PVC PALOMINO VALLEY -

JUMBO MEGALOPOLIS OF FEDERAL FERAL HORSES....
Fernley, Fallon, Palomino Valley, Carson City...all belong to a very large processing complex in Nevada. This state has the largest number of wild horses and HMA's Horse Management areas. It is also the most controversial location, with Ranchers and Advocates being the most engaged. So when Thousands of horses were rounded up during the winter of 2009/2010 and many of them died in the process, many questions arose: The traps for the capture are often on PRIVATE land - not visible to the public. Because of reckless Helicopter operations, the humane observers are not allowed close to the trapsite anylonger (even though the contractor's employees are still exposed to the danger). The number of horses is heavily disputed, since no proper count by the BLM has ever occured (the BLM quotes involvement of the USGS but survey flights occur only once or twice a year, with insufficient funding leading to a simultaneous double-count) Why is the horse to cow ratio somewhere around 1000 cows per horse on the designated wild horse areas. Why has the allotted land designated in 1971 through an act of congress shrunk from 53million acres to about 30some million acres. Why continue to roundup and pay for expensive Long Term Holding, when the horses could and should be managed ON THE RANGE?
WHERE IS THE MONEY TRAIL? There is only money made when the roundup starts and it does not benefit the horses. The contractors (out-house roundups) are third generation WILD HORSE catchers, their operation has shifted from Horses to 4-Wheelers to Helicopters over the last thirtysome years (the first Federal Roundup was conducted around 1978, I believe). The contractor is paid by the head, with no concern for the benefit of the animal. The horses then go to processing, sorting, branding and castration, followed by shipment to either training, adoption or OTHER. "Other" here denotes the MYSTERY around SALE AUTHORITY HORSES, who have lost their government protection due to age or unadoptability. These horses, even though legally for sale to the lowest bidder and marked as such, still are officially not sold to SLAUGHTERHOUSES and get shipped to LONG TERM HOLDING in the eastern grasslands instead, where again, they generate tax payer provided revenue to the CONTRACTORS of the BLM, who, as it seems are the same Corporations and Individuals interested in their removal from the Ranges in the FIRST PLACE....

So if we follow our MUSTANG from the RANGE somewhere in the Nevada Mountains through his/her capture into the Short Term Holding and Processing Facility into either Palomino Valley or Fallon, we will then accompany the individual to several adoption or training events (BLM adoptions/ Extreme Mustang Makeover/ possible rescue by Sanctuaries) and since deemed UNADOPTABLE the path is cleared for LONG TERM HOLDING.....(NExt)