Escape of the Paint Mare
On day two of the Cedar Mountain Herd roundup, I witnessed something that has stuck with and disturbed me ever since.
We heard the rumbling of the helicopter as it pushed a new band of wild horses into sight, around the hillside, and across the valley towards the trap. They were running hard and covering miles and miles of land quite quickly. There was a paint bringing up the rear lagging a little; some of us thought that maybe it was the band’s stallion looking to protect the herd from behind.
The helicopter rounded the herd into the V, and they hooked onto the Judas horse, following him right into the trap, capturing them all… except for one. The paint horse avoided the trap and took off the opposite direction across the valley. It seemed that the BLM contractors usually let single stragglers go if they took off from the herd alone, but for some odd reason, the helicopter zoomed after this single horse in hot pursuit. The helicopter was right on her tale – alone now, severed from her herd and family, she galloped for her life as fast as she could. The iron predator didn’t let up, and he ran her for miles across the valley. Finally he confined her in a little ravine, but no matter how he pushed and pressured her, she seemed to refuse to back down or run back towards the trap.
We saw a wrangler take off on a horse, galloping towards the gorge where the helicopter was low, holding the mare. He had a lasso in his hand. When he reached the ravine, the strong paint mare took off towards the fence line where all of our cars were parked. He was right on her tail, attempting to lasso her maybe 4 or 5 times with no luck. She kept running as fast as she could. The wrangler and helicopter chased her down the barbed wire fence line. We watched in silence – I couldn’t believe how hard they were trying to capture this single horse. I cannot even imagine the terror and exhaustion she must have felt having lost her herd and being relentlessly chased like this.
There seemed to be no escape. She was running from a flying beast that was impossibly fast and never seemed to tire, meanwhile having ropes thrown at her neck by a rider right on her tail. With one last throw, the rider lassoed the paint mare and pulled tight as it caught around her neck. She crashed head first through the barbed wire fencing to the ground.
She had so much momentum and fell mid gallop; her body collided so hard with the ground.
She got scrambled up to her feet as fast as she could. The wrangler thought he had got her.
Despite the rope tightening when she pulled, she yanked as hard as she could, and through the strangulation, she took off the opposite way. After all of this, she wasn’t giving up. The man had to drop the lasso at this point, and so she took off up the opposite hill, looking behind only to see if he was still pursuing her. Finally after all of this time, they gave up.
She approached the viewing area.
This beautiful mare who we had just seen galloping miles away, who we had just seen crash through the fence, who we had just seen escape despite all odds, was right in front of us.
She was maybe 20 feet in front of me, and I got to look into her tired eyes. She looked so drained. Even though she was filled with fear, she just looked tired.
Just look into those eyes…
She was drenched in sweat, exhausted, and most likely pregnant.
I could hardly believe what I had just seen… and to now see her up close… it was overwhelming and incredibly emotional to say the least.
After taking a look at all of us here witnessing on the hill, the incredible paint mare trotted around us into the hills of her homeland, the lasso still dragging from her neck.
We were silent.
With the impact she took, the cuts she must have gotten from the barbed wire, and the trailing noose around her neck… there is no saying what could happen to her out there. I hate to think about it, but we need to understand the consequence of these actions. She could very well strangle herself if the lasso gets caught on something out in the wild… she could abort her foal after such an impact… she could develop an infection from the barbed wire…
The possibilities haunt me.
I hope so much that she finds a way to get out of the lasso and finds another herd where she can live peacefully.
If any horse could make it through these struggles, I think I would be her; she proved herself to be quite the fighter. Her spirit and resilience is astonishing, and because of it, she escaped against all odds.
She embodies the strength, courage, spirit, and resilience of the horse – all that we love about these incredible souls… it’s how she made her great escape. Seeing her fight against all odds inspires me to stand up for these horses, no matter the resistance we may face. I hope her story may resonate with others and encourage them in the same way. If we honor her fight, her story and herd won’t be forgotten.
February 18, 2017 @ 5:29 am
I will adopt this mare if someone can catch her! Message me if anyone knows the whereabouts of her please. Jes
February 21, 2017 @ 1:56 am
She needs left alone. Not captured and adopted.
February 22, 2017 @ 6:55 pm
She will die in captivity, she had proved this.
March 3, 2017 @ 9:37 pm
They should of left her alone. What idiots!! Obviously they know nothing about horses.
March 1, 2017 @ 10:13 pm
She needs that rope off her neck she cannot be left like that
February 21, 2017 @ 9:04 pm
JessMaHarry your renowned and beloved jewelry designs express special love and understanding of nature. The paint mare surely would know protected freedom in your care rather than inevitably facing a repeat of this brutality. May you find her and protect her for us and for all her kind.
February 22, 2017 @ 6:22 pm
Rather,,,let’s fight to release her from the rope and then fight for her freedom. She deserves it.
March 4, 2017 @ 5:57 pm
Amen
February 18, 2017 @ 6:41 am
This is making me cry and shake and shiver with sadness oh my this poor mare. What a brave girl. Thank you for doing this and sharing the stories of what really happens at these round ups. These animals have always needed a voice and thanks to you they now have one.
February 18, 2017 @ 7:49 am
What a sad account of this beautiful mare’s story :(. So heartbreaking. I do hope that she can get rid of that wretched rope and find another herd somewhere.
February 18, 2017 @ 2:44 pm
was there an organization there that could engage or litigate. This is not humane handling. Would recommend connecting with Wild Horse Education and Laura Leigh. Thank you for witnessing.
February 20, 2017 @ 7:40 am
Completely agree Kate. I had not idea this how a round up went and I am disgusted that this takes place. Like I said I have not idea how these things work so maybe I am missing something but these beautiful majestic creatures, in this case at least, are being traumatized and harrassed and abused in my eyes.
February 21, 2017 @ 9:12 pm
Google “Animal Legal Defense Fund” — crack team of pro bono attorneys — they won Federal Felony status for domestic animal cruelty–meaning FBI investigation and penitentiary time. They’re forcing the closure of wild animal exhibits, “photo op / petting” attractions, circus animal protections,etc.
Familiar as they are with state and Federal courts, this would be a natural cause for them to take on.
February 18, 2017 @ 5:39 pm
Bless you Jes, I have been looking at her every day…she haunts me <3 I pray for her safety.
They said they captured a pinto mare the next day that died of foaling complications later…I hope it wasn't her….
February 19, 2017 @ 11:21 pm
They most likely hunted her down and shot her … I’m serious …
February 19, 2017 @ 7:54 am
My first roundup…they had just run in a huge group – we counted almost 130 – down the side of a mountain.
We were about 1/4 of a mile from the trap, and the others in our group were watching from as close as they could get. One of the other observers and I had gone back to our vehicles to get fresh batteries. We looked up in time to see a family – three adults and two foals – trotting quickly at us.
They were so close, perhaps 20 feet from us. And unconsciously, I raised my arm, and pointed up the road.
They took off in that direction. We were so pleased, and hoped they would go back home under the radar.
Half an hour later, the helicopter brought them back down that damn mountain, and sent them into the trap.
Those poor foals, run up and down the mountain twice in one day. I was so enraged, I nearly threw up.
I hope this girl shakes that rope. I hope she finds her peace and that no one ever sees her again. There was no reason for this…their scorched-earth policies of taking everything that moves…
February 19, 2017 @ 3:50 pm
Thank you for documenting this horrible abuse. There is absolutely no excuse for this torture. The helicopter pilot and the rider need to be prosecuted and this insanity of roundups needs to stop now. That poor mare is now in great danger of being strangled by that rope, not to mention the possibility of infection from the cuts going through the barbed wire fence. How insane and deviant these people must be to inflict such horror on these horses!
February 19, 2017 @ 5:35 pm
This is heart breaking. Would the photographer give permission to use the photos for a Tweet storm or contacting members of Congress about her story?
February 19, 2017 @ 8:16 pm
I am actually the photographer and would be happy for people to tweet the photos!
February 20, 2017 @ 1:05 am
Thank you for allowing us to use your photos. I use twitter a lot so will use them in tweets. Bless you for witnessing these atrocities, as I don’t think I could. Your work is top notch and invaluable. I wonder if we could get the names of these individuals and report them to the appropriate authorities?
February 20, 2017 @ 3:48 pm
Wow I just stumbled on to this here on Fb what a story and I agree with all I have read to here ,I can not beleive there trying to be rid of these American way of life animals I guess to make room for cows or what ever! This was a great story I will pass it as far as I can hopefully it will hit enough peop.e we can do something about this! Great photography something we can sure relate to. Thank you for sharing
February 21, 2017 @ 1:39 pm
Mosie did you see the comment from Ginger Kathrens from the Cloud Foundation ? She wants names and info! Ginger is on the BLM advisory board also.
February 27, 2017 @ 9:42 pm
fantastic news! I didn ‘t see her comment & I trust Ginger completely
March 1, 2017 @ 9:52 pm
Let’s keep pushing this story. Sounds like you know the connections to get this brutal action stopped.
March 1, 2017 @ 10:55 pm
Josie, may I share your blog story about the paint mare to my own blog?
Convo me please. Lynnhanson77@gmail.com
My blog is http://prairiemountaingirl.blogspot.com
Thank you!
February 19, 2017 @ 7:10 pm
Our vile government at work.
February 19, 2017 @ 8:03 pm
Isn’t there anyone who can catch her and get her a good home before she get rounded up killed or hurt…!!! 🙁
February 20, 2017 @ 7:56 pm
The unfortunate thing if she would be captured she would never do well in domestic life. The best prayer is that she finds a new band that hopefully will not be rounded up.
February 19, 2017 @ 9:57 pm
this is so heartbreaking my Lord, this poor creature and all the others who suffer, running for their lives. I hope and pray this torture will end. I pray the mare gets found and has a good home. please keep me updated.
February 19, 2017 @ 10:26 pm
Has she been since??
February 19, 2017 @ 11:45 pm
Another episode of savage cruelty by the BLM. They are insane in their pursuit of these poor defenseless animals. This agency of mismanagement & abuse needs to be dismantled. Sickening.
February 19, 2017 @ 11:45 pm
Animal brutality, pure and simple. Inhumane to run a horse in the described fashion. Is this who the BLM are?? I doubt it. This was done by a few cruel individuals. The hunt was more important to them than the animal….NOT OKAY. If this behavior represents the entire BLM then they must all be replaced….starting TODAY.
February 19, 2017 @ 11:48 pm
Are there really so many wild horses that this behavior of round-up is required? Is the country in peril of being overrun with HORSES? Give me a break. How many taxpayers dollars are taken up with paying individuals to treat animals in this manner? How millions of dollars? Is it worth it? NO!
February 20, 2017 @ 12:04 am
I question why one could not have cut that rope.
February 20, 2017 @ 2:36 pm
The people who where looking at her and in her eyes had the possibility to do it very easely. Why the dident ?
February 27, 2017 @ 10:32 pm
It would be pretty to think so, but wild horses would not allow an approach under any circumstances, especially after what she’d been through.
February 21, 2017 @ 1:58 am
How?
February 20, 2017 @ 3:21 am
This just breaks my heart in two ~ praying she wasn’t the one the BLM caught the next day the other post spoke of, but I also hope she isn’t alone and suffering either. It costs US tax payers millions a year to have BLM thugs do this to our wild horses. It’s about damn time we protest against funding torture and abuse and end this with educated public pressure once and for all.
February 20, 2017 @ 4:36 am
Cattle ranchers want to graze their animals and ruin the land by overgrazing.
February 20, 2017 @ 10:24 am
This is how the BLM is with every single round up. They run the horses to death, place panic in the pen, and load them up confused and anxious into trucks that haul them to holding pens until they decide who goes free and who goes to hell. The government holding pens are full, the private land nobody can see the horses there so God only knows where they go or if they are still there. They take the younger ones for adoption, PZP the mares and turn some of them back out. It’s as if they think we are all stupid enough to believe they will let them be. They round up about 2x a year so even if they PZP and release, the mares wind up going thru the same crap again, only this time they are not lucky enough to get set free again. The older ones will soon die and the younger ones are taken and soon there will be no more mustang running free. We all need to let the government know that this is unacceptable and that the BLM needs to answer for their cruelty to the mustang. They capture supposed “excess” mustang, which there is no more. They have captured over 67,000 mustang from the wild and there is only about 20,000 left out on the range. This is where the numbers were when the government placed them under federal protection. There is no Secretary of the Interior appointed in Trumps cabinet so the BLM will continue to round up until they are all gone or someone stops them. I think they have damaged the herd population enough. We need to take a stand against the BLM for the sake of our wild mustang before it is to late. Contact your State rep, someone in the congress, even the V.P Pence and P.Trump. Let them know we will not stand for this harassment, capture, or murder of our mustang. It’s time the BLM pay for their crimes. Hold them accountable for breaking the law.The Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971 : “To require the protection, management, and control of wild free- roaming horses and burros on public lands. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress finds and declares that wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene. It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands. ” I do not see where these mustang are protected from capture, harassment, or death at the hands of the BLM. They were put into place by the Sec. Of the Interior to manage the land and the herds. To remove the excess from the land and to place up for adoption. Not to give them 3 strikes and send them to slaughter. The BLM advisory board had voted to destroy 44,000 of these once free mustang and that is not their job. It says to humanely euthanize sick and injured not to destroy the entire herds. They removed entire herds because they say the range could not adequately support the herd and it was in their best interest to round up and remove. How can it be in their best interest to remove them, stick them in a holding pen, let them get sick or starve to death, and never be with family or see freedom again. That is not in the best interest of the herd. That is in the best interest of the oil drillers, the miners, and the fracking companies, not to mention the cattle ranchers who lease the land the mustang once roamed on for less than $2 a month per mom and calf. How is this in the best interest of our wild mustang who have lived free for centuries and now all of a sudden are no longer sustainable on the land they roam free on? Think about it. Call your state rep and tell them you want the round ups to stop. Tell friends and family about what is going on with our wild mustang. The more people who know of this tragedy, the more people we can get to be the voice of the wild ones and keep them free. Please take a stand for the freedom of the mustang and emballishment of the BLM.
February 20, 2017 @ 11:51 am
Reiki sent for this mare and the whole situation. We HAVE to get out there in numbers to protest this. It is so far away, no one knows it is going on.
Thank you for being there and taking part in bringing this to our attention. May I pass this on to media outlets here in the UK and Europe?
February 20, 2017 @ 4:01 pm
That poor mare…I’m sure it took lots out of her…the rope a real danger the fall I’m sure did her foal no good .if they both made it .God was helping. Why were they rounded up more meat? How sinful. This needs to stop …snoring needs to stop. Fat ass rich people it doesn’t even look pretty natural so much prettier.. I hope it wasn’t her they found later.if was she an foal free running with God’s herd. No pain.
February 20, 2017 @ 5:58 pm
Nona, there is absolutely no need whatsoever for these brutal roundups. The BLM continues to use the same tired excuse of “overpopulation” when study after study has proven there in no overpopulation issues, and in fact, many herds are below a genetically viable level. What the BLM refuses to acknowledge is that they are working hand in hand with welfare ranchers that want the land for themselves. As it is, livestock outnumber wild horses on public lands by 50 to 1. We taxpayers are being made to pay for the cruelty of these roundups. It has to stop.
February 20, 2017 @ 6:13 pm
When…when do we as the American public refuse to be bullied and lied to about what is ours? We pay taxes for this land…the hirses are free roaming wild horses…you dobt see them doing this with the over population of cattle and sheep or elk and deer. This is as inhumane as it comes AND Gus Warr has stated on multiple occasdions that one horse WOULD NOT BE PURSUED IN THIS MANNER…yet on more lie and she isnt aline in this inhumane treatment. They over pursued a mare and her foal. The foal finally lost his momma…and they roped it to bring it in. It has to stop. They over inflate the numbers sooo dramatically and then cant even findclosr to the number they say is on the range…the Sulpher herd was a prime example. They said they would release 400…but because they couldnt find 800, they released 193 (I believe) and never mind about the 30 they murdered. They claim there are tens of thousands on the ranges…not true and the number in holding never changes and they claimadoptiins are down…then WHERE ARE ALL OF OUR HORSES!!! I can add and subtract, this isnt rocket science…the are killing our horses.
February 20, 2017 @ 7:12 pm
Isn’t appalling that they can put forth so much effort for 200 or so wild horses, claiming that they take food from the ranchers. Yet, no one seems to have near the energy to stop illegal immigration that takes, food, medical care and US dollars out of the mouths of US Citizens. Just saying… These horses are part of our history and are legal residents of our country.
February 20, 2017 @ 8:04 pm
Bureau of Land Management ~ Utah State Office
440 West 200 South, Suite 500 Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1345
Phone: (801) 539-4001 Fax: (801) 539-4237
Email: blm_ut_so_public_room@blm.gov
more contact info here: https://www.blm.gov/contact/utah
February 21, 2017 @ 8:57 pm
emailed in the strongest possible terms. Hoping to share this with my utterly useless U.S. Senators and Congressman.
February 20, 2017 @ 8:53 pm
Hi;
I would like to speak with the photographer and eyewitnesses.
This was the Cattoor Livestock crew? Do you know if the
BLM person in charge was Gus Warburton?
I am appalled.
Thanks very much,
Ginger
February 21, 2017 @ 6:52 pm
Looks like Sun J contractor and not the Catoors but could be wrong. It breaks ones heart to see this
February 20, 2017 @ 10:59 pm
I can’t even read this. The BLM should be charged with animal cruelty for everything they’ve done with these unnecessary helicopter round ups and with how these horses are being held.
Why hasn’t anyone sued them for these blatant animal atrocities? Where are the animal groups like The Humane Society that are supposed to be watching?
February 21, 2017 @ 3:06 pm
Someone Coax Gentle and remove the rope! she may not be able to breath or swallow well.!!!!
February 21, 2017 @ 3:21 pm
How very very cruel. Without a doubt this is animal cruelty at its worse because it continues to happen over and over. BLM needs to be looked at very closely.
February 22, 2017 @ 1:14 pm
This text is priceless. Where can I find out more?
February 22, 2017 @ 2:19 pm
This mare has fought for her life now let her live in peace in her homeland to find a new herd. Hope someone can get close to her or tranquilizer her so they can get the rope off of her.
February 22, 2017 @ 5:49 pm
The BLM needs to be disbanded, they are working for the ranchers w/ cattle , they should be investigated. All they care about is MONEY. How much are the ranchers lining the BLM’s pocket?
February 23, 2017 @ 9:51 am
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto
a coworker who had been doing a little research on this.
And he actually ordered me dinner simply because I discovered it for him…
lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
But yeah, thanx for spending some time to talk about this
matter here on your site.
February 23, 2017 @ 10:01 am
I’m really inspired together with your writing abilities as smartly as with the structure to
your blog. Is that this a paid theme or did you modify it your self?
Anyway keep up the nice high quality writing, it’s uncommon to peer a nice blog like this one
nowadays..
February 25, 2017 @ 7:44 pm
Now the whole country can sleep better knowing this poor mare was run into the ground. All the energy and aircraft fuel and wages could have been put to better use I am sure. This only proves that some people have too much time and money and not enough brain power to know how to use it. No compassion either!
February 27, 2017 @ 9:40 pm
Dear Mosie,
Your photos and commentary deserve widespread coverage. They tell the story we ALL try to convey.
I can’t find a private email for you, so I’m hoping you’ll get in touch with members of the media who care. There are plenty of them, but they can’t be every place at every time something like this goes down.
Feel free to get in touch with me.
p.s. I know I’m not your mama, but please be careful who uses your photos for profit instead of awareness
February 27, 2017 @ 10:12 pm
I pray that this valiant mare escaped for good and got rid of the damn rope. I do not understand our useless congress who never act on this cruelty. Many of us have been fighting this horror for years and the horror of slaughter, but nothing is ever done by the elected people that we rely on.
Brava to the writer and photographer for documenting this story.
March 1, 2017 @ 11:57 am
Attention GINGER KATHRENS: The only name I know is Ginger Kathrens Feb.20,2017.Thank you, for responding to this blog. You are the only one I know from the Pryors. Your position now mandates that you can bring this to the attention of the right person. This whole thing in the west about our horses is mind boggling. I am presently living out of the country. I am an American and people the world over are seeing these strikes on our wild/feral mustangs.A recent adopter 2 yrs ago,I am hoping, with a mass united assault on Washington this might stop. However I am not sure we will get the response we are hoping for with this administration. The people need to stand up and be heard. I trust your judgement to direct all those who care how to stop this inhumanity to our mustangs. I support any endeavor there will be to Stop killing,and slaughtering our horses.United we stand,Divided we fall!.
March 1, 2017 @ 7:40 pm
I hate the BLM!The wranglers and all!They do not care about the animals!They keep screwing with nature,one day soon it will come back to harm us!Leave them alone!They deserve to live and they aren’t hurting anyone!
March 2, 2017 @ 1:28 am
The BLM and the Dept of the Interior have given up their souls and have absolutely no compassion for the iconic American wild horse and burro. Sickens the heart. Yet no one can figure out a way to stop this madness. . .
March 4, 2017 @ 11:12 pm
Why is this not been seen as animal cruelty? Was can you not press animal cruelty charges against these people?
March 6, 2017 @ 1:40 pm
These animals are a national treasure and belong to the citizens of the United States. The continued forced roundups using helicopters is inhumane treatment and under federal guidelines constitutes animal abuse!
I as a citizen believe that we need to charge the BLM with animal cruelty under federal law!
According to the FBI, the official definition of animal cruelty will be:
“Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly taking an action that mistreats or kills any animal without just cause, such as torturing, tormenting, mutilation, maiming, poisoning, or abandonment. Included are instances of duty to provide care, e.g., shelter, food, water, care if sick or injured; transporting or confining an animal in a manner likely to cause injury or death; causing an animal to fight with another; inflicting excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering, e.g., uses objects to beat or injure an animal. This definition does not include proper maintenance of animals for show or sport; use of animals for food, lawful hunting, fishing or trapping.”
March 9, 2017 @ 4:27 pm
THANK YOU
March 9, 2017 @ 5:11 pm
Hopefully, the mare will somehow manage to get the rope off. What the BLM is allowed to do to our wild horses & burros is shameful. Everyone who comments here should be publicly speaking out – whether by email or actual paper (!) letters to your representatives in DC . If we dont complain – the people who are at the top of the bureaucracy have no reason to change things. Please be aware – there has been a request for the GAO to do a study on what changes there are since US horse slaughter plants closed! That seems to be the first move of pro-slaughter before making a change to the fund or de-fund of inspections of slaughter plants. I just read that this am. This cannot happen here in the US again!!