Horses Horses Horses –It’s time for some of the Facts!

Posted on July 13, 2012 by whoa

With less than 500[1] wild horses remaining on all New Mexico’s federal lands, down from over 7,500 in 1974[2], and with an average of only 71 abandoned  horses/yr[3] estrayed across the entire state of New Mexico over the last 6 years, you  may ask, “Where is this “Booming Population” of “feral and free roaming horses” in New Mexico? Where are the “tens of thousands” from “individual” accounts? Where are the environmental damage reports?

We do have free roaming horses in Placitas, we are the exception. When you drive through New Mexico you will rarely see a free roaming horse. More about the Placitas horses later!

The tables below will give you the real story of the roaming horse population in New Mexico. The First American Nations are not included because there has been no survey here. I have included the cattle population, not to embarrass, but to provide an educational perspective. The truth of it is, there are very few wild horses left here in New Mexico.

Horses and Cattle on NM Public Lands

NM Land Type

Target No. Horses

Acres

No. Cattle

Acres
NM State Lands[4]

0

0

171,011

8,700,000
NM BLM Lands[5]Socorro

70

16,493

185,023

12,800,000
NM FS Lands Jarita Mesa[6]

20-70

55,000

70,618

9,100,000

NM FS Lands Jicarilla[7]

50-105

76,000

    

Total Horses

Less than 500

Total Cattle

426,652

  

We have all been hearing various accounts of all the abandoned horses around the state. The table below shows the actual data printed from the New Mexico Livestock Board Estray Data Base. This table shows that over the last 6 years, the number of abandoned horses has been relatively stable, with small spikes in 2008 and 2009. This is far from a magnitude of thousands or even “tens of thousands” of horses mentioned in other articles!

NM ESTRAYS   (Abandoned/Lost Domestic Horses)*

Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
No.Estrays 59 40 114 99 58 55
Avg= 71            

*There may be some horses that qualify as State’s wild horses that get picked up as estrays.

The table below shows the actual numbers of horses in the US which have gone to slaughter[8]. It is important for New Mexicans to realize that there are 9 Million horses nation-wide.[9] Of these, only 1% go to slaughter. In fact, a 2012 poll conducted by Lake Research Partners[10] showed that 80% of American voters are opposed to the slaughter of U.S. horses for human consumption. The nationwide survey reveals that Americans oppose horse slaughter overwhelmingly.

US DOMESTIC HORSES to slaughter

Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Domestics 142,740 122,459 134,059 106,542 112,904 133,241

Euthanaisa can cost $70.  As an alternative to land fill/burial- Renders pick up the animal at your home, 10-$70.

Environmental Aspects of Horses Hooves

The NM Cattle Growers Association & New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau  made statements  in the last Signpost “ Horse hooves have an entirely different impact on the ground the travel than cloven hoofed animals, compacting the soil rather than breaking it.” with no supporting evidence or data referenced. Here then is another perspective by Craig Downer, Renown Wildlife Ecologist, Biologist, and author.

“Horses have soliped hooves that make them superb long-distance runners. They evolved for millions of years, mainly in North America, and contribute positively to the open-terrain ecosystems of this continent. Unlike the case with many cloven-hoofed grazers, their hooves do not cut up the soil and expose it to the destructive forces of wind and water erosion. By compacting the soil, horses actually help it resist wind and water erosion in many cases and also to retain soil moisture. As always, this depends on the horses being allowed to occupy suitably large areas and to disperse their grazing pressure over large areas, which is their nature. . .Few will acknowledge, for example, the great positive contribution made by horse feces in building rich, moist and nutrient-laden soils and in seeding many plant species.

Legal Designations

There are four legal categories of horses here in New Mexico.

  1. Wild Horses protected under the federal 1971 Act, present and unclaimed in 1971.[11]
  2.  NM States Wild Horses protected under the New Mexico State statute 77-18-5. [12]
  3. Domestic horses which as Livestock are exempt from protection under the Animal Cruelty Law of NM. [13]
  4. Estrays which are domestic horses with unknown owner are exempted from protection as Livestock in New Mexico. [14]

Terms used such as feral, have no legal definition. No amount of feeding, or “taming”, could change any of the legal designations of a horse. Feral refers to a specie being progeny of domestic animals at some point in time. Feral also seems to imply, that the Placitas horses are not legally wild.

Spanish or Not – This is culturally significant though not legally significant. Placitas horses have been DNA tested showing a large percentage of Spanish markers, see Signpost Article by Margo DeMello.

GAO Reports

GAO reports abound  on Equine Issues and The Humane Slaughter Act. These reports overall, and individually, state two basic facts/recommendations regarding horses and slaughter; I. The recommendation to end horse slaughter.[15] II. 13.2 Million acres of Public lands legally designated as Wild Horse Areas in 1971have been zeroed out[16].

The Placitas Horses – Questions of the Day!

Yes, we do have free roaming horses in many areas of Placitas.

Fencing– WHOA has had them fenced out of La Mesa, Sundance, Los Ranchos subdivisions, a La Farge Pit, and many homes in Placitas. Last summer WHOA worked with San FelipePueblo to fence the horses out of the East side of I25 Algodonas, thus keeping them off the dead ended frontage road there. San Felipe also fixed their entire fence line along the BLM lands in Placitas.

Water- WHOA does help supply water for the horses along with many Placitans.

Feeding – All wildlife should be observed from afar and respected for mutual safety. Even horses raised in captivity can  learn to bite and  kick. Please don’t teach a wild horse to eat from  your hand, even and especially the babies. WHOA discourages any feeding from the hand or pockets as this emboldens a horse rather than teaching or maintaining necessary boundaries important for their own future. WHOA has historically discouraged feeding. That said, the authorities have essentially blocked WHOA from managing their population through immuno-contraception, our population has grown and a warm dry summer is upon us.

Population Management – Neither round-ups nor population control by contraception would be required in nature. However the US Dept of Ag spends $100 million/yr[17] killing off predators utilizing sodium cyanide banned in other countries. That cost is more than is spent on the entire Wild Horse and Burro program 75.7 million/yr[18].  Add to that trappings, hunting, lengthening hunting seasons here in NM for New Mexico’s Bears and Cougars, and nature may need a hand with immuno-contraceptives. WHOA participated in the protest for Bear Watch just this week.

Lawsuit Status – WHOA filed suit May 2011 against the Department of the Interior (BLM) and a private citizen. All briefs have been filed and responded to and we are now waiting for a ruling from the judge. We expect that there will be a ruling towards the end of the summer.

FREE FILM! – STAMPEDE TO OBLIVION  Sat July 14th @ 2:00PM  – Albuquerque Main Library – 501 Copper Avenue NW – 505.768.5141. By Peabody award-winning George Knapp of KLAS news.[19] Bring your questions! There will be discussions and a question and answer period.

[1] Target numbers are from the Environmental Assessments. Populations vary around these targets. Targets doubled = less than 500.

[2] Ninth Report to Congress on Administration of the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act USDOI BLM, USDA Forest Service

[3] NMLB Data Base query through a Wild Horse Observers Association (WHOA) Inspection of Public Records request.

[4] Calculated from NM State Lands grazing revenue of $5.910,144 Million divided by $2.88/per month per cow using 12 months. Revenue and grazing fee from Karin Stangl Assistant Commissioner of Communications New Mexico State Lands Office. Note; 84% is utilized for education. K.S. Most grazing is for cultural purposes. Ray Powell.

[5] http://www.blm.gov/public_land_statistics/pls10/pls10_combined.pdf Divided Total AUM’s by conservative 10 months grazing.

[6] http://www.fs.fed.us/rangelands/ecology/wildhorseburro/territories/Jarita.shtml

[7] http://www.fs.fed.us/rangelands/ecology/wildhorseburro/territories/Jicarilla.shtml

[8] USDA statistics courtesy of Darrell Charlton, Jr. and Equine Welfare Alliance.

[9] http://habitatforhorses.org/absence-horse-slaughter-plants-caused-increase-abuse-neglect-abandonment-horses/

[10] http://www.aspca.org/Pressroom/press-releases/020112

[11] http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov/92-195.htm

[12] http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-hit-h.htm&2.0 Statutes, Rules and Const./NMSA (Unannotated)/CHAPTER 77 Animals and Livestock /ARTICLE 18 General Animal Regulations /77-18-5. Wild horses

[13] NM State Statute 30-18-1.I Cruelty to animals; penalties; exceptions

[14] http://www.conwaygreene.com/nmsu/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-hit-h.htm&2.0 Statutes, Rules and Const./NMSA (Unannotated)/CHAPTER 77 Animals and Livestock /ARTICLE 2 Livestock Board /77-2-1.1.

[15] http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11228.pdf. “What GAO Reccomends” “consider a permanent ban on horse slaughter”

[16] http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0977.pdf  GAO-09-77   “… the BLM owned acreage managed for wild horses and burros has changed from 42.2 million acres to 29.0 million acres, a difference of 13.2 million acres.” Pg. 88

[17] http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/animals/wolves/predatorcontrol.asp

[18] http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/2010_02_01_release.cfm

Posted in Horse Slaughter, Placitas Wild Horses, Press Releases | Comments Off on Horses Horses Horses –It’s time for some of the Facts!

NM Governor Susana Martinez€“ – Against Horse Slaughter . . . Really?

Posted on April 29, 2012 by whoa

Why Not Ban Horse Slaughter in NM by Executive Order?

MartinezGAO
New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez has stated publically that she is against opening the proposed horse slaughter plant in New Mexico:

“. . . I believe creating a horse slaughtering industry in New Mexico is wrong and I am strongly opposed,”

However, since at least June of 2011, the Martinez Administration has lobbied the NM State Legislature strongly in favor of horse slaughter (for human consumption). The Executive Director of the New Mexico Livestock Board, lobbied to the NM State Legislature in June 2011:

“. . . the major reason for the increase in unwanted horses is the close of the slaughterhouses. . . Without slaughter, many horses face less humane treatment and death.”

Is she not aware of her administration’s actions? Really?

The Martinez administration recently has shown a strong negative bias against wild horses, as well as domestic:

• While the Livestock Board has come under fire for alleged abuses at the Dennis Chavez South West Auction house, the New Mexico State Veterinarian has now come under investigation for his own actions at Monero Mustangs Wild Horse Sanctuary.

• New Mexico State Veterinarian also recently stated at a meeting at the Albuquerque Public Library:

“€œThe Placitas Horses are not wild. . . and someday they are going to be mine!”

Larson Free Mountain edited2

Though Governor Martinez claims to be working to improve New Mexico’s image and Tourism prospects, she has not advertised the three Wild, federal Horse Territories in New Mexico for Clean Eco-Tourism, nor does she advertise any of the three privately operated wild horse preserves in New Mexico. This failure results in a huge loss to our tourism industry, New Mexico’s largest private sector employer and second largest source of revenue, second only to Oil and Gas.

The Governor’€™s administration has also shown a strong negative bias towards wild horse population management by means of immunocontraceptive vaccine, native PZP opting by default for eradication of the horses, along with the eradication of their natural predators, the mountain lions, bears, and wolves. The jaguars, of course, are already gone.

In what can only be assumed to be a misinformed or mistaken statement, the New Mexico State Veterinarian recently told the Monero Mustangs wild horse preserve in beautiful Tierra Amarilla, NM that “PZP is illegal in the State of New Mexico, and must be delivered by a Veterinarian”. This statement is patently false as individuals certified by Dr. Jay Kirkpatrick, at the Zoo Montana Science Center, may administer PZP with a permit from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

Why Not a Horse Slaughter Ban in NM, Governor Martinez?
1. Sale of horse meat (wild or domestic) for human consumption in the United States is illegal, as horses receive medicines not made for food animals.
2. States have the right to Ban Horse Slaughter as California and others have done.
3. In 2007, New Mexico passed WHOA’s Wild Horse anti-horse slaughter bill, SB655, carried by the Honorable Senator Steve Komadina, which defined “wild horse,” and banned their sale, auction, or slaughter.

NM Attorney General Gary King – Also Against Horse Slaughter. . . Again, Really?

“A horse slaughtering plant in Roswell is a terrible idea,”€ said New Mexico Attorney General Gary King. “ÂœSuch a practice, while not illegal, is certainly abhorrent to public sentiment, and I strongly suggest it be abandoned. I come from a ranching family but processing horses for food was never part of the plan for raising livestock. Horses are different and should be treated differently.”

Gary King states above that “€œhorses are different” than cattle and “€œshould be treated differently.”€

OK Then, Gary – Why Are Horses Still Exempt From the Animal Cruelty Laws of New Mexico?
Horses are exempted from the NM Animal Cruelty Law just like cattle, as are ALL “€œLivestock”. Where is Gary King’s call for an executive order stating that horses should not be exempt from the Animal Cruelty Law in New Mexico? What is Gary King doing to make slaughter illegal for horses in New Mexico?

Is Horse Slaughter Abusive? Or is it Humane Euthanasia? You Decide


All the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports on slaughter in the US have highlighted egregious practices. The most recent report has even suggested a ban on horse slaughter contrary to its false promotion as a pro-slaughter report. The 2004 GAO Report to Congress on the Humane Slaughter Act states that “€œIneffective stunning and Conscious animal”€ is the #1 violation found in slaughter houses.

The 2010 GAO Report to Congress on the Humane Slaughter Act

“€œMultiple unsuccessful captive bolt stuns Multiple misplaced electrical stuns. . . FSIS also does not have a current workforce planning strategy for allocating limited staff to inspection activities, including HMSA enforcement. FSIS has strategic, operational, and performance plans for its inspection activities but does not clearly outline goals, needed resources, time frames, or performance metrics and does not have a comprehensive strategy to guide HMSA enforcement. “

The 2010 GAO Action Needed to Address Unintended Consequences from Cessation of Domestic Slaughter. What GAO Recommends :

“€œGAO suggests that Congress may wish to reconsider restrictions on the use of federal funds to inspect horses for slaughter or, instead, consider a permanent ban on horse slaughter. GAO recommends that USDA issue a final rule to protect horses through more of the transportation chain to slaughter and consider ways to better leverage resources for compliance activities.”

“€œLeveraging resources for compliance activities” will cost tax payers much more than it could possibly benefit them, even if it were likely that compliance activities would be properly funded. It is clear from the GAO reports through time, that regardless of the regime, unconscionable abuse at slaughter houses will continue.

Popular (ie successfully promulgated) Misconceptions:
• The 2010 GAO Report listed above is being misleadingly promoted by pro-slaughter advocates including the Executive Director of the New Mexico Livestock Board, as suggesting that slaughter plants need to re-open in order to solve the “€œunwanted horse issue in this economy”€. However, this report clearly shows that horses headed for slaughter need more protections en-route and more protections against conscious slaughter, and which they are not likely to receive. And, moreover, that a BAN on slaughter would resolve all of these issues.
• The US slaughter ban caused horses to go to Mexico where slaughter is unregulated; – Horses were going to slaughter in Mexico, through New Mexico, and other states, prior to the closure of domestic slaughter plants.
• Due to the economy the need for horse slaughter has increased. No excuse for abuse here. Utilizing veterinary assisted euthanasia and rendering service totals about $185, just $35 dollars more than the cost to keep your horse one more month as it costs about $150 per month to maintain a horse at your own home.
o Horses can be sold, given away, or euthanized by a vet for a mere $70. Trip fee if needed, is $45.
o The renderer will pick up your dead horse or cow for a fee of 10 to $ 70.
o Crematories will pick up, and cremate your horse.
o Horses in rural areas can be humanly shot in the head.
o For ranching type or large industries, composting is a cheaper alternative than rendering.
o Some landfills accept dead animals.
• Wild Horses are competition for the US Cattle Industry. Beef Imports, not wild horses, are the real competition for the US Cattle Industry. “U.S. livestock producers face strong competition from Canada and Mexico in domestic livestock and meat markets, causing some livestock producers to question the wisdom of the NAFTA, which opened our markets to competition from the North and South.”€

IN SUMMARY:


Governor Martinez and Attorney General King have the power to take immediate action against having New Mexico become “The Land of Dismemberment”, “The Land of Disenchantment”. Perhaps they are already working on this, as the Wild Horse Observers Association in NM has recently proposed again. We wait for decisive action, not just “feel good” words from leadership.

  1. Please ask Governor Martinez to issue an Executive Order against Horse Slaughter in NM.
  2. Please ask Governor Martinez and Attorney General Gary King to change the NM Animal Cruelty law so that horses are not exempted from it as Livestock.

Governor Martinez- Phone: (505) 476-2200

Attorney General Gary King – Phone: (505) 827-6000

This is not a political issue-it is a matter of common decency.

Martin Luther King Jr. “Never, never be afraid to do what is right, especially if the well being of a person or an animal is at stake . . . ”

Horses are Slaughtered (live) for human consumption, not dog food. Horse Flesh is not approved by the US FDA for human consumption. This is because horses are not raised as food animals and are given medicines and wormers which are neither safe or approved for human consumption.

Posted in ACTION ALERTS!!!, Horse Slaughter | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

New Mexico’s Shame

Posted on April 29, 2012 by whoa

Torture is Legal in New Mexico

There is no law protecting horses against abuse in New Mexico. Horses are EXEMPT from the New Mexico Animal Cruelty Law.

Yes, You Can:
. . . Poke your horse’s eyes out, and leave him to suffer in New Mexico.
Anything Goes In New Mexico!

HorseEyeNM Attorney General Gary King and a Horse at the Southwest Auction

New Mexicans ARE clearly opposed to the unbelievable cruelties perpetrated on horses as discovered by Animals Angels at the Southwest Auction house in Los Lunas, New Mexico recently reported in the New York Times and the Albuquerque Journal.

However, Governor Martinez and Attorney General Gary King seem complicit by their lack of action.

Is this because their administration has been lobbying for a Horse Slaughter Plant?
Might protections for horses interfere?

Below are the relevant State of New Mexico statutes regarding Animal Cruelty (emphasis added to the portions directly related to horses and their general exemption from Animal Cruelty statutes):

2011 NMSA 1978 (unannotated)/NMSA 1978 (unannotated)/CHAPTER 30 Criminal Offenses /ARTICLE 18 Animals /30-18-1. Cruelty to animals; extreme cruelty to animals;

30-18-1. Cruelty to animals; extreme cruelty to animals; penalties; exceptions.

A. As used in this section, “animal” does not include insects or reptiles.

B. Cruelty to animals consists of a person:

(1) negligently mistreating, injuring, killing without lawful justification or tormenting an animal; or

(2) abandoning or failing to provide necessary sustenance to an animal under that person’s custody or control.

C. As used in Subsection B of this section, “lawful justification” means:

(1) humanely destroying a sick or injured animal; or

(2) protecting a person or animal from death or injury due to an attack by another animal.

D. Whoever commits cruelty to animals is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978. Upon a fourth or subsequent conviction for committing cruelty to animals, the offender is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.

E. Extreme cruelty to animals consists of a person:

(1) intentionally or maliciously torturing, mutilating, injuring or poisoning an animal; or

(2) maliciously killing an animal.

F. Whoever commits extreme cruelty to animals is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.

G. The court may order a person convicted for committing cruelty to animals to participate in an animal cruelty prevention program or an animal cruelty education program. The court may also order a person convicted for committing cruelty to animals or extreme cruelty to animals to obtain psychological counseling for treatment of a mental health disorder if, in the court’s judgment, the mental health disorder contributed to the commission of the criminal offense. The offender shall bear the expense of participating in an animal cruelty prevention program, animal cruelty education program or psychological counseling ordered by the court.

H. If a child is adjudicated of cruelty to animals, the court shall order an assessment and any necessary psychological counseling or treatment of the child.

I. The provisions of this section do not apply to:

(1) fishing, hunting, falconry, taking and trapping, as provided in Chapter 17 NMSA 1978;

(2) the practice of veterinary medicine, as provided in Chapter 61, Article 14 NMSA 1978;

(3) rodent or pest control, as provided in Chapter 77, Article 15 NMSA 1978;

(4) the treatment of livestock and other animals used on farms and ranches for the production of food, fiber or other agricultural products, when the treatment is in accordance with commonly accepted agricultural animal husbandry practices;

(5) the use of commonly accepted Mexican and American rodeo practices, unless otherwise prohibited by law;

(6) research facilities licensed pursuant to the provisions of 7 U.S.C. Section 2136, except when knowingly operating outside provisions, governing the treatment of animals, of a research or maintenance protocol approved by the institutional animal care and use committee of the facility; or

(7) other similar activities not otherwise prohibited by law.

J. If there is a dispute as to what constitutes commonly accepted agricultural animal husbandry practices or commonly accepted rodeo practices, the New Mexico livestock board shall hold a hearing to determine if the practice in question is a commonly accepted agricultural animal husbandry practice or commonly accepted rodeo practice.

Authors note: The provision J. above is a subjective determination made by the Livestock Board which has no equine advocates who are not connected with the horses industry ie making money from horses. Use of provision J. is slow, prejudiced against horses and appears legally ineffective against friends and associates of the Livestock Board.

2011 NMSA 1978 (unannotated)/NMSA 1978(unannotated)/CHAPTER77 Animals and Livestock /ARTICLE 2 Livestock Board /77-2-1.1Definitions. (2001)

77-2-1.1. Definitions.

As used in The Livestock Code:

A. “animals” or “livestock” means all domestic or domesticated animals that are used or raised on a farm or ranch, including the carcasses thereof, and exotic animals in captivity and includes horses, asses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, bison, poultry, ostriches, emus, rheas, camelids and farmed cervidae upon any land in New Mexico; provided that for the purposes of Chapter 77, Article 9 NMSA 1978, “animals” or “livestock” have the meaning defined in that article. “Animals” or “livestock” does not include canine or feline animals. For the purpose of the rules governing meat inspection, wild animals, poultry and birds used for human consumption shall also be included within the meaning of “animals” or “livestock”;

For more back ground information: NM Governor Susana Martinez- Against Horse Slaughter . . . Really?

Please Help…

1. Please ask that Governor Martinez issue an Executive Order against Horse Slaughter in NM.

2. Please ask that Governor Martinez and Attorney General Gary King change the NM Animal Cruelty law so that horses are not exempted from it as Livestock.

Governor Martinez- Phone: (505) 476-2200
Attorney General Gary King – Phone: (505) 827-6000

This is not a political issue-it is a matter of common decency.

Posted in ACTION ALERTS!!!, Horse Slaughter | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on New Mexico’s Shame

WHOA and DOT provide signage for the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Corridor in Placitas, NM

Posted on January 25, 2012 by whoa

WHOA has worked with the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NM DOT) to provide needed Wildlife Corridor Signage for the mountain community of Placitas, NM.  Among the wildlife to watch out for (at night especially) are mountain lions, bears, deer, bobcats, coyotes, and wild horses.  There are even occasional porcupines, prairie dogs, and wild turkeys.

The DOT agreed to either a yellow diamond-shaped caution sign with the picture of a wild horse or a yellow diamond-shaped wildlife corridor caution sign.  WHOA chose the wildlife corridor caution sign, so as to include information regarding all of the wildlife in Placitas, NM. WHOA has provided additional signage regarding the wild horses and the DOT has provided additional signage regarding the deer.

WHOA has also given a proposal for assistance with management of the Placitas Wild Horses to the appropriate agencies.  There has been no official response.

Placitans continue to show strong support and take great pride in the Placitas Wild Horses as well as all the wildlife that grace this area and its beautiful open spaces.

Please stop and see the Wildlife Corridor Mural at the Recycle Center at the entrance of Placitas on the North side of RT 165.  The mosaic mural project “Protect Our Wildlife Corridors”, depicts much of the Placitas wildlife and flora. This is an ongoing project of “Pathways: Wildlife Corridors of NM”, (a 501 c3), which has been co-coordinated by Laura Robbins (Foothills Studio) and Cirrelda Snider-Brian (Pot Hollow Studio) with the participation of literally hundreds of adults and school children from around the region.

Posted in Placitas Wild Horses | Tagged | Comments Off on WHOA and DOT provide signage for the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Corridor in Placitas, NM

WHOA 2011 Newsletter

Posted on September 25, 2011 by whoa

WHOA Newsletter Sep 2011 Finalized[1]

Posted in Loop Rd / NE Corridor, Newsletters, Placitas Wild Horses | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on WHOA 2011 Newsletter

“Horses on the Loose” The Real Story

Posted on September 4, 2011 by whoa

The State of NM rightfully filed a charge of criminal trespass against the “perpetrator” (see below) for criminal trespass on posted private property and release of “the Placitas 8”. However, in the January 2012 issue the Sandoval County Signpost chose to publicly name this “perpetrator”. See http://www.sandovalsignpost.com/jan12/html/around_town.html.

WHOA decided this public “naming” in our small community of Placitas would likely stop any future criminal activity and therefore requested the sheriff’s department drop the charges. Hence the case was dismissed. Our thanks to the Sheriff in both cases. Our further thanks to the NM Livestock Board for verifying and certifying the Placitas 8 as Livestock (privately owned) prior to legal transport to their new home at Monero Mustangs Sanctuary in Northern NM.

Original Story

(This post is in response to another misleading Albuquerque Journal article, which was entitled “HORSES ON THE LOOSE” and published on September 4, 2011)

The eight (8) horses mentioned and previously on the road in the Village of Placitas were the property of a Placitan. They were legally Livestock. WHOA worked with the owner, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Livestock Board to lawfully and safely remove these (8) horses and have taken them to safe haven. Local Placitans stopped by constantly to help with hay,  water,  tanks, money,  even their land and man power,  to capture, guard, and then even recapture these owned horses.

Two individuals with a development interest in a Loop Rd (I-40 bypass connecting I-25 to RT 14 through Placitas) harassed WHOA volunteers repeatedly, crossed the “No Tresspassing” signs, and  one released these captured horses back out onto Camino de Las Huertas. A WHOA volunteer witnessed this Act and attempted to stop this action.

The perpetrater then even wrote a letter to the Signpost proudly admitting to this criminal act. WHOA has obtained this letter and a statement from the eyewitness and has asked the Sheriff’s Department to charge this individual with criminal trespass and harassment.

The perpetrator would have you believe that she just wanted these owned horses to be free. However, the two individuals were working toward causing an accident on Camino de Las Huertas that would be blamed on the Wild Horses of Placitas. Development interests and the Albuquerque Journal appear to be working overtime to cause a round up before WHOA can win in court.

What Can You Do?

  1. Please ask Sheriff Doug Wood to press charges on the perpetrator of this Act which intentionally tried to endanger Placitans and the horses they love by illegally releasing these horses.  (The police report is available upon request)
  2. Drop your subscription to Albuquerque Journal

Please note:  There are no horses in the neighborhoods of Terra or East Algodones (2 miles North of 165) as San Felipe and WHOA together fenced them out of those neighborhoods. WHOA also fenced them out of  La Mesa, Sundance, Los Ranchos, and Santa Ana. WHOA believes that the complaints referenced in this article are mostly old complaints from other neighborhoods where WHOA has already resolved any issue. WHOA has therefore requested copies of all complaints. Also, these quotes from Sheriff Wood we believe were taken long ago, before WHOA resolved the issue.

Posted in ACTION ALERTS!!!, Loop Rd / NE Corridor, Placitas Wild Horses | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Home: Wild Horse Observers Association

Posted on October 13, 2010 by whoa

Welcome to the Wild Horse Observers Association

Wild Horse Observers Association (WHOA) was formed by New Mexico community members to protect and preserve the remaining wild horses in New Mexico as well as others across the US. These horses are re-introduced native species albeit without the full benefit of their natural predators, and as such, WHOA also advocates for the use of PZP a non-toxic immuno- contraceptive where round-ups are being used and in the recent past.

WHOA has worked legislatively with the Honorable Senator Komadina to pass a bill signed by Governor Richardson (2007) declaring free roaming horses which are not estray (not domestic) to be declared legally New Mexico State’s wild horses. As such they are regulated wild animals of the state not under the jurisdiction of the Fish and Game department and not under the jurisdiction of the NM Livestock Board.  WHOA has worked with Senator Komadina to pass a host of Memorials asking the BLM, Forest Service, and Native American Nations in New Mexico to utilize their free roaming/wild horses for Equine Eco-Tourism and to utilize PZP immuno -contraception as needed in lieu of predators.

These horses can be utilized for Heritage Tourism which currently accounts for 81% of US Tourism which is the second largest industry in the US and in New Mexico. In New Mexico, Tourism is a 2.5 Billion dollar industry and is the largest private sector employer.  WHOA has developed a state-wide Equine Eco-Tourism plan which has been supported by the NM Legislature through the passage of the Memorials.   This tourism plan is in line with the 2003 Preserve America Executive Order to the BLM which direct the BLM to aid in Heritage Tourism projects.

Early in 2010, New Mexico made some initial progress toward actualizing this vision of Equine Eco-Tourism with Governor Richardson’s announcement in Washington, DC of his intention to create a Wild Horse State Park.  This was followed up with his proposal for a 12,000 acre expansion of Cerrillos State Park, which would include a wild horse sanctuary.  WHOA continues to be a leading advocate and is a strong and vocal supporter of these initiatives.

For the latest updates, see WHOA’s blog posts below. You can also view posts by Categories by choosing a Category on the right.

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State Wild Horse Sanctuary Will Boost Jobs, Tourism

Posted on October 13, 2010 by whoa

Opinion column by Patience O’Dowd, President of WHOA, as printed in the Albuquerque Journal , 10/13/10 (after a week of WHOA prodding and urging the Journal editors): 

The proposed 12,000-acre expansion of Cerrillos State Park will be a great asset to New Mexico’s growing heritage tourism industry.
        Less than half of the expansion will be utilized by the wild horses, but they are sure to be a major attraction, thus helping more people than horses.
        Tourism is New Mexico’s and the nation’s largest private sector employer. Over 80 percent of that is heritage tourism. Money and jobs from heritage tourism are broad based. When people visit, they stay in hotels and B&B’s, use our airport, drive rental cars, eat in restaurants, buy arts and crafts, utilize outfitters, frequent shops, and more. They tell others to visit New Mexico.
        The wild horse park would have a positive return on investment, due to allure of wild horses nationally and internationally. One example is the annual Chincoteague pony swim in Virginia in place since 1925. This pony swim lasting just a few minutes draws 40,000 excited spectators and has become a national treasure.
        Those not currently up for election speak clearly on this issue: Jim Noel, secretary of the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, wrote recently that New Mexico established its first state parks in the midst of the Great Depression and that like roads, affordable housing and new broadband projects, this park will still be here as part of New Mexico’s infrastructure when the Recovery Act is finished.
        The New Mexico Tourism Department wrote in 2007, that New Mexico was “missing an opportunity to draw tourist from all over the world…” in not having advertised our wild horses so far.
        In Jan. 2006, Sen. Tom Udall, then a U.S. representative, wrote: “Wild horses are a part of New Mexico’s great heritage and a beautiful component of our forest and mountain landscapes…. There is certainly great economic potential in welcoming tourists from New Mexico and elsewhere to discover the beauty of our wild horse herds.”
        This park has been labeled by some as an unsupported choice between people vs. animals. However, only 0.07 percent of New Mexico’s stimulus funds are proposed for this park, while 8.18 percent of the stimulus funds had been designated to “the family safety net.” Counties across the state like Rio Arriba received $39 million and larger counties like Bernalillo received over $254 million in stimulus funds, from the $3.9 billion allotted to New Mexico.
        This park expansion on the Turquoise Trail will bring tourists eager to see wild horses all around the state, including those at Monero Mustangs just outside Chama, providing clean rural economic development for many.
 
 
As a matter of course for the Albuquerque Journal, within the same issue they had to print another negative, frontpage article regarding the purchase of land for the expansion of Cerrillos State Park.  That would make it the seventh or eighth (we’ve lost count now) negative opinion article to our one lone piece.   
 
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Santa Fe County Commission Unanimously Approves Resolution

Posted on October 13, 2010 by whoa

The Santa Fe County Commission voted unanimously to approve a resolution in support of the State’s proposed expansion of Cerrillos State Park, which will include a wild horse sanctuary.   WHOA was in attendance, as was the Albuquerque Journal (which did some fairly straightforward reporting for a change):

County Commission Supports Ranch Buy
        The Santa Fe County Commission on Tuesday expressed its support of Gov. Bill Richardson’s plan to buy the Ortiz Mountain Ranch near Madrid to expand an existing state park and create a wild horse sanctuary.
        The commission voted 4-0 on a resolution supporting the governor’s proposal to buy 12,000 acres of land about three miles south of Madrid. The land would expand the nearby Cerrillos Hills State Park, which sits on land owned by the county.
        The commission “believes this is a unique opportunity to build on New Mexico’s conservation legacy and generate additional assets for a growing ecotourism industry, and strongly supports the purchase of the Ortiz Mountain Ranch as proposed,” the resolution states.
        The governor’s proposal has been controversial. Critics argue that the $2.8 million in federal stimulus funding proposed for the purchase could be put to better use, but the commission didn’t express those same concerns.
        “I think that this purchase is really good for the people of Santa Fe,” said Commissioner Kathy Holian. “It’s going to provide a lot of new, interesting recreational opportunities. I think it’s good for our tourists — we have a budding eco-tourism movement in our community, and it would be ideal for that.”
        Patience O’Dowd, president of the Wild Horse Observers Association, commended the commission on its vote.
        “I think in these hard economic times anybody who does not recognize that tourism is our No. 1 private sector employer hasn’t really looked into the issue of jobs,” she said.

http://www.abqjournal.com/north/132337198236north10-13-10.htm#ixzz12Gd1fAKI

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Placitas / Wild Horse State Park – Update – Pls Call Again

Posted on October 2, 2010 by whoa

Hello All,    

Senator Udall’s office states he is “prepared” to help us with the BLM in Placitas – but appears to be waiting to see if the Wild Horse State Park passes. The Albuquerque Journal has been railing away with 6 articles so far against the Horses. WHOA has responded to each. Governor Richardson has a plan and is not giving up. He needs our help until the Board votes.   The Board of Finance may vote in Oct or in November. We need to call each week until they do. WHOA has turned in 2,480 comments for a Wild Horse State Park in Placitas which shows that a Wild Horse State Park is wanted but they also need “fresh” and continued calls.

Please email or call the Board of Finance each week:  suzanne.romero@state.nm.us

Or call Suzanne Romero at:   505-827-4980 – Just say “For the Wild Horse State Park”.

Please note that the email is changed, and was wrong last time. If you have your previous email please resend it. This was my mistake. If you had copied me on it , I will re-forward it.

Thanks Much!!

Patience O’Dowd President WHOA
a public 501 c3 non-profit corp.
PO Box 932
Placitas, NM 87043
Posted in ACTION ALERTS!!!, Cerrillos State Park Wild Horse Sanctuary, Wild Horse Ecotourism | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Placitas / Wild Horse State Park – Update – Pls Call Again