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Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Dead of Winter: Foals forced from wombs by BLM
Kindness and care helped this premature foal survive, but he wasn't born after a reckless stampede
Dear Readers,
I wish Blogger hadn't gone out of service at the same time my laptop died AND I had to be on the road with no wifi.
But I'm back and you'll be hearing lots from me in the next few days, maybe more than you want.
I won't lie to you; all the warnings we gave BLM about the roundups in winter, are coming true.
Twenty six wild horses have died in BLM's Calico round-ups and that number does NOT include the twenty foals that died before they could live -- due to stress-induced miscarriages.
But the round ups go on.
I've had dreams about these mares, fleeing helicopters for miles, made awkward by their pregnant bellies, falling, getting up, galloping to catch their herd, jumbling together with another herd brought in by a second helicopter. Bodies slam together, as they are chased running and gasping down chutes,into metal sided trailers.
And then, when the mares have been robbed of last springs colts which try to huddle beside them, the mares go into premature labor.
Imagine these animal realizing in such a strange environment, at least this is one thing -- giving birth -- has remained the same. But the new foals come too early. Their mothers rip open birth sacks with their teeth, but when they tenderly lick the little nostrils clear so that the foals can breathe, they don't.
It's bad news. Awful news, but we're not letting our horses go without a fight.
Please watch for my (late) newsletter for recommendations on what you can do to help.
Hugs to you all,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 11:44 PM 7 comments
The Dead of Winter: Foals forced from wombs by BLM
Kindness and care helped this premature foal survive, but he wasn't born after a reckless stampede
Dear Readers,
I wish Blogger hadn't gone out of service at the same time my laptop died AND I had to be on the road with no wifi.
But I'm back and you'll be hearing lots from me in the next few days, maybe more than you want.
I won't lie to you; all the warnings we gave BLM about the roundups in winter, are coming true.
Twenty six wild horses have died in BLM's Calico round-ups and that number does NOT include the twenty foals that died before they could live -- due to stress-induced miscarriages.
But the round ups go on.
I've had dreams about these mares, fleeing helicopters for miles, made awkward by their pregnant bellies, falling, getting up, galloping to catch their herd, jumbling together with another herd brought in by a second helicopter. Bodies slam together, as they are chased running and gasping down chutes,into metal sided trailers.
And then, when the mares have been robbed of last springs colts which try to huddle beside them, the mares go into premature labor.
Imagine these animal realizing in such a strange environment, at least this is one thing -- giving birth -- has remained the same. But the new foals come too early. Their mothers rip open birth sacks with their teeth, but when they tenderly lick the little nostrils clear so that the foals can breathe, they don't.
It's bad news. Awful news, but we're not letting our horses go without a fight.
Please watch for my (late) newsletter for recommendations on what you can do to help.
Hugs to you all,
Terri
Labels: BLM death statistics, BLM round ups, Calico Complex, foals, helicopter, miscarriage, premature foals
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 11:44 PM 7 comments