Heat Wave Creates Dangers For Wild Horses in Holding
By Laura Leigh on
Sunburned and peeling in record breaking temperatures
(Reno, NV) The wild horse and burro advocacy group, Wild Horse Education (WHE) is very concerned for wild horses currently held at Palomino Valley Center (PVC), north of Sparks Nevada. The group carries several legal actions that pertain to the humane treatment of wild horses. Many of the animals at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Palomino Valley Center came from ranges currently under the scrutiny of the court.
Wild Horse Education’s President and principle researcher, Laura Leigh, visits the facility multiple times each week. What she observed yesterday was disturbing.
“I saw mares that have recently given birth showing signs of dehydration,” stated Leigh “I saw animals with light skin showing signs of sunburn including peeling skin.”
In May the advocate group put out an alert that conditions at the facility were showing areas of concern. Several infectious diseases and fungal infections, including strangles and ringworm, were present in the population. Funding cuts have caused personnel cuts. Many advocates have criticized the agency for prioritizing removals and inhumane treatment.
“It is very frustrating that many of these facilities really do not care for wild horses, they just warehouse them, “ Leigh said “Basics like hoof care are non-existent and the recognition that light skinned animals will burn is not taken into account.”
Palomino Valley Center is open to the public but facilities like the Broken Arrow in Fallon are not. Fallon is also experiencing record temperatures. In the past sunburned and peeling horses were documented at Broken Arrow. The facility is is located on sand that can exceed air temperatures by as much as 40 degrees.
The group has made a written request that additional water sources be placed in pens and lighter skinned animals be given shade immediately.
“We sympathize with the staff at the facility and other issues can be worked out later,” said the group “but we will have sick or dying animals if nothing is done today.”
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WildHorseEducation.org is a Nevada non-profit carrying three active federal cases against the BLM.