Roundup Report: Barren Valley Complex Ends With 1,672 Mustangs Captured, 27 Dead

November 8, 2021

AWHC Contributor

The Barren Valley Complex, encompassing the Coyote Lake/Alvord-Tule Springs, Sheepshead/Heath Creek, and Sand Springs Herd Management Areas (HMAs), spans nearly 1 million acres in Oregon. As of June 2021, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimated approximately 2,500 wild horses resided in the Complex. However, the BLM's Appropriate Management Level (AML) for the area is set at a much lower 459-892 horses.

Despite claims of insufficient forage and water for the wild horses, the BLM continues to authorize extensive cattle grazing in the Complex. This roundup, costing taxpayers at least $488,000, aims to remove 1,900 horses, with only 100 planned for return to the HMA. The remaining horses face a lifetime in government holding facilities, costing an estimated $90 million.

Helicopters began the roundup on September 8, 2021. As of November 5, 2021, the operation concluded with 1,672 wild horses captured and 27 deaths. The contractor for this roundup was Sun J Livestock.

Roundup Report

November 5, 2021: No wild horses were captured today, concluding the operation with 1,672 captures and 27 deaths.

November 4, 2021: 1 mare was captured today.

November 3, 2021: 12 wild horses were rounded up and removed from public lands.

November 2, 2021: 24 mustangs were captured.

November 1, 2021: 31 wild horses were captured, with 3 deaths due to euthanasia for various health issues.

October 31, 2021: 36 wild horses lost their freedom today, bringing the total to 1,604 captures and 22 deaths.

October 30, 2021: 15 wild horses were captured.

October 29, 2021: 4 wild horses were captured, with one death due to a broken neck.

October 27, 2021: 1 wild horse was captured.

October 26, 2021: 23 wild horses lost their family and freedom today.

October 25, 2021: 18 wild horses were captured today.

October 24, 2021: The helicopters did not fly today due to high winds.

October 23, 2021: 29 wild horses were chased into traps by helicopters today.

October 22, 2021: 29 horses were captured today. There were no deaths.

October 21, 2021: 18 wild horses lost their freedom today.

October 20, 2021: 26 wild horses were captured today, with 5 deaths due to euthanasia for health issues.

October 19, 2021: 106 wild horses were rounded up today.

October 17, 2021: 61 horses were captured today.

October 16, 2021: 40 wild horses lost their freedom today.

October 15, 2021: The Barren Valley wild horse roundup resumed, capturing 49 wild horses.

October 7, 2021: The Barren Valley roundup was paused until October 15th.

October 6, 2021: The operation was paused for the day.

October 5, 2021: The helicopters did not fly today.

October 4, 2021: The helicopters did not fly today.

October 3, 2021: The helicopters did not fly today.

October 2, 2021: Three horses from the Coyote Lake/Alvord-Tule Springs HMA were rounded up today.

October 1, 2021: The operation did not happen today.

September 30, 2021: The helicopters were grounded today.

September 29, 2021: 86 wild horses lost their freedom today.

September 28, 2021: The helicopters did not fly today.

September 27, 2021: 12 horses were captured, with two deaths due to euthanasia for health issues.

September 26, 2021: No operation today, but a 20-year-old mare was euthanized due to poor body condition.

September 25, 2021: 41 wild horses lost their freedom today, with 1 death due to euthanasia for a fractured fetlock.

September 24, 2021: 54 wild horses were captured today.

September 23, 2021: 51 wild horses were captured, with 1 death due to euthanasia for a club foot.

September 22, 2021: 33 wild horses lost their freedom today.

September 21, 2021: 65 horses were captured, with one death due to euthanasia for blindness.

September 20, 2021: 67 horses were captured, with 3 deaths due to euthanasia for clubbed feet.

September 19, 2021: 27 wild horses were captured today.

September 18, 2021: No operation today due to high winds. 44 wild horses were shipped to holding.

September 17, 2021: 76 wild horses were stampeded into traps today.

AWHC's observer was the only member of the public observing today's operation. She started at temporary holding to watch mares and foals load the BLM's trailer to short-term holding in Bruneau, Idaho. Mares were resistant to get on the trailer yet again today. One of the stallions began calling to his mares and foals. His whinny was desperate as his family was taken away.

BLM updated our observer about the geldings that were found in the first few days of the Sheepshead HMA side of the operation. According to the BLM's system, the geldings were supposed to be in Long Term Holding. However, the BLM released them back onto the Sheepshead HMA yesterday. It begs the question, how did the geldings get there? Or, if it was truly a user error on the part of the BLM, then what other user errors in tracking horses are in the agency's database? How many other horses are not where the BLM thinks they are?

The helicopter's siren started to be heard in the distance around 10:30. Our observer could see the helicopter high in the hills pushing horses down towards the trap (about 6+ miles away). Two groups appeared in the valley. The way they traveled in bands within the groups made our observer believe there could have been three herds in the first group and four in the second.

The first group went back over the hills, so the helicopter focused on the second group first.

The Runs

Run 1: There were about 26 horses and foals. Our observer could see at least one very young foal, not more than a few weeks old. A stallion from this group was able to evade capture and headed up the hill overlooking the trap. He looked down into the valley at his family and whinnied for them. The helicopter tried to capture him but he just climbed higher. The helicopter eventually left him alone, letting him remain free for now. As he trotted away he would stop every so often to look back at his family. Then he disappeared alone.
Run 2: At 12:06 the second run was coming down the hill. The third trailer didn't have time to leave the trap, so it parked off to the side and that load of horses had to sit there as more horses were stampeded in. About 21 horses and foals were in this group. Again, our observer saw at least one tiny foal that was no more than a few weeks old. This foal ran with a pair of adult horses that kept it to the side/back of the group.
By 12:12 the third trailer finally left the trap. The second group had more time to settle as the contractor had to wait for the trailers to come back from temporary holding. However, since it isn't too far away they didn't have long to rest. By 12:27 the horses were being sorted for loading to temporary holding. However, one of the other trailers parked so that loading was blocked for viewing by our observer.

Notable Instances

The first run was so large that the contractors used all three trailers, immediately sorting and loading the horses. As the first trailer pulled out around 11:20, the helicopter's siren could be heard in the distance. Just 15 minutes later the second load of horses was leaving the trap, and by 12 pm the third group was loaded on the final trailer. In the third group, it appeared that two horses refused to load and ropes were used to get them on the trailer. No saddle horses were used this time.
On September 15th, our observer notes a completely terrified mare, pressing herself against the trap, refusing to move. A rope was used to move the horse forward and help load her onto the trailer. The BLM told our observer the mare was missing an eye. Today, AWHC was alerted that the BLM euthanized her on September 16, 2021. She was 16 years old and lived her entire life, thriving in the wild.

September 16, 2021: 12 wild horses were captured today and one 16-year-old mare was euthanized due to blindness.

AWHC's observer was the only member of the public observing today. There was one member of the media present as well.

Observers started the day at temporary holding again today and watched mares and foals load the BLM trailer that would take them to short-term holding.

The Runs

There was only one run today. The pilot ended the operation early due to high winds. There were about ten horses and at least one, tiny foal in the run. Our observer noted that as soon as the foal was separated it started calling for its mother, even as the trailer she was on pulled away and out of sight.

After the operation ended for the day, the observers went to temporary holding to get a closer look at the horses. Our observer noted that the herd that was brought in today was extremely bonded. The whole time they walked around holding, the stallion was calling to his mares and foals (it turned out to be two foals). The mother of the small foal was a gorgeous, tall red roan. She was extremely protective and the foal was glued to her side, leading our observer to think the foal was very young.

Our representative then went to the BLM's Burns Wild Horse Corrals in Hines, Oregon. The horses from the Barren Valley Complex roundup were not taken here, but the facility was filled with horses nonetheless. This facility has a "self-guided" auto tour, essentially a driveway around the pens of the facility where you can view the horses. There were tiny foals, weaned young ones, mares, geldings, and stallions in various pens throughout the corrals. About half the horses had been processed (wore tags and had brands on their necks) and the other half was not. As so many roundups have occurred this summer, these were likely the latest wild horses to lose their freedom and end up in the corrals. Notably, there was no shade in any of the pens and the flies were terrible. However, the horses had minerals and plenty of hay.

On top of seeing once wild, federally protected wild horses penned, tagged, and branded our observer was able to see the site where Warm Springs mares would have been surgically sterilized if AWHC’s litigation had not prevented the ovariectomy via colpotomy procedures from taking place.

Notable Instances

While being pushed through the chute, two mares flipped over while resisting loading onto the trailer. The second mare was stuck after she fell and BLM personnel had to open the chute in order for her to get up. Both mares were loaded on the trailer.

See video of the second mare

September 15, 2021: 106 wild horses lost their freedom forever in today's capture operation.

Today the observers started at temporary holding to watch the mares and foals load into the BLM trailer that would ship them to the Holding Corrals in Bruneau, Idaho. The stallions were especially attentive in this group, coming to the sides of the chute to say goodbye to their mares one last time. It was a truly heartbreaking way to start the day.

The roundup operation was at the same trap and observation site as yesterday. The helicopter was out flying with no runs until about 11:45 when the helicopter appeared in the distance as streams of horses came down out of the hills.

Run 1: This was a huge run, with over 30 horses. Our observer could see at least 7 foals in this group. They all came in together and packed the trap.
Run 2: There were about 19 horses or more in this group. Our observer could see at least 5 foals as the horses were sorted for loading to temporary holding. It became apparent that the contractors were becoming pretty aggressive with their flags as they tried to sort and load the horses.
Run 3: There were about 22 horses in this run. One horse in particular caught our observer's attention. The horse had pressed itself against a gate in the trap and appeared too terrified to move. A rope was used to move the horse forward and help load it onto the trailer. (BLM later informed observers that the horse was blind in at least one eye, as her eye was missing, and that she was still being evaluated to see if she was lactating and blind in the remaining eye.) While no horses were reported as euthanized today, our observer remains concerned that this mare will be put down because of this condition.
Run 4: There were at least 11 horses in this run. The helicopter started bringing the horses towards the trap before Run 3 was loaded and out of the trap. (The runs today ran much closer together than yesterday.)

The operation ended around 3:30 today. After the last run, the observers went back to temporary holding to watch the horses being sorted.

Notable Instances

In the second run of the day, our observer documented a tiny black foal being kicked hard by a stallion that was reacting to being hit by a contractor using a flag. While flag contact with wild horses is allowed under the BLM's Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) policies, contractors are not allowed to strike or beat a wild horse in an abusive manner. From our observer's point of view, there were several times where she documented aggressive flag contact with a wild horse. (BLM personnel simply stated that the contractors were trying not to make contact with the horses but that the horses were not moving through the trap).
During the final run of the day, a mare and foal split off from the main group and avoided capture. After the bulk of the horses were in the trap, four riders mounted and the helicopter went after the pair. In this second attempt at capture, the mare and foal split and went in different directions. The helicopter stayed on the foal and drove it towards the riders. The foal was then chased, roped, and brought into the trap by the riders. The helicopter then went after the mare. It pushed the mare around the area but was called off and the mare was let go. BLM informed the observers that it was determined the foal was of weaning age and therefore the mother did not need to be brought in as well.
While sorting the horses, a mare that hung her leg on the side of the chute.

September 14, 2021: 87 wild horses were stampeded into traps today.

Today the observers started at temporary holding to watch the mares and foals load into BLM trailers that would ship them to Holding Corrals in Bruneau, Idaho. BLM is shipping all the horses there and once the roundup is over then they will choose 50 mares who will receive GonaCon fertility control and choose stallions to be released.

While loading, one mare got stuck in the chute. Staff tried to wave a flag to move her and had to physically move her head off the bar before she jumped, releasing herself. She continued to resist but eventually succumbed to the pressure and loaded into the big stock trailer.

Observers arrived at the roundup viewing spot, which was the same as yesterday in time for potentially the second run of the day. Halfway through the day observers were allowed to move about 50 yards closer to the trap.

As soon as our observer arrived on scene, she noticed that the contractor was not letting the horses settle into the trap before loading them onto the trailer. Instead, the horses were sorted as soon as they were captured.

The Runs

Run 2: There were about 15 or more horses in this group and at least two foals. A very tiny foal came in at the back.
Run 3: About 16 or more horses, with at least 3 foals in this group, including another very young foal.
Run 4: About 11 or more horses in this run, and at least one foal. This group's attitude was very defiant, fighting for their freedom.
Run 5: There were about 17 or more horses in this run. Two horses avoided initial capture, one was six months old and one was a yearling. Both horses got to the top of the wings, but right before entering the trap they turned around, faced the helicopter, and ran out. They darted off in different directions. The helicopter took off after the older horse that headed into the hills. Two contractors on horseback started to come to the pilot's aid when the younger horse made a beeline for the observers. At that point, all three riders and the helicopter converged on the young horse. The foal was roped, fell to the ground, reared at its restraint, and took off at a run despite the rope. He was sadly already under control of the rider and was brought back to the trap. After this foal was secured, the pilot looked for the older horse but he was already too far away for the ropers to get to. So he is free another day, but without his family.

BLM allowed the observers to see the empty trap at the end of the day. Our observer described it as surprisingly narrow.

Notable Instances

When sorting Run 3 for transport to temporary holding, our observer noticed that the contractor's staff appeared to be using an electric prod. This was clear based on the shape and color of the tool and the horses' reactions to its use. Throughout the day our observer noted heavy reliance on the electric prods, raising animal welfare concerns. Electric prods are unfortunately allowed under the BLM's Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program policies, however, they must be used sparingly, as a last resort, and with permission from the BLM's lead.

While sorting this group for transport to temporary holding, one horse absolutely refused to load onto the trailer - holding on to his freedom for as long as he could. About 20 minutes in, after trying all sorts of methods to push the horse forward (including giving it time out of the chute) the contractor brought in ropes. With two ropes on the horse, then threaded through the trailer bars and tied to a saddle horse on either side - the contractor's staff then used that leverage and the movement of their saddle horses to forcefully pull the horse onto the trailer. Even this heartbreaking scene took several attempts to accomplish. Finally, the horse was loaded. He audibly protested by pawing in the trailer as they pulled away from the trap.

The pace horses were pushed through the trap and into the trailer was significantly more rushed than previous days and horses seemed to crash into each other (see images). This also raised animal welfare concerns.

September 13, 2021: 88 wild horses lost their freedom today.

Today was the first day in the Sheepshead/Heath Creek HMA. BLM stated it plans to remove about 800 wild horses from this area, as horses in the areas to the South tend to travel here for water. So, we expect them to be here for the majority of the operation.

There were three members of the public observing today. The observation was about 1/4 mi away, on a hillside, and had a clear view of the wings and the trap.

Run 1 had about 17 horses, the horses avoided the trap several times (what came to be a theme with this HMA).
Run 2 had about 13 but after two failed attempts to get this group into the trap the helicopter let them go. [AWHC's observer believes these same horses were captured later in the day]
- [There was a break to move the wings of the trap given the difficulty]
Run 3 had about 14 horses. The helicopter brought in 10 first, and let four split off. A black mare in the group of ten tried to jump the fence panels of the trap. Both groups had at least one foal.
- [Consistently we were seeing the contractor separating foals from the adult horses as they come into the trap for transport to temporary holding where they were reunited with their mothers.]
Run 4 had 10 horses.
Run 5 had 6 horses, the smallest our observer saw today.
Run 6 had 15 horses. This herd was very defiant. The herd banded together and would simply stop moving as the helicopter circled. Eventually, they were all captured.
- [Twice today one of the contractor's trailers blocked the trap from view.]
Run 7 had 10 horses.

**Interesting note about the contractor, Sun J. The helicopter uses a megaphone to sound off "cop car" sounds and sirens throughout the operation. The pilot would sound the sirens intermittently. According to the BLM staff, the sirens allowed him to stay back farther from the horses. To our observer, the sirens on the helicopter were simply symbolic of the attitude BLM has towards wild horses generally. BLM constantly, literally, sounds the alarm by blaming the wild horses unfairly for range degradation across the West.

Our observer left a few runs before the end of the day to see temporary holding. After viewing temporary, she saw (from the highway) the helicopter pushing a herd of horses who were simply walking. It appeared that the horses were coming from a far distance from the trap.

September 12, 2021: 8 wild horses were captured today and there was 1 death – A 3-year-old mare with a pre-existing condition/physical defect of a clubfoot was euthanized.

September 11, 2021: 86 wild horses were captured today and there were no deaths reported.

September 10, 2021: 24 wild horses were rounded up and removed today and there were no deaths reported. The operation was suspended early today because of high winds and rain.

September 9, 2021:

The BLM stampeded 100 horses into traps today. The horses scored body conditions between 2-4 and the weather reached highs of 101 degrees.

Today, three wild horses lost their lives. The BLM euthanized a four-year-old mare, a three-year-old stallion, and a two-year-old stallion for a "pre-existing condition/physical defect of blindness/eye abnormality."

September 8, 2021:

Today 98 wild horses lost their freedom and two lost their lives. The horses came in with body condition scores between 2-4. The weather hit highs of 100 degrees.

The BLM euthanized a 15-year-old stallion for a "pre-existing condition/physical defect of blindness/hematoma in eye." They also euthanized a seven-year-old mare for a "pre-existing condition/physical defect of fractured fetlock."