Wild horse advocacy takes the Fund to the streets (US)
WASHINGTON DC — In a run up to the Fund for Horses “Rally Across America for Wild Horses”, volunteers have been street teaming in cities across the country for the entire month of April to raise awareness about America’s disappearing wild horses and burros and attract new advocates to this critical issue.
One of those streets is Pennsylvania Avenue, where the Fund’s own president, Vivian Grant, got involved every day the Fund was there in front of the White House. Grant is not difficult to pick out among the throngs of people who regularly make their way to this top DC tourist destination. She is the one wearing the horse hat.
“We talked with some fabulous people from bus loads of school children to vacationers to politicians about America’s wild horses and burros who are on the brink of extinction,” Grant says. “We have had an amazing response, and feel we are off to a great start in getting as much attention focused on this critical situation as possible.”
The next step in this campaign are media events scheduled to take place through May, June and the first part of July. First stop for the events is Sacramento, California and heading eastward culminating with a spectacle in Manhattan that includes a helicopter chase down Broadway.
When asked to reveal the rest of the details about these events, all Grant would say is, “I am not prepared to reveal everything just yet, except to say they will be very revealing.”
To find out more and make a donation to support these efforts, visit the Int’l Fund for Horses website at this link.
Wild horse advocates rally while politicians fight each other (US)
Willis Lamm reports:
Wild horse advocates appeared outside the Nevada Republican Convention in Reno Saturday, enjoying a gorgeous April day. They were completely unaware of the raging storm that was taking place inside the Peppermill.
According to news reports, the convention completely broke down over the selection of delegates. State Senator Bob Beers had to leave under the protection of a security detail, and not enough delegates were left after the fracas to conclude party business.
Well, at least the advocates enjoyed themselves.
Here’s the latest daily report that includes photos of the horse “protest” along with other information.
Young foals shot in Nevada (US)
Willis Lamm reports:
Some nut case is going around shooting young foals up in Washoe County. For the record, these are likely to be BLM horses as the incident occurred several miles north of the Virginia Range. A naturalist hiking in the area provided this account and photos.
Last weekend I was hiking above Fred Tule Well which is just outside the north entrance to the Pyramid reservation. I was hiking up the Adobe Spring drainage and not far from the spring when I came across these three dead foals. All were within 50 yards and dead laying in the drainage. The two lower foals had been chewed by coyotes already but the upper was intact. They had been dead for some time but not long enough to be pulled apart by coyotes or other carrion eaters. Two of then you will notice from the picture appear to have been shot in the chest area as the ribs seemed to be broken away and internals blown outward. the upper foal as close as I could tell had a hole (bullet) in its neck and just behind the ear. There was no one else that I could see in the area. The photo of the drainage was taken above the foals about 1/4 mile. Here I saw the rest of the herd, about 15 horses grazing high on the hill. They had two foals with them as far as I could tell.
If this is to be pursued someone should go up there soon or the coyotes will have the carcasses spread before long. It is about a 2 hour hike from the end of the road above the Fred Tule well.
I am disgusted by the stupid murder of these foals. It is a shameful way of trying to save grassland for a few cattle. I would like to believe that is what it is and not something more wanton than that such as someone getting pleasure out of killing wild horses.
The BLM has been notified of this incident.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES OF DEAD FOALS
Kentucky Derby horses monitored closely for drugs (US)
The AP filed a story that leads:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - When 20 of the best 3-year-old horses line up for this year’s Kentucky Derby, they will be among the most closely monitored athletes on the planet.
From state trooper bodyguards watching their every move to a probable drug test in the days before the race - as well as a visit to the testing barn for the top four finishers and a randomly selected also-ran afterward - the entrants will spend four days under the sort of scrutiny that would make Barry Bonds blanche.
The attention is part of a growing initiative to crack down on the use of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs, an effort that finally appears to be gaining momentum in an industry usually reluctant to change.
Last year for the first time, all 20 Derby horses were subjected to - and passed - a surprise drug test two days before the race. Kentucky Horse Racing Authority executive director Lisa Underwood said trainers should be “ready for anything” when it comes to testing this year.
Well, almost anything. The Derby horses will not be tested for steroids, but that might be about to change due to mounting pressure from forces both inside and outside the industry for racing to develop stricter drug regulations.”
Full story at KentuckyPost.com
