County, Features, Stories

Two sides still divided on plans for gathering horses

These wild horses are part of the West Douglas herd, one of two wild herds in Rio Blanco County. After a recent meeting, it appears there is still no agreement on whether the horses should be herded and moved or the numbers reduced in the herds.
These wild horses are part of the West Douglas herd, one of two wild herds in Rio Blanco County. After a recent meeting, it appears there is still no agreement on whether the horses should be herded and moved or the numbers reduced in the herds.
RBC I For many years, the issue of wild horse population management has been an emotional topic in Northwest Colorado. Many highly invested parties have strong feelings regarding proper herd size, management and possible round up of local wild horses, and their varied opinions often put them at odds with each other.

Rio Blanco County is home to two different wild horse herds. The Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area is located from Highway 139 to the mouth of Piceance Creek. The West Douglas herd area runs from Highway 139 west into Texas Creek onto Texas and Oil Springs Mountain.
Each area has a designated appropriate management level that the number of horses the BLM believes each area can hold while sustaining a healthy rangeland and allowing for multiple uses, including cattle and sheep grazing, recreation and oil and gas development. According to a Scoping Review released in January by BLM White River Field Office Manager Kent Walter, the Piceance-East Douglas area currently contains 377 wild horses and has an appropriate management level of 135 to 235 wild horses. The West Douglas area currently has 365 wild horses, however it is not designated as a management area for the horses, and therefore is not intended to sustain any wild horses.
The scoping review, which was open for public comment through early February, received more than 9,000 comments.
The BLM is currently considering gathering up to 167 wild horses from both the Piceance-East Douglas and West Douglas herd areas. A BLM memorandum released in January compared the results of rangeland monitoring data collected in 2002 and 2012. The BLM found a “downward trend in desired plant communitid … because of incompatible stocking levels or duration of growing season use… by wild horses.”
The memorandum concludes that the damage to the range is primarily from wild horses, as livestock grazing in the area had already been voluntarily decreased.
As part of their reasoning for the gather, the White River BLM webpage also cites a 2010 study by E. Gus Cothran of Texas A&M University. Cothran concludes that the genetic variability of the West Douglas herd is low and on the decline, meaning that the herd is becoming increasingly inbred. Cothran also states that the “ancestry appears to be primarily North American breeds, probably representing ranch stock.”
Chris Joyner, BLM public affairs specialist for Northwest Colorado, said there are no concrete plans for the gather as the agency is still conducting an environmental analysis that will go out for a 30-day public comment once completed.
“We do care what the public has to say,” said Joyner, who also reminded the public that the “agency’s responsibility is to the range conditions.” If the gather is able to move forward, the BLM would most likely use a combination of strategies to bring in the horses. They can gather by helicopter, using the helicopters to herd the horses towards a corral set up for them, or use safe trapping which involves setting water and/or feed traps to entice the horses into a corral where they can then be contained.
Joyner said the largest obstacle is the difficulty of the terrain in the area. The BLM says the most important factor in the gather is doing so humanely with no horse injuries.
Local rancher Scott Robertson of the Twin Buttes Ranch agrees that the primary source of damage to the range is the wild horses. Twin Buttes runs cattle in some of the highest wild horse-populated areas in the West Douglas herd with Robertson estimating that there are around 300 horses on their BLM grazing allotments and private land.
Scott and his mother, Cheryl Robertson, expressed dismay at the condition in which the horses have left the range.
“In some area, there’s nothing left but floor and greasewood,” he said.
Twin Buttes began voluntarily decreasing the livestock grazing in 1994 due to decreased forage from the wild horses. In some areas, such as Texas Creek, the ranch has cut back as much as 60 percent of the herd with even more cuts expected this year.
Robertson is concerned about his ability to leave behind a viable ranching operation for his kids to take over if they are forced to continue cutting livestock grazing.
The Robertsons say they want to see the heritage of the horses and the West honored and that the original intent of the management areas allowed for that.
Cheryl Robertson said that when the management areas were first designated the intent was to manage a herd in the Piceance-East Douglas area but to empty out the nine horses that were in the West Douglas area at that time. She claims the decision was made because the West Douglas area does not have the water or range to sustain the horses. However over time, the herd grew and the original intent was lost.
“We aren’t against preserving our Western heritage, but do we have to cover all of the West with wild horses to honor it?” she asked.
However, The Cloud Foundation, a non-profit wild horse advocacy group based in Colorado Springs, does not want to see the horses gathered. They also do not accept the BLMs population numbers and are concerned that the census numbers are inaccurate.
Ginger Kathrens, executive director of The Cloud Foundation, believes the West Douglas herd contains only around 50 horses. She stated in a phone interview that the Cloud Foundation has members in the area who have driven around looking for horses and have found a much smaller number than the 365 horses the BLM claims.
In fact, she was concerned that the West Douglas herd size was too small, saying that the area needs between 150 and 200 horses to be considered genetically viable, preventing inbreeding.
Kathrens said that if the range won’t support that number of horses with the livestock grazing that currently takes place, then the amount of livestock grazing would need to be further reduced. When asked how she would respond to the ranchers who would lose the grazing, and potentially their businesses, Kathrens responded, “There are very wealthy people that run livestock in that region. I wouldn’t worry too much about them.”
While there are not currently any statistics addressing regional ranch income or ranch wealth, according to the USDA’s 2012 Agriculture Census there are approximately 263 livestock operations in Rio Blanco County. These operations averaged $78,000 in livestock sales in 2012.
Kathrens’ key concern with the gather plan put out by the BLM is her belief that their ultimate goal is to zero out the West Douglas herd, which she claims is not legal.
Kathrens expressed that per the Wild Horse and Burro Act, the West Douglas herd has a historic use in the area, and therefore is protected. She said the herd was developed hundreds of years ago from Ute Indians horse trading with the Spanish, and that the lack of genetic evidence of Spanish mustang heritage described in the study authored by Cothran has “nothing to do with the legality.”
She also envisions what she terms a natural management plan for the horses in the future.
Kathrens said this could be accomplished by a reduction in mountain lion hunting permits given out by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. She believes an increase in the number of mountain lions in the area would then help keep the horse herd sizes contained.
On the opposite side of the issue sits Callie Hendrickson, executive director of the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts, who believes it is vitally important that the wild horse herds be reduced to their appropriate management levels in order to sustain good range health.
Hendrickson is especially concerned about the impact of the horses due to their lack of migration habits, saying in an email, “Because BLM cannot actively manage the horses by moving them from one location to another, the horses don’t give the forage a rest so it can recover from grazing. Repeated heavy grazing that removes too much leaf material weakens plant root structure making it difficult for plants to recover. As a result, less forage is available for grazing and pastures are vulnerable to weed invasion and erosion.”
Rio Blanco County Commissioner Jon Hill is also hopeful that these horses will in fact be gathered. The county recently sent a letter of support for the gather to the BLM and has, in the past, signed resolutions requesting that the BLM follow their regulations and gather the horses.
Hill said, “The county believes in proper management of the wild horses and plans to continue to support and encourage the BLM to follow the regulations and keep the range healthy for multiple use.” Hill believes that the overpopulated wild horses are negatively impacting the economics of the county. He was concerned that wild horses have caused local ranchers to lose AUMs (animal unit/month), which decreases the number of cattle or sheep they can run.
He said the horses also cause major drilling restrictions on oil and gas, all of which limits productivity and ultimately hurts the county. When asked about the possible tourism benefits from wild horses, Hill responded, “tourists usually come from Grand Junction, pack a lunch, drive around looking at the horses and head back to Grand Junction. Most of the time they don’t even go into town.”
In fact, the only time Hill believes he’s seen an economic benefit from the horses is during gathers, when government contractors come and stay in town.
Another concern Commissioner Hill expressed was the damage the wild horses have done to the elk and deer populations, with both species experiencing decreased numbers over the last few years. Decreased hunting opportunities are also a big hit to the local economy. Hill expressed concern that it has been 40 years since the BLM determined that the West Douglas herd should be zeroed out, yet the number of horses has almost doubled since 1980, despite several gathers during that time period.
The county is not the only local government entity to send letters encouraging the BLM to reduce the herds to their appropriate management levels. Bill deVergie, Meeker’s area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said that agency has also requested the gather as herd numbers are impacting big game populations.
The wild horse debate is not unique to Rio Blanco County.
National BLM Rangeland Specialist Richard Mayberry of Washington, D.C., said wild horse populations nationwide have doubled their appropriate management levels for the last three or four years. Some areas are currently at 13 times their appropriate herd level.
The BLM has received $72 million designated for the wild horses, however, despite the funding, Mayberry doesn’t see any major changes in the near future as there is currently no room in government-approved facilities to relocate the horses. The BLM plans to gather approximately 2,000 wild horses in 2015.

89 Comments

  1. Please don’t let them kill horses!!!

  2. Phyllis Levinson

    These animals have every right to remain in the wild. Taxpayer dollars should not be used to round them up, separate them from each other, and then sold. Offensive, immoral and unnecessary.

  3. Leave the wild horses run free as God intended!
    It is so obvious that the BLM is crooked and does not care about the beautiful horses. They are run by money and greed

  4. Leave the horses in the wild. There are not adequate places forrelocating them. These roundups are horrifying and against the public will. ROUND UPS appear to be in the interests of ranchers using public lands and not the public. Who does the BLM represent?

  5. Leave nature ALONE! The horses have every right to live free and wild! Quit manipulating nature!

  6. Stop the roundups! These horses have aright to be there. We used them to build this country and protect our freedom! NOW GIVE THEM THEIR FREEDOM!

  7. This is utterly ridiculous. To zero out the heard, for multiple uses…the horses own that land, they were there first! It seems to be the other uses that are driving the horses out, along with help from BLM. Please reconsider this proposal.

  8. STOP THE ROUND UP
    THIS IS WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!!!!

  9. Stop the removals of all wild horses.

  10. Does the BLM not have more important things to do than harass, maim, kill our American treasures……..the wild horses????? Your job is to protect not harm…….does one of your rancher friends need more space???? this is sickening!!

  11. Keep wild horses wild

  12. Just leave them alone and limit the cattle and sheep grazing on the land for the horses.

  13. It takes years for the range to recover from cattle over-grazing. The 1990-91 GAO study found cattle destroy the range and riparian areas and not the few wild horses. Once again our wild horses are getting unjustly blamed and their numbers inflated . Cattle should not be allowed on public lands . The even pollute water with E.coli and drink copious amounts of it.

  14. This is not what the American People Want WE want our wild ones left where they are Free! It is Time for our Government to be Reined In! LEAVE OUR WILD HORSES ALONE LET THEM LIVE FREE!!!!!!!!!

  15. LEAVE THEM ALONE!

  16. Leave them alone. Tell the ranchers to take their cattle elsewhere!

  17. Just as I am disappointed and angered with recent events in Arizona involving the Forest Service and their intent to wipe out the entire herd of the Salt River wild horses, I am equally concerned with what is taking place here in Rio Blanco County involving the BLM and their desire to “zero out” the West Douglas herd. The answer is not forced removal but better management of the herd and the land and greater restrictions on livestock grazing. Just as the iconic Salt River wild horses are a part of Arizona’s heritage so are the wild horses in Rio Blanco County in Colorado.

  18. It is more than obvious you are removing the wild horses for the cattle & sheep!!! You are destroying the earths Eco- system for greed & money!!!! Stop this NOW before it us too late! The grazing issues did not start until you put the cattle on the land these horses have been living on for hundreds of years!!! Leave them alone!!

  19. Really…all for the cattle ranchersand their pocketbooks. If we don’t care for and preserve our natural heritage then they will be gone forever.this robs future generations of this experience of seeing wild free horses.
    BLM has no heart – rounded up animals are stuck in pens with NO SHADE and who knows the care they receive. In addition BLM sells what belongs to the people to slaughterhouses.
    Our tax dollars support this agency. Horrendous.
    These roundups treatment and disposal make them no better than those forefathers who treated the Native Americans in the same fashion.
    Make your voice heard and say NO TO BLM AND THEIR PRACTICE.

  20. BLM… get out of bed with the welfare Ranchers…problem solved. PZP the mares insight if you must…you’ve got enough money for the manpower to do it. Get the domestic cattle and sheep off of our public lands. Problem solved. I know you think some money coming in from them and other purposes for the land is better than the horses that bring no income. You’re wrong and very short-sided in that line of thinking. You’ve lost your way. Get back on track with the 1971 Act and get out of the back pockets of the welfare ranchers. You’re behavior is disgusting.

  21. leave the horses alone
    This BLM has gone stark raving mad about capture but yet then forgets the protect part once they are corralled
    ALL of these horses are Federally Protected since 1972 Wild Horse Annie Laws so BLM and Ranchers are law breakers

  22. Please reconsider your roundup plans. Wild horses are a beloved treasure of the western states. please start working with the animal advocate groups. If it is a must then please stop shipping them to auction where they end up in slaughter houses. The Advocate groups will place them in safe places where they can be adopted into loving homes or sacuary.

  23. Keep the horses where they are!!

  24. Leave them alone they every right to be there more so then us. We have no right to take their home away. Let the ranchers use their on land not tax payers land we as tax payers own that land and should have a say in what happens there.

  25. no facilities available!
    leave them alone!

  26. Why can’t you just leave the wild horses alone! Let them stay free!!!

  27. This is disgusting. They don’t care a thing about the animals, just profits for local ranchers, oil and gas drilling, etc. If they had any brains, they would make the horses a tourist attraction and cater to the people who come to the town to see the animals instead of marginalizing this great natural resource of beauty.

    “Hill believes that the overpopulated wild horses are negatively impacting the economics of the county. He was concerned that wild horses have caused local ranchers to lose AUMs (animal unit/month), which decreases the number of cattle or sheep they can run.
    He said the horses also cause major drilling restrictions on oil and gas, all of which limits productivity and ultimately hurts the county.”

  28. Gentlemen,
    You are destroying an iconic American National Treasure. Sometimes your methods are beyond any human comprehension.
    Please stop now!
    Barbara

  29. Julia Pricella Armendariz

    I believe that there should be made available adoption sites in every state, and several different sites in larger states so that more people can attend the adoptions. I feel that government incentives should be made available to ranchers that welcome wild horses into their lands. Incentives for people who adopt wild horses in the way of tax breaks for the life of the horses should be considered. Tax breaks for people who purchase ranch lands for housing wild horses should be offered to the public as well.
    Having catch and release birth control roundups will help the population growth. Having the government help with feeding the wild horses will help prevent foraging the lands.
    There are a number of ways to help protect the wild horses, the government just needs to get the public involved and allow the organization’s set up to protect these horses to get involved. Designating public lands as wild horse free-roam areas throughout the US will help keep herds where they should be.

    Julia Armendariz

  30. Cattle, sheep, oil and gas development…and horses at the bottom of the list. Studies show that comparatively, sheep and cattle decimate a range more effectively than horses..fact.

  31. Rev Chris AddottaSmith

    When speaking on the subject of tourism, it seems that everyone is missing a big point. Yes, they have a very limited space for the horses to range. Yes, it could be a tremendous burden. They could do with a vacation. They need to go to the ocean for a few days. Say, perhaps, to Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. The Town has taken on the responsibility for the care and maintenance of the horses. Then, once a year, they have a round up. During that time each horse is checked by a vet, they get any attention needed. A farrier gets a look at them. Records are updated. New foals are entered into the records. This is all paid for by the horses! Docile/tra, yearlings (born after the last auction), and foals old enough that they are weaned, all go up for auction. This controls the population, creates income, gives a destination (which can be capitalized upon with a carnival, trading post, Pow Wow, Etc), and allows the ranchers to take ownership of the issue. That way they don’t have to have the government nosing in their business, the BLM can move on to other issues, and the horses stay healthy. Everybody wins. Even the woman from Colorado!

  32. HELICOPTER ROUND UPS ARE NOT HUMANE!!!!! A voluntary reduction in cattle and sheep grazing is not enough. These are PUBLIC LANDS. The Public does not get free products from cattle and sheep farmers, and we would prefer to let the horses have the land!

  33. BLM PLEASE DO NOT ROUND UP THESE HORSES AND SELL THEM OFF. REPRESENTATIVES AND STATE SENATORS AND NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS AND GOVERNOR OF COLORADO. PLEASE STOP THIS

  34. There is no room in government approved facilities for these horses.

  35. The public has every right to speak their mind! Stop using deadly methods for roundup, and stop removing them from their land to make way for money grab, greedy political tactics. Putting them in kill pens to wait the fate of slaughter IS NOT A SOLUTION!

  36. No round-ups, no heart-break, no killing of thes beautiful creatures that represent our heritage and were instrumental in the discovery of our great nation. They are living monuments that deserve the protection of our government, not its persecution.

  37. Protected wild animals should be protected WILD animals by all definitions and should not be subject to inhumane helicopter round ups to be sentenced to a life sentence of no longer being wild. The practice is cruel and driven by greed but the results are permanent!

  38. Lorrie Underwood

    It’s scientifically proven that cattle, not horses, are the reason for decreased, viable grazing land. They are NOT native to our land and they cause mass destruction to eco systems that sustained horses and other grazing animals for many years, without issue. When we push the horses into smaller spaces and restrict their natural movements in grazing, we cause problems. It’s not the horse’s fault and they should not suffer because of overgrazing by ranchers.

  39. Protect the wild horses!

  40. LO MÁS IMPORTANTE ES LA VIDA DE LOS CABALLOS Y BURROS LIBRES, A LOS CUALES ES INDISPENSABLE RESPETAR; QUEREMOS RESPETO PARA SUS VIDAS Y SU HÁBITAT, NO MÁS DESTRUCCIÓN NI MOVIMIENTO DE CABALLOS NI BURROS PARA MATARLOS. LA ESPECIE PROBLEMA POR SU INVASIÓN ES LA ESPECIE HUMANA, NO LOS CABALLOS NI BURROS. PEDIMOS URGENTEMENTE A BLM PONGA PRIORIDAD A LA VIDA DE LOS ANIMALES Y LOS PROTEJAN. NO MÁS ARBITRARIEDAD NI ABUSO, LOS INTERESES POLÍTICOS Y ECONÓMICOS SON UN DESASTRE PARA LA VIDA SILVESTRE.

  41. Please please please leave our wild horses alone!!! They have been here in this country for longer than we have. Without horses, this country would not be here. Just because they are wild and not workhorses doesn’t mean that they are not a part of our American heritage. Please do not let greed and money rule the day. I could rant and rave all day on this topic but I choose to make a simple, honest plea.

  42. THE WILD HORSES OF AMERICA ARE YOUR HERITAGE…LEAVE THEM ALONE…

  43. Stop the round ups! Keep our !mustangs wild and free!

  44. I believe the wildhorses should be managed to preserve their safety and health to ensure their longevity as a heritage for all children, not just the children of one family.

  45. I believe the range is not suffering as stated by the cattle ranchers after driving through the area in question last year. I am totally against the roundups and penning that is being proposed. Taxes being used for a wrong cause. Outrageous ! Leave the horses be free to roam.
    BLM show some humanity.

  46. I am so sick of this. Sick of the lame excuses, sick of the lies, sick of the brutality, sick of the greed. It has become very clear the BLM and Fish and Wildlife intend to totally remove all wild horses. This is wrong no matter how you cut it. There are three million acres of land that were set aside for the wild horses that are now over run by cattle. The Wild horse and Burro act was passed in 1971 to protect our horses. These are not owned by the BLM or meant to be removed to holding pens, adopted out sent to slaughter. They are supposed to be protected and cared for. These are OUR horses, this is OUR land. Remember us? We are THE PEOPLE. The BLM works for US, We the People…Not only is the mismanagement of the horses and lands wrong, it is illegal. Once again, leave our horses alone. They belong there. The BLM, The Oil/Gas industry, the cattle don’t. When are you going to listen to the voice of WE THE PEOPLE?

  47. Has the BLM checked the numbers of cattle on these ranges? Has the BLM done an evaluation of the damage done by both sheep and cattle to these ranges? Has the BLM in any way compared the damage done by ruminants, like sheep and cattle, to any damage done by the horses? Has the BLM accepted any monies from ranchers and sheepmen to promote the removal and/or destruction of wild horses? Has the BLM denied that their actions are in direction contradiction to the Wild Horse Act? To whom does the director of the BLM report? Is that person aware of the extinction war being waged against the wild horses?

  48. I believe there r other things in the world to be concerned about. These beautiful majestic creatures of GOD belong in the wild. This is their home. Where they have need for generations. Why up root them and destroy their bands. I just don’t understand. Our prisoners get better treatment for going out and committing crimes then these horses do and they have not done anything to deserve this treatment. we have more stressing matters as a country. These horses are not hurt anything. Leave them anything GOD had intended them to be.
    THANK YOU,
    RENE D.DOUGAN

  49. LEAVE THE HORSES ALONE!

  50. We all know the BLM and the ranchers exaggerate the wild horse population. We are also aware that the horses reseed the land and help decrease brush fires.
    Band stallions only breed their own herd, they do not breed like rabbits. Example is ” Clooud” who is 20 years old and has produced only 16 offspring. This is not a high number. There needs to be a diversity in the horses to stop inbreeding, as a new bachelor stallion takes the herd. The removal of most of the predators is insane. These animals are also under protection.
    Cattle and sheep are so far removed from actual ” natural” animals they do nothing but destroy the lands. The cow manure will not reseed and the sheep crop the grass to nothing.
    As for oil and gas production, ranches in Texas and Oklahoma have horses and MANY wells.
    Lastly, these ranchers do not own this land, they have no right to it. The animals they raise are sent to horrific feed lots, live in filth, treated brutally and finally slaughtered. It is a brutal filthy practice. My family only eats small local meat, no fast food etc.
    These Mustangs are to be protected, more people want them than not. It is public land not the governments.

  51. connie richardson

    So the horses pay the price and we are paying taxes for this land for nothing???? Leave the horses alone, round up cattle and sheep. Can the BLM give every tax payer a huge refund for these lands?? We need cattle true, but I for one am tired of paying for protected land and the protected horses /animals suffer.

  52. The American people deserve a heads up on what is going on with big oil and cattle. These lands and horses belong to all AMERICANS. BUCK UP AND TELL EVERYONE WHO IS GREASING WHO.

  53. Please leave the wild horses to live in their natural environment!!! That’s where they belong!!!’

  54. Why not give away the poor horses to appreciating people or organizations? Killing them is not an option, you disrupt their family lives just like ours if it would happen to mine
    I can’t believe these people are so inhumane, just like the killing of Cecil, the lion.
    Disgusting people

  55. Let theses horses roam free.Leave them alone

  56. LEAVE THEM FREE

  57. Leave our wild horses alone! If there isn’t enough grazing available on our public lands, remove the cattle and sheep! If cattle and sheepmen want to ranch, buy property and be ranchers. Stay off of our public lands!

    The people have spoken……we do not want our tax dollars being used to eliminate wild horses!

  58. the BLM should get out of wild horse and cattke range mgmt. it obviously favors the ranchers. I do not favor the ranchers.

  59. Roberta J. Florence

    I live in the state of Maine, we have no wild horses here, they are on my bucket list!! These are beautiful animals , BLM do not care about these horses, only like their pockets lined. The 2000.00 what will they do with them and the babies.??

  60. Taxpayer money, in hand, designated for wild horses…the American public’s horses. Yet, the greed of free range ranching lobbies continue to dictate that you remove these animals for their herds of cattle. I am part of the public that says enough is enough. Leave our heritage of wild horses alone. What right does BLM have to send these animals to slaughter? The time has come for people like myself to say enough is enough! $72 million in funding to do what? Hire helicopters, inhumanly chase and terrorize these animals, and throw the ones left into stock trucks to be shipped to Canada or Mexico? Absolutely shameful. Stop. No more horses die because of political pressure by these entitled ranchers!

  61. THIS ARTICLE MAKES ME WANT TO HIT SOMETHING IT IS SO MUCH B.S. HORSES DO NOT DAMAGE THE RANGE THEY IMPROVE IT, CATTLE DAMAGE THE RANGE, AS FAR A I AM CONCERNED THE CATTLE NEED TO GO AND THE WILD HORSES NEED TO B LEFT ALONE, THESE HORSES BELONG TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WE WANT THEM LEFT ALONE AND PROTECTED. THE ONLY THING THE BLM HAS DONE IS TO DESTROY OUR WILD HORSE AND BURRO POPULATION AND SLEEP WITH THE RANCHERS. THEY HAVE BEEN HAND IN HAND FOR MANY DECADES, IT NEEDS TO END, GET RID OF THE CATTLE, WE NEED TO STOP EATING SO MUCH MEAT IN THIS COUNTRY, IT IS NOT GOOD IF U WANT TO B HEALTHY

  62. Do not remove the wild horses from their traditional land. It is a huge, heartless mistake. They should remain forever free and not be rounded up where some are injured or even die from their injuries, ie. broken necks. The BLM holding pens are a costly mistake for an animal that has always experienced freedom. And SLAUGHTER of America’s horses is HEINOUS! Thank you for allowing me to comment.

  63. Barbara Rasmussen

    Please stop the Roundups of these horses. They are part of Americas history and need to be protected and preserved

  64. Dee Anna Manitzas

    For goodness sake, leave our horses alone! They are to roam free and not pinned up or killed! America must allow them to be free! Thank you, Dee

  65. This situation does not get better. No matter what the people want for their wild horses and burros, their requests fall on deaf ears. Please do not allow these animals to be sent to slaughter and stop the horrendous way you round them up. They need to remain wild.

  66. This whole thing needs to stop the horses have done nothing wrong. We need to get all the horses of the iconic west protection against being exported for slaughter in other countries, or being illegally killed for any kind of reason. Some people recently shot a wild mustang in Utah, tied someones horses legs together and the animal died of thirst, and butchered someones horse during the night with a machete and harvested her meat while bleeding out. The mistreatment of even racehorses has to stop and this applies to horses of every shape and size.

  67. Please help these horses save them.

  68. Where will these horses be relocated? Will they be put up for sale? I appreciate those working for the horses. It’s a difficult situation!

  69. My husband is a hunter I do not understand how they make a impact on Hunting. I think you should raise the price of a License most Hunters don’t get one anyway!!!!
    I myself have adopted and owned over 7 Mustangs and I try to spread the word to adopt. A few of my friends have also adopted from BLM. But seriously BLM has way too many horses in there holding pins!!! I have seen this first HAND. Before you round anymore HORSES up Please try to reduce the number of these Horse. They don’t have appropriate shelter for them and now they want to add MORE. Kill buyers is NOT an option. I have seen on Facebook Ranchers who are willing to help these Horse and BLM ties their HANDS, now that is so wrong. But yet all I have read is how the Ranchers are against the HORSES… I don’t believe it. I have seen the TRUTH. BLM will say anything to get People to believe what they say it true, and it’s LIES. SHAME ON YOU BLM

  70. I guess contracts for gold, uranium, and ranchers are more important than our wildlife. Public land needs to be for wildlife first, leave the natural resources for their grazing and watering holes. BLM has no idea what the hell their role is, these horses carried your ancestors on their backs and wagontrains. BLM is a disaster. Give the land back to Tribes, we can protect outside sources from decimating and poisoning our land and water. I am ashamed of the treatment given to our national woldhorse. Leave them where they are, relocating only if their lives are in jeopardy. Honor the Wild horse and Burro Act, build water gathering natural springs and don’t allow cities and bottling companies to dry up those resources. Use your ethics and not harm these sacred beings.

  71. The sheep wipe out the forage. This is getting so out of hand. These horses belong to the tax payers as does the land. We do not make money off of our horses but your system costs us alot. The sheep and cattle make money so let them spend some feeding their own.

  72. we are sick of seeing the wild beautiful horses of the northwest getting rounded up, screwed with and/or killed. make it stop!! keep the wild things wild, please!

  73. Please no more roundups! The horses belong where they are safe and sound. Horses have been in North America for centuries. They were here before the Colonies became USA! As such they are part of our history and must remain here in the wild…so we cam enjoy them.
    They are so beautiful and stand for strength, freedom and family…good American values. Keep them in Colorado.

  74. Please leave the wild horses and buroes on their land. You need to stop cattle grazing on public lands. The solves the horses having enough food and water. The facilities holding wild horses now are cruel. You need to turn those mustangs loose.

  75. Removing the horses would be tragic. Allow them to roam in their home! !

  76. This is an appalling way to treat horses that made life the way it is today possible in the US, without the horse you would never have succeeded, you owe the wonderful animal loyalty and you need to protect their future!!

  77. Leave the animals alone. You are kicking out the lions tigers and bears. Why the horses.

  78. “Economic benefit?” Is that what they think is important? what about revenue from tourists who come to see the wild horses? what about bad publicity? it is a fact that the majority of americans do not want their wild horses removed from the western US. it is time that government agencies recognize and respect that. we do not want these wild horses removed!

  79. There needs to be a panel of horse people that look out for the horses best interest watching over these herds. That aren’t going to be bought out by oil or farm. That can round up the horses properly and manage there numbers in a safe and stressful manner to the horses!

  80. Safe and stressless manner

  81. Blm received 72 million dollars, from taxpayers, an they can’t even take care of the horses that has been rounded up.
    Lack of shelter in 100+ heat, not enough water, or feed. pens are filthy, and their isn’t anyone around to oversee them properly.
    The horses never stay long in one place they always moving, compared to cattle, and cattle will eat to the roots. That’s why cattle has to be moved alot.
    So where is the 72 million.
    Also the horses that blm has sent to slaughter. To line their pockets,

  82. stop killing our horses

  83. Bernadette polvi

    Please stop this!!!

  84. I have contacted Reps. Senators of Colorado, Senator Udall of NMex, Governor Hickenlooper, the BLM Denver office, President Obama, Channel 4, 7, 9, and Fox Investigative Reporters from Denver, CO. Perhaps County Commissioners if you would realize these horses are not just your county’s …. they are the people of all of Colorado as well as the United States. Please do something smart – step up like Arizona is doing – the area these wild horses are in – does not interfere with energy related production or employment – and as far as overgrazing.. ludicrous.. and helicopter roundups. Would the ranchers in your area herd their livestock with helicopters? Please do not allow this to continue. Thank you
    Karen Harris
    Walden, Co

  85. Please do not destroy these beautiful animals. They deserve to be able to live in peace.

  86. There is no excuse for any horse slaughter in this day and age. It is truly despicable and a greedy and simple-minded thing to do.

  87. This is generational tyranny! Leave the horses so that my daughter and her children will enjoy them like I have. I hope to own a Mustang one day as well, hopefully to help the BLM reduce the horses they have captured that do not have homes. Please keep the numbers down and the herds in existence!

  88. Humans have long put their own needs above those of the animals and needs to stop now. Less then 5% of cattle raised for beef are raised on public lands and yet the Wild Horses are the ones to suffer when the range is termed “affected”. What the BLM doesn’t seem to realize is that horses given the opportunity will migrate and find other grazing, by restricting their movement humans are the ones that have caused the issue. Horses are much better off being “managed” on the range then in holding pens, we are the ones that have fenced them off from their natural migration routes and should provide for their well being in their home areas. I believe its high time we ended grazing permits and allow the horses the freedom they deserve.

Come say hi!

@ht.1885
  • Results are not guaranteed, unfortunately! Read all the Rio Happenings in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Pictured with awards from the Triple Crown Series (#3 and #4) from bottom left Hudson Hummel (4th and 2nd), Lee Kirkpatrick (3rd and 4th), Heath Bennet (2nd and 2nd), Sawyer Hummel (1st and 3rd), Eli Bennet (1st), David Murray (Coach), Auri Murray (2nd and 1st), Taylor Bain, and Dawn Arnold (2nd). Story online at ht1885.com.
  • Bailey is our first Marketing Mixology partner and we are excited to help her promote this fun event along with the Meeker Colorado Chamber of Commerce!

Bailey and Real Estate West will host the second annual Easter Egg Hunt March 25th-29th. Go follow her page so you don't miss any clues!
@bailey_waldref_rew 

💚💚💚

Marketing Mixology is a FREE promotion where we spotlight one lucky local business across print, digital, and social channels each month! 

#locallove #locallovespotlight #lovemeeker #marketingmixology #shoplocal #superchargeyourmarketing
  • More freudenfreude, less schadenfreude… Hear from our Editor in her column this week online at ht1885.com.
  • 🍀 Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Herald Times! 🍀 According to the Census Bureau, over 31 million people - or 9.5%! - in America claim Irish ancestry! Everyone have a safe and fun Patty's Day celebrating your Irishness, real or honorary!
  • The Cowboys played in their first golf tournament in the spring at Chipeta, “it was a bit of a cloudy and windy day but it was awesome to see some grass and a golf course,” commented head coach Amanda Back. Vivian Brown, pictured on the left, broke 100 and shot a 94 and Jayda May second from right shot a 99. From the far right, excluding those that have been mentioned, Averee Woodward, Joelle Soler, Mia Pinzon, Aurora Stalling, and Kailynn Watson all played scramble. This was Pinzon’s, Stalling’s and Watson’s first tournament as Meeker High School girl golfers. “It’s going to be a great season,” ended Back.
  • Mountain Sage Therapeutics held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 640 Main St. in Meeker. Owners Teresa Wilde and Justin Noller offer movement, energy, and massage therapy for animals and their human companions. They are pictured here with the Chamber of Commerce and local citizens who attended. View their service on their website at www.mountainsagetherapeutics.abmp.com and contact them for an appointment 970-706-8445.
  • Members of the Rio Blanco Golf Association got a jump on spring this past week as volunteers shoveled and blew the snow off the greens. The winter’s snow and ice layers suffocate the fragile bent grass putting surfaces and getting the snow off allows Mother Nature to start her healing process earlier.
“For 50 years I’ve waited to see Meeker’s greens come out this nice,” said Jim Cook, who is returning to help at the course.” Hats off to Hunter and Matt Fellows who did an excellent job applying the snow mold preventative last fall which has made all the difference this year.”
Board members and volunteers are very hopeful that this will be a turnaround year for the local 9-hole course which plans an early April opening, weather permitting.
  • The 2024 Colorado State Champions hosted their annual awards banquet Sunday. Head Coach JC Watt and Assistant Coach Carl Padilla commented on this year’s team’s success as a product of work in the room, dedication by wrestlers and coaches, and a champion mentality. Read the story online at ht1885.com.
Results are not guaranteed, unfortunately! Read all the Rio Happenings in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
Results are not guaranteed, unfortunately! Read all the Rio Happenings in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
3 hours ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
Pictured with awards from the Triple Crown Series (#3 and #4) from bottom left Hudson Hummel (4th and 2nd), Lee Kirkpatrick (3rd and 4th), Heath Bennet (2nd and 2nd), Sawyer Hummel (1st and 3rd), Eli Bennet (1st), David Murray (Coach), Auri Murray (2nd and 1st), Taylor Bain, and Dawn Arnold (2nd). Story online at ht1885.com.
Pictured with awards from the Triple Crown Series (#3 and #4) from bottom left Hudson Hummel (4th and 2nd), Lee Kirkpatrick (3rd and 4th), Heath Bennet (2nd and 2nd), Sawyer Hummel (1st and 3rd), Eli Bennet (1st), David Murray (Coach), Auri Murray (2nd and 1st), Taylor Bain, and Dawn Arnold (2nd). Story online at ht1885.com.
4 hours ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
Bailey is our first Marketing Mixology partner and we are excited to help her promote this fun event along with the Meeker Colorado Chamber of Commerce!

Bailey and Real Estate West will host the second annual Easter Egg Hunt March 25th-29th. Go follow her page so you don't miss any clues!
@bailey_waldref_rew 

💚💚💚

Marketing Mixology is a FREE promotion where we spotlight one lucky local business across print, digital, and social channels each month! 

#locallove #locallovespotlight #lovemeeker #marketingmixology #shoplocal #superchargeyourmarketing
Bailey is our first Marketing Mixology partner and we are excited to help her promote this fun event along with the Meeker Colorado Chamber of Commerce! Bailey and Real Estate West will host the second annual Easter Egg Hunt March 25th-29th. Go follow her page so you don't miss any clues! @bailey_waldref_rew 💚💚💚 Marketing Mixology is a FREE promotion where we spotlight one lucky local business across print, digital, and social channels each month! #locallove #locallovespotlight #lovemeeker #marketingmixology #shoplocal #superchargeyourmarketing
7 hours ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
More freudenfreude, less schadenfreude… Hear from our Editor in her column this week online at ht1885.com.
More freudenfreude, less schadenfreude… Hear from our Editor in her column this week online at ht1885.com.
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
🍀 Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Herald Times! 🍀 According to the Census Bureau, over 31 million people - or 9.5%! - in America claim Irish ancestry! Everyone have a safe and fun Patty's Day celebrating your Irishness, real or honorary!
🍀 Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Herald Times! 🍀 According to the Census Bureau, over 31 million people - or 9.5%! - in America claim Irish ancestry! Everyone have a safe and fun Patty's Day celebrating your Irishness, real or honorary!
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
The Cowboys played in their first golf tournament in the spring at Chipeta, “it was a bit of a cloudy and windy day but it was awesome to see some grass and a golf course,” commented head coach Amanda Back. Vivian Brown, pictured on the left, broke 100 and shot a 94 and Jayda May second from right shot a 99. From the far right, excluding those that have been mentioned, Averee Woodward, Joelle Soler, Mia Pinzon, Aurora Stalling, and Kailynn Watson all played scramble. This was Pinzon’s, Stalling’s and Watson’s first tournament as Meeker High School girl golfers. “It’s going to be a great season,” ended Back.
The Cowboys played in their first golf tournament in the spring at Chipeta, “it was a bit of a cloudy and windy day but it was awesome to see some grass and a golf course,” commented head coach Amanda Back. Vivian Brown, pictured on the left, broke 100 and shot a 94 and Jayda May second from right shot a 99. From the far right, excluding those that have been mentioned, Averee Woodward, Joelle Soler, Mia Pinzon, Aurora Stalling, and Kailynn Watson all played scramble. This was Pinzon’s, Stalling’s and Watson’s first tournament as Meeker High School girl golfers. “It’s going to be a great season,” ended Back.
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Mountain Sage Therapeutics held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 640 Main St. in Meeker. Owners Teresa Wilde and Justin Noller offer movement, energy, and massage therapy for animals and their human companions. They are pictured here with the Chamber of Commerce and local citizens who attended. View their service on their website at www.mountainsagetherapeutics.abmp.com and contact them for an appointment 970-706-8445.
Mountain Sage Therapeutics held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 640 Main St. in Meeker. Owners Teresa Wilde and Justin Noller offer movement, energy, and massage therapy for animals and their human companions. They are pictured here with the Chamber of Commerce and local citizens who attended. View their service on their website at www.mountainsagetherapeutics.abmp.com and contact them for an appointment 970-706-8445.
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
Members of the Rio Blanco Golf Association got a jump on spring this past week as volunteers shoveled and blew the snow off the greens. The winter’s snow and ice layers suffocate the fragile bent grass putting surfaces and getting the snow off allows Mother Nature to start her healing process earlier.
“For 50 years I’ve waited to see Meeker’s greens come out this nice,” said Jim Cook, who is returning to help at the course.” Hats off to Hunter and Matt Fellows who did an excellent job applying the snow mold preventative last fall which has made all the difference this year.”
Board members and volunteers are very hopeful that this will be a turnaround year for the local 9-hole course which plans an early April opening, weather permitting.
Members of the Rio Blanco Golf Association got a jump on spring this past week as volunteers shoveled and blew the snow off the greens. The winter’s snow and ice layers suffocate the fragile bent grass putting surfaces and getting the snow off allows Mother Nature to start her healing process earlier. “For 50 years I’ve waited to see Meeker’s greens come out this nice,” said Jim Cook, who is returning to help at the course.” Hats off to Hunter and Matt Fellows who did an excellent job applying the snow mold preventative last fall which has made all the difference this year.” Board members and volunteers are very hopeful that this will be a turnaround year for the local 9-hole course which plans an early April opening, weather permitting.
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
The 2024 Colorado State Champions hosted their annual awards banquet Sunday. Head Coach JC Watt and Assistant Coach Carl Padilla commented on this year’s team’s success as a product of work in the room, dedication by wrestlers and coaches, and a champion mentality. Read the story online at ht1885.com.
The 2024 Colorado State Champions hosted their annual awards banquet Sunday. Head Coach JC Watt and Assistant Coach Carl Padilla commented on this year’s team’s success as a product of work in the room, dedication by wrestlers and coaches, and a champion mentality. Read the story online at ht1885.com.
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
9/9

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