Palomino Valley Roundup: What You Need to Know

The Palomino Valley roundup, conducted on January 4-5, 2019, by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and Cattoor Wild Horse Roundups, shocked the residents of this rural community northeast of Reno. Hundreds of wild horses, who had lived peacefully in the Valley for years, were suddenly stampeded by helicopter, captured, and sold for slaughter in Mexico.

Palomino Valley, entirely public land, saw this roundup executed without notice or permission from local property owners. The Nevada Department of Agriculture issued brand inspections, clearing the horses for slaughter despite ownership disputes.

When the roundup concluded, the Valley was devoid of its wild horses, leaving residents devastated as the horses they had named and cared for faced a grim fate in Mexican slaughter plants.

The Roundup

On January 4-5, 2019, men on motorcycles and horseback, aided by a helicopter, trespassed on private land, chasing wild horses from their homes. Residents reported the helicopter flying low, frightening both people and animals. One resident's adopted BLM burros were so terrified they broke through their corral, only to be caught in the roundup. Although released, it took two weeks to return them to safety.

The horses endured a grueling chase over seven miles, crossing private and BLM land, ending in a trap on the border of BLM and Reservation lands. Residents feared for the vulnerable horses, who might not have survived the chase. Exhausted, the horses were loaded onto trailers and taken to corrals on the reservation.

Among those captured were privately owned horses, including Lady, owned by Colleen Westlake. While some horses were returned, Lady was never seen again.

Government Agency Involvement

The roundup was a surprise to residents, but not to the involved parties: the Tribe, Nevada Department of Agriculture, Cattoors, BLM, and Palomino Valley General Improvement District (GID). They coordinated behind the scenes, ignoring evidence that the horses were "feral" under state law, thus evading legal requirements for notice and sale.

On January 5, AWHC alerted authorities to ownership disputes and the capture of privately owned horses. Despite this, brand inspections were issued, clearing 271 horses for shipment to a New Mexico kill buyer.

Legal Action

In response to residents' pleas, including Colleen Westlake's, AWHC filed a federal lawsuit seeking a TRO to stop the horses' sale to slaughter. Although initially successful, the court ruled that the main defendants had sovereign immunity, leaving no federal remedy. Despite this setback, AWHC continues to explore legal avenues to protect any remaining horses and prevent future incidents.

Please stay tuned… this story is far from over.