Check it Out!    
RideCamp@endurance.net
[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next]
[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index] [Subject Index]

Re: Wild Horses



At 12:07 AM 11/2/99 -0500, you wrote:



>  As for the Feds
>acting, if the animals were not on federal land, they were not allowed to
>act, so that's a moot point.
Well, actually Diane, these horses wandered back and forth, the private 
land was an industrial park bordering close to BLM.  We have that situation 
a lot here as over 80% of my state is federal.

>I know that some people at the State level do care about these horses.

You bet they do.  It is private citizens that comprise the Wild horse 
Protection Associations and it was private citizens that raised the reward 
money not to long ago after several horses were shot.  As a side bar, 
several military boys shot 6 or 7 ranchers cows.  It was military personnel 
who shot the horses as well.  I do believe they are paid by the federal 
government.

>just wouldn't discount the strength of the cattle industry at the State
>level.
Please don't make the cattle industry out as the bad guy.  The ranchers in 
this state are the ones that did more to protect and improve the integrity 
of the horse herds than anyone.  In the areas of the state where this 
didn't happen, the herds are so inbred that the resulting offspring are 
inferior to the herds where new blood has been introduced etc.  As a side 
note, we border thousands of acres of BLM land and I personally work very 
closely with the local office.  Each BLM region is pretty autonomous.  A 
couple of years ago a local rancher started using his allotment again.  We 
had suffered an 8 year drought so nothing was eating very well out there 
but boy were the weeds going to town.  It was so bad you couldn't ride 
cross country, you had what I call umbrella weeds up to your horses 
belly.  The cows have cleaned that range up and no they did not eat the 
willows by the creeks and no they did not destroy the creek banks (talk to 
me sometime about what horses do!) But they certainly did lesson the fire 
danger around my place and my state practically burned up this summer with 
wildfires.  Thank you cows!! Do cows impact the land? of course as do deer, 
horses, and man!

>And as for the BLM sitting at desks in Washington, it's the wranglers out
>on the job in the HMAs on a daily basis who care the most about the horses
Again I have to disagree with your "most" statement.  I know there are BLM 
folks who care but Diane, there are just as many private individuals the 
care as well.  It does no good to take an all or nothing stance.  I am a 
believer in herd management and I am also a strong believer in the citizens 
of a state having more input into what happens.
>and burros. Besides that, I have noticed that several high up WHB BLM
>officials have attended adoptions and workshops, so they do not sit at
>desks all day.
Sure makes good PR! <g>

>Think we will just have to agree to disagree on this one!

Have a good one!  Let's go ride!! really ride!
Sharon




=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=



    Check it Out!    

Home    Events    Groups    Rider Directory    Market    RideCamp    Stuff

Back to TOC