2021 Stinkingwater Wild Horse Gather
Purpose of Gather:
The Appropriate Management Level – the number of horses the range can sustainably support in conjunction with other animals and resource uses – for the Stinkingwater Herd Management Area is 40 to 80 animals. An aerial survey of Stinkingwater HMA occurred on June 21, 2021. During this survey, a direct count of 449 horses (382 adults, 67 foals) were documented within and adjacent to the HMA.
Details of Gather:
Helicopter drive-trapping operations will begin on August 15, 2021, or close thereto, and last 1 to 2 weeks. Exact start and end dates will be determined by the contractor’s availability. Watch for updates on this page.
Approximately 420 animals are planned for capture and transport to Oregon’s Off-Range Wild Horse and Burro Corrals, located in Hines, where they will be prepared for the BLM’s adoption and sales programs or long-term holding facilities located in Midwestern pastures. About 30 of those will be returned to the range, including 18 mares to be treated with GonaCon-Equine contraceptive.
Public Observation:
Please read the OBSERVATION PROTOCOL.
The public is welcome to view the Stinkingwater HMA gather. You must call ahead, by 5 p.m. PST the previous day, to let us know of your planned attendance: 541-573-4519. Observers must attend a pre-viewing briefing at the BLM Burns District Office, 28910 Hwy 20 West in Hines. This will occur each morning prior to departure to the HMA. Observers arriving at the viewing area without first attending the briefing shall not participate in the observation day.
Observation will likely be held daily, on a first come, first served basis. Every effort will be made to accommodate everyone interested each day, however, participation may be limited and/or some days of the gather may not provide a viewing opportunity due to variable circumstances such as moving the trap location (not gathering), no safe area to view activity or disguise vehicles, rainy or windy conditions (not gathering), poor vehicle access, etc.
Notice on the days where no viewing opportunity exists will likely be given on short notice – perhaps the day before or the morning of the gather operation. You may attend multiple, consecutive observation days as long as you are within the first come, first served maximum (if one is set).
The number of media and public in the gather observation site may be limited in order to allow for social distancing. The CDC has offered guidance to help people visiting public lands prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.
Access to and distance from the capture site location will be determined jointly by the Contractor and the BLM's Contracting Officer's Representative prior to gather operations. Safety of the horses, crew and public, is our top priority.
Adoption Information:
Many horses from the Stinkingwater gather will be available for adoption beginning in early January 2022. Adoption horses have yet to be selected. The method of adoption (online event, in-person event, first come first serve, etc.) is still under consideration as well.
Background:
Horses in the herd trace their ancestry primarily to horses abandoned by homesteaders, horses escaped from ranches in the area and offspring of licensed and trespass horses that have used the area in the past. They range in color and include blue and red roan, as well as bay, black and sorrel. In terms of size, this hard has been managed for a larger draft type horse. Horses range anywhere from 14.2 to 16 hands and 950 to 1,350 pounds.
The herd area is 30 miles east of Burns, Oregon. Access to the west side of the herd area is by way of the Stinkingwater access road.
Daily Gather Reports
- Saturday, August 21, 2021
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Animals gathered: 7 (2 stallions, 3 mares, 2 foals)
Animals shipped: 7 (2 stallions, 3 mares, 2 foals)
Animal deaths: None.
Other: Henneke Body Score of animals gathered today is 4-5; sunny; gather operations ended at 60 degrees Fahrenheit at 10:00 a.m. GATHER CONCLUDED.
- Friday, August 20, 2021
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Animals gathered: 30 (9 stallions, 15 mares, 6 foals)
Animals shipped: 29 (8 stallions, 15 mares, 6 foals)
Animal deaths: 1 - 12-year-old dun stallion euthanized with pre-existing condition of blindness/eye abnormality (8/20).
Other: Henneke Body Score of animals gathered today is 4-5; sunny; gather operations ended at 84 degrees Fahrenheit at 1:30 p.m.
- Thursday, August 19, 2021
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Animals gathered: 29 (10 stallions, 11 mares, 8 foals)
Animals shipped: 29 (10 stallions, 11 mares, 8 foals)
Animal deaths: None.
Other: Henneke Body Score of animals gathered today is 4-5; cloudy and windy; gather operations ended at 70 degrees Fahrenheit at 10:00 a.m. due to wind.
- Wednesday, August 18, 2021
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Animals gathered: 41 (20 stallions, 13 mares, 8 foals)
Animals shipped: 41 (20 stallions, 13 mares, 8 foals)
Animal deaths: None.
Other: Henneke Body Score of animals gathered today is 4-5; cloudy and windy; gather operations ended at 69 degrees Fahrenheit at 10:30 a.m. due to wind.
- Tuesday, August 17, 2021
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Animals gathered: 56 (21 stallions, 24 mares, 11 foals)
Animals shipped: 56 (21 stallions, 24 mares, 11 foals)
Animal deaths: None.
Other: Henneke Body Score of animals gathered today is 4-5; hazy and windy; gather operations ended at 74 degrees Fahrenheit at 10:30 a.m. due to wind.
- Monday, August 16, 2021
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Animals gathered: 76 (19 stallions, 33 mares, 24 foals)
Animals shipped: 105 (41 stallions, 39 mares, 25 foals)
Animal deaths: 1 - stud yearling euthanized with pre-existing condition/physical defect of severe chronic skin lesions covering over half of the body, indicative of autoimmune disease; poor prognosis for recovery.
Other: Henneke Body Score of animals gathered today is 4-5; sunny, with smoke cover aloft; gather operations ended at 1:30 p.m. and 90 degrees Fahrenheit; two members of the public in attendance to observe.
- Sunday, August 15, 2021
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Animals gathered: 162 (52 stallions, 66 mares, 44 foals)
Animals shipped: 131 (29 stallions, 59 mares, 43 foals)
Animal deaths: 1 - stud foal euthanized with pre-existing condition of blindness/eye abnormality.
Other: Henneke Body Score of animals gathered today: 4-5; Sunny, with smoke cover aloft, gather operations ended at 83 degrees at 10:30 a.m.; 3 public observers in attendance.
Gather Status
GATHER CONCLUDED AUGUST 21, 2021.
Animals Gathered:
401
Animals Shipped:
398
Animals Returned to Home Range:
0
Animal Deaths:
1 - stud foal euthanized with pre-existing condition of blindness/eye abnormality (8/15)
1 - stud yearling euthanized with pre-existing condition/physical defect of severe chronic skin lesions covering over half of the body, indicative of autoimmune disease; poor prognosis for recovery (8/16)
1 - 12-year-old dun stallion euthanized with pre-existing condition of blindness/eye abnormality (8/20)
Scroll to the bottom of this gather page for detailed “Daily Gather Reports."