RioVida Mustang Rally

Whispering Winds

Susan Pohlman of Whispering Winds joined the Mustang Rally

Born around 4am on Sunday morning, April 20, in the middle of our snow storm (hence the name) Storm (no, we aren't sure of the sex yet) is as healthy and adorable as they come.  Both mom & Storm are doing great.  Merconium is passed, everything looks normal.  Storm's little 4 white legs are still wobbly, but mom was willing to let us get close.  He/she has a white mask all around the muzzle, and you can see the star & stripe.  I didn't even have a chance to bed mom down.  I figured a couple days.  Oh well.  She didn't read the book on birthing. You can see pictures on Susan's web site and learn about the sex as soon as they know. They are in the middle of a freak snow storm so the day will be spent making these 2 warm -- at least as warm as they can make wild horses. Susan Pohlman, Director Whispering Winds Equine Rescue Living Legends Wild Horse Sanctuary A 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization (541) 679-9022   AQHA Professional Horsemen Association Certified Trainer & Riding Instructor Mustang Specialist   MORE

The senseless killing of the Wild Mustangs goes on!

Valerie James Patton did a study that shows that it appears that since the horses get diverted to Mexico since it is now illegal to transport wild horses for slaughter across state lines. Geldings are obviously not exported for breeding purposes to Mexico. However, because they are exported under a non-slaughter status the question is, why are so many geldings with their numbers in the thousands, being exported to Mexico if their destination is not to slaughter? What other explanation could be even slightly believable? Only in 2004 year-end total for non-slaughter horses exported from New Mexico to Mexico for 2004, was 312 breeding males, 342 breeding females, and 130 geldings, which is similarly comparable to the statistics of the Texas export chart. Once the laws were being enforced that wild horses could not be shipped across state lines to be slaughtered and the Texan Slaughterhouse was shut down suddenly this is what happened.

November 6, 2007 - USDA Market News Exports from Texas to Mexico -
785 breeding males, 1,180 breeding females and 345 Geldings
New Mexico to Mexico - November 6, 2007 - USDA Market News Report:
No Breeding males, no breeding females, but 2,708 geldings

That leaves 43 breeding males that were not transported under pretense of the non-slaughtering rule. The rest were shipped to Mexico as Geldings.

It seems pretty clear that since the slaughter house in Texas was closed - the exports to New Mexico and then Mexico skyrocketed. We know the number of slaughter horses exported to Mexico has skyrocketed due to the closure of the U.S. horse slaughter facilities and because those horses are exported for slaughter, their increased numbers should not affect the number of these geldings, which are exported under a non-slaughter status. Yet the number of geldings exported this same time last year was 1,684 while the current number for this year is 60% higher with 2,708 geldings now being exported. If these geldings are being transported for non-slaughter purposes, why should their numbers dramatically increase as well?

If the Mustangs are not be become extinct we really need to do contact the Senate and Congress and remind them that despite all the pressing issues they have to attend to you are not okay with the senseless eradication of these beautiful animals. They can't fight for themselves we have to do it for them. Contact Valerie for more details. The Mustang Rally team encourages you to be in touch with Susan Pohlman and Valerie to support them in their efforts.

Each of you is needed to stop these killings to continue. We appreciate your assistance. Visit the Mustang Rally MORE