Roundup Report: South Steens Wild Horse Roundup

August 17, 2024

AWHC Contributor

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) initiated a wild horse roundup in the South Steens Herd Management Area (HMA) on August 15, 2024. This area spans over 130,000 acres in Oregon. The BLM aimed to capture 600 horses using helicopters, with plans to remove 562, treat 19 with the fertility control drug GonaCon, and release 38 back into the wild. This operation sought to adjust the horse population to the BLM's unscientific appropriate management level (AML) of 159-304 horses. A 2019 survey estimated the population at 727.

Post Roundup Summary

Aug 15, 2024-Aug 21, 2024

Observers documented several alarming patterns. The trap’s construction appeared consistently flawed and/or dangerous, resulting in chaos, distress, lunging, overcrowding, and near escapes. A significant number of horses were euthanized due to an eye abnormality, many of which were cremellos. In the 2022 South Steens roundup, the BLM euthanized 22 horses, 11 of whom were cremellos.

Upon the roundup’s conclusion, the range appeared barren to our observer.

Contractor: Sampson Livestock LLC. Unreported payment.

Short term holding (STH): Burns Wild Horse Corrals^*^{According to observer report}

Final totals^{*According to BLM report}

Captured: 869 horses—over BLM target.
Shipped: 860

Herd reduction: 91%—below AML.^{*According to BLM's estimated population}

9 Deaths.^{*According to BLM report}

6 of the 9 due to an eye abnormality

AWHC is on the ground—see our reports below

August 21, 2024

Weather: 40s°- 80s°F

Summary: On the last day of the roundup, observers were at a viewpoint with poor visibility of the loading area. The BLM added 120+ horses to its total for removal, essentially zeroing out the range. Over nine runs, the helicopter pushed sparse groups from afar. A trio of bachelors was trapped, but one palomino escaped when a contractor appeared unexpectedly. He lunged over the wing, cleared the jute, and raced to freedom. Another bachelor ducked under the jute, following the palomino. The two disappeared behind a gully. It is unclear if they remain free.

In a subsequent run, the helicopter lost a band in the wings, likely startled. The band bolted in the other direction and away from the trap site. A handler failed to bring attention back to the trap, and the helicopter pushed them to no avail. The band was later captured.

By the end of operations, observers noted that the range was starkly barren of horses.

Daily total^{*According to BLM report}

Captured: 45 (20 stallions, 17 mares, 8 foals)
Shipped: 129 (30 stallions; 60 mares; 30 foals)

1 Death. ^*^{According to BLM report}

20+ year old buckskin stallion with acute condition – poor body condition

August 20, 2024

Weather: 40s°- high 80s°F

Summary: Over ten runs, mostly small groups were driven into the trap. Observers had low visibility of the trap site; the trap’s flaws appeared amended today (covered panels and extended wings). Temporary and short-term holding (Burns facility) did not offer public viewing.

Daily total^{*According to BLM report}

Captured: 117 (43 stallions, 52 mares, 22 foals)
Shipped: 107 (23 stallions; 53 mares; 31 foals)

Horses entering into trap.

August 19, 2024

Weather: Ranged in the 80s°F

Summary: Four observers attended today’s roundup and arrived at the new capture location. The unexpected relocation caused confusion between the observers and BLM; attendees had to scout their own photo location. Soon after, the contractor demanded they change observation points. Observers were placed about a half mile from the trap with far less visibility.

At the trap site, several contractor vehicles were haphazardly parked in front of the trap. An observer noted that the contractors' brightly colored outfits could potentially spook the horses. Moreover, barbed fencing in the area appeared improperly flagged—a potential danger to the running horses.

Over seven runs, several large bands of horses were driven into the trap. One group briefly broke away, only to be pursued again. In the trap, horses crowded, with some lunging at the panels. Surprisingly, many bands calmed down, which an observer suggested might be due to the presence of older horses, who had experienced capture before and were familiar with the process. As one large group entered the trap, another was still in the loading area.

Daily total^{*According to BLM report}

Captured: 133 (48 stallions, 54 mares, 31 foals)
Shipped: 135 (61 stallions; 49 mares; 25 foals)

August 18, 2024

Weather: High 50s°- high 80s°F

Summary: Over seven runs, observers had clear visibility of today’s roundup. The helicopter began pushing several bands of horses; trapped and sweaty, smaller groups appeared to calm faster than larger ones. A couple more bands approaching the trap hesitated at the neck, only one pinto temporarily evaded the trap. The remaining bands stalemated, staring down the helicopter or down the trap entrance, despite the low-hanging pilot. A handler eventually ran at the horses, brandishing a red flag to push them into the trap. The helicopter departed and retrieved the stray pinto.

The next trapped group was large and bottlenecked in the trap’s loading area. Several horses attempted to escape, jumping and lunging into panels. One horse was particularly panicked and repeatedly lunged at other horses to attempt escape. Overcrowding and chaos escalated to the point of this horse crawling on top of the other horses, even getting his entire body on top of them and lunging to break free. Throughout these runs, the trap was overcrowded and chaotic, leaving trapped horses in distress. Moreover, the operation failed to clear the trap’s dust; large puddles of water remained, in the two sections horses move fastest. Altogether, the trap site became a major hazard for horse injury.

Temporary holding was private and inaccessible to the public.

Daily total^{*According to BLM report}

Captured: 129 (48 stallions, 56 mares, 25 foals)
Shipped: 161 (49 stallions; 85 mares; 27 foals)

3 Deaths.^*^{According to BLM report}

8 year old sorrel stallion with pre-existing eye abnormality – blind in one eye
6 year old sorrel mare with pre-existing eye abnormality – blind in one eye
13 year old sorrel mare with acute condition – poor body condition, unable to maintain or improve

Trap chaos; pinto mounting other horses to escape.

Handler pushing horses into trap, shrouded in clouds of dust.

August 17, 2024^{*According to BLM report}

Summary: 2 observers present.

Daily total^{*According to BLM report}

Captured: 128 (40 stallions; 61 mares; 27 foals)
Shipped: 127 (36 stallions; 50 mares; 41 foals)

1 Death.^*^{According to BLM report}

10+ year old cremello stallion with pre-existing condition/eye abnormality - broken teeth & blindness

August 16, 2024^{*According to BLM report}

Summary: 6 observers present.

Daily total^{*According to BLM report}

Captured: 163 (52 stallions; 70 mares; 41 foals)
Shipped: 165 (60 stallions; 72 mares; 33 foals)

3 Deaths.^*^{According to BLM report}

20+ year old dun stallion, with pre-existing condition/unable to maintain or improve - no teeth
5 year old pinto stallion with pre-existing eye abnormality - missing eye
14 year old cremello mare with pre-existing eye abnormality - blindness

August 15, 2024^*^{According to BLM report}

Summary: 11 observers present.

Daily total^{*According to BLM report}