Wild Horse Roundup Continues Despite High Winds Advisory ~ Not Enough Water in Holding Corrals for Captured Horses
In addition to the dangerous cold it was an extremely windy day and a Wind Advisory was issued in the afternoon. The horses are not only run hard in the cold but they are also being run hard through Alkalai on windy day, where Alkalai in the air just at the observation area, 1.5 miles away from the trap site caused Laura to have a bloody nose.
Lisa Reid of the BLM stated that when the BLM does an “in house” roundup they call it for safety if the gusts hit 25 mph. Despite the wind advisory, the chopper kept flying. Although, she also commented to Laura that the contractor operates "at their own risk" I don’t see how BLM can take that position and allow this helicopter to fly since our horses are at risk too if that chooper comes down.
Once again there is a water issue at holding. The contractors and BLM Wild Horse and Burro Specialists have consistently not brought in enough water for the captured horses. A 40 gallon Rubbermaid tank is not going to cut it for the numbers of horses that need to drink water from this “tub” especially under stress and exhausted from a terrorizing stampede and in what appears to me to be a rodeo playtime for the inexperienced and apparently immature helicopter pilot.
“I guess a multi-million dollar contract doesn't make you "sweat the details," like enough water” said journalist Laura Leigh. “Yes, I'm a bit "cranky." The incredible time, effort and expense incurred to attempt to report on the condition and handling of horses that is constantly met with this semantics game is tiring. Especially when you have to point out to the "paid experts" that there is not enough water... more than once.” 
What a shameful chapter in American history
I would say without a doubt that this is not meeting even the standard of the Federal Code for transporting wild horses. Now way does this come remotely close.
Without Grass Roots Horse’s involvement we would have no idea what was happening to our wild horses. Please visit our website and read our legal filings and support all our work on behalf of the wild horses. www.grassrootshorse.com
VIEW VIDEO
http://blog.grassrootshorse.com/
Feb. 15, 2011