Public “Observation” at Callaghan Complex Wild Horse Roundup

The latest report from Laura Leigh on the Callaghan Complex roundup leaves me speechless. Keep in mind, Laura is the ONLY observer braving the frigid weather to bring us these invaluable reports on OUR wild horses.

To have her drive for four hours - assuring her that she would be told if there were any changes in the protocol - Laura arrived to find - a change in protocol that would make "observation" even more difficult that it had been previously. Which means virtually nonexistent.

I realize the BLM hates Laura because they think SHE is the reason they look so bad. It's not them, folks, it's Laura for reporting it. These cretins are adults - at least in age if not in judgement - and they are acting worse than even the brattiest ten year old.

I plan to send this to my Senators and Representatives. It probably won't do much good, but this childish, vindictive behavior is unacceptable. WE pay these idiots with OUR tax money, and I'm totally, completely FED UP!

I'm afraid to think what their next move might be. I'll bet poor Laura feels like Alice in Wonderland. I know I do.

Amplify’d from blog.grassrootshorse.com

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Public “Observation” at Callaghan Complex Wild Horse Roundup

After braving a 4 hour drive through snow, rain and fog to observe and report back to us from the Callaghan Complex, lone observer Laura Leigh was met with an unexpected change in blm’s protocol regarding where the “public” would be allowed to view the roundup from. Although she was promised that she would be alerted to any changes in blm protocol prior to making the long journey she was not told that the  access to view would be changed from what she had experienced during the prior days.

While the prior access was not good, yesterdays access was almost non existent although a 60X zoom lens helped enough to capture these images for us.  Why the unexpected change in viewing access ? There were no blm personnel available to speak with her on this concern, either by phone or in person at the location.  The public counts on these reports from the roundups and we are concerned about this unwarranted and unnecessary change in the viewing arrangement.  In my opinion, on a level of common decency and keeping an agreement in good faith, the blm personnel should have contacted Laura as they had promised, so that this long journey out the location in inclement weather would not have been taken for naught. Why the unexpected and arbitrary change in the viewing access for a single, lone observer who is a member of the accredited press ? On even the most basic level, common decency and keeping agreements………in my opinion the blm sets a pretty low standard, judging by past behavior.     Posted by GrassRootsHorse.com at 12:40 PM Read more at blog.grassrootshorse.com

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/h2bazL

Related articles

• Grass Roots now a 501! (artandhorseslauraleigh.wordpress.com)
• Another day in Court (artandhorseslauraleigh.wordpress.com)
• Bald Mountain (artandhorseslauraleigh.wordpress.com)
• BLM Above the Law? "Who will stop Salazar's rogue bureau before they ruin the West? (ppjg.wordpress.com)

This is from Laura Leigh, the advocate GrassRootsHorse is supporting in her ongoing law suit against the BLM and their transgressions against our wild horses.
It has become obvious that the BLM is retaliating against Laura, unbelievable as this may seem. This is only the latest example. There seems to be NO level to which these people will not stoop - and our tax money is paying for it all, including their salaries.
Laura does have a Court date now. On Wednesday, November 17th, she will again be in Judge Hicks court in Reno, arguing for our horses and her - and our - Constitutional rights.
For now, however, she only wants to pick up her beautiful Mustang in peace and fairness. This is YOUR tax money at work.....

Amplify’d from horsebackmagazine.com

A Note From the Field

November 12, 2010

Story and Photo by Laura Leigh,

Horseback Magazine Special Correspondent,

RENO, (Horseback) – I have spent literally thousands of hours on the road trying to document the hands-on care of America’s National Treasure, the wild horse by the agency tasked by Congress to manage these beings “humanely.”

My travels have included documenting wild horses on the range, at roundups and holding facilities.

I do this work because I am passionate about the subject. These animals speak to my soul. The convoluted process that has them literally trapped both fascinates and disgusts me.

When I am at roundups, or facilities that house our horses, I may express my opinions but I am never “out-of-line.” I obey rules, no matter how ridiculous.

At the Silver King roundup I was “grabbed” hard by a beautiful Albino stallion. His gaze was riveting. When he shipped we followed him from Pioche, Nevada all the way to Gunnison Prison in Utah.

As I inquired about his adoption, to go to sanctuary with some of the others, I exchanged emails with a woman I met once.

Dona Bastian runs the BLM facility at Gunnison.

In the course of her emails to me she told me I had to make sure to tell them when I was coming to pick up the stallion. She informed me that they needed to notify SWAT.

I’m not kidding.

Here is the email:

I need a application for adoption and also payment before the animals are picked up. Do you have an approved adoption application? I know you said you was working on it with John Neil. Also, the pickup is by appointment only. We have to have a clearance, and also SWAT notified in advance. Let me know! Thanks, ~* Dona *~

Dona A. Bastian Wildhorse & Burro Specialist Gunnison Prison Facility Manager Utah State Office

Read more at horsebackmagazine.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/f44z

Related articles

• Horseback Magazine Leads the Way to BLM Long Term Holding Facilities (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
• Wild Horse Advocates Continue Legal Assault Against Obama's Rogue BLM (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
• BLM Wild Horse Suits to be Heard in Nevada (rtfitch.wordpress.com)
• BraveHearts Last Stand (artandhorseslauraleigh.wordpress.com)