based on pure emotionalism? How much of the policy is being directed on what is truly best for the environment, best for the animals in the long-run for the overall part of the population, and truly how are we getting to where we are going….?”

As politicians and cattleman lined up to testify against the wild horses with arguments that ranged from how their “excessive numbers” destroy the range and riparian areas, strip the forage for their livestock, and threaten true wildlife species such as bighorn sheep, they never failed to grind the ever popular axe of wild horse and burro management costing the taxpayer a fortune by being nothing more than a “Federal welfare case” - (Representative Jim Gibbons).

Utah Representative James Hansen stated, “If any public land program could be called a subsidy, this would be it.”

While these cattleman were arguing against the costs of the Wild Horse & Burro program and how public land is really their land, USDA Records shows in 1998, almost $2.7 million dollars was handed out in federal subsidies in Nevada and exceeded $62 million dollars between 1995 and 2005 for Nevada ranchers and farmers alone. This does not take into account that a rancher is currently paying less than $1.35 per month per cow to graze them on public lands -1/10th the cost of private grazing fees.

USDA federal subsidies records also shows NV Senator Dean Rhoads of Rhoads Trust Dean & Sharon have personally received $500,875 dollars between 1995 and 2005.

This Field Hearing was conducted one month before the Nevada Draft Management Plan for Wild Horses was introduced (see last post, Year of the Horse I).

During this field hearing, Cathy Barcomb, Administrator for the Nevada Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses reported to these Congressional Committee members that the Draft Management Plan for Wild Horses for Nevada was due out in August adding, “..a lot of people that are in this room helped us write the plan and I think it is a good compilation from Nevada.”

Posted by Preserve the Herds at 5:53 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Year Of The Horse - Part I

The year 1998 was a big one for our wild horses and burros -two major events happened that laid the groundwork for the most stunning change in wild horse and burro policy since the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act.

Of course, this change would be the Unconditional Sale of our herds commonly known as the Burns Amendment and now carried out by BLM under the term “Sale Authority”.

However, as is commonly believed, there was nothing “stealth” about it – selling our wild heritage was well planned and coordinated long before it was “slipped in” the day before the Thanksgiving break.

In August of 1998, Nevada Ecological Consulting, Inc. presented the Draft Nevada Wild Horse Management Plan for Federal Lands to the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources/Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses in response to Bill 211, enacted by the Nevada Legislature in 1997 requiring the Commission to develop a plan for managing wild horses in Nevada.

There were sixty-five participants that provided input for this plan as well as nine public meetings held throughout the state.

The Plan discussed a large array of issues on wild horse and burro management but almost none of the solutions presented to maintain wild horses and burros as integral components of public lands have gone any further than the drawing board. The emphasis seemed to be on what to do with the wild horses and burros once they had been removed from the range, not providing the critical habitat requirements necessary to keep them from being removed.

Here are exact quotes from this Draft Management Plan:

Section 5.82 - Strategy:
#
By the year 2005, reach AML on all delineated HMAs by removal of unadoptable wild horses (as a last resort), either by euthanasia methods preferably on home range, or by sales authority granted to BLM with all sale receipts earmarked to defray program costs.

Section 5.83 - Actions:
#
BLM and Congress should abide by the provisions of the ACT allowing euthanasia as a humane method of removal of excess numbers of unadoptable wild horses, and that the euthanasia prohibition in the annual Congressional Appropriations Act for funding of the wild horse program be rescinded.
#
Congress should consider amending the ACT to allow sales authority to BLM for placement of unadoptable wild horses where a reasonable number of adoption attempts have failed to place the animals. All sale receipts from such placement to be earmarked to the state of origin to defray costs of program.
#
BLM should consider initiating studies on time delay “Sunset”* euthanasia drugs which would allow humane death of known unadoptable wild horses on home range to spare the animals the stress of shipping and corral storage and to eliminate these program handling costs. (*A Sunset Drug is a drug that would be administered allowing the wild horses and burros to be killed slowly.)

Appendix B, Page 9
#
1) Amendment to the Wild Horse & Burro Act of 1971 is needed to include a sales authority clause to remove excessive numbers of unadoptable animals with sale proceeds earmarked to defray program costs.

Appendix C, Synopsis of Public Forum, Page 5
#
3 strikes and you're out by either sale or euthanasia.

Here is the law that was enacted six years later, initially reported as having been co-sponsored by Nevada Senator Harry Reid, which our Congress has still failed to repeal-

Fiscal Year 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Act
Public Law 108-447, Division E, Section 142

SEC. 142. SALE OF WILD FREE-ROAMING HORSES AND BURROS. (a) IN GENERAL- Section 3 of Public Law 92-195 (16 U.S.C. 1333) is amended--

(1) in subsection (d)(5), by striking `this section' and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting `this section.'; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

`(e) SALE OF EXCESS ANIMALS-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Any excess animal or the remains of an excess animal shall be sold if--

`(A) the excess animal is more than 10 years of age; or

`(B) the excess animal has been offered unsuccessfully for adoption at least 3 times.

`(2) METHOD OF SALE- An excess animal that meets either of the criteria in paragraph (1) shall be made available for sale without limitation, including through auction to the highest bidder, at local sale yards or other convenient livestock selling facilities, until such time as--

`(A) all excess animals offered for sale are sold; or

`(B) the appropriate management level, as determined by the Secretary, is attained in all areas occupied by wild free-roaming horses and burros.

`(3) DISPOSITION OF FUNDS- Funds generated from the sale of excess animals under this subsection shall be--

`(A) credited as an offsetting collection to the Management of Lands and Resources appropriation for the Bureau of Land Management; and

`(B) used for the costs relating to the adoption of wild free-roaming horses and burros, including the costs of marketing such adoption.

`(4) EFFECT OF SALE- Any excess animal sold under this provision shall no longer be considered to be a wild free-roaming horse or burro for purposes of this Act.'.

Photo of wild horse being roped downloaded from BLM State Field Office Website http://www.blm.gov/

Posted by Preserve the Herds at 1:42 PM 0 comments

Monday, November 19, 2007
A Good Plan

The Commissioners statements in the NVCPWH April 2005 Meeting Minutes* can only leave us wondering….

Why would BLM cut adoption events or refuse to supply wild horses and burros to events where “all they had to do was collect the money” when holding pens were bursting at the seams?

In 2001, when BLM launched the most aggressive wild horse and burro removal campaign they had ever undertaken, didn’t they know what would happen?

Did they have a plan on how to deal with tens of thousands of wild horses and burros now crammed in government pens at taxpayers expense?

The Plan
“The plan developed by BLM was to escalate removals to balance public lands and achieve AML (Allowable Management Level). At the same time the Fleishman-Hillard study had introduced some very innovative changes to the adoption program.”

“The whole concept was introduced to Congress to bring public lands down to AML. BLM asked Congress for an additional 36 million dollars over 4 years to implement their new plan because they knew they would be taking approximately 12 thousand wild horses off of public lands per year, BLM knew they could average 7,000 horses per year in the adoption program, they knew there would be approximately 5,000 horses in excess each year.”

“They knew it and planned for it. They knew that by the fourth and fifth years that they would have 20,000 horses in holding, that’s what the extra funds were for. The concept was that after BLM got to AML that only 3,500 to 4,000 horses per year would be removed from public lands and with a demand of over 7,000, the BLM would then start removing them from the sanctuaries and place them in the adoption program.”

“The whole plan was to balance itself and greatly reduced the costs because you would then be lowering the costs of holding horses in sanctuaries, you would only be removing 1/3 the number of horses on public lands and reducing that cost drastically, and you wouldn’t be holding or processing as many horses because they would be adopted. The whole plan was a good one, Congress endorsed it, and now, we are there, we are within one year, they got all the horses in the sanctuaries, as planned, and then voted into slaughter all of them.”

“I feel it was somewhat of a setup, we were betrayed. We all bought into the plan and supported it, only to be turned on once the horses came off the lands.”

Cathy Barcomb, Administrator
Nevada Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses
April 7, 2005

So what happened?

*See last post, "Doing Everything We Can"

Photo taken from BLM Internet Adoption Site http://www.blm.gov/
Captured Wild Burro from California Slate Range 2007

Posted by Preserve the Herds at 9:16 PM 0 comments

Saturday, November 17, 2007
"Doing Everything We Can"

As Chief Investigative Reporter, George Knapp and the I-Team of KLAS 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada ask hard questions about what BLM is doing to help our now captured wild horses and burros find good homes through adoptions, Mr. Knapp's Interview with Nevada Wild Horse and Burro Lead Susie Stokke shows her confidently assuring us that, “If you look at what Nevada is accomplishing compared to other states, we are doing everything we can.”

So is this true? Not according to the Nevada Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses. Here is what they had to say in the Commissions April 7, 2005 Meeting Minutes.

In discussing the Prison Wild Horse Training/Adoption Program, Ms. Cathy Barcomb, long-time administrator for the Commission reported that, “The last prison adoption had been extremely successful with all horses adopted averaging $1,500. She reported that the new indoor arena had been dedicated for opening and that almost all of the Commissioners had been present for the ceremony. Ms. Barcomb noted that the Bureau of Land Management had recently met with prison officials and stated that they could no longer afford the prison program or adoptions in Nevada as their focus was primarily to place all funding towards removals of wild horses from public lands in an attempt to reach AML.”

She also added, “BLM was reducing the number of BLM supported adoptions to 3 per year instead of 4. She added that she felt BLM has not generally been very cost effective in their approaches to wild horse adoptions. She stated that there were usually 5-6 BLM personnel at each prison adoption, being paid overtime, and that it was unnecessary to have so many people there, which drives up the costs.”

Commissioner Gleason stated that she felt BLM was spending more with no accountability.

Ms. Barcomb reported that, “In 2004, that the Expo and Department of Agriculture transported all the prison horses to the Expo adoption, not BLM, the volunteers and Dept. of Agriculture had also transported and set up all the panels for holding the horses, not the BLM. She stated in general, that BLM really didn’t have to put any effort into the marketing, transport, promotions, care, feeding, or adoption of the prison trained horses that they just had to show up and collect the funds. But for 2005, the BLM has declined to allow any BLM horses, prison trained or not, to be adopted at the Expo.”

Ms. Barcomb also stated, “The BLM Nevada would not be actively participating in the Western States Wild Horse and Burro Expo either. They would not have prison-trained horses on site, nor would they be doing an open house at the Palomino Valley Corrals.”

Commissioner Evans stated that, “He was disheartened by the fact that BLM has approximately 28,000 horses in holding facilities, that its costing taxpayers a fortune, that the solution to the problem IS adoption, and cutting back on the adoption program shows a serious lack of judgment as to what is needed for a comprehensive working program.”

Commissioner Brehm stated, “Adoptions hosted around the National Final Rodeo in Las Vegas were a good event and that almost all the horses were adopted in the previous years when BLM hosted adoptions there, but that it has been over 10 years since they did the NFR adoptions."

During the public comment period, Frank Cassas, Chairman of the National Wild Horse and Burro Foundation stated,
“The ‘National Marketing Plan for the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program’ submitted by Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. on January 12, 2001….includes numerous constructive recommendations for invigorating and centralizing the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program’s marketing and adoption activities."

Mr. Cassas expressed his frustration in that “nothing has been done since the report and recommendations have come out.”

Commissioner Evans stated, “We’ve been talking about this with BLM for over 5 years…..now it’s 5 years later and nothing. You can spend millions of dollars on study after study, and nothing ever happens.”

Meanwhile, when George asks Ms. Stokke, “You would say the BLM has done its best to market to Nevadans in adopting wild horses?”

Stokke replies, “I think that we are continuing to explore new opportunities and new avenues..."

Photo taken from BLMs Internet Adoption Site, Nebraska wild horse and burro holding pens.
Nevada Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses, Meeting Minutes, April 7, 2005 http://www.wildhorse.nv.gov/main/april05.pd

Posted by Preserve the Herds at 6:01 PM 0 comments

Thursday, November 15, 2007
Hero Of The Herds II

Part II
As promised, Chief Investigative Reporter, George Knapp and the I-Team of KLAS 8 in Las Vegas, NV have followed up their first investigative story, No Straight Answers on Wild Horse Budget (Part I), with an in depth look at questions on how BLM determines our wild horses and burros need to be removed.

Today, with more wild horses in government pens than now roam free, millions of dollars being spent the last few years for their removals and millions more now spent to feed them, Mr. Knapp asks whether BLM has any justification for corralling them in the first place.

“So how does BLM justify the round ups? Usually by claiming the horses are a threat to the health of the range. The question is – can they prove it?”

So the Knappster begins his quest for answers as he and the I-Team examine the 40 million acres under BLM control in Nevada, the recent Jackson Mountain HMA round up that led to over 150 deaths in BLM's Palomino Valley holding facility, the 8,000 livestock that have been approved to graze the Jackson Mountain home range area, and allegations by national BLM scientists who have accused BLM of politicizing range science to benefit ranchers, miners, and oil companies on public lands.

In an interview with Craig Downer, once employed by BLM as a range scientist but claims he quit in disgust, Mr. Downer grew up watching wild horses near his Northern Nevada home and stated, “It’s very skewed data, very arbitrary statements. They’ll just come out and say that wild horses are a detriment to the ecosystem without any proofs."

He further added,“How can you say the several thousand horses that remain in all the west compare with several million livestock? It’s just ludicrous”.

Mr. Downer feels that most of the information used to justify many of the round ups is “bogus”.

In another interview with long time wild horse advocate Jerry Reynoldson of Wild Horses 4 Ever, the Knappster found continuing support for the position that BLM uses bogus information to justify the round ups.

“What I really think is there is no science” Reynoldson said. “It has little to do with range conditions and a lot to do with we just want to get them out of here….Nevada BLM basically makes it up as it goes along.”

While questions continue as to how BLM has justified the removals of thousands of wild horses and burros from public lands, the millions of dollars being paid to those who remove and feed them, and little being budgeted towards their adoptions, is it any wonder the I-Teams choose “Nevada’s Wild Horses Face Desperate Future” for part two of their look at America’s remaining herds.

Kudos to Mr. Knapp and the I-Team for working to expose the truth behind this American tragedy as these living symbols of freedom are once again “fast-disappearing” - this time funded out of the government trough.

Comments to Chief Investigative Reporter, George Knapp can be emailed to gknapp@klastv.com

The photo used was taken from the Palomino Valley Internet Adoption site five days after BLM began conducting the Spring Mountain round ups based on "BLM formulas" that determined they "might starve or become thirsty in the future". This horse was one of the 864 wild horses and burros BLM removed from the area in January 2007.

www.lasvegasnow.com

http://horses.generitek.com

A man of kindness, to his beast is kind.
But, brutal actions, show a brutal mind:
Remember, He who made thee, made the brute,
Who gave thee speach and reason, formed him mute;
He can't complain, but God's omnicient eye
Beholds thy cruelty - He hears his cry!
He was designed thy servant; not thy drudge,
But know - That his Creator is thy judge.

Unknown author from The Ladies' Equestrian Guide, 1857.

"They too, are created by the same loving hand of God which
Created us...It is our duty to Protect Them and to promote their
well-being. "
--Mother Teresa.

"Until he extends his circle of compassion to all living things, man himself will not find peace. " - Albert Schweitzer 1875 - 1965

Good Friday morning everyone.

Alex, wearing a Cowboys shirt is not the worst thing that could happen to you!! Hope it's Tony Romo's number 9!! Even though the Packers and Cowboys have had a history of playing some very important games, I have always like the Packers fans because they are good natured and not too obnoxious. The Pack played well last night. They had every reason to collapse when Bret went out, but they didn't.

Extra Friday 11/30 Nat'l Target List (HAHS)

PREFACE/Heads-Up

per Daryl Smoliak's feedback/ request: Ask the Senators who may support (plan to vote for) S 311 but don't want to cosponsor, to send a brief "letter of support" to Senator Mary Landrieu, sponsor and promoter of the Bill.

Here's something to add to ALL your contacts please - and the 800 numbers for your convenience on all calls.

IMO - convey the website vetsforequinewelfare.org to all your contacts - ask them to look at Press Release dated 10/9 that should have arrived at their offices recently; here's the direct link to the PR:

http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/avma_stop.php

If long distance charges are a problem, use these DC 800 numbers and ask for the legislators by name (or ask for extension, last 5 numbers of each legislator's office phone).

800-828-0498

800-459-1887

800-614-2803

You know the drill - don't address this list until AFTER you have followed today's ABR Strategy and the instructions of your Group Leader (and if you don't have one, get one, or become one!) - contact our intrepid State Group co-ordinator, Stephanie Breaux sbreaux1@verizon.net

AND use the CURRENT/NEW Talking Points from ABR Strategy when contacting this extra HAHS list as well as when contacting the ABR daily lists of Senators: (NOTE NEW SUGGESTION/ CAVEAT FROM ABR STRATEGY, JUST BEFORE Prior HS History above the LIST OF SENATORS below.)

1. Let [the legislators] know that two of the slaughter houses in this country are closed permanently [since January], and the third (Cavel) has lost their appeal and [is now also closed]. It is URGENT that we now get this legislation passed to STOP THE TRANSPORT of horses to Canada and Mexico. It's VERY important that you stress the cruel and inhumane way these horses are transported. Now is the time to focus on the fact that closing down our slaughter houses is NOT enough but that we must pass this FEDERAL legislation to stop the transport of American horses for slaughter.

2. Let your Senators know that we NEED them as co-sponsors for S311 to get this on the calendar and to the floor for a vote.

3. Tell your Congressman that we need their cosponsorship for HR503 to get this bill out of committee and to the floor for a vote.

4. Dispel the "unwanted" horse theory. Read John Holland's information for more talking points.

5. Closing of all three slaughter houses in the United States helps to reinforce our efforts. We can now dispel the idea that American jobs will be lost due to the end of slaughter. Only Mexico and Canada will now profit from OUR horses being slaughtered!! This is a very important point and one that you should all make when talking to your legislators.

Rhetorial Question Du Jour:

ANY EXTRA TIME/ENERGY/PASSION FOR THE HORSES?
Here is today's (Friday 11/30) extra National Target List from HAHS (Humanity Against Horse Slaughter). These legislators are targeted by other groups on specific days, so our voices add to the impact.

Don't forget to mention S 311 to the Senators and HR 503 to the Representatives; ask them to cosponsor - and please use the Talking Points from the current/new ABR Strategy (posted above), reasons why to support the end of horse slaughter and export for slaughter NOW.

Changed Circumstances call for a Fresh Look with an Open Mind.

The closure of Cavel is a HUGE changed circumstance.

PLEASE NOTE: Per the ongoing ABR national strategy "...[I]t is important when you make your calls, you request they support and VOTE YES for ANY legislative measure that will ban horse slaughter and export for slaughter. In addition to the Daily Call List, please contact your own senators and representative with this message."

adding this CAVEAT from recent ABR Strategy:

"Remember…….these calls are to gain co-sponsors and support for HR503 and S311. As difficult as it is, please concentrate on the transport of the horses to slaughter more than the conditions in Mexico. We can’t let anyone who in not well informed come to the conclusion that it would be better to have the plants in this country because of the conditions in Mexico."

PRIOR HS HISTORY - All Senators from the list voted for the 2005 Ensign-Byrd Agriculture Appropriations Amendment. None of them cosponsored S. 1915 last year. Per Daniel of HAHS, "We will also contact again the last cluster of Senators from the special contact list provided by our lobbyists..."

ILLINOIS
Senator Barack Obama
Fax: 202-228-4260 Phone: 202-224-2854
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1305

INDIANA
Senator Richard G. Lugar
Fax: 202-228-0360 Phone: 202-224-4814
306 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1401

IOWA
Senator Tom Harkin
Fax: 202-224-9369 Phone: 202-224-3254
731 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1502

KENTUCKY
Senator Mitch McConnell
Fax: 202-224-2499 Phone: 202-224-2541
361A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1702

Senator Jim Bunning
Fax: 202-228-1373 Phone: 202-224-4343
316 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1703

--- Special Contact List ---

TENNESSEE
Senator Bob Corker
Fax: 202-228-0566 Phone: 202-224-3344
185 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-4205

UTAH
Senator Orrin G. Hatch
Fax: 202-224-6331 Phone: 202-224-5251
104 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-4402

Senator Robert F. Bennett
Fax: 202-228-1168 Phone: 202-224-5444
431 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-4403

VIRGINIA
Senator James Webb
Fax: 202-228-6363 Phone: 202-224-4024
144 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-4603

IF you've done the ABR Strategy and State directions and the above list and STILL want to do more - you can go to DB message 15321.10 for a target list from AWI/SAPL from which the HAHS special contact list of Senators is derived.

Please post at the DB thread (go to message 17364.1) and/or here at ABR Comments if you have any further info about these legislators; and please post any feedback re your contacts today.

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE HORSES! GO GET 'EM.

Do it for GEORGE and JOHN and BARBARO
And all the ONEs we never got to know . . .

STILL LIVING PROOF OF THE LIVING TRUTH

Hope Peace Love Music & RESPECT - CJ the craziest catlady (Blackie's Mother Forever & Pleasure's & Shona's Aunt) in Hammond IN, f/k/a CJ of T Bar J (Elgin IL)

Happy Free for all Friday everyone,

Let's continue to call for the horses.

####
Thanks for the post, Renee. The stuff that goes on here in the west.......I'll never get acclimated.

Roll call...checking in and faxing away...

Alex - please don't switch shirts! Just put a couple of Band-Aids on the right elbow and left shoulder to acknowledge a tough game and show 'em we can take a little pounding! Mustn't let the side down!

Cheers!
Deirdre (in foggy Central California)

I really get annoyed when I read that wild horses and burros are responsible for the destruction of lands. This is simply not true!!!!

Let me tell you all. I 'babysit' my neighbors' small cattle herd quite a lot. I have been down on my hands and knees to get a real close look at the manner in which they eat. Their tongues actually corkscrew around the foliage, and hence they can rip it all out - roots and all. Buffalo and horses and burros ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. They chomp to the soli line. So please, never believe what we are being told. I have also verified this with many cattle people here. They are reluctant to tell me, but they all really agree.

Just some more misinfo that they have been shoving down our throats.

Notice of my spelling error:

should read "They chomp to the SOIL line".

Roll call!!!!!!!! I am here, and working
http://obama.senate.gov/contact/
Just emailed Obama, now off to email the others!

AFTERNOON REPOST, SHELLEYA, DEBRA, WI

Strategy for Friday November 30

FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY………FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY

This is the day that you can go over the lists from the week and catch up on calls that you may have missed. It also gives some of you the chance to give another call to someone that you feel may be close and just needs that “extra” push. Please make sure the calls you make are from THIS weeks list since those are the particular legislators that we’ve been asked to target.

We have all witnessed more cosponsors signing on over the past couple of weeks and that is never just a coincidence! There is definitely a big push behind the scenes to ensure support for our bill so let’s join that push by making lots of calls this week.

It is important that we become very aggressive with our calling. Letters of support from senators who would rather not cosponsor but will vote for our legislation, have been requested. These would be very helpful in moving the bill forward with leadership. They should be sent to Senator Landrieu’s office.

These calls are to gain co-sponsors and support for HR503 and S311. As difficult as it is, please concentrate on the transport of the horses to slaughter more than the conditions in Mexico. We can’t let anyone who is not well informed come to the conclusion that it would be better to have the plants in this country because of the conditions in Mexico.

Remember, WE ARE BARBARO’S VOICE…..let it be heard!!
Shelley and Debra

Posted by: Debra, WI at November 30, 2007 1:48 PM

Cheers,
Friar Tuck

Faxed the article from Vets for Equine Welfare to every Senator as we continue to be the voice for our equine friends. We are ready for next week when Congress returns.

Potential bad news for Michael Vick - the judge today sentenced his 2 buddys who turned state's evidence on him to 18 and 21 months in jail, the maximum. He is taking dog fighting and abuse very seiously and could impose the max for Vick of 5 years. Great to see the judge setting an example - hope the next person who neglects, abandons or abuses their horse or dog gets this judge.

Here is a copy of my letter to Paul Sorvino.
Hi Mr. Sorvino,

I would first like to thank you for your hard work on horse slaughter, your lovely daughter is incredible for all her efforts. To me all horses are special and deserve respect and dignity along with love and good care.

I am a Fan Of Barbaro and we have been working incredibley hard on this issue along with rescue. We are having trouble getting a strong voice to back us up, and we need to get the issue out to the public now. We need urgently to get this in the face of the public, so they can see and hear about "America's Dirty Secret" and how tragic it is.

I have sent many letters to all of the major networks,talkshows and local shows here in CT including radio station talk shows. I don't know what the problem is but it gets pushed under something and never surfaces. It needs to be right on top of the pile.

Horse slaughter is an atrocious,horrific,brutal act of murder to the innocent and unborn foals their mothers and fathers, that could do good in this country. Therapy horses for sick and disabled children and adults, pulling equipment, farming, and the most important just being a horse a companion a pet, a friend an athlete. They do not in any way deserve to die the way they do in unbearable pain with no dignity or respect. They have the right just as anyone else does...they have a beating heart to.

We need to stop this horrific act that is killing the innocent all for money and their precious meat that rightly belongs to them and no one else. We also need to let the owners of horses know what happens at the auctions and the killer buyers who are hiding in the corners with how much a hundred dollars a pound will make them. It is sickening and heartbreaking. It is greed!

I cannot thank you enough for your time and effort to help save the beautiful beloved horses of the United States.

Sincerely,
Renee M. Antaya
--

Remember to play after every storm.
Mattie Stepanek

A voice for the Horses and the Rescues that support them.

www.scrrescue.org.

COME ON FOB'S LETS GET THESE LETTER'S OUT to Paul Sorvino. We now have a stong voice to help us, lets not waste time. We prayed for it we got it. Now lets use our gift from BArbaro and God himself.

WE BELIEVE! WE GET IT! We are their voice.

mortgagematte@earthlink.net

Renee, sent my letter about a hour ago.

Please everyone, don't miss out on the chance to help the horses.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

The American Quarterly Horse people attack Landrieu!

AQHA Gets Facts Wrong in Attack on Landrieu Horse Slaughter Bill
Falsely claims Landrieu bill would ban all horse transportation.

WASHINGTON – The American Quarterly Horse Association (AQHA) released a press release today mischaracterizing S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, claiming that the bill would limit horse transportation for any reason.

“The horse slaughter bill is essential to protecting some of America’s most beloved animals,” Sen. Landrieu said. “The bill does not ban horse transportation; it only bans transporting horses if the animals are intended to be slaughtered for human consumption. This practice is cruel and inhumane, and I will continue to fight to ensure that it never happens again.”

In their press release, AQHA falsely claims that “[m]embers may sell horses unaware of the buyer's intent with the animal and to where it may be transported, possibly resulting in legal ramifications for the seller.”

S. 311 includes a “knowingly” requirement. Innocent owners and transporters will not be affected by the legislation; only those who knowingly transport, buy or sell horses with the intent to slaughter them for human consumption would be in violation of the law.

The bill has not yet been scheduled for a vote as claimed by the AQHA, but Sen. Landrieu is fighting to pass the bill quickly to protect America’s horses.

I need to thank every beautiful living soul on this site. When I came here I knew nothing except that a horse was the most beautiful animal I have ever seen they are an incredible athlete and i wanted one as a pet always.

You have all taught me so much more, the frightening horrors that take place the wonderful MHR and other rescues who do so much good. I stumbled and fell at the beginning due to very little time in a forum only on diabetes.You all stood by me and let me learn how.

I ahve been made a better person, opened up my heart, eyes and soul to what is out there. Now I can express myself from the bottom of my heart and get the point across with substance and meaning.

Thank you FOB's Fambleee, Freeeeens. What a great place to set my heart free. What a great place to be warm and fuzzy.

Reneeeeeeeeeee
that is just precious
love you sooooooooooo much

Love you so much Cheryl JonesFrenFambleeeeeeee

#####
Renee....that is so heart warming.

Goodnight Barbaro

Have a wonderful time in heaven with your frens. We love you and miss you so much...Lead us on Barbaro, help us to open the hearts of Congress to get the anti-horse slaughter bill passed.

Goodnight Family/Fans of Barbaro

Thank all of you...such a wonderful family. When I was looking to find somewhere to belong...you all have had nothing but open arms. I have learned so much from all of you...and so grateful to have you as family.

Please call, fax, email...

Remember our rescues, our Fallen Angels, the ones suffering human or animal, our wildlife and each other....our family.

Have a beautiful weekend.

####
Alex...thank you.
Tim and Fair Hill...thank you
Our fallen Angels...we hear you...we hear your pleas, and we are here.

###
Renee
Barbaro has changed all of us too warm and fuzzy.
How sweet your words are! Thanks

Just checking in.

All - I needed to post ! My CBER rescued horse is being picked up in Yakima, Washington ..... as I type ...... by the professional transporters ..... and his ETA in Apache Junction, Arizona is sometime on Sunday ! I am soooo excited .... and am planning xtra carrots, apples and a piece of carrot cake for his "homecoming !!" Because of Barbaro .... my "herd" has grown to 3 !!

Sherry

Good night Fambleeeee,
Have a gret weekend! WE do great work.

Barbaro,
Thank you for you and the wonderful Frens and Famblee you gave me. I love you.

Alex,
Enjoy the weekend!

Sherry,

Congratulations on your addition. Nothing like a girl and her horse. Thank you for saving a slaughter bound horse. What a wonderful thing to do. Please give him/her a hug and a treat from all the Barbaro family. The Barbaro effect/legacy rides again!

Regarding - Post by Daryl Smoliak at November 30, 2007 5:15 PM

Take a look at Daryl's take on what Senators to target, based on his past contacts in DV and future meeting plans starting this coming week.

PLEASE ADD THESE TARGETS TO YOUR CONTACT LIST TODAY AND MONDAY AND EVERY DAY. Couldn't hoit!

Oooops, typo strikes again; DC, not DV - what would the Dept of Vehicles have to do with it???

Sherry,
You Rock girl! Thank you for saving a slaughter bound horse. Congratulations Mom!!

Thank you, Renee and Patty !!
I am soooooo excited !
Will post on Monday ........ and try to provide some pix for you on the DB !!!!

Sherry aka: and then there were THREE

I hope everyone has a nice evening and weekend~

Hi everybody,

Just wanted to let you know that my Lael colors bracelets are back in stock. These are made from Swarovski glass crystals in Lael stable colors. I am donating $2 from every bracelet to the laminitis fund at the U of Penn. Check them out at www.inspirationaleffects.com

You can order the bracelets at www.shop.inspirationaleffects.com

Egad. Forgot to put my name in the previous post.
Friday night--what can I say?

www.inspirationaleffects.com
www.shop.inspirationaleffects.com

Peace,
Kathy from Toledo and the cats (the quality control team)

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Hi Alex, thank you for referring me to the website with the list of rescues. I believe the one my husband donated to was called Red Wings horse sanctuary in California. I didn't see it on the list. So now I'm a little concerned.

One of my partners from Fantasy Lane is of counsel to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation so we mainly donate to them.

###
Hi Cheryl, Coby is fine and raring to go again. They plan on racing him for the real final time this year at Aqueduct in the Capote Stakes on December 16. I'll let you know definitely.

My heart beats for your heart, Barbaro, always and forever! Run with the angels honey!!

And all my love to The Heavenly Herd, too! You know you take me to where angels walk!

ALEX - Please continue to wear your Favre shirt!!!

SHERRY - Congratulations and please give your new rescue a big kiss on his or her nose for me, too!
My heart would love to take all of them!!

NANCY IN CT & RENEE A. - Thank you Ladies for letting me know about the Paul C. letter - I am on it!! Onward we march!

Love, hugs, prayers to everyone. . . . . holding hands, paws, hooves . . . .

with love, Lou Ann

Hans UPDATE...

HURRRRRAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!!! He made it through the workday today....very tired but he did it!!!!! Still a few glitches in the balance department but not as many as yesterday and still some memory loss!!!!Slow and steady wins the race???!!!! So they say???

THANK YOU so much for your prayers !!!! I think the Lord loves to hear from his FOB's....
cause WE GET IT!!!!!

We are going out for a coffee to celebrate in a few minutes...

Famblee you are sooooo special and I love you ALL soooo much...we are soooo blessed to have you ALL in our lives!!!THANK YOU Barbaro....

GOD BLESS...HUGS and love

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Maribel and Hans,

Congratulations on your day! Yes, celebrate this event...and know that we are with you!

Hans, Maribel mentioned that you are tired. I hope it's a "good" tired though.

Rest well you two. Sweet dreams of joy, peace, love and comfort. xxoo

Asking for collective FsOB prayers and beams of positive feeling for safe travels for my rescue horse, Gunner, who is now enroute from Washington State to Arizona. He was sad to leave his familiar pasture - where he has lived for the past few months with a friend and with wonderful care and love from Samantha. Transport can be stressful ...... and your thoughts for him and to him on his 2 day journey would be most appreciated.

Sherry

All My Love And Prayers For You Angel Maribel And Angel Hans. Glowing Rainbows.

All Very Beautiful Rainbows To Angel Alex. Please Keep Wearing Your Packers Shirt. It Is So Very Special. Green....Emeralds.

Once An Emerald....Always An Emerald.

Very Beautiful.

Affirmed

####

Sherry,

Congratulations on your "Baby" Gunner! Wonderful news!!

And also, yes, prayers will be said here in Minnesota for his safe and comfortable transport Home.

Please let us know when he arrives. Congratulations again Sherry.

Alex - wear that Cowboys shirt proudly!

XXOO

Laurie ..... Thank you so much. Your words have, for so many, many months provided me with peace and hope ........ and your messages for and about our Beloved BBH ..... have brought tears and tranquility. It is, therefore fitting, for me, and greatly appreciated ..... that your response to my request was first ! HUGS .........

I am greatly looking forward to welcoming my new horse home !!

Sherry

SHERRY IN AZ:

Be absolutely sure, Sherry, your Gunner is in my prayers in his travels and I will maintain vigil for GUNNER, very happy to do so!!
May Gunner feel the comforting presence of St. Francis right by his side as he travels, whispering ever so softly in Gunner's ear that all will be well, to "be not afraid", a very special lady and equine pals are awaiting his arrival, and he shall be loved forever!
And God Bless Samantha and the equine pal who loved him and kept him company until his forever home was found.

Keep us posted, please, Sherry, and you have my word that I am keeping vigil for Gunner here in Pennsylvania!

warmest wishes,
Lou Ann

I realize I am coming on pretty late. There is a rescue on the DB that does incredible work. Tee at Lifelines is in a contest for getting funds to help her rescue. For $10.00 you can vote for her rescue, and if she wins she gets the money from all the votes. She really needs it to care for 40+ horses - some are FOB saves. I don't know how to do the darn blue link thing, but here is the paypal link to donate. Scroll to the bottom, and please list Lifelines Rescue in the note section

http://www.savedahorses.com/novtoptenrescueslist.htm

Sherry

Please feel comforted in knowing that your FOB Famblee are all praying very very very many of us for your sweet Gunners safe arrival and may it be joyous!!! When that happens I hope you will feel the love of thousands of your Famblee surrounding and supporting you both in that precious moment...
Looking forward to pictures ???? ((((SHERRY))))
(((((((((((GUNNER)))))))))))

Thanks for the love LaurieH...it is hard and to soon to tell if it is good tired or not but we shall certainly translate it that way??!!!
Kisses for Bart and Montego.....

Dear Angel Dee ... you are so faithful!!!! What would we do without your love and support and glorious rainbows each day???

((((((((((DEE))))))))))

Goodnight my ((((((((SPECIAL FAMBLEE)))))))).....

Safe travels to Gunner! What a homecoming this will be.

Maribel, so glad to hear Hans' first day back went well! Nothing will stop him now.

KAY, I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for giving this sweet dog a safe and loving home for so long.

Chris Byers, glad to see my favorite German FOB!

Alex, condolences to you and the Packers. WTH happened? Jerry Kramer, Bart Starr, where art thou?

Lou Ann R and Maribel .... Thank you so much ...
I will connect w/the transport driver tomorrow and post an update ..... your collective prayers and good thoughts are, indeed, appreciated ....... and felt !

Sherry

## Maribel - I am very happy for you and for Hans. Great news.

(((((MaryS))))))) (((((((SHERMAN)))))))))

Night night to you both....sleepwell you deserve it!!!!

HUGS and love...