BLM Responds to Misinformation re: Incident Involving Gray Mare at Sand Wash (Colorado) Gather of October 2008

Photographs of a gray mare that fell down while being loaded onto a gooseneck stock trailer at the Sand Wash (Colorado) gather of October 2008 have been circulating on the Internet. The pictures were taken by a photographer who was observing the gather activities with the BLM’s permission.

Here are the facts:

Mother and baby are healthy and both are available for adoption.

The mare reared and was pushed over by other horses while she was moving down the alleyway toward the trailer. She was down on the ground for several minutes, behind -- but not under -- the trailer. During this time, she had other horses on top of her. With the help of the BLM contractor's gather crew, the horses moved off the mare and she got to her feet without needing assistance. She was examined by a veterinarian immediately after the incident, as well as over the next several days. Although shaken and dirty, she had no serious injuries. This mare, which was later freezemarked with the number 04247734, had a foal on March 24, 2009, at the Canon City (Colorado) facility. Mother and baby (see the accompanying photo) are healthy and both are available for adoption. The incident was an unfortunate accident. Although infrequent, some problems are unavoidable when handling wild animals, including horses. Immediately after the incident, the BLM, the USDA APHIS (U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) veterinarian on site, and the gather contractor personnel talked about what happened. They reviewed the handling and loading process, checked the alleyway, and discussed ways to avoid similar incidents in the future. Reviewing an incident in this manner is standard procedure for the BLM, which continually works to protect the health and well-being of the animals that need to be gathered. If you are able to provide a good home for this pair or any other wild horses, please call the BLM at (866) 4MUSTANGS.