Public misinformed about Piceance horses
Dear Editor:
This letter is in response to the recent article in the Herald on the scheduled upcoming wild horse gather in the North Piceance – East Douglas area.
We have spend many years observing the stead increase of horses in the Barcus, Big and Little Duck, Pinto Mesa, Calamity and 84 Mesa areas.
After nearly a dozen trips to this area this spring, it appears that the horses are in very good condition; we have yet to see malnutritioned horses (other than a few old ones) in this area.
That said, it appeared that the public has been misinformed and that there has been an underestimate of range conditions by the BLM. Graze is about average or above for this time of year and recent rains have helped, especially in the Barcus area.
It also appears that there has been an overestimate by the BLM of the number of horses in this particular area (ie. North Piceance and East Douglas Horse Management Areas). Thus the proposed BLM plan to gather and transport a large number of Piceance horses to a holding facility in Utah is on a scale unprecedented in the history of this area.
Also, one has to wonder what the reason was for such a proposed early gather (rather than in September) considering the good condition of the horses. An early gather will be extremely stressful on the newborn colts and transport is not going to be humane as the BLM has promised.
On closing, the recent death of over a hundred wild horses in the Cañon City facility should be a warning as to the hazards of crowding horses in holding facilities at the taxpayers’ expense.
The public needs to be aware of the fact that is it possible to maintain the health of the herd and range conditions without carrying out such an extreme removal of horses. In many cases the horses graze different areas (ie. Pinto Mesa and parts of Barcus) than cows.
The decisions that are made in the next few weeks will determine the future of the Piceance wild horses. Hopefully, the public will become aware of the situation before it is too late.
Sincerely,
Donna Brown
Meeker
Thanks for support in election
Dear RBC voters,
Thank you to all who supported me in this election. It was a very close race and I wish Doug Overton the best in his four year term.
I will continue to work hard for RBC for the remainder of my term. My office hours will continue to be 8-5 Mon/Thurs in Rangely and Tues/Wed in Meeker, with Friday a float day on one end or the other. I believe in RBC and will also continue to have an open door policy and be there for all citizens. I still believe in a positive attitude and that positivity is always more productive.
Thank you to all who voted in this election. You understand the importance of having a voice and how our democracy works.
Sincerely,
Ginny Love
Community involvement helped make roundup possible
Dear Editor:
Sixteen-year-old Jericho Stallings, a newcomer to Meeker, will spend his summer working on his three-year-old dun Mustang mare “Wicahpi Isita”, which means Shooting Star in Lakota, preparing for this year’s competition.
Meanwhile on the other end of the county, 12-year-old Rangely student Chance Allred has named his grey yearling filly “Pebbles” and is working hard on preparing for the fourth annual Meeker Mustang Makeover coming up Aug. 27. Meeker native and well-known Mustang trainer Steve Mantle just returned for a full day of clinics to help our contestants through the early and challenging stage of their training; he’ll return in August as one of our three judges.
These two trainers, and all our other trainers and sponsors are part of the critical community support building the Meeker Mustang Makeover into an increasingly respected event. The Makeover, along with the Piceance Mustangs volunteer work, have shown the high level of community support our local White River office of the BLM have for their long awaited and much needed mustang gather.
From our inception, the Meeker Mustang Makeover has had as one of our goals the management of local feral horses to create a more sustainable population for a healthy range. The White River Office of the Bureau of Land Management has been an important partner in our Makeover event, and right now, wild horses in the Piceance and East Douglas HMA are being gathered to work toward a sustainable number.
From local leather smith Mike Brennan who contributes a hand crafted headstall to the winner every year, to the Town of Meeker, Bank of the San Juans, Lions Club, and so many other local businesses, this community support shows that we support a sustainable herd size and finding forever homes for these wild horses.
But just because the gathering has begun, our work is not over. We need you!
We invite everyone in Rio Blanco to be a part of the success of this event. Come out and and support our local trainers. Come join the fun and encourage your friends and family to see firsthand the unique Old West hospitality of the small-town way of life that Rio Blanco offers.
With its unique history, beautiful mountains, and high desert, the Meeker Mustang Makeover provides just one more reason for families to make it an annual tradition. Friday, Aug. 26 is our “Mustang Mingle” where you can enjoy a Western Party, have dinner, meet the trainers, enjoy western music and dance. Aug. 27 is our competition starting at 9 a.m. and going all day with the auction of the horses beginning at 7 p.m.
Join us!
Deirdre Macnab
Meeker Mustang Makeover
Hope for elections
Dear Editor:
Campaign and election season is with us once again. I can tell by the excess mail in my mail box. When the season comes to an end and all the votes are counted this is what I would like to see. That whatever candidate wins, they represent every citizen, not just the ones who voted for them. And that the candidate that does win, gets the respect for the office they were elected to, even from voters that did not choose them. Maybe I’m an incurable optimist, but I can always hope.
Jan Zuber
Meeker
