Tuesday September 8, 2009, 9:49 pm
I so surprised that this news has not reached front page news 10 times over!! Come on care2...where are all the wild horse advocates here??

Clouds herds are being destroyed and the BLM are trying to get it done by this week end the 12th so that they can get all the horses trucked so far away that they can not be demanded to stop or put them bacK! The total and complete injustice of what the BLM are doing is astounding! They refuse to listen to any one!

Contact the white House...your senators...and the BLm and demand they stop.....demand that they return the wild horses back to the wild...it is NOT over yet....keep calling even if you get a run around.....The Cloud Foundation needs donations to! They may try to adopt horses that have been caught!


http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

TTY/TDD

Comments: 202-456-6213
Visitors Office: 202-456-2121

President Barack Obama

202-456-1111 or 202-456-9000

The Honorable Ken Salazar
Secretary
U.S. Department of Interior
202-208-3100, ext 5, feedback@ios.doi.gov

Director Bob Abbey
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
866-468-7826, robert_abbey@ios.doi.gov


Please pass this on! Time is running out fast for these very unique group of wild horses!!

Tuesday September 8, 2009, 10:03 pm


Director: Bob Abbey
E-mail: Director@blm.gov
Deputy Director (Operations): Mike Pool (Acting)
E-mail: Mike_Pool@blm.gov
Chief of Staff: Janet Lin
E-mail: janet_lin@blm.gov

For all of the above, please use:

BLM Washington Office
1849 C Street NW, Rm. 5665
Washington DC 20240
Phone: 202-208-3801
Fax: 202-208-5242

Tuesday September 8, 2009, 10:07 pm
Senate Committee of Natural Resources – 202/225-4971

House Committee of Natural Resources- 202/225-6065
Requests for the Pryor Mountain Wild Horses

1. Release the older horses– horses over ten need to be returned to the range, it is cruel and inhumane to remove these horses and they are not appropriate adoption animals and should not be added to the already full BLM holding facilities. They deserve to live out their lives in freedom.

2. Reduce the number of horses to be removed – taking 70 horses out of this small herd will bring what is truly a historical treasure down to genetic non-viability.

Tuesday September 8, 2009, 10:09 pm
http://thecloudfoundation.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 4:40 am
I have signed.

Sign the petition
http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/

The Cloud Foundation
Front door to this organization

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 4:40 am
Thank you, Jodi!! I appreciate you bringing this to my attention.

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 4:50 am
Thank you Shirley.

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 6:05 am
Noted with thanks and I also signed the petition previously as well as taking other actions to help Cloud and his family.

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 9:31 am
Folks, Have just heard that the Pryor Mountain Roundup has been called off BUT !!!! We have many, many more horses in jeopardy Nationwide and our investigation into the BLM and the proposed or ongoing roundups have to stay on the front burner. We have in no way won this battle for all of OUR Wild Horses and Burros. PLEASE CONTINUE TO CALL FOR A TOTAL MORATORIUM on Government Roundup across this Nation pending an in depth investigation. MY UNDYING THANKS TO ALL THAT ARE WORKING SO HARD FOR OUR PUBLIC LANDS AND WILDLIFE. It is good news that the Montana round has been called off but please go to www.thecloudfoundation.org for current and truthful information. There has been a terrible amount of irreparable damage done to this herd. It has to STOP Everywhere. There are solutions when people care enough to work together. It is imperative that we find alternatives to these horrible and vicious roundups. For more information please click on www.aowha.org regarding BLM/Government actions and policies regarding Wild Horses and Burros. Please see below.

Personal note from WildHorseGuy: While the Cloud round-up is the most notable, roundups and eliminations of wild herds are taking place in a number of locations. All these actions are connected. We as advocates must also stay connected and demand the changes that we have been promised. Every phone call, email and letter to our elected representatives and President Obama does count... so long as the total numbers of our calls, emails and letters are sufficient to attract their attention. This is the process that enables us citizens to rectify problems involving our government agencies.
Also, one person is taking on the Department of Interior to task over Sheldon by filing a court action. This isn't some well intentioned millionaire or some well financed horse group. She is an ordinary working person who has said, "Enough is enough." If one individual can make the Giant have at least take notice, what can the rest of us do?

President Obama and many of the people in Congress were elected on promises of change and that they would listen. Let's give them something to listen to.

- - -

Press Release.
09/07/09
Stand for the Sheldon!
The Horses that Congress Forgot
Laura Leigh

The intent of congress in 1971 was to protect all free roaming wild horses and burros as a national resource.

USC §§ 1331. Congressional findings and declaration of policy

Congress finds and declares that wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene. It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands.

When this act became law, horses within the US Fish & Wildlife Service and National Parks Service were somehow excluded from Congressional intent.

Historically Sheldon gathers have been horrific examples of chaotic mistreatment of these magnificent horses. Often times the evidence implies a direct route to slaughter. Whenever we see an article about the horrors of a gather, the most frequent photo seen is from Sheldon 2006.

A stand has been made in Nevada for the horses that Congress forgot.

Many of the horses removed from Sheldon suffer severe trauma from these current processes that involve chaotic gathers and limited options for finding placement. A long-term implementation of new policies that take into account the adoptability of these animals and their ultimate safety must take place. These symbols of America must be protected and treated with the respect they deserve. At minimum they must be afforded the same standard of "care" offered to other wild horses living on public land.

It is this writer's opinion that ultimately the weight of that responsibility will lie in the hands of the U.S. Senate as they consider S.1579. American intent in the original legislation was to protect ALL of OUR wild horses. Don't let these horses be forgotten again.

Follow the progress of this action, and to view the filed documents, visit the AOWHA war room: http://www.aowha.org/war/

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 9:35 am
Thank you Shirley. I just read that Cloud has been captured, but will be returned and others but not 70 of his herd. The BLM said they will be adopted out, and we all know what a lie that is! Thank you again for this.

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 9:39 am
This is VERY important information to all in support of our Wild Horses and Burros and want changes for the better for our Country and our Wildlife. Please See link below. As Always My Thanks, Shirley

http://www.vickitobin.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/pressreleasecloud.pdf

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 11:26 am
The BLM think that their are the MINK and there is no room for the MANURE... they should be held accountable for their bad choices and actions... This is cruelty and abuse in the highest degree... something needs to be done about this awful murder of these horses...

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 12:35 pm
thank-you very much . hope they can go back & have special grants instead of the money tension - they deserve better thsn lies

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 6:04 pm
This is an up date right from the Cloud Foundation Blog: 57 horses and 3 foals will be offered for adoption. Ginger Kathrens still wants every one to petition to get the older horses that have been caught, to be returned back to the wild because they have a greater chance of being sold off instead of adopted out.

End of Roundup: Update
September 9, 2009 by thecloudfoundation
The roundup of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horses is over after six days- the wild horse and burro specialist made the decision to call it so the helicopter did not go out today and no more horses were brought in. The reasons given for ending this roundup were:

The gather operation is nearly complete and horses were coming in sore-footed.
one mare (Brumby) tied up on Monday night
The BLM feels it would be hard on the remining horses to be brought in
There is a new little black foal on the mountain top
There were 11 horses on the mountain (including two older mares, Electra and Quelle Colour) that BLM had slated for removal. In place of those horses they are taking young horses from bands already in the pens. More on the individuals soon.

BLM stated again that they will not release Conquistador nor the other older horses removed from the Forest Service.

In total 57 horses and 3 foals (a their mothers’ sides) are going to be offered up for adoption. As we understand it, older horses not adopted will be offered for sale. According to BLM’s recent press release “most of the rest of the 146 horses that were gathered and evaluated have already been released back onto the horse range.”

The BLM released Cloud and his band first. They left less Image, Rain and Arrow and Cloud Dancer (who is going to be turned out with the young stallion Exhilaration who lives in the Dryhead desert area). The wranglers did a fine job trying to get Cloud and his band out but because of all they were leaving behind the mares were reluctant to leave and for ten minutes or more Cloud snaked his band this way and that while the riders tried to push them out the half mile to the opening of the trap. It was a relief to see them finally disappear into the rolling lowland hills and start the long journey back up to their mountaintop.

The BLM released nearly all the horses who have not been tagged for removal today– Bolder and Flint and Cloud’s mom with her band among others. The old band stallion Starman (who was to be removed in a previous roundup and has been freeze-branded before advocates convinced BLM to release him) took off an galloped back to the wild followed by his mare, Rosarita, and their black yearling daughter.

Ginger and others are on the way up to the mountaintop to check on returning horses who are in the process of climbing the 10+ miles back to the home.

Don’t stop fighting for the older horses— it is cruel and unnecessary to remove Conquistador, Grumpy and the others. We have made this request of the BLM are they are still saying no. Please work for their return.

Thank you to everyone who is supporting these horses and all wild horses across the west. Their are many new faces who have joined the work of many organizations to save our wild horses and insure that we have viable herds into the future.

It is our intent to make this blog a factual and ongoing platform for education, action alerts and wild horse preservation awareness. It has also become a community board for your comments and a good form of communication. Your suggestions for improvements are always welcome. We are doing our best to catch up on correspondence and continue work on a “plan b” for these older horses should we not be successful in lobbying for their return to the wild.

Thank you for your support.

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 6:06 pm
Thank you Marion and every one.

Thank you Shirley for posting this:-)

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 6:41 pm
Jodi, THANKS SO MUCH for posting update. I was interviewing with a Swedish author and his photographer. He is doing a book on America's Wild Horses and we had a wonderful time showing him around our rescue and letting him meet the "horse kids." We always make time for folks that have such an interest in our Wild Horses and Burros because it is soooo important to share our wonderful heritage with them and let the world become introduced to the fantastic world of OUR American Wild Horses. THANKS AGAIN and THANKS TO EVERYONE. We've got a long road still ahead and have to stay committed and strong but we HAVE made many new friends and brought this terrible situation to light. Hopefully getting the word out to many that were ill informed or unaware. Please continue your calls, emails and faxes so that we do not loose momentum and can save our old guys and MARCH forward to an investigation to clean house at the BLM so that our Wild Ones are protected, cared for and respected from now on. All My Best To All. Shirl

Wednesday September 9, 2009, 9:42 pm
The Cloud Foundation is on Goodsearch...but activity is woefully low. Every time you search the Net, the charity gets money. Plus, if you are making an online purchase, check on goodsearch to see if the business donates to your charity of choice. I was surprised to see how many online businesses are actually listed.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 1:01 pm
Take Action… and an update
September 12, 2009 by thecloudfoundation
We have returned from home from Lovell, Wyoming and the Pryors. But 57 horses, three of them mares with foals at their sides, remain incarcarated at the Britton Springs corrals. We have been unable to view the horses as the corrals were closed to the public until today. We did get word that the independent humane observer who had permission to act in that role through Sept. 12, and had to fly back to California in the afternoon, was denied access to see the horses in the corrals the morning of September 11. This is unfortunate as we cannot report to you how the horses are doing, the condition of Rain, Cloud’s daughter who colicked the day she was rounded up, and of special concern to many of you who watched our recent youtube video, the lame colt of Baja’s who is so footsore.

The BLM Billings Field Office’s decision to deny the humane observer viewing access only increases the perception of the public that they are hiding something. This is the most watched roundup in the country; at most there is no one to watch what is going on. What is the BLM trying to hide? Viewing of the horses is allowed starting today and details were released here. This roundup has been a disaster for so many horses, those who are in the corrals, those who are sore and back up on the mountain missing their family members.

Please take time to call and write your local media as well as national media— we have made an incredible impact but we cannot let up now. Tell them that this is an issue that matters to YOU, ask them to involve you or another local advocate in the story.

Phone calls to make:

ask for the release of the older horses and reform of the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, fax your comments as well:

White House Switchboard – 202-456-1414 (fax: 202-456-2461) E-mail here Ask for Senior Advisors: Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod. Ask for Michelle Obama too, her office is recieving a tremendous number of calls and they need to continue.
Call your Senators – switchboard 202-224-3121 and ask that they support S1579, The Restore our American Mustang (ROAM) Act
Call the Senate Committee of Natural Resources – 202-224-4971 (fax 202-224-6163) Email here. ask that they push the ROAM Act through immediately– it must go up for a vote soon in the Senate


Demand reform for our wild horses, it is too late for thousands but it is not yet too late for Cloud’s herd and many others. The roundup crews are headed next to the Steens Mountains of Oregon.We have been told that there will be no observers or photographers allowed. This is illegal- these are the public’s wild horses.

Right now 12 herds are being zeroed out in Nevada, 650 horses off 1.4 million acres because the land is not suitable… but the horses have been living there for over a hundred years.

Please take time to call now, we are losing our wild horses in the West and the world is watching: Read a recent London Times article here.

Please join us and many others at the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting in Arlington, VA on September 28th. Make your voice heard – and then join us on the hill for meetings the following day. Their hoofbeats need to be heard in Washington DC.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 1:06 pm
Thanks Shirley...I saw on the Cloud Blog that the BLM are also refusing to give bute pain meds to horses that are lame. Their reason for this was because the EU or Europe has banned these substances in horse meat!!!! They admit these horses are intended to be sold for slaughter!!! It is OUTRAGEOUS!! Makes me sick!!!!!

I wish I could adopt mustangs but I live in Georgia and have no way to pick any of them up. That web site auction makes it soooooo easy and they are cheap like $125.00

I also saw I believe on the BLM web site that they may offer a $500.00 incentive to people who adopt horses!! YET not so longer ago they claimed they were so broke they can not take care of the 30,000 horses they have corralled! SICKENING!!!!!! Now they offer money for people to take them?? Sick hypocrites.