A New Year Update

 

Winter 14/15
Winter 14 / 15

 

Well 2015 is upon us and although the snow is starting to accumulate in wild horse country the wild horses are doing exceptional well this winter.  The snow is not heavy and the horses are easily able to paw through it to find enough forage to keep up their body condition.  This winter, in the more exposed areas, the wind and sun have been able to keep some areas clear.

Pens being set up
Pens being set up

Throughout November and December our teams of volunteers continued to work on developing our handling facility. As a result of their dedication as of today there are just a few finishing touches that need to be done.

Blog 4

The handling chute
The handling chute

Although it did take three months to get to this stage, the site is looking fantastic. With proper pens in place, proper shelters and a cozy office, we are just about ready to be able to handle any horses that we may have to take in.

barn

The tie stalls
The tie stalls

 

An aerial view
An aerial view

We are so happy that after so many years of hard work and unbelievable dedication by board members and volunteers that we finally have a safe and humane facility for any wild horses that come under our care. Set up the way it is will also allow a safe way for our veterinarians, if necessary, to administer any care that may be needed.

Two beauties
Two beauties

With the other aspect of WHOAS undertaking with the ESRD to assist with management of the wild horses, our PZP program is underway. Using our own database, again put together by our members, we have identified mares from healthy herds that we intend to target with the vaccine this year. As we progress we are learning and this project is going smoothly.

The dart team at work
The dart team at work

All this has been made possible through those of you who have purchased our fund raising calendars and have made donations to support us to protect and save your Alberta wild horses. We still have a limited number of calendars left if you wish to purchase one and help our cause. The WHOAS board of directors and our volunteers want to thank each and every one of you for your belief in our work.

Bob

3 thoughts on “A New Year Update

  1. Don

    Great news Bob !

    Hopefully there won’t be too many wildies that will need care, but it looks like the ones that will need care will be in good hands.

    I haven’t seen the usual amount of wildies this winter out west that I have seen in previous years. Maybe they will come out of hiding soon.

    Kudos the everyone associated with WHOAS.

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  2. Paige

    So I hear there was supposed to be no capture this year and yet there will be in the Ghost Region. I really hope that the 50 horses being captured are young stock as capturing older horses can really mess up herd dynamics. I also hear that WHOAS will decide which of the horses to keep and the others will go to public auction… very disappointed. If I can provide any assistance in keeping these that go to the public auction away from meat buyers hands I will purchase what I can.

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  3. Gary young

    I think that the people are doing a good job catching the horses and are looking after the horses so that some people can buy them and use them for riding. You could train them to drive as a team. From looking at them I think that those horses would make good riding horses and some of them would make good teams.

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