NEVADA YOUTHS’ EQUINE ALLIANCE PLEDGE TO HELP CAPTIVE WILD HORSES

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wild horse and burro program is under intense scrutiny in recent years for everything from mismanagement on the range to apparent inhumane treatment during roundups. Currently the program has “managed” itself into a crisis where more wild horses are held in government funded housing than are wild on the range.

A small group of schoolchildren in Las Vegas Nevada have made a pledge to help the wild horses in captivity to find homes. Through their organization, YEA! – Youths’ Equine Alliance, they have inspired more than 50 adopters to pledge to give homes to 60 horses.

Members of YEA!, Gabby Beck, Robin Warren, and Emma Woyak, known as the “Mustang Gals,” have been actively promoting their campaign dubbed “The Great American Mustang Exodus” through social networking.

For the next four days the BLM will be offering wild horses and burros through an “Internet Adoption.” However adoptions can occur throughout the year at any facility or sponsored event.

Offered during this event are some wild horses under one year old.

The “Mustang Gals” received this message from one of their pledges: “I have been approved to adopt, paid the $125 deposit, received my bidder ID# and have placed my first bid on one of the ‘Diamond 30’ babies listed on the Internet Adoption currently going on. I’m excited and nervous! I am happy to be a part of this!”

The “Diamond 30” were wild horses captured and held for return to the range but pressure from the livestock industry thwarted that effort and the wild horses now need good homes.

A recently filed legal action by the Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) and the Nevada Farm Bureau Federation demands that the government engage in broad scale removals of wild horses. The suit goes further in demanding that the horses in holding facilities be destroyed. The Mustang Gals now want to find homes for 5,750 horses and burros (representing every horse in the 3 Nevada facilities).

Laura Leigh, founder and President of Wild Horse Education who has filed to intervene in the legal action on behalf of the states wild horses, applauds the efforts of the “Mustang Gals.”

“Wild horses and burros are not a programmatic bargaining chip. The horses are in this situation through no fault of their own. They are individuals that deserve to be safe and respected” says Leigh recognizing that there are opponents to adoption saying, “Giving a wild horse or burro a home does not get the government ‘off the hook’ for mismanagement. Adoption gives a trapped wild horse a chance at leaving the insanity of holding while we all continue to strive for sanity on the range.”

Can three teens really make a difference? They are prepared to give it their best effort, with enthusiasm.

To make a pledge to adopt a horse in 2014, please visit http://www.yeaspage.com To learn about the wild horses currently available for adoption online and other wild horse issues including the current lawsuit against them please visit http://www.wildhorseeducation.org
To see the BLM online gallery go to:https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/onlinegallery.php

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