Calico
Mountains, NV, January 2, 2010
By Craig C. Downer, Wildlife Ecologist and
Elyse Gardner, Public Observer
Below are photos of the roundup that took place on January 2, 2010, documenting how the captured band stallion fought for and regained his liberty, although he had to leave behind his family band of eight mares and two colts. Jumping a 6-foot fence and immediately thereafter breaking through a barbed wire fence and injuring himself, his do-or-die effort demonstrated the stress of captivity to a wild horse. We can only hope for the stallion's recovery from the injuries he sustained from the barbed wire.
Before his escape, he became hung up by his front legs when he reared to attempt an escape from the narrow fenced area where he was being examined by government contractor Sue Cattoor and her wrangler.
Also included here are shots of the capture of his entire band of 11 horses. This indomitable stallion will now be remembered as "Freedom."
Sincerely,
Craig C. Downer, Wildlife Ecologist
Additional Note: On New Year's Day, BLM rounded up 10 wild horses but only captured 9 because a 6-month old foal died en route. The APHIS vet at the scene, Dr. Al Kane, reported that after being chased by the helicopter for "1/4 mile" the little foal was behaving strangely, lying down periodically. It is reported that the pilot radioed Dr. Kane that this foal was having problems and Dr. Kane went out to see the foal who was found dead. Dr. Kane said that he did a necropsy in the field and discovered congenital heart defect and said that foal couldn't have handled any exercise and probably wouldn't have lived to adulthood. BLM refused to allow the public observers to examine the body.
Photography by Craig C. Downer 1/2/10 11:11:46 a.m.
The capture of Freedom
and his band by helicopter, 11 horses.
Photography by Craig C. Downer 1/2/10 11:11:58 a.m.
Band stallion,
Freedom, in the lead. You can see the Judas horse, trained to run into
the pens so the wild horses will follow, being released.
Photography by Craig C. Downer 1/2/10 11:23:34 a.m.
Desperate horses,
Freedom and his family huddle together.
Photography by Elyse Gardner 1/2/10 11:28:48 a.m.
During examination, Freedom
attempts escape and gets caught up on the fence.
Photography by Elyse Gardner 1/2/10 11:28:51 a.m.
Slipping as he struggles
to free his upper leg from the fence.
Photography by Elyse Gardner 1/2/10 11:28:53 a.m.
Photography by Elyse Gardner 1/2/10 11:28:51 a.m.
Photography by Craig C. Downer 1/2/10 11:30:18 a.m.
Preparing first failed
attempt to clear 6-foot fence to freedom. He fell on his back during
this attempt but pressed on to try again...
Photography by Craig C. Downer 1/2/10 11:30:34 a.m.
Preparing for final
herculean effort to clear 6-foot fence to freedom...
Photography by Craig C. Downer 1/2/10 11:31:33 a.m.
...only to have to
crash through barbed wire...
Photography by Craig C. Downer 1/2/10 11:31:36 a.m.
...to a bittersweet
return to freedom, for leaving his family band behind
Copyright
© 2004-2010 AWHPC. All rights reserved.
Reproduction authorized solely for educational purposes,
provided www.wildhorsepreservation.org
is credited as source.