Yeh, right.

The BLM has not been selling any wild horses or burros to slaughterhouses or to "killer buyers."

Oh, yes you have. Or maybe you just give them away, instead. Semantics can be deceiving.

Sale Authority

About 8,400 wild horses and burros immediately became eligible for sale under the December 2004 sale-authority law, which directs the BLM to sell "without limitation" animals that are either more than 10 years old or have been passed over for adoption at least three times. Since 2005, the Bureau has sold more than 5,000 horses and burros.The BLM has not been selling any wild horses or burros to slaughterhouses or to "killer buyers."

So, if an HMA is zeroed out or turned into a non-producing herd for genetic reasons, it's Cothran's fault?

Myth #4: The BLM is managing wild horse herds to extinction.

Fact: This charge is patently false. The current on-the-range population of wild horses and burros (approximately 38,500) is greater than the number found roaming in 1971 (about 25,300). The BLM is seeking to achieve the appropriate management level of 26,600 wild horses and burros on Western public rangelands, or nearly 12,000 fewer than the current West-wide population. The BLM also actively monitors the genetics of each herd by sending genetic samples to Dr. Gus Cothran at Texas A&M University. Dr. Cothran furnishes the BLM a report on every sample with recommendations for specific herds.

RIP Credit Card

They found the trailer and tack weeks ago. They found the other 4 horses (someone had painted them with camaflouge colors to hide them) on November 16th. The police have had clues on this theft a mile long, suspects in mind, yet no one has been arrested. Makes me wonder if either the Farm Bureau is trying to put a lid on this or the person(s) who stole the horses is more than just your average meth head.

And normally a horse doesn't die of starvation in two weeks, so what caused Credit Card's death?

Something is just terribly, hinky about this whole episode.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remains of horse stolen from Ark. university found

MAGNOLIA, Ark. (AP) — Southern Arkansas University officials say the remains of a horse that was stolen from school grounds several weeks ago have been recovered in southeastern Oklahoma.

University police chief Eric Plummer said in a statement that the McCurtain County Sheriff's office in far southeastern Oklahoma found the remains of "Credit Card" Friday morning. Plummer declined to disclose where the 15-year-old sorrel gelding was discovered.

"Credit Card," four other horses and some equipment weretaken from the Magnolia university's Mulerider Stablesduring the overnight hours of Nov. 2. Members of the school's rodeo team own the horses.

Oklahoma authorities recovered the other four horses on Nov. 15. They found a livestock trailer on Nov. 3, andsaddles and blankets were recovered about a week later.

Update on whereabouts of Saylor Creek Horses

My Note: I was able to obtain the information below from the WH&B specialist at Jarbidge. The folks there have actually turned out to be fairly cooperative about providing me with information.

Also, 14 deaths is a LOT of deaths. I'd like to know what happened to cause a nearly 8% mortality rate while in captivity, and the birth rate from those in captivity (22 foals from 194 gathered) is just around 11%.

Some of these mustangs went into the prison system facilities, one being Carson City and the other is Gunnision, (where it was just reported that the hoof care there was way below standards.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Following our phone conversation this morning, I pulled a report from the database we use to track information about wild horses and burros. The following is where each wild horse gathered from the Saylor Creek last year is currently located as of the information available today.

Location of Saylor Creek Wild Horses as of 11/16/2011

Number	Disposition
30	Released
21	Adopted
1	Sold via Sale Authority
1	IDF51 Boise, ID
42	NVF83 Carson City, NV
2	ORF52 Burns, OR
22	UTF88 Gunnison, UT
15	MTF94 Mission Ridge, SD – Long-Term
31	NMF73 Gray Horse West, OK- Long-Term
15	NMF97 Teterville West, KS- Long-Term
14	Deceased

Additionally there are 22 foals, two of which were adopted in Idaho. The rest are currently in Carson City.

Long-term holding questions can be answered by either Bea Wade or Lili Thomas, both work out of our National Program Office in Reno, NV.

If you have any other questions on this please let me know.

Thank You,

Krystle

At least its not Stenholm

Update:

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/response/ensuring-humane-treatment-horses

Comment from Dr. Elisabeth Hagan seems particularly relevant giving the lack of USDA oversight of the horses going to Mexico, in particular the ones at C-4.

While some horses continue to be exported to other countries for slaughter, USDA makes it a priority to ensure that these horses are transported and treated humanely. For example, USDA recently extended protection to horsesdelivered to collection points prior to export, reflecting the Administration's commitment to protecting animal welfare.

Thank you again for your input on this important issue.

Dr. Elisabeth Hagen serves as Under Secretary for Food Safety at the USDA

______________________________________________________________

OFFICIAL U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RESPONSE TORestore humane horse slaughter to improve horse welfare, stop needless & wasteful suffering & create jobs.and 1 other petition

Ensuring the Humane Treatment of Horses

By Edward Avalos

Thank you for writing to relay your concerns regarding horse slaughtering. We appreciate your involvement in the We the People project and value your input on issues facing our country.

The humane treatment of horses reflects the values of our Nation. Since 2007, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been barred from using appropriated funds to inspect horse slaughter facilities, so no federally inspected horse slaughter facilities have operated since that time. While some horses continue to be exported to other countries for slaughter, USDA makes it a priority to ensure that these horses are transported and treated humanely. For example, USDA recently extended protection to horses delivered to collection points prior to export, reflecting the Administration's commitment to protecting animal welfare.

Thank you again for your input on this important issue.

Edward Avalos is Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Reform Programs at the USDA

Wild For Life Needs Your Vote

Please consider casting a vote for this award winning documentary.

BEST IN FESTIVAL: Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival ACCOLADE MERIT AWARD: Advocacy, Visuals, and Investigative Journalism AWARDED FOR CINEMATOGRAPHY, ADVOCACY, Editing & Conservation Message: International Wildlife Film Festival. "Masterfully presented" – Larry Lindner, New York Times best-selling writer “Powerful and compelling” — Greg MacGillivary, MacGillivary Freeman Films (IMAX) “A brilliant and heartbreaking exposé.” — Laura Allen "It raises the bar for animal welfare in this country” – Shelley Abrams, racehorse owner, Founder of "Horses Helping Horses", Co-Founder AAHS "Transcends the finest investigative journalism" —Debra Lopez, AAHS, Animal Advocate TV

There are less than two days left to vote. Their mission statement and web site link are included for more information.

MISSION STATEMENT

Wild for Life Foundation is dedicated to saving, protecting and preserving equines from cruelty through rescue and education. We are a grassroots volunteer based charity that relies solely on donations and we work tirelessly for the horses. We are dedicated to providing lifesaving stewardship to rescue horses in need, and strive to engage the public in learning experiences that inspire advocacy for the prevention of cruelty to animals. "Saving America's Horses" is a educational project under Wild for Life Foundation. This important documentary film is just starting out by screening at festivals and has already won multiple awards including Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival and Best Environmental Film at Huntsville International Film North Festival in Canada, but our American horses are now facing USDA slaughter and they need this lifesaving film more than ever. Please help us help the horses! Learn more: http://www.savingamericashorses.org

The Right to Petition

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The right to petition is protected by the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.

In the United States the right to petition is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the federal constitution, which specifically prohibits Congress from abridging "the right of the people...to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Although often overlooked in favor of other more famous freedoms, and sometimes taken for granted,[1] many other civil liberties are enforceable against the government only by exercising this basic right.[2] The right to petition is a fundamental in a representative democracy, such as the United States, as a means of protecting public participation in government.[1]

A redress of grievances. Exactly what is that?

More than a cathartic attempt at complaining, it is a mechanism for change. But we Americans, are fast becoming "Riders of the Purple Wage", state controlled, consumer oriented, inarticulate and ignorant. Give us our government paid for cell phone, our FB account, Google access, Black Friday at WalMart, spittle spewing pundits who tell us what to think, factory farmed raised and slaughtered beef, ah, sorry, I meant "harvested" and a triple wide chair for our fat asses. Ah .. life will be good, I guess. All we need is that fornixator thingy (Philip Jose Farmer) to complete our vapid, self centered lives.

The White House has just made a mockery of this First Amendment right. But, read the fine print, "If a petition meets the signature threshold, it will be reviewed by the Administration and an official response will be issued. They did NOT promise change, only review. Well, we had to try, didn't we, even while knowing we would get snookered in the process?

Mr. President, what you have done is act like the classroom snitch. If we tell you what the problem is, you turn around and pass it along to the very person that has been tripping us in the hallway, bullying us in private and tormenting our friends. You think you've created some great mechanism of democracy, reinvigorated your vapid campaign promise, and given people a way to initiate change, when you've just officially put this obscure, but very basic, First Amendment right on life support. Thanks, Mr. President. Your attempt at engaging the public in an exercise of our First Amendment rights officially sucks and here's why.

Abbey's response to petition for reform of Wild Horse and Burro program, or the more things change, the more they stay the same.

This was like petitioning Prince John and getting a response from the Sherif of Nottingham. What should we have expected? Something different?

I wonder how many other petitioners are just as disgusted as I am?

4 of 5 missing SAU horses recovered

Updated: 2:29 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011 | Posted: 2:23 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011
4 of 5 horses stolen from Ark. rodeo team found

The Associated Press

MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Four of the five horses stolen earlier this month from Southern Arkansas University's rodeo team have been recovered in a wooded area near Tom, Okla.
The university announced in a news release that nobody was with the horses when they were found late Tuesday. Police are still looking for one horse, a 15-year-old gelding named Credit Card.
The horses and saddles, blankets and other tack were stolen earlier this month. A livestock trailer taken with the equipment was recovered on Nov. 3, and some of other equipment was found last Thursday.
Officials called a news conference for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the university's Mulerider Stables to provide additional details.
Copyright The Associated Press

Suspects in SAU horse theft

Update here:

Four of 5 horses recovered:

Horse-theft case has suspects
By JAMIE DAVIS THE BANNER-NEWS


MAGNOLIA — More than a week after five champion rodeo horses were stolen from Southern Arkansas University’s Mulerider Stables, authorities have suspects in the case and have recovered some of the riding tack and the trailer taken in the incident, but have not yet located the animals, SAU Police Chief Eric Plummer said Friday.

The horses, along with a horse trailer and several pieces of riding equipment, were stolen from the stables at some point between 10:30 p.m. Nov. 2 and 6:30 a.m. Nov. 3.

The trailer was recovered late in the day Nov. 3 in Tom, Okla., approximately two hours from Magnolia.

The McCurtain County, Okla., sheriff’s office discovered the trailer and it was released to its rightful owners.

The university announced late Friday that some of the saddles, blankets and other tack were recovered Thursday evening.

Plummer said the items were found in an area east of where the horse trailer was discovered, but declined to release any further details.


Search mug shots, government salaries, crime maps and more at our Right2Know page.

“Those items were found in McCurtain County, a good way from where the trailer was,” said Plummer, adding,

“I can’t really go into specifics on it because that’s going to be part of our investigation.”

Plummer said the discovery was a result of information received by the McCurtain County sheriff’s office, and that using that information, investigators were able to locate the items.

“But nobody was with the tack when it was recovered,” he noted.

Plummer said that while investigators do have suspects in the theft, “We don’t have the horses yet, and we don’t want to do anything that might jeopardize our ability to bring a safe resolution [to the case].”

Because of the ongoing investigation, Plummer declined to release any information about the suspects in the case, or to comment on how those suspects were identified.

Investigators continue to search for the missing horses, he said.

Plummer has said previously that investigators believe the horses were stolen after midnight, though the trailer may have been taken before that time.

The horses were present and accounted for until midnight, he said, noting that several students were in the stables completing preparations for the university’s 31st annual collegiate rodeo, which was held Nov. 3 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds.

The horses have a combined estimated value of $180,000, though Plummer noted that for the students who owned the animals, their value was much greater than that.

“These horses are like family to these kids,” Plummer told the Banner-News shortly after the theft. “They grew up with them, and they have a lot more invested in them than just money.”

Tips have come in from across the South, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma. Photos of the missing horses have been shared globally, and have appeared on websites and blogs related to the horse industry in locations as far away as Canada and Mexico.

The horses are all American quarter horses, ranging in age from 7 to 16.

Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact the SAU Police Department at (870) 235-4100, or Arkansas State Police Investigator Hays McWhirter at (870) 703-2065.

This article was published today at 5:42 a.m.
Arkansas, Pages 14 on 11/14/2011
Arkansas 14


Make a comment on this story.

Another War Horse

(I've seen this a lot around the web lately, but have posted it here in the hope that some members of Congress find their own "heart of gold.")

Another War Horse: Jack May and 'A Soldier's Kiss'

THURSDAY, 19 MAY 2011 17:04 WEB EDITOR

Ian McFarlane writes to draw my attention to the following poem entiled 'A Soldier's Kiss':

Only a dying horse! pull off the gear,

And slip the needless bit from frothing jaws,

Drag it aside there, leaving the road way clear,

The battery thunders on with scarce a pause.

Prone by the shell-swept highway there it lies

With quivering limbs, as fast the life-tide fails,

Dark films are closing o'er the faithful eyes

That mutely plead for aid where none avails.

Onward the battery rolls, but one there speeds

Needlessly of comrades voice or bursting shell,

Back to the wounded friend who lonely bleeds

Beside the stony highway where he fell.

Only a dying horse! he swiftly kneels,

Lifts the limp head and hears the shivering sigh

Kisses his friend, while down his cheek there steals

Sweet pity's tear, "Goodbye old man, Goodbye".

No honours wait him, medal, badge or star,

Though scarce could war a kindlier deed unfold;

He bears within his breast, more precious far

Beyond the gift of kings, a heart of gold.

Ian writes that the poem was copied out by his grandfather, Jack May, in Ypres 1916, to reflect an occasion when his horse was shot from underneath him near Arras. Please see the photograph of the extract Jack made which was kept by Ian's grandmother. Jack's copy also featured later in 1918, in a local parish newspaper (see PDF attachment). (Kimpton Down is near Andover in Hampshire.)

Attachments:

File	Description	File size	Last modified
href="http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/attachments/article/1843/Jack_May_p1.pdf" title="Download this file (Jack_May_p1.pdf)" style="color: rgb(0, 75, 128); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; padding-right: 4px; ">Jack_May_p1.pdf	Lack May newspaper extract	1149 Kb	19/05/11 17:25

Trailer Found, SAU horses still missing

Reported by: KARK 4 News

Friday, November 04 2011

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A horse trailer stolen from the campus of Southern Arkansas University (SAU) in Magnolia has been found in Oklahoma, but there's no sign of the five horses taken along with it.

The trailer was found shortly before dark last night in McCurtain County, just across the Arkansas border, thanks to a phoned in tip, according to the McCurtain County Sheriff's Office (MCSO).

It was located in the driveway of a home in the town of Tom (south of Idabel). Deputies say the person who lives there is being questioned as a witness in the case and has not been charged with any crime.

The trailer and horses were reported stolen Thursday in a theft SAU police said happened between 10:30 the night before and 6:30 yesterday morning.

Click here for related story.

The dark colored 4-door Ford truck that was pulling the trailer has Georgia license plates (TL7W102), police say.

The horses are described as follows (see photos in the slideshow on this page):

• Black American Quarter Horse gelding, 16 years old, with a rocking M brand on left hip.
• Sorrel blaze face Quarter Horse gelding, 15 years old, with a rocking V on left shoulder. Right hip has backward L with a K
• Grey American Quarter Horse mare, 7 years old, with no markings
• Buckskin Quarter Horse mare, 14 years old, with a star on her head
• Black Quarter Horse mare, 12 years old, with star and circle M brand on left hind quarter

The SAU Rodeo Team travels to ten college rodeos each year in the Ozark Region, and tries to earn a spot at the College National Finals Rodeo which are held every June.

If anyone has any information about the theft, they are urged to call the Southern Arkansas University Police Department at (870) 235-4100.

Click here for more information on the SAU Rodeo Team.

Didn't her mother teach her not to play with her food?

Above link to Huffington Post article. Below link to the article on same subject from the UH FB page.

(Not shocked that Sue Wallis thinks this is fine and dandy though I am a little surprised at her defense of truly, aberrant behavior). The smartest thing the UHF could do is get rid of Sue Wallis. The dumbest thing would be to keep her. Here's hoping that stupidity rules.)

Sue Wallis

Wonder what the AR nutjobs will make of this? People humanely kill an old horse, butcher it to use the good meat, and decide to have some fun with it, and take pictures. Don't miss reading the comments. Most are right on point! http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Portland-woman-boyfriend-wont-face-charges-in/O5kF74cxmUikMab_W02A2g.cspx

Portland woman, boyfriend won't face charges in photos with dead horse

www.koinlocal6.com

Washington Co. investigators will not file charges in a disturbing incident involving pictures released on the internet of a Portland-area woman and her boyfriend with a dead horse.

Animals' Angels FOIA investigation on transport ....

Horses suffer in transport to slaughter no matter where they end up.

Texas A & M fined for transport violations: Deluxe transport to slaughter but horse found dead AA has gained information through a Freedom of information Act Request (FOIA) that powerfully underscores the cruelty of horse slaughter on U.S. soil. Under the most ideal conditions possible - including watering stops during single-deck transport, less packed conditions and multiple cameras with a team of monitors - a horse died in the bottom of a trailer during transport. The study adds to ever increasing evidence that demonstrates horse slaughter cannot be 'improved' into something that is humane. Truck & trailer used for transport The subject of the FOIA is a graduate program study orchestrated by Texas A&M University veterinary professor Dr. Ted H. Friend. The USDA paid for the study. A kill buyer was chosen and TX A&M transported his horses for free to the slaughter plant. The study was designed to 'improve' transport to slaughter by "relieving transport stress." Specifically, the study was to document the effect of providing water to horses in transport at 8 hour intervals. In his statement, Dr. Friend said that 8 hours was, "the most frequent interval that we could reasonably expect truckers to stop to water horses." USDA regulations require checking all horses every six hours. The researchers would also be taking blood samples to monitor stress levels in the horses. However, no blood sample was taken from the horse that later died. Monte Clark of CO, a well known kill buyer, was the owner of the 26 horses. Texas A&M acted as shipper/transporter of the horses, moving them at no charge from Hudson, CO to Dallas Crown in Kaufman, TX. Conditions were as ideal as possible. There had been several practice runs before the study began. A&M used a specially outfitted trailer with 12 video cameras, lighting and watering system. There were 2 drivers instead of the usual 1 seen on most hauls, and 3 graduate students that followed the trailer to monitor the cameras and water the horses. The professor stated that "our densest compartment [of the trailer] could be increased by 60% and still be under what the USDA considers to be acceptable density." Inside of trailer As unlikely as it sounds, all involved stated that cameras and lighting in the trailer "malfunctioned" where the dead horse was, though the cameras in other parts of the trailer continued to work properly. AA believes it is due the presence of a USDA APHIS inspector at the slaughter plant that documentation of the incident exists. He stated that he "overheard" a graduate student telling the plant manager a trailer with a dead horse had arrived. APHIS inspectors are responsible for enforcement of transport to slaughter regulations (9 CFR, Part 88). In his affidavit it is the driver who most frankly describes the journey's start. He seems more in touch with the condition of horses as they were being loaded in CO than the 'experts', recalling, "[S]ome horses had cuts above their eyes or cheeks. The horse that fell was one of our main concerns. He did not seem to be in too good of health. He was walking real slow and hair was fallen out. But [ the] owners son, if I am not mistaken said the horse would be alright for the trip....I may not know too much about horses, but I myself know when one is not in good health...." Graduate student 1 seemed far less concerned with any horses' welfare. In his affidavit he states Clark let him select additional horses from his "cripples pen", choosing the "healthiest soundest looking horses." However, as they began loading he sees the horse that would die in transport urinate, "the urine looked highly saturated with blood." The student said that later 'Monty' commented that the horse was "going to the right place." The student also states that after they arrived at Dallas Crown and found the dead horse, he told Chris the manager; "He did not seem surprised so I assumed this was a fairly common occurrence." Student 1 ends his affidavit by saying, "Many of the horses transported to slaughter look pretty bad and this one [the horse that died] did not look any worse off than the majority. I know in the future we will not be transporting any horses that have blood in their urine." A second graduate student gave an affidavit and also describes the pen of horses with "lower limb deformities". He remembers that the palomino gelding in question had "abnormally long, curly hair" and "appeared lethargic". However, neither of the graduate students in veterinary medicine hesitated when the decision was made to load this horse. Slaughter Tag The trip took approx. 18 hours with one stop for watering the horses in Amarillo. Temperatures inside the trailer reached 97 degrees. Texas A & M was laterfined $2,000 for failure to "at least once every six hours check on the physical conditions of all horses," and for incomplete owner/shipper certifications showing any prior conditions of the horse that arrived dead. During the stop in Amarillo, the students monitoring the cameras stated they were having problems with the lighting system of the trailer and did not notice any horses down in the trailer. According to the APHIS inspector's affidavit, he "did not ask if there was any [video] tape of the horses or the dead horse" received that day. No explanation was provided. Nobody took blood samples from the dead horse. Conclusion: A university study with watering stops, lower loading density and video camera monitoring, select horses, yet still a horse dies during transport - How bad is the reality of typical transport to slaughter with nothing that approaches such luxuries? These transports were planned for months, test runs were conducted at the university and graduate students in veterinary medicine were monitoring the horses' welfare en route. Still this poor horse died a grim death. According to Monte Clark, the palomino was, "going to the right place." No doubt giving horses water is an improvement, but does it make horse slaughter humane? According to every bit of evidence Animals' Angels has gathered since 2006, the answer is unquestionably No.