Update of Cloud’s Pryor Mountain
I’ve been reading the Cloud Foundation blog and some other sources of information concerning what has happened to this herd since the round up. While it is a shame this travesty was allowed to happen, it is also somewhat gratifying to see that none of the 57 horses ripped from their home have been sold to slaughter or remains in the BLM’s holding pens. Below are two updates taken from http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2009/wildhorses2009.shtml
about the herd.
Pryor herd still paying price of muster
September 28, 2009
The wild horses of the Pryor Mountains
The foundation, which opposed the Bureau of Land Management muster, has provided an update on the horses released back into the wilderness.
It reported that the most famous of the horses, the stallion Cloud, is lame.
The foundation's report came on the same day that the 57 horses retained by the bureau went under the hammer in Lovell , Wyoming
Foundation voluntary director Ginger Kathrens, whose documentaries made the Pryor Mountain
"We were up on the mountaintop yesterday and the cruelty of this massive roundup has not faded away," she says.
"Cloud is lame on his right front and his daughter is still extremely sore. It was painful just watching them walk to water."
One of Cloud's mares, also injured, appears to have a possible stifle injury. His four-year-old daughter, Firestorm, has significant difficulty walking at all.
"I think they will recover but it is hard to know and winter is just around the corner," Kathrens says.
In the past 15 years, all roundups in the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range
The roundup, she says, took place in early September when nearly all the mountain horses were the furthest away possible from the trap site.
Foals less than one-month-old were forced to run over 12 miles along with their families to the bureau's corrals at the base of the mountain
Fifteen older Pryor horses given home at foot of range
September 29, 2009
Fifteen of the older horses removed from the Pryor Mountains
The 57 horses removed from the 188 living in the herd management area were auctioned at the weekend.
The Cloud Foundation, which opposed the muster on the grounds that reducing numbers would affect the herd's genetic viability, was instrumental in efforts that ensured all 57 were sold and went to good homes.
The foundation reported that residents of Billings
"[They] are now back in their family bands," volunteer director of the foundation, Ginger Kathrens, reported.
The 19-year-old stallion Conquistador is back with his black mare, Cavelitta, and other family groups among the older horses have been restored - Shane with Moshi and Mystery; Bo with Sierra, Grumpy, Sand (BJ Star), Chalupa and their filly-foal; Trigger with Mae West and Evita.
"We also got Floyd who was so harassed the day he was captured.
"All 15 horses are now on a 3000-acre ranch at the base of their mountains. We had six trailers pulled by wonderful supporters, new and old friends alike transport the horses to this beautiful ranch.
"The horses are in large pens and paddocks in their family groups for now and will be turned out soon."
Kathrens ran through the fate of other, younger horses.
"Rain found a wonderful home in Virginia, Arrow has a great adopter and is in Colorado for training, Image and Ember will stay together and live on a beautiful farm in Ohio Colorado Colorado
"It is devastating not to have these horses in the wild with their families - nothing we can provide them is quite the same.
"Still, this is what we can do to repair some of the damage. Thank you to all - I wish you could see Conquistador with his mare. The light is returning to his golden eyes.
"It was dark when we arrived so no photos of that night, just a half moon in the sky and some very happy and very tired wild horses displaced from their home but back together."
For more information use the links below:
At the turn of the century there were approximately 2 million wild horses living in 17 western states. Their numbers have been reduced to approximately 48,624 Mustangs living in 10 western states today according to BLM calculations. “12,068 horses scheduled for removal in this fiscal year- this is a record number. The BLM Wild Horse and Burro’s program budget was doubled this year but nearly all the additional funds are being allocated to roundups”. 2010 BLM Gather Schedule.
Do you think that perhaps the BLM’s mission is to completely wipe our wild horse heritage off the face of the earth? Unfortunately, we may soon never again be able to see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat. In addition, why you may ask is this program so intent on eradicating these horses to extinction? If it’s not for the good of the horses then who is profiting from these removals? All significant questions that need to be answered. Unfortunately, either the politicians in Washington
Until next time
Quote for Today
Look back on our struggle for freedom, trace our present day’s strength to its source; and you will find that man’s pathway to glory is strewn with the bones of a horse.
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