Wild Horses of Alto. Save the Herd!

WILD HORSES OF ALTO (W.H.O.A!) disclaimer: this blog is in no way associated with the group WHOA (Wild Horse Observers Association). This blog has actually become like a vertical file in the library where important past documents - like newspaper articles - are filed and kept for research when needed. It has become almost a lesson in librarianship for me.

WILD HORSES OF ALTO The herd of wild horses in Alto, N.M., are the offspring of estray horses that roamed Sierra Blanca on Mescalero and National Forest land. Today the herds roam the same territory as well as dropping in to visit some of the subdivisions, such as Enchanted Forest, Sierra Vista, Sun Valley, LaJunta, Little Creek and occasionally Alto Lakes Golf & Country Club. For the most part, the herds are loved and welcomed. But sometimes not.

At this time, it is being decided in a court of law whether the horses are wild or domesticated (and therefore estray). At present, the horses fall under the auspices of the N.M. Livestock Board. We are trying to save all members the herd and other herds that exist in the area. We do NOT want to deny the horses the freedom they have known in the past and the comradeship the herd provides them.

To institute change in the policy and protect the future of our magnificent Wild Horses of Alto herd, we have a petition at https://www.change.org/p/new-mexico-governor-save-alto-wild-horses, a fundraising site for lawyers and feed/care at https://www.gofundme.com/altohorses, an account set up at City Bank-Ruidoso for donations to the "Wild Horses of Lincoln County Trust Fund" and an ongoing facebook group "Bring Ruidoso Horse's Back". Click on the Stallion's photo to go directly there.

PLEASE SPEAK UP, sign petitions, give to the trust fund for the horses. Sign up to this blog to get continual updates and to also post your own comments.

We LOVE our horse herd.

HELP save the Wild Horses of Alto (WHOA!) herd


Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Penned wild horses of Alto have moved

Horses moved yesterday, March 20 - first day of Spring.  All that is know by blogger is that the herd is on a ranch near Carrizozo waiting for the May court date.  Whew.  Way hotter there than their homeland mountains. 

From Facebook:

Wild Horses of Lincoln County - WHOLC
May 21 post see a video of the herd's move at the above link
"BREAKING NEWS" Alto Wild Horses Released
at a Scholarly Gentleman's Lincoln County Ranch!!
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*After being corralled for 1.5 yrs, the Alto Wild Horses were released onto over 2000 acres while they wait for their final day of FREEDOM, after which these horses plan to work for Alto/Ruidoso Tourism as they always have!
*Community Members came together to make this happen!!
*A Kind Gentleman Rancher and an Oilman worked together with WHOA and local WHOA members to make this happen. Natural foot wear is critical for wild horses.
*The horses milled around the round bales provided for a short time and then literally ran off into the wide expanse becoming dots in the horizon.
*Two of the 15 Alto Wild horses (Mare and foal) were moved back to the Enchanted Forest (Their home territory with Blaze) and are having the filly's feet trimmed and the mare's wound addressed. (Seperate post for these two later today.) We are looking forward to a BLAZE & HIS long time MARE REUNION.

+++> BREAKING NEWS - RANCH CONTRACT SIGNED <+++++++
WHOA is pleased to announce that a very kind and community minded Ranch owner has stepped up provide a contract for the horses.

WHOA is also pleased to announce that there has been a phone conference between WHOA and the NMLB discussing details:

1. The ranch is in Lincoln County.
2. The ranch will provide 100 acres minimum per horse.
3. Until court it will be 133 acres/horse all together at 2000 acres.
4. There are wranglers there to supplemental feed and watch them.
5. The move from the current property (Who, when)
6. Potential need for a fosters location for the potential 2 that may need this.
7. PZP was discussed and requested.
8. Working toward the NMLB's vet, The Signers Vet, and WHOA's Vet meeting and viewing the horses this wk-end prior to this move.

We will continue and finalize negotiations via email.

Hooves
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The free roaming ability provided here will very likely resolve/prevent all over grown foot issues naturally.

Costs Avoided if NMLB approves
==========================
The charge that the NMLB was considering at Santa Fe was $15/DAY/horse which is $5 more than the usual. That would have been $6,750/month to be split by WHOA and the NMLB.

Costs if NMLB approves the ranch
===========================
The charge by kind owner of the beautiful ranch is $15/MONTH/horse plus supplemental feed as needed. WHOA is expecting that our share each month will be $112 to $863 depending on forage/rain. The same as that for the NMLB. This does not include the feed for the two horses likely in temporary foster care.

THANK YOU to ALL involved in any way so far!!!

* PREVIOUS POST BELOW*
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WHOA UPDATE: SEARCH FOR A RANCH BACK ON

WHOA is looking for a Ranch where the penned Alto Wild Horses can roam on 3 sections for 2 to 12 months.

While the penned horses have been cared for by volunteers under contract to the court for the last yr and a half, we want to acknowledge that this is not logically a sustainable situation and this has been 3 times as long as originally thought.

WHOA's first preference is to have the horses on a ranch, free roaming, feeding and watering themselves, wearing down their own hooves, eating a variety of natural grasses, OR, second preference is to have them in the care of people whose actual job it is, to care for them professionally at the horse facilities in Santa Fe. (Remember folks, this is also where movie producers keep their horses.)

WHOA understands that this case make go longer than May 18th due to the fact that the outcome of court May 14th to 18th may end up appealed to the NM Appellate Court, and again to the NM Supreme Court. In either case, these courts can decide NOT to hear the case and thereby uphold the lower courts decision.

In any case, WHOA is holding strong as always for FREEDOM.

WHOA will not entertain a private owner corral situation with volunteers for the Alto Wild Horses for the following reasons.

1. Volunteers have other jobs and responsibilities and cannot be expected to keep up such a a commitment for these time periods without undue stress and complications.

2. Caring for 16 horses is a tremendous task over time and cannot be taken lightly or ignored on even one day no matter what.

3. A corral situation without the proper footing for the wearing down of hooves naturally is a huge liability for the health of the horses in a non-professional situation.

4. Wild horses can roam, exercise, maintain their hooves, forage for food, smell water, in a ranch situation without relying on people day to day, hauling feed, hauling water, hauling excrement, or putting them at risk by tranquilizing them, in order to trim their feet. The latter is also a huge risk for the humans involved especially without the proper expensive equipment.

5. A ranch situation is a Win Win Win we believe for all involved. The Horses, WHOA, and the NMLB. The horses were healthy when free roaming as admitted by the NMLB and seen by all. The NMAG objected to having responsibility to the horses in court.

A ranch situation (Like WHOA had acquired but lost) would minimize the work and risk by all, while providing the most natural and healthy situation for these deserving large mammals.

6. Wild horses are not pets and are best dealt with by paid professionals.

7. With the state and our veterinarian, there will transparency as required by law.

in summary WHOA now being given equal shared responsibility and authority of the wild horses with the NMLB by the court, takes sustainability into account and is acting accordingly.

photo credit http://awakenings2012.blogspot.com/

Friday, March 9, 2018

UPDATE from Facebook groups

Wild Horses of Lincoln County - WHOLC
WHOA WON!!
ANOTHER STEP TOWARD FREEDOM
Major Results Today AND a BLAZE Sighting
1. The WILD horses made it through another unforeseen attempt at adoption today, and are still on track for Freedom!
2. The May 14-18 Court Date for this case will not be pushed out any further, no matter what, by either side!
3 The WILD horses will be in the custody of WHOA and the NMLB with 50/50 responsibility in 10 days.
We will keep you updated. We are working to keep them in Lincoln County as well as other considerations like their feet/hooves.
(A complicated day and those are the results - Further Motions were filed today by the Defendants before court. Motions we thought would be heard today mostly were not.)
A Total (19) Motions have now been filed, and still the Plaintiff has filed only (3) of these.

March 7 posting on Facebook group: Bring Ruidoso's Horses Back
The ORDER has been signed and ENTERED. A property HAS been located. When all i's are dotted and t's crossed, more shall be revealed.
Thank you ALL for your support. We can't do this without YOU!
We move FORWARD.

FREEDOM FOR OUR CAPTIVE WILD HERD!!