Posted on 07/18/2009 10:09:47 AM PDT by jessduntno
The outlook may still be grim for thousands of wild horses and burros, despite a rescue measure passed Friday by the House. It would give the wild animals millions more acres to roam, and spare them from the possibility of slaughter.
But there's no similar bill in the Senate and that doesn't bode well for final passage.
There are an estimated 36,000 wild horses and burros in ten Western states. Federal officials believe that's about 9,400 more than can exist in balance with other rangeland resources. More than 31,000 others are being cared for in corrals and pastures.
The Interior Department announced last year it might have to kill thousands of healthy wild horses and burros to deal with the growing population, a move that WV Congressman Nick Rahall strongly opposed.
During House debate, Republicans dismissed the rescue measure as welfare for horses, at a time when people are in need. One GOP lawmaker says the effort to save the horses is based on "emotion and not science."
(Excerpt) Read more at whsv.com ...
Producer Jake says: I guess I need a slap in the face because clearly I'm going crazy, or at least that's what I assumed when I read this earlier today. Guess where 700 Million of your dollars are heading...if you guessed to WILD HORSES (as I'm sure you did) you would be correct. The House Democrats are pushing the “Restore Our American Mustangs Act” (H.R.1018), which would create a new $700 million welfare program for wild horses. Is this really what you thought the stimulus was for? I bet everyone who comments on this could think of at least one area where the "Stimulus" money is better suited other than promoting horse contraceptives.
Beckley Office 301 Prince St., Beckley, WV 25801 (304) 252-5000
Bluefield Office 601 Federal St., Room 1005 Bluefield, WV 24701 (304) 325-6222
Huntington Office 845 Fifth Ave. Huntington, WV 25701 (304) 522-6425
Logan Office 220 Dingess St. Logan, WV 25601 (304) 752-4934
Washington Office 2307 Rayburn HOB Washington,DC 20515 (202) 225-3452
http://www.rahall.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=9§iontree=9
don’;t they round these horses up and the sell them?
I live in FL and heard that Ocala was maybe a place where they are taken and you can buy them ?
Do you know anything about this
Someone needs to explain this one to me. Thomas lists this as H.R. 1018, which makes it a House Resolution. How can a House Resolution have a cost of $700 million? Wouldn’t it have to be a H.B. (House Bill)?
I don’t think the BLM has the authority to sell these horses. So they end up in these “holding facilities.” The whole situation is a mess, and just another example of our government “at work.”
I think this is called POSTURING.
You pass the resolution, which means you want to do something.
Oh Well.
Seriously, these horses are just a silly government cost. As for selling them most are suitable only for glue and dog food.
There are plenty of decent horses being dumped right now. People can’t afford to feed them.
The big con job on America. Our Congress is stealing this money for themselves and their political supporters; pure and simple.
1. The goverment determines that wild horses are "over-grazing" the land.
2. The government rounds-up the wild horses and places them in pens.
3. The government leases the "over-grazed" land (for pennies) to ranchers so they can graze their cattle.
4. The horses pile up until the government determines it is wasting money by caring for them.
Remember, the government closed our domestic horse-slaughtering facilities (I think I recall), so the horses need to be shipped to Mexico in order to be made into glue or dog food, and then shipped back here.
No, rudeboy, they do sell them, there are just more of them than there is demand. The babies and younger horses are easier to place than the older ones that will be harder to train, and have a much more limited pool potential buyers.
Basically, not just anyone is well prepared to adopt a fully adult wild horse. They need safe transport in a stock type trailer, and they need to be able to be unloaded into a small pen that is tall, strong, and safe. No wire fences, no beginners.
In this economy there are lots of horses that are easier to handle, healthier, and better bred, for not very much money. So they sit in pens.
I’m of ‘nuanced’ sentiment on the mustang issue.
The problem will then take care of itself.
Actually, now that I think about it, I know someone who has a American Mustang (now fully-trained). I’ll have to ask her how she got him.
How about making this a win-win proposition for the public/taxpayer?
Sell the extra horses & ponies to the zoo’s. Lions and tigers have to eat something.
interesting and thank you to you both.
I’ve been looking into getting a horse and came across something about these round ups.
course if anyone knows any more info especially about buying horse, TN walker especially I am all ears so to speak
does sound like a mess
thank you
That works too. The French like horse meat. I bet the ChiComs would eat it too.
could you let me know please on any info you pick up
Sounds like they need nearly a billion dollars for better PR then. These self feeding government ‘situations’ always look bad with honest perspective. How long have they been rounding up horses? and where are they at? (or have gone)
ok, later
Mustangs are not generally what a first time horse buyer should get. They take a skill to handle.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.