The Iceman Cometh

7/22/11

2011-07-22T15:46:00.000-07:00

7/15/11

2011-07-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

Farrier Day 6/25/11

2011-06-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

Today was "Farrier Day". Thanks for all of your patience, Iceman. And thanks for all of your hard work, Osvaldo.

Howdy 5/13/11

2011-05-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

Howdy out there in "Internet Land".

Bath time 4/23/11

2011-04-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

Another great day for Iceman. He had breakfast with his new pasture mates, spent some time in the turn out, then enjoyed a good bath. Here are some shots of Eric and Iceman under City Centre today taking some time to cool down. Iceman is is doing awesome when it comes to tolerating his bath time! :)

From stall to pasture 4/22/11

2011-04-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

Iceman has graduated from his stall and is now enjoying life in the O.K. Corral pasture. Now he can kick up his heels, make some new friends, and have a bit more freedom when he isn't busy working. We are all very happy for Iceman and he seems to be enjoying the change.

Sharil and Iceman

2011-04-15T17:08:00.000-07:00

Sharil and Iceman had a nice play day on Thursday. Explored around the ranch and had fun with some of our obstacles we have set up on the property. Thanks, Sharil, for sending in the pics and for all of your help!

Iceman Update 4/9/11

2011-04-09T16:55:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from today. We had some crazy weather..it would be sunny and warm, then cloudy and rainy, and then cold and snowy. Couldn't get much done today with the changing weather but we did manage to get these photos. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Iceman is doing great and socializing very well. We hope to post more photos / videos of time in the saddle next week.

Iceman Update 3/25/11

2011-03-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

Iceman is doing great. Unfortunately, for the last two weeks, we have had some very cold, windy, and wet weather so we haven't been working as much as we should. Hopefully next week we can get some footage of us back in the saddle and show how well Iceman is doing. Luckily, it was drizzling all day today, so we didnt have much blowing sand. Iceman is looking great though, staying happy and healthy.

Ride for the Mustangs

2011-03-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

World Record Ride for the Mustangs!

ACTHA's 2011 World Record Ride, Ride for the Mustangs, has been set for June 4th and will benefit our wild ones and the Mustang Heritage Foundation.
Our Las Vegas area host will be Sandy Valley Ranch out in Sandy Valley, NV. Check out ACTHA or Sandy Valley Ranch for more details.
**************************************************
In support of Mustang Heritage Foundation`s mission to increase the number of adoptions of American Mustangs, ACTHA has selected the Mustang Heritage Foundation as its main beneficiary for the 2011 Guinness™ World Record Ride.

Be a Part of History...

and you will be doing an amazing thing to help the great American Mustang. This is a Charity ride and net proceeds from each rider entry fee will go directly to the Mustang Heritage Foundation.

Iceman in March

2011-03-06T17:27:00.000-08:00

BLM Accelerates Fundamental Reforms to Wild Horse and Burro Management

2011-03-06T17:21:00.000-08:00

Release date 2/24/11 - Agency to Cut Back on Gathers; Increase Fertility Control and Adoptions; Strengthen Humane Animal Care and Handling Measures

BLM Accelerates Fundamental Reforms to Wild Horse and Burro Management

Iceman 2/26/11

2011-02-26T18:47:00.000-08:00

Iceman Update 2/18/11

2011-02-19T18:06:00.000-08:00

Iceman is doing awesome. Eric and Sharil spent alot of time with him on Friday and it couldn't have gone any better. He stands perfectly still while tacking (and untacking) and both of them took turns being led around the round pen. Iceman is taking their weight on his back just fine and learning to trust people being up there and out of sight.

In the saddle 2/12/11

2011-02-12T17:26:00.000-08:00

Iceman made some amazing progress today. The weather was perfect, actually in the 70's and barely a breeze. Eric worked with Iceman in the round pen just after breakfast and got him all tacked up and ready to go. Iceman stands perfectly still while being tacked and doesn't even have to be tied. Eric worked some more with him under saddle for a bit, and then Dave came in to assist. With Dave holding a lead line, Eric sat in the saddle on Iceman and they made their way around the pen. Iceman was calm and collected, and never gave any fuss. He is doing so well, and before too long, we hope to blog about some solo riding. We were all so proud of Iceman today. :)

Time under saddle 2/11/11

2011-02-11T16:39:00.000-08:00

2/4/11

2011-02-04T15:38:00.001-08:00

1/29/11

2011-01-29T17:56:00.000-08:00

Iceman is off to enjoy the 70 degree weather, soft sand, and shenanigans with friends....

The Good Life 1/21/11

2011-01-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

Iceman is enjoying the "Good Life". Soakin' up the rays without a care in the world.

Farrier Day 1/14/11

2011-01-14T16:27:00.000-08:00

Beautiful day today. We just missed a cold front, so we have been enjoying some 60 degree weather during the day. Everyone, both human and equine, have been having a blast and thawing out. Iceman was due for a trim, so our farrier was out today. He was able to get all four hooves in no time at all. It was a nice change from the last time we had them done. Iceman spent the rest of the day just having fun in the sun. Ahh, the good life.

A big thank you goes out to Joe Weitekamp, for working out those kinks.

A Great Start to 2011

2011-01-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

It has been a great start to the new year. We have had a nice few days break from the strong winds, rain, and snow. Iceman is doing fantastic. Eric spent most of the early morning working in the round pen, and they worked on tacking and mounting. Iceman is also noticeably better with trusting others, and is so much easier to be caught in the arena after being turned out. He must also be enjoying the weather because he has really been kicking up his hooves and having a blast! :)

Happy New Year! 12/31/10

2010-12-31T18:21:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all of you from all of us at Shiloh!!

Iceman's Christmas Eve 12/24/10

2010-12-24T17:05:00.000-08:00

A Foggy, Muddy Christmas Eve 12/24/10

2010-12-24T16:55:00.000-08:00

Iceman and Mojo 12/17/10

2010-12-17T16:09:00.000-08:00

It was a cold and wet day at the ranch. Some of the peaks around the valley were getting some snow, while everywhere else got some rain. Everyone was bundled up today and while the humans slowed down a bit, it didn't stop the horses from having some fun.

As you can see, Iceman doesn't discriminate with his play mates. Big or small, he loves them all! Today, he and Mojo had so much fun running all over the turn out. It was really cute to see them get along so well, and of course to see little Mojo's legs move so fast! :)

Got Stocking Stuffers?

2010-12-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

Iceman is definitely ready for Christmas!

Iceman's Newest Video!

2010-12-14T06:08:00.000-08:00

Iceman Update 12/2/10

2010-12-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

Iceman has had a busy few weeks. Lots of play, but also lots of work. Today, Eric tacked Iceman up and hopped in the saddle briefly. Iceman stands perfectly still while being tacked, and doesn't need to be tied. He also stands still for you as you mount. Iceman would take a few steps then Eric would hop off. He is still a bit unsure of himself, so if we keep taking baby steps we should be seeing some awesome results shortly. A big thank you goes out to Megan, Sharil, Dave, and Eric for all of their help!

ACTHA's Ride for the Mustangs!

2010-11-14T15:53:00.000-08:00

World Record Ride for the Mustangs!

ACTHA's 2011 World Record Ride "Ride for the Mustangs" has been set for June 4th and will benefit our wild ones and the Mustang Heritage Foundation.

Our Las Vegas area host will be Sandy Valley Ranch out in Sandy Valley, NV. Check out ACTHA or Sandy Valley Ranch for more details.

**************************************************

In support of Mustang Heritage Foundation`s mission to increase the number of adoptions of American Mustangs, ACTHA has selected the Mustang Heritage Foundation as its main beneficiary for the 2011 Guinness™ World Record Ride.

Be a Part of History...

and you will be doing an amazing thing to help the great American Mustang. This is a Charity ride and net proceeds from each rider entry fee will go directly to the Mustang Heritage Foundation.

Sharil and Iceman 11/11/10 - 11/12/10

2010-11-12T15:43:00.000-08:00

Iceman has had a great few days. Sharil has been working with him, and they have spent the majority of the last two days together. Sharil has a beautiful paint named Cochise, who is very similiar to Iceman. Cochise was found wandering the streets of Northwest Las Vegas years ago before eventually being rescued by Shiloh Horse Rescue. Sharil adopted him and he was very timid, spooky, and completely untrusting. Sharil had to basically start from scratch, learning trust and developing their relationship. Needless to say, they are now a perfect match. Iceman has been off the range for a few years now, but still never really lets his guard down. He has come a very long way though, as most of you already know, especially for being an estimated 7 years old when he was gathered.

At any rate, Sharil and Iceman make a great pair, and they seem to have a great understanding. Over the last few days, they focused primarily on desensitizing, which is something Joe Weitekamp worked very hard with Iceman on. He was also pampered, as Sharil broke out her grooming kit and cleaned Iceman right up (as much as you can with a light horse who has been in some mud). You could probably even smell him from miles away! He was also tacked up and worked a bit under saddle. He stands perfectly still as you get him ready, so now we will slowly but surely be picking up where Joe left off.

Until next time.....

Iceman's Obstacle Day 11/5/10

2010-11-05T17:16:00.000-07:00

Iceman spent most of the day with Eric in the Round Pen and the two them got alot of work done. They spent the early morning together walking all over the property and then finished off the day working with various obstacles like hoola hoops, tarps, mats, bags, and cones. It was a very nice day for Iceman. :)

Play Day 11/4/10

2010-11-04T16:03:00.000-07:00

Iceman and Cochise kicked up some dust today!

Iceman 10/29/10

2010-10-29T16:03:00.000-07:00

Iceman had an awesome day today and is still re-adjusting to his surroundings. He had a great time spending most of the day in one of our sandy turnouts. He ran all over, rolled, and played hard with a few of the board horses. He was kicking and bucking and really cutting loose, and it proved for some great entertainment for everyone around. Iceman is such a beautiful and unique Mustang, and is always a pleasure to watch.

Welcome back, Iceman! 10/28/10

2010-10-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to take a quick moment and welcome Iceman back to the ranch. As you all know, he has been at Joe Weitekamp's place for a few months for some professional training and just returned last night.

Eric was able to greet him this morning for a warm welcome back and Iceman seems to be settling in to his "new again" environment very well. We are all very excited to have him back to our ranch and see his progress first hand. More to come soon!

Iceman Update 10/15/10

2010-10-15T16:16:00.000-07:00

Eric finally made it out to Diamond W Ranch today to meet up with Joe Weitekamp and see how Iceman was doing. Unfortunately, due to busy schedules and distance, we haven't been able to keep up with this blog as much as we would have liked to over the last few months so thanks for being patient and staying with us. :)

As you can see, Iceman is doing fantastic. He looks great and has kept a healthy weight while he has been away. He has learned a great deal of ground work and doesn't spook as much as he used to. The biggest challenge with Iceman is just breaking through, and this is mostly due to his age and being a loner for so many years out on the open range. But all in all, we are proud of what has been accomplished, extremely thankful that he can be handled by others now, and hopefully be on his way to a permanent home very soon. As we have said before, if you or anyone else is interested in adopting Iceman, please contact us at shilohhorse@aol.com.

Joe has done an amazing job and we cannot thank him enough! :) Thanks, Joe!

Iceman as Artwork

2010-09-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Shiloh supporter and horse lover, Teak, who created this wonderful piece of artwork. Iceman looks great! :)

Help the Mustangs!

2010-08-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

Help the Mustangs- Jump on Board Madeline Pickens' Pony Express!

Please Vote for Shiloh Charitable Trust on Facebook!

2010-07-01T16:46:00.001-07:00

7/1/10

2010-07-01T16:36:00.001-07:00

We received an update from Joe Weitekamp today. Basically, Iceman is doing great. He is getting better about being caught in his pen, the round pen, and the arena. Joe has been working him on the obstacle course, trailer loading, and desensitizing. He is learning trust more and more as the days go on, and when he does "spook" he is much easier to handle. Iceman has been worked in the saddle a few times and is great with that, so Joe plans to get a few rides in soon. We hope to have some photos to share soon.

Update 6/17/10

2010-06-17T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Sorry for the lack of posting...as always, we have been busy. Iceman is doing great. We have received a few updates from Joe via email and we are very pleased with his reports and we hope to have some pictures or video soon.

Joe has been sending Iceman over various obstacles and he is starting to get the idea that he can't bolt from everything and calming down a bit. When he does try to bolt, it is alot easier to stay in control. Iceman will also be getting his hooves trimmed in the next few days by Joe's farrier.

So, all in all, everything is good. Thanks for tuning in and we hope to have some more updates very soon....

"Iceman Goes to Boot Camp"

2010-06-04T16:46:00.000-07:00

Well, after some careful consideration and discussion, we have agreed to send Iceman to have some professional training by Joe Weitekamp. Joe is a Natural Horsemanship Trainer based out of Las Vegas, Nevada and has become more recently known for his ability working with Mustangs. He has participated in numerous Extreme Mustang Makeover events in California and Texas and just last month placed in the Top Ten finalists for the Norco, CA competition. Joe is calm, collected, easy going, and has definitely made an impression with us so this decision was not hard to make. We know he will be in good hands and look forward to seeing the results. If you have been following our blogs, you know Joe has been conducting a few clinics for Shiloh and has had the chance to work with Iceman a few times already.

All of us at Shiloh hate to see him go, but we know this is the right choice. Our goal is to see Iceman go to a happy, loving home where he can reach his full potential. Eric has been our "Project Leader" from the start, and even he can only see Iceman 2 to 3 days a week at most. This training will provide Iceman with a much needed, daily routine and the discipline, respect, and trust needed to become a loyal companion to the right person. We hope to post as many pictures and updates as we can so stay tuned!

Calling All Riders

2010-06-03T18:56:00.000-07:00

CALL TO ALL HORSE RIDERS IN THE LAS VEGAS AREA TO JOIN THE GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® ATTEMPT FOR THE LARGEST TRAIL RIDING COMPETITION ON JUNE 13

ACTHA to Donate All ProceedS from the Event to Horse Rescue Charities Nationwide

The American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) is calling all riders in the Las Vegas area to grab their saddles on Sunday, June 13 and join the first-ever Guinness World Records attempt for the Largest Trail Riding Competition at SANDY VALLEY RANCH in Sandy Valley, NV (45 minutes south of Las Vegas) This local competition is one of 61 nationwide trail rides organized by ACHTA in a historic effort to bring thousands of horse enthusiasts together to raise more than $100,000 for horse rescue programs nationwide.

ACTHA has partnered with local organizers in the 48 states participating in the official Guinness World Records attempt, during which riders will compete on six-mile trails comprised of safe, fun and natural trail obstacles observed by professional judges. The local competition at Sandy Valley Ranch is open for anyone who wishes to partake in the record-breaking achievement to help raise much needed funds for national horse rescue charities.

"What makes this record attempt so significant to us is not just the Guinness World Records achievement in itself, but also the fact that thousands of volunteers will come together in one day to raise thousands of dollars for horse rescue programs across the nation,” explains,

Tom Scrima, general manager of ACTHA and organizer of the record attempt.

The simultaneous record attempt will culminate in a certificate presentation by an official Guinness World Records representative to ACTHA’s founders, during Clinton Anderson’s Walk About Tour at the renowned South Point Equestrian and Events Center in Las Vegas, NV. Thousands of riders are expected in the national competition, which will crown more than a hundred winners from three divisions. Participants will also be eligible to win over $1,200 in prizes at each location generously donated by ACTHA’s sponsors.

Riders in Las Vegas and beyond interested in participating in this first-ever Guinness World Records attempt for the Largest Trail Riding Competition can sign- up at www.actha.us.

ACTHA’s Mission:

· To provide an enjoyable venue showcasing the wonderful attributes of the great American trail horse, granting them the recognition they so richly deserve.

· To maintain a registry open to all breeds and a point designation system which will stay with each horse for its lifetime, thereby adding to their value and distinction.

· To enable the humane treatment of horses in need.

ACTHA's current sponsors and recognizing breed associations include:

The Horse Show with Rick Lamb RFDTV, American Paint Horse Association, Arabian Horse Association, Best of America by Horseback, Cavallo, Horse and Rider, Clinton Anderson / Down Under Horsemanship, Daily 72, Equestrianfriends.com, eZall Equestriansingles.com, Equine VIP, Equus Online University, HORSE COLIC RELIEF, Horse Loverz.com, HorseLoverZ.com, Horsemanship, HSUS, Life Data Labs (Farrier's Formula), Midwest Horse Digest, Molly's Custom Silver, Monty Roberts, Morgan Horse Association, Muddy Creek Rain Geer, Mustang Heritage Foundation, ROBART PINCHLESS BITS, Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, The Missouri Fox Trotter Association, The National Walking Horse Association, Today’s Horse Trader, Total Health Enhancement, Trail Blazer Magazine, Trail Town USA, Troxel, Tucker Saddles, US Horse Biz, Vetericyn.

Eric and Iceman

2010-06-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

Eric and Iceman had a great day today. It has been nearly three weeks since their last rendezvous but all went well. Iceman was haltered, lead around the property, grommed, hooves picked, fly sprayed, fly masked, turned out, and enjoyed an apple and a few carrots. He was also wormed the day before so all is good.

ACTHA / "Ride for the Rescues"

2010-06-02T17:07:00.001-07:00

Looking for something to do on June 13th? Love to trail ride? Check this out! Our neighbor, Sandy Valley Ranch is participating in The American Competitive Trail Horse Association's "Ride for the Rescues" trail ride. The Shiloh Horses will benefit from this event, so let's show our support for this record breaking ride!

More Iceman and Joe 5/1/10

2010-05-08T17:44:00.000-07:00

These are more photos taken by Tara Kilpatrick of Iceman at last Saturday's clinic. :)

Iceman and Joe 5/1/10

2010-05-05T17:20:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Here are some great photographs taken at Saturday's clinic of Joe working with Iceman. Joe used Iceman briefly a few times throughout the day as a demonstration horse and to help work out some kinks we were having, focusing mainly on manners. Thanks again, Joe!

Sharil and Iceman 5/1/10

2010-05-04T17:48:00.000-07:00

The clinic with Joe Weitekamp on Saturday was a huge success! A big thanks to everyone who participated and lended a helping hand, and an even bigger thanks to Joe for all of his hardwork and dedication to the horses. We appreciate all that you do for us! We had a great turnout, near perfect weather, and good food. Sharil and Iceman participated in the clinic as one of the Horse / Handler Teams and they did an awesome job together. Joe shared his knowledge and professional experience with gaining your horses respect from the ground up and building the perfect relationship with your horse. We had auditors along the outside of the arena taking notes, asking questions, and observing while a handful of folks and their horses practiced "hands on" and enjoyed some one on one experience with Joe. These are a few photos that I have received of Sharil and Iceman. They really make a great team and did an awesome job! You will see more picture posts over the next few days from Saturday's adventures. Joe even took the rope from Sharil a few times and used Iceman as a demonstration horse, which proved to be a real treat. More pictures soon! Enjoy!

Joe Weitekamp at Shiloh this Saturday!!

2010-04-27T17:39:00.001-07:00

Okay folks, we are full with participants for the Horse / Handler Teams but still have room for Auditors. If you are interested, click on the link below and send me an email to RSVP as soon as possible. The clinic is going to be a blast so come on out and meet some new people, have some fun, enjoy some good food, and maybe even learn something! :) See yall there!

***************************************************************

Joe Weitekamp Clinic

Saturday, May 1, 2010

9am at Shiloh

Please join us on May 1, 2010 at Shiloh as we welcome Extreme Mustang Makeover participant, Joe Weitekamp, for a special clinic. A perfect opportunity for those who have horses who need some help. Joe will be teaching his techniques of handling and gaining the respect of a difficult horse on the ground and building a stronger relationship with your horse.

For more information and to RSVP, please click HERE

Being Mustangs!

2010-04-16T17:17:00.000-07:00

Iceman spent the morning feeling wild and free as he played with fellow Mustang, Augustus. They ran, kicked, bucked, farted, rolled, and played halter grab in the soft, warm sand. It is always so wonderful to see Iceman interact with other horses since he was basically a loner for so many years on the open range, especially another Mustang.

Aztec and Iceman 4/15/10

2010-04-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

It's always a great day when an Alpaca and a Mustang can share their breakfast in perfect harmony.

Iceman's Good Friday

2010-04-02T16:45:00.000-07:00

Iceman definitely had a "Good Friday". The ranch was busy with lots of folks today and the weather was perfect once again. It was probably in the mid 60's with barely a cloud in sight.

It happened to be a very busy day at the ranch, so Iceman lucked out...he just lounged around all day and enjoyed some nice rolls in his stall.....ahhhh, the Good Life.

Eric and Iceman 4/1/10

2010-04-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

The Weather Forecast called for wind gusts up to 70 mph, rain, and snow in the pass, but as you can see...it wasn't. Nice, warm, and sunny day with barely a breeze....ahhh.

Eric and Iceman spent most of the morning together in the Round Pen and focused on tacking up. It has been about a week since Iceman had a saddle on, so he needed a bit of a tune up. :)

Wild and Free

2010-03-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

This is a great photo of Iceman taken by Shiloh Boarder and Volunteer, Dave Hickey, probably early January of 2009. Here Iceman is posing with one of the two Palominos that he roamed the range with.

The Great Escape!

2010-03-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

Iceman broke loose the other day and it was very apparent how comfortable he is on the property now since he galloped all over the 40 acres we have on the ranch! Eric, Sharil, and Jill took off on one of the carts to head to the back and try to catch him, but he would take off bucking and galloping into the Mesquite trees once they got close. He definitely enjoyed himself and stretched those legs...the weather was warm and beautiful and he was feeling great. He also got mixed in with three of the "Wanderers" and Charlie, and that was a sight to be see! The adrenaline kicked in, and the best part was little Charlie running with all his might to keep up with the larger guys. You can catch a glimpse of lil' Charlie in the photo....he is the tiny blur in the middle :)

Sharil and Iceman 3/26/10

2010-03-26T16:14:00.001-07:00

Iceman had a great day today, despite the crazy gusts of wind we were having all day. Eric spent some time with him this morning, and then Sharil took the ropes from there. Sharil and Iceman spent a few hours together, with most of the time spent being in the Round Pen. The two of them really are becoming fast friends...Sharil is building her confidence with Training and Iceman is building his trust and acceptance with others. He has really calmed down and is easier to catch (despite his "make a run for it and head for the trees" moment on the post above, haha) and once he knows he can trust you its amazing how much he seems to want to learn and how special he seems in your eyes. We put his fly mask on again today to make sure he remembers that scary thing since its almost fly season again and he was perfect, plus some sunblock was applied on his noise to help him adjust with the sunlight and the desert heat that is just around the corner. Sharil decided she was going to use some of her "fancy conditioner spray" on Iceman's mane and tail (while Eric just sighed and shook his head, haha) and Iceman did great...his tail and mane look very shiny now as you can see.

All in all, it was a great day at the ranch for Iceman. More importantly, we have applied for his title through the BLM and should receive it in a few weeks. If you or anyone you may know might be interested in adopting our Iceman then please let us know. He will definitely be looking for his special someone soon.

A Visit from Tara 3/11/10

2010-03-13T16:44:00.000-08:00

Hello all! Just wanted to share some great photos of Iceman from Thursday. Iceman had a very special visitor, an old friend of his from his range days...Tara Kilpatrick. Tara is a photographer from Sandy Valley who has been following the wild ones of the Red Rock HMA for nearly 10 years. She has had the privilege of knowing our Iceman since his birth, and has taken many of the wonderful photos from the range that we have shared with you on this blog. Tara snapped a few pictures of Eric and Sharil, but the best two photos are of her and Iceman.

It was so nice to see them together, and we hope that Iceman does remember her from those days. Tara would spend hours out there watching and photographing the horses and burros...sometimes even singing while she did it. It is such a wonderful feeling to know that Tara has been out there on the "front lines" watching over our wild ones (both pre and post gathers), confirming their well being and survival, and providing us with an awesom herd history and assisting the NWHA and BLM with journal and photo documentation.

This was an extremely special day for Tara, as we are sure it was for Iceman....he was so relaxed while in her company and seemed to be daydreaming of his wild days while she sang to him once again.

Thank you, Tara, for all that you do!

Photos from Thursday and Friday

2010-03-06T16:14:00.000-08:00

We have had some beautiful weather the last few days at the ranch...perfect for working with Iceman. As usual, he is doing great. Hopefully soon we can give him a bath and get rid of that dingy color, haha. We are all very anxious to see that beautiful Perlino again under all of that dirt!

Back in the day...

2010-02-28T17:24:00.000-08:00

A big thank you goes out to Photographer and friend, Tara Kilpatrick, for sharing these wonderful photographs with us. Tara has long documented some of our Southern Nevada wild ones, and has followed our "Iceman" since birth. These particular photos were taken in April of 2004, and you can't mistake Iceman at all in these photos! So tiny :) The Buckskin is his mother and the Palomino is his father.

Friday 2/26/10

2010-02-26T16:44:00.000-08:00

Sharil and Iceman spent some time together this morning, and as usual everything went great. Sharil has basically been reinforcing what Iceman has already learned up to this point and putting some focus on desensitizing. She used some fancy conditioner this morning when grooming, so Iceman was all "gussied up" for his big day. :) As you can see from the pictures, even Max (Sharil's dog) was busy at work today as he focused and learned some new techniques for handling Wild Mustangs. Iceman is becoming more and more confident with himself and his ranch surroundings as each day passes, and it is so wonderful to see his progress as we all learn and bond together.

Thursday 2/25/10

2010-02-25T17:21:00.000-08:00

Thursday was a wonderful day! The weather was great...the wind was mild, the sun was shining, the temp was nearly 70 degrees, and barely a cloud in the sky. Iceman had an awesome day and we hope you enjoy the photos :)

Friday 2/19/10

2010-02-20T13:11:00.001-08:00

Even though the weather wasn't sunny and 70 degrees, it still proved to be another busy day for Iceman on Friday. Eric started out the morning with the usual grooming routine (which is proving to be a difficult job on such a light horse with all the mud we have had lately) and after that they worked on tying. Iceman is quickly learning to stand still and release his own pressure when tied. After that, it was back to the Round Pen. The tack was brought out today and they worked under saddle for quite some time. Iceman is also picking up all his feet like a champ now, which is perfect since he is due for another trim.

Sharil also stepped back into the pen and worked with Iceman for the rest of the day. They worked on desensitizing activities and revisited what they had learned the day before for a few hours. After all the work was done, Sharil and Iceman took a long walk through the Mesquites to unwind. I am sure Iceman slept well after his busy day.

Thursday 2/18/10

2010-02-18T17:53:00.000-08:00

Eric recently attended Joe Weitekamp's "Wild to Mild" Mustang clinic
over at the Diamond W Ranch on Feb 13th. This was a great clinic, as it was the first time Joe worked with his Mustang for the Norco EMM Trail Challenge that is coming up in May. Eric learned alot and found it amazing how the smallest little detail can make such a big difference, and was ready to try out some techniques on Iceman.

On Thursday, Eric started out the morning with Iceman basically from ground zero, pretending they had no previous connection and worked his way up from there. Iceman has still been difficult for others to catch, so Eric was most excited to try out a few things in the Round Pen to polish up that area while focusing on pressure and release. In just 20 minutes the results were perfect as Iceman was focused and completely approachable. After an hour or so, Sharil decided to step in the Pen with Iceman and try her luck. Eric explained the process to Sharil and after a few minutes she had the hang of it. Iceman never took his eyes off of Sharil, listened to every command, and for the first time she was able to walk from one end of the pen to the other and catch Iceman without any hassle. It was perfect. Again, it is amazing how you can gain a little bit of knowledge, tweak something in the smallest way, and get really huge results. This was a great day for all parties involved, especially Iceman.

Lots of Mud.

2010-02-13T18:26:00.001-08:00

It seems that the soggy, rainy days have finally stopped, so now we just have to wait for everything to dry up. Right now at the ranch we have mud, more mud, and even more mud...you could easily call it "Shiloh Swamp". The weather seems to be up in the 60's lately, and it feels like Spring is near so it shouldn't be long before all the ponds, lakes, and bogs are gone and we can get back to business as usual.

As for Iceman, all is well. He is doing great and has been enjoying himself with his friends as you can tell from the pictures. Once everything is dry and safe, we will be back to working with him full swing, and I know Eric is itching to get back into that saddle. Dave and Sharil have been spending some quality time with Iceman as usual, taking him on walks and playing with some obstacles.

Iceman really has come such a long way in the short time that we have had him, especially since he can't be handled on a daily basis. I imagine his progress is going to move that much faster over the next few months too. It is strange to think that a year ago he was still roaming freely on the range.

"A Ladies Man"

2010-02-05T18:50:00.000-08:00

Iceman is definitely living up to his name these days. After Eric and Iceman worked this morning on his hooves, the ropes were handed over and for the rest of the day, Iceman spent some time with three different ladies and loved every minute of it. Sharil spent alot of time with Iceman this afternoon, and then Shiloh Boarders and Volunteers, Jenny and Rachel did the same. As always, its nice to see Iceman being handled by multiple people since all the interaction just helps him get on the road to a permanent home that much faster.

Lazy Thursday

2010-02-04T17:07:00.000-08:00

Iceman spent some time working with Eric this morning, but for the most part he just really made the most of his day lounging with friends in the perfect weather. Nothing like hanging out and soaking up some sun with his buddies in a soft, sandy turnout while it's 60 degrees and sunny. :) Ahhh, the good life.

Slippin' and Slidin'

2010-01-29T17:44:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a while since we have posted, but the crazy weather around here lately has put a "damper" on getting alot of work done. We have had record breaking rainfall here in Southern Nevada over the past week or so, and in turn we have been left with lots of mud. The rain has been great for all of us here in the Mojave though, we definitely needed it. Plus, it has provided us with some beautiful scenery as the mountains have been covered in snow and it has sometimes been an adventure getting through the pass as we are heading to the ranch. These are some great pictures taken around our surrounding areas over the last two weeks.

Wild to Mild

2010-01-16T16:40:00.000-08:00

Wild to Mild
Mustang/Colt starting Clinic

Joe Weitekamp will be picking up a new Mustang for the Norco Extreme Mustang Makeover on February 12th 2010 and will be holding a clinic on February 13th and 14th. Come on out and join him as he starts his new Mustang.

What to expect:Joe will be working with his Mustang and explain what he is doing and why as he starts laying the foundation of trust, respect and leadership, that is required for further training.

There will be question and answer periods where you can ask more specific questions

This Clinic will be audit only

Where: 8425 Jakes Pl.
When: February 13th and 14th
Time: 9:00 am to ?
Refreshments: Cold drinks will be provided however food will
not. Please bring a picnic lunch.
Cost: $30 each day or $50 for both (If purchased by
February 10th)
$40 each day or $70 for both ( if purchased after
February 10th)

Please visit www.diamondwranch.net to reserve your place or call 702-664-4381. Space will be limited so reserve yours early. All purchases are final and non-refundable but they are transferable.

(Photos from Joe's clinic in November, working with Iceman)

Iceman Update 1/16/10

2010-01-15T20:16:00.000-08:00

Iceman enjoyed a day off from work and just had some fun today in the large arena with his pals. He was really kicking up the dust, and they all had a great time stretching those legs. Sharil spent some more time with Iceman in the afternoon and they are becoming fast friends.

Iceman Update 1/14/10

2010-01-14T16:45:00.000-08:00

Eric and Iceman had a great day today! After their usual walk together, they made some great progress. Iceman will finally allow Eric to pick up all four of his hooves. The front left has never really been an issue, but once it was lifted it was always quickly put right back down. Today Iceman decided he was completely comfortable with this activity and stayed very calm and trusting. Iceman kept each hoof up until Eric decided to let them down and on top of that, he stood still and relaxed for Eric as he had his hooves picked for the first time! You would have thought Iceman was a professional, haha. Anyways, this means that Iceman's next trim may just be a walk in the park for him....and once that is accomplished, they can move on to bigger and better things.

Speaking of bigger and better things, we will have Iceman's title probably sometime in April. If any of you are interested in adopting him, or know someone who may be looking for a Mustang, then let us know. We imagine he will be a hot item once he is able to be adopted, and he is going to be one heck of a horse.

After Iceman's day was done, he and his pal Boone decided to take a nap together and enjoy each others company. They have become such great friends, and it is so nice to see that comraderie.

Shiloh's Stance on the Wild Mustangs

2010-01-11T13:53:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to clarify Shiloh Horse Rescue's stance on our Wild Horses. (Sometimes our stance differs from Eric's. We can agree to disagree on some things!)

Shiloh Horse Rescue believes that our Mustangs should be left in the Wild, here in the West where they belong. We do not agree that they should be rounded up and sent back east. We feel the BLM has completely mismanaged and mislead people about the Mustangs.

As Sally and I drove up to Fallon a few weeks ago, we only saw four Mustangs out on the range. But we did see lots and lots of cattle and barbed wire. The hills looked healthy, green and lush for Nevada and the areas around the natural watering holes were full of tall green grass and trees. Of course, these watering holes were fenced off with barbed wire and the areas filled with cows.

Seeing the horses who were recently rounded up- they all looked healthy and in good condition. Of course the twenty year old mare who was "euthanised" (actually shot in the head), was thinner than the rest, as would be expected at her age. This was Mother Nature taking her course- not a starving horse who needed to be run miles and miles, rounded up and then killed!

Anyway, Shiloh thinks these majestic and beautiful animals should run free out on the range. What a horrible shame it will be if the only Mustangs left in the State of Nevada are on our State Quarter.

Mustang Rally at Red Rock:

Thanks to everyone who showed up to support our Wild Mustangs! Robin and Daria attended and I know other friends of Shiloh were in the crowd. It is important that we make our voices heard as we all try to keep our Mustangs free!

Here are some photos from the Rally:

Thank you to everyone and we are so sorry we missed it!

Lets keep our Mustangs free in the West where they belong!

Iceman's Weekend 1/10/10

2010-01-10T10:20:00.000-08:00

It was another busy weekend for Iceman...

Sharil and Iceman were able to spend some more time together in the morning. They are slowly but surely getting to know each other, and Iceman is starting to allow her into his space. He is still a bit hesitant with the initial approach, but after a few minutes Sharil was able to attach the lead. They worked a bit with leading, and before too long Iceman followed Sharil through the gate and they enjoyed some bonding time. After that, Iceman was turned out for the rest of the day with a few of our Boarders' horses. He hasn't spent that much time with new horses and it was fun to see him try to socialize. He has had a few stallmates since he has been to Shiloh, but never just thrown into the mix. He did great, and always has a good time stretching his legs in the soft sand.

Eric and Iceman 1/7/10

2010-01-07T17:53:00.000-08:00

Eric and Iceman make a great team. They spent most of the day together and the weather couldn't have been better. It was in the 60's and felt like Spring was already here.

As usual, they took a long walk together all over the property very early in the morning. Iceman is getting better and better with this, and is not as spooky as he used to be. He is slowly broadening his comfort zone when it comes to other horses, he isn't nervous to walk through the barn and other sheltered areas, and walks through any gate without hesitation. Eric and Iceman spent most of their time together in the Round Pen working on various exercises and proceeded to get fully tacked up. Iceman allows the pad, saddle, and bit like a champ. After the work was done, Iceman spent the rest of his day having fun with his friends Boone and Liberado in the sandy turn out. Lots of dust was kicked up and they all had a great time. It was a great day for Iceman.

Iceman and Sharil

2010-01-07T17:44:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share some great pictures of Sharil and Iceman spending some time together. Iceman seems to bond very well with Dave and Eric only, so it is always nice to see a female share his space.

Wild Horse and Burro Vision Statement

2010-01-03T08:48:00.000-08:00

Concepts

* Relocate animals from overpopulated Western ranges to new preserves throughout the nation that would be managed and maintained to showcase the animals. These preserves would be acquired by the BLM and/or partners, and managed by the BLM or through cooperative agreements with partners.

*Designate popular public land Herd Management Areas with distinctive characteristics as National Wild Horse Ranges, National Monuments, or National Conservation Areas.
Control the breeding populations of wild horses on Western rangelands. Increase the number of animals placed into good homes with more flexible adoption tools.

Implementation

Nationwide Preserves – Create wild horse preserves throughout the nation, located in areas most appropriate for wild horses (primarily in the Midwest and East) on lands or interests in lands acquired by the BLM and/or partners, and managed by the BLM or through cooperative agreements with partners. Some or all of the preserves with Federal interests may be congressionally designated.

New wild horse preserves would be carefully located and managed to:

* preserve local or regional heritage;
* protect native or restored grasslands;
* develop opportunities for tourism benefitting local communities;
* enhance adoptions; and
* care for these iconic animals.

Treasured Herds – Designate popular Herd Management Areas with distinctive characteristics as National Wild Horse Ranges, National Monuments or National Conservation Areas.

Enhance any ecological, wilderness, scenic, cultural or historical values in these Herd Management Areas.

The nationwide preserves and Treasured Herd Management Areas could become popular destination spots for American and international tourists, bringing revenue and jobs to local economies and providing recreational opportunities.

Sustainable Herds – Use a combination of non-reproducing herds, fertility control, and sex ratio skewing to control the population growth rates of western herds on public lands. Place more animals into good homes by making adoptions more flexible.

BLM photos by Kurt Golgart

Recent Message from Director Bob Abbey

2010-01-03T08:39:00.000-08:00

Message from Director Bob Abbey

As directed by Congress under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, the BLM protects, manages, and controls wild horses and burros that roam Western public rangelands. The Bureau manages these iconic animals as part of its overall multiple-use mission across 253 million acres of public lands.

When Congress passed the 1971 law, it found that wild horses and burros – those Living Legends of Western history – were “fast disappearing from the American scene” because of their lack of legal protection. Now, nearly 40 years after that landmark law was enacted, these special animals are experiencing robust population growth under Federal protection. In fact, wild horse and burro herds, which have virtually no natural predators, grow at a rate of about 20 percent a year, which means herds can double in size every four years.

Impacts from Overpopulated Herds

Because of this rapid growth, the BLM must remove thousands of wild horses and burros from the range each year to protect public rangelands from the environmental impacts of herd overpopulation. Currently, the Western rangeland free-roaming population of 37,000 horses and burros exceeds by more than 10,000 the number that the BLM has determined can exist in balance with other public rangeland resources and uses. The ecosystems of public rangelands, which provide habitat for wildlife, are simply not able to withstand the impacts resulting from overpopulated herds.

As former Director of the BLM's State Office in Nevada, where most wild horses live, I know first-hand the need to protect the land on which these treasured animals roam. Without healthy rangelands, wild horses and burros cannot thrive. Moreover, they cannot even survive when range conditions – which are affected by drought, wildfire, and climate change – deteriorate beyond a certain point.

The need to gather and remove horses and burros from the range, I would note, is fully recognized by Congress in the 1971 law. Section 1333 of the law mandates that once the Secretary of the Interior “determines...on the basis of all information currently available to him, that an overpopulation exists on a given area of the public lands and that action is necessary to remove excess animals, he shall immediately remove excess animals from the range so as to achieve appropriate management levels.”

GAO Finding: “Critical Crossroads”

When excess horses and burros are removed, the BLM feeds and cares for these animals in short-term corrals and long-term pastures while trying to place as many as possible into good private care through adoptions or sales. Since 1971, the Bureau has adopted out nearly 225,000 wild horses and burros.

While the BLM is working hard to boost adoptions, the public’s demand for adoptable wild horses has declined sharply in recent years, leaving more than 34,000 horses and burros in corrals and pastures that must be kept operating at a cost of $29 million a year – a figure that is rising and which accounted for 70 percent of the wild horse and burro funding approved by Congress in Fiscal Year 2009. (Animals in holding, keep in mind, retain their “wild” status and remain under the protection of the BLM, which does not sell or send any horses or burros to slaughter.)

So the BLM finds itself in the predicament of needing to gather overpopulated herds from the Western range each year while its holding costs keep rising – with no end in sight. Recognizing this unsustainable situation, the Government Accountability Office, in a report issued in October 2008, found the Bureau to be at a “critical crossroads” because of spiraling off-the-range holding costs and its limited management options concerning unadopted horses.

Salazar Wild Horse Initiative

In response, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and I announced on October 7, 2009, a new and sustainable way forward for managing our nation’s wild horse horses and burros.

At that announcement, we recommended the establishment of new wild horse preserves across the nation, particularly on the productive grasslands of the Midwest and East, that could be a home for thousands of horses that the BLM currently holds in short-term corrals and long-term pastures, the latter of which are currently filled to capacity.

We also recommended managing the new preserves either directly by the BLM or through cooperative agreements between the BLM and private non-profit organizations or other partners to reduce the Bureau’s off-the-range holding costs.

We recommended showcasing certain herds on public lands in the West that warrant distinct recognition with Secretarial or possibly congressional designations.

And we recommended applying new strategies aimed at balancing wild horse and burro population growth rates with public adoption demand to control holding costs. This effort would involve slowing population growth rates of wild horses on Western public rangelands through the aggressive use of fertility control, the active management of sex ratios on the range, and perhaps even the introduction of non-reproducing herds in some of the BLM’s existing Herd Management Areas in 10 Western states.

In the view of the Department of the Interior and the BLM, this set of proposals is the best and most viable approach to protecting and managing America’s iconic wild horses and burros, and I hope you will look over the materials on this Website relating to the Secretary’s initiative. If approved and funded by Congress, the Secretary’s initiative, we are convinced, will be good for wild horses and burros, good for public rangelands, and good for the American taxpayer.

BLM photo by Kurt Golgart

The Calico Gather

2010-01-03T08:29:00.000-08:00

Info regarding the controversial Calico Gather, taken from the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program website:

The goal of the BLM gather action is to reach a population level of 600 to 900 wild horses in the Calico Mountain Complex of five herd management areas in the Black Rock Desert. That population range is what has been determined to be the appropriate number of wild horses that can be supported as healthy viable herds by the amount of forage and water available on these rangelands.

The current population is about 3,040 animals, which is 5.5 times the low range AML of 572 horses and about three times the land's full carrying capacity, or high range AML, of 952 horses.

The gather is consistent with the provisions of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, which mandates that the BLM will remove excess wild horses to achieve a population within the established appropriate management level (AML), to protect rangeland resources from further deterioration associated with the wild horse overpopulation, and to achieve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple use relationship in the area.

Monitoring studies indicate that the overpopulation of wild horses is causing resource impacts within the Complex, such as moderate to heavy use of rangeland vegetation and damage to sensitive riparian areas, which are springs, streams and seeps. The gather also will help ensure that there will be sufficient water and forage for the remaining 600-900 wild horses and burros, wildlife, and permitted livestock.

The BLM will remove approximately 2,500 excess wild horses from the Complex, adjust the male/female sex ratio to 60/40 percent, and administer fertility control measures on mares that will be re-released within the Complex.

For Gather Updates, Photos from the Gather, Questions and Answers, Contact and visitation information, Fact Sheets, and News / Press Releases, please visit this link:

The Calico Gather

BLM photo by Kurt Golgart

Dave and Iceman 12/27/09

2009-12-27T17:37:00.001-08:00

Eric took Iceman's lead off a few days ago since his "light bulb" finally went off and he now seemed ready. Eric has usually been able to walk up to him without any issues, but when others get close he tends to get nervous and is difficult to catch until you grab the lead...until today. Dave decided he was going to spend some more time with Iceman this morning and it was a good idea. After a few minutes, Iceman allowed Dave to get right up next to him, touch his face, and share that space together. It was also Iceman's lucky day as it seems he got a carrot or two for being a good boy. This was neat to watch as it means Iceman is slowly learning to trust other people and realizes we are not going to hurt him. Hopefully soon, Iceman will allow other people to handle him, which will help him get on the road to his new adoptive home that much faster. Once Iceman bonds with you, thats it. You have that trust and can pretty much do anything with him. Great work today, can't wait to see what's next for Iceman!

Christmas Day 2009

2009-12-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day was perfect at Shiloh. The sun was shining, there was barely a breeze, and all the horses were having fun out in the pastures.

Iceman and Eric spent some more time together and took a long walk today through the Mesquites. Since it was Christmas, they decided to leave all the work for next week.

Iceman's stocking was filled with a bag of Mrs. Pasture's Horse Cookies, an apple, and a Candy Cane, so needless to say he was definitely enjoying his day. He isnt quite sure on the peppermint flavor yet, so his roomies enjoyed his Candy Cane instead. He ate the cookies right out of Eric's hand...he has definitely come a long way. As you will see below, Iceman was definitely in the "Christmas Spirit" today. :)

Iceman (and all of us at Shiloh) wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Iceman on Christmas Eve

2009-12-24T17:29:00.000-08:00

Today was a very relaxing day for Iceman as he gets ready for Christmas Eve. Eric spent some nice, quality time with him this morning by just hanging out in his stall, keeping him company, and giving him some attention. The rest of the day was business as normal for Iceman....hanging out with his friends Boone and Liberado. Liberado is our most recent horse to arrive at Shiloh. He is an Arab gelding and is fitting in quite nicely with his new bachelor friends. You can check him out in more detail on our Shiloh website. Other than that, just a nice, relaxing day. Eric will be bringing Iceman's stocking to the ranch tomorrow so that he can enjoy all of his yummy treats for Christmas day.

Eric and Iceman 12/18/09

2009-12-18T17:24:00.000-08:00

Iceman Update 12/17/09

2009-12-17T16:48:00.000-08:00

Iceman had a pretty good day today. The weather was great, only 60 degrees with barely any wind at all. It was actually very comfortable and warm. Eric and Iceman spent most of the morning together. They took a little walk around the property and then headed into the Round Pen. Iceman was kinda spooky today, so they kept the energy level down and basically took it easy. They did alot of Round Pen work, and Iceman has finally learned to lunge to the right without any issues. "Going to the right" has always been a tad bit more difficult for him, as it seems to be for many horses, and it couldn't have gone any smoother today. Like most Mustangs, Iceman is still very particular when it comes to people. Mustangs tend to only let just a few people into their world at first and it isnt till further down the line when they open up and act more domesticated with everyone. With that being said, Iceman is frequently hard to catch for most. Once the line has been caught, then he knows he will have to work, and some folks might go in to visit and all he does is trot away. So today, in the round pen, the main focus was simply making contact. Eric would walk in, make contact and stay for a few minutes, then leave. After a while, he would re-enter the pen and repeat. Iceman spent most of the day in the pen due to this activity. He probably didn't mind either since the pen is so soft and sandy...lots of rolling and relaxing. All in all, it was a great day. Tomorrow may bring some work in the saddle, so make sure to check back in for Iceman's next adventure!

One Year Ago..

2009-12-16T19:30:00.000-08:00

Just came across this photo of Iceman taken just over a year ago near Goodsprings and wanted to share. This was early December, 2008. Its hard to believe that just a year ago he was still a wild stallion.

Snowy Goodsprings, NV

2009-12-16T19:25:00.001-08:00

We have been getting some snow lately in the pass to Shiloh, and the nearby town of Goodsprings actually received quite a bit the other day. This area used to be Iceman's range and is part of the lower region of what is known as the Red Rock HMA. The Sandy Valley and Goodsprings area is not far from Las Vegas, but on days like this you feel like you are worlds away.

Winter Begins.........

2009-12-10T22:59:00.001-08:00

Today was a very busy day for Iceman at Shiloh. Eric was gone on Vacation for nearly two weeks, and today was his first day back. You could definitely tell that Iceman had not been worked, as he was more jumpy and spooky than normal.

Eric took Iceman for a long walk around the property...around the structures, Mesquite trees, and all seems to be good. They spent some time under City Center walking back and forth through the chute and then proceeded to enter the Round Pen. After working, they decided to make one more path and venture off into the trees. While they were in the trees, an Emu was sleeping closeby and jumped up in a state of panic!! We think the Emu was asleep under the tree, they startled it and woke it up, and the rest was a RODEO.

Ready for Christmas!

2009-12-10T21:56:00.000-08:00

Iceman's biggest fan (Eric's Dad) had a stocking specially made down in Texas
just for our resident Mustang. A big thanks goes out to Darrell Clayton of Port Neches, Texas for caring and taking the time to make sure Iceman had somewhere for all of those treats to go this holiday season!

If anyone is interested in sending something special to Iceman for Christmas, we would be more than happy to make sure it made it into his cool stocking. Feel free to contact Eric Clayton at americanmustangs@gmail.com if you would like to participate and help fill the stocking.

Shiloh cannot thank our visitors, volunteers, boarders, and supporters enough for all the hard work that they do. We wouldn't have as many happy horses without you.

Disappointment Valley / A Modern Day Western

2009-12-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

America's wild horses are in jeopardy! Disappointment Valley exposes mismanagement and corruption within the Bureau of Land Management.

Here's how you can help:

1) Call President Obama (202-456-1111) and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar (202-208-3100). Demand a Congressional investigation into the Bureau of Land Management. Ask for independent studies on statistics of the wild horses and do NOT rely on the BLM statistics. They are flawed and misrepresent the truth.

To contact your congressman, visit: www.house.gov

2) The R.O.A.M. Act is currently siting in the Senate Committee of Energy & Natural Resources as S. 1579.

Please contact the Senators on the Energy & Natural Resources Committee and ask that they support the R.O.A.M Act (S. 1579).

www.senate.gov

3) Share this video and information with friends and family. Most people don't know wild horses still roam the west, let alone they are being rounded up and slaughtered. The public has fought to support these horses in the past. We can do it again! The more people who become aware of the issue, the better chance they have for survival.

www.theamericanwildhorse.com

Letter from Madeleine Pickens

2009-12-06T12:45:00.000-08:00

December 3rd, 2009

In keeping with my commitment to protect America's wild horses, I thought it important to provide you with an update of where we are with the plans to build a sanctuary for thousands of wild horses currently in holding pens across the country and to inform you of a new initiative I am launching on another front: the wild horse gather schedule that has been proposed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Nearly 18 months ago I launched the effort to buy a ranch in Nevada to build a state of the art wild horse sanctuary that would be home to thousands of wild horses that currently stand in holding pens, their fate uncertain. At the time I began this odyssey, there was talk of euthanizing thousands of the wild horses that were and remain in BLM's holding facilities. We were able to take that discussion off the table, though many horses are still going to slaughter in Mexico, and we proceeded to circulate the plan from my Foundation to build a sanctuary that would provide a permanent home for the horses and be accessible as an educational and tourist destination for the American people. We met with every official within the Department of Interior, including Secretary Salazar, assistant secretaries, the new BLM Director, Bob Abbey, and many members of Congress, along with their staff.

Secretary Salazar has embraced the idea of public/private partnerships and creating what he calls "preserves," basically along the lines of the proposal I submitted for the sanctuary in Nevada, with one significant difference; he wants to build them in the Midwest or the East, far from the natural habitat of the wild horses and their natural range, Nevada and the other states in the West. His announcement also included plans for two "preserves" that the BLM would buy with $96 million dollars of taxpayer money that would house a total of around 7,000 wild horses.

While the Secretary was making his recent announcement to create "preserves" for wild horses, he also laid out his plans for other management activities with the wild horses. Included in his proposal was the announcement that the BLM is going to gather between 12,000 and 13,000 wild horses in the next calendar year, beginning later this month. This proposed gather schedule threatens the very survival of the remaining wild horse herds in the western United States and must be stopped.

Among the many things I have discovered during 18 months of negotiating with the BLM is that their management style goes from crisis to crisis, never quite achieving any resolution of a major problem before a new one arises. At the time I began the discussion of a sanctuary for wild horses, there were 33,000 of them in various holding facilities, some short term and some long term. There are still 33,000 wild horses in holding facilities, some that have been in the same facility for up to two years, and still no answer to that problem. The holding facilities now managed by the BLM are full to the maximum and they are having difficulty finding more long term holding, another concept unique to their management style and arguably not consistent with their mandate under the law to "preserve and protect" wild horses for future generations.

In spite of the fact that all the facilities are full, they propose to gather another 12,000 horses with virtually no place to put them. Even if the Secretary's announced plans to buy and create two preserves could be done, it could not be accomplished for another one to three years at the earliest and that is assuming that the Congress will appropriate the money, an assumption that is unlikely given the current budget crisis. And yet my Foundation plan to build a sanctuary using private dollars for the purchase of the land languishes on some bureaucrat's desk.

Rest assured I will not give up on the plan to build the sanctuary so the American people have a place where they can come and witness the majesty and grace of our great legacy, the wild horses. But I must also turn my attention to what I consider the current crisis and challenge, the gathering of 12,000 or more wild horses.

There are many reasons why we must stop this massive gather. To begin with, there is a legitimate dispute over the number of wild horses remaining on the range, and the BLM number of over 30,000 must be called into question. There have been repeated calls for new census methodology to be utilized to determine the actual number of wild horses remaining on the ranges in the western United States. The BLM has resisted these calls and relied on outdated and ineffective methods of counting horses. Before we know how many wild horses actually remain on the range, we cannot allow 12,000 or more to be gathered.

Over 21 million acres of land originally designated as Herd Management Area available to our wild horses has been taken away from them. This was done by zeroing out over 100 Herd Management Areas designated by the original Will Horse and Burro Act legislation. The BLM committed over a year ago to produce a report on the status of those lands, yet nothing has been forthcoming in that regard. In most cases, those 21 million acres are now being grazed by cattle.

Another argument not being taken into consideration deals with the genetics of the herd structure of many of the herds and bands of wild horses designated for gathers in the coming year. Many equine scientists have written and discussed the issue of genetics and many have concluded that taking existing herd numbers below certain levels will have a devastating effect on the future reproduction rates and activities of those herds. The BLM is not applying a scientific approach to the issue of genetics when designing these gathers and the result of ignoring these issues could easily result in the future disappearance of these wild horse herds through sickness and disease or inferior breeding.

As I mentioned earlier, there is no room for 12,000 additional wild horses in the BLM's existing facilities. Gathering them without a plan that addresses where to put them will only result in another round of discussion about euthanasia and slaughter.

I am launching an effort to stop these proposed gathers and I will engage at many different levels in order to succeed. Your continued monitoring and support of the wild horses is greatly appreciated and I ask you to continue to check my website (www.MadeleinesMustangs.org) for updates on my efforts to stop the gathers and to get the sanctuary built. Together we can succeed in protecting our wild horses for future generations.

Thank you,

Madeleine Pickens

Iceman and the Scary Barn..

2009-11-20T20:12:00.000-08:00

Mission Accomplished :

Joe Weitekamp Clinic / More Pics

2009-11-18T23:47:00.001-08:00

These are more Iceman pictures taken by Tara Kilpatrick from the November 1st, 2009 Joe Weitekamp Horsemanship Clinic....

Iceman Update 11/18/09

2009-11-18T22:04:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Sorry for the lack of posting, but its been very busy lately for everyone at Shiloh. All has been great at the ranch though. The weather is getting cooler and the horses are enjoying the climate change. It is starting to get really cold at night, so its just about time for some winter blankets...especially on our older guys.

As for Iceman, he is doing very well. With everyone being so busy, he has enjoyed a little rest and relaxation the past week or so. Eric's Dad, Darrell Clayton, made a surprise visit to the ranch recently after making a long drive from Southeast Texas just for Eric's birthday. Darrell just loves Iceman and made it a point to spend some quality time with him during his short visit. They first met back in June of this year. They spent some time together bonding and stretched their legs a bit. It is so nice to see someone who doesn't see Iceman on a daily basis handle him so well...makes you realize just how far he has come.

December 5th Clinic / Las Vegas, NV

2009-11-16T19:55:00.000-08:00

Joe Weitekamp Horsemanship Clinic / Getting Respect on the Ground

Joe Weitekamp will be holding a Horsemanship clinic December 5th, 2009 at Diamond W Ranch in Las Vegas, NV . Topics covered will include: Establishing leadership / Building trust / Defining your space / Catching Leading Controlling your horse's body from the ground / Trailer Loading. Whether you have a green horse that has not learned any manners yet or a seasoned horse that has developed bad habits, this clinic will get you on the right track to developing a better relationship between you and your horse.

Location: Diamond W Ranch Las Vegas, NV 89143
Time 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Cost $50.00 for Horse/Handler Teams $20.00 to Audit
Registration By email: jweitekamp@lvcoxmail.com
By Phone: 702-664-4381 http://www.diamondwranch.net/
Please register early as space will be limited to 8 horse/handler teams. I have already gotten a few emails from people wanting to register so I will be repeating the clinic on Sunday. Please let me know if you have a preference for Saturday or Sunday when you register.

Iceman Update 11/5/09

2009-11-05T15:15:00.000-08:00

Such a wonderful day at Shiloh today. The weather was perfect...not too hot, not too cold, just a slight breeze, and extremely quiet.

Eric and Iceman had a challenging day as Iceman was quite defiant. Maybe he still hasn't recovered from his long clinic weekend and didn't feel much like doing anything. Just like humans, horses can have their off days, and today was definitely one for Iceman. He would just plant his feet and stand his ground, refusing to take one step. Finally Eric was able to get him out of his stall and wander around the property for a bit. He was doing great until they headed in the direction of an arena or Round Pen...and then the shenanigans started up again. He is really just too smart for his own good. Once in the Round Pen, they worked on some problem areas like Iceman lunging to the right. After some time though, it seems the light bulb came on and Iceman was going to the right without an issue. Today was like Iceman's equivalent to wanting to stay home on the couch watching Bonanza reruns on TV Land, haha....

Sharil also had a chance to spend some quality time with Iceman. She took the rope and started leading him across the property, around the barn, through City Center and the Mare Motel, and then back to his stall. It is always so nice to see Iceman interacting with our other Shiloh regulars. Sharil did great with him, talked to him the whole time they were together.

The best part of Iceman's day was probably hanging out with Gus and Cochise in the turnout. They ran, and ran, and ran...having so much fun together. Iceman had a few nice rolls in the soft sand as well....as you can tell from the pics below :)

Joe and Iceman

2009-11-04T17:56:00.001-08:00

This is such a great picture of Joe Weitekamp and Iceman.

Make sure you visit Joe's website for info regarding two upcoming clinics.

Iceman's First Clinic

2009-11-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

Wow! We had such an amazing day out at the ranch on Sunday! The clinic with Joe Weitekamp turned out to be a huge success and proved to be an educational and fun day for all who participated.

We had a wonderful mix of Shiloh horses, trailer ins from Las Vegas (all Mustangs), and plenty of auditors. A big thanks goes out for everyone who came out for the event! We couldn't have done it without you! Be sure to check out Shiloh's Daily Blog for more pictures from the clinic!

Eric was the handler of Iceman for the clinic, and along with the other horse/handler teams, they followed Joe's lead for a full days worth of learning. This clinic was geared toward handling Mustangs, so we were also able to implement this methods with our Rescue horses perfectly. Joe started with gaining respect first, moved on with Round Pen techniques, and finished off with disengaging exercises. Iceman did such a great job considering this was his first time in this type of environment, and proved that he can handle crowds, noice, and action.

We hope to provide Horsemanship clinics with Joe Weitekamp at Shiloh at least twice a year, with the next one being tentatively scheduled for May 2010. Thank you Deonna and Tara for the pictures of Iceman!

Iceman Update 10/24/09

2009-10-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

Eric and Iceman did some exploring this morning, just took it easy and didn't work too hard. Iceman did discover our "City Center" for the first time though. City Center is what we have nicknamed our big wash area with the shelter. Iceman basically followed Eric right up on it, didn't spook at the different sounds and feel of the cement and rubber mats, and even managed to be loosely tied to the rail. Iceman is really looking great, filling out nicely, seems to be very healthy, and learning to trust.

Daria and Iceman 10/22/09

2009-10-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

Eric spent some time with Iceman this morning, but then handed off the lead to Daria. Daria and Iceman did great today, lots of bonding. She decided to lead him around the property for a bit, give him lots of love, then try to bring him thru the "Mare Motel." He was hesitant at first since the structure was full of new sights and sounds, and dark.....but after some coaxing, he finally made a few steps and before he knew it he was out on the other side. It was a big step for Iceman, and this success was the result of trust. Great job!

Iceman's Farrier Day

2009-10-15T18:18:00.001-07:00

Iceman had his hooves trimmed for the first time today. Eric gave him some sedation and he dozed off...

He woke up when the Farrier arrived but, eventually, the sedation kicked in and he stood still. All four of his hooves were able to be trimmed. Good Job, Iceman!

CBS News / The Stampede to Oblivion‏

2009-10-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

Special report by Peabody award winner George Knapp -- A hard-hitting and eye-opening investigation into the wild horse issue and BLM's management practices. This is a must see! Please circulate far and wide.
Watch the 5-part series (Video Gallery, upper left on the page)

Secretary Salazar's New Wild Horse Plan‏

2009-10-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a plan to revamp the federal Wild Horse and Burro Program and establish government-run preserves in the Midwest and East. While we agree that the Program is in dire need of an overhaul and we applaud the government's commitment to avoid the mass-killing of horses in its care, the plan outlined by Secretary Salazar raises several concerns.

The underlying premise used by Mr. Salazar to justify his new initiative is itself flawed. His statements perpetuate BLM's spurious claims of overpopulation and range degradation: Mr. Salazar assures us that wild horses, who were deemed to be "fast disappearing from the American scene" when the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed, "have returned to rapid growth," with a population estimated at 33,000 head, from a supposed 25,000 in 1971. In fact, BLM's first census, conducted in 1974, found 42,000 horses. In a later study, the National Academy of Sciences found BLM's population estimate to have been "undoubtedly low to an unknown, but perhaps substantial, degree."

How can a 25% net population loss amount to "rapid growth"? How can a species that constitutes only half a percent of large grazing animals on public lands be scapegoated time and time again for range degradation? As a rancher himself, surely Mr. Salazar is aware of the millions of head of private cattle that graze the same public range as America's few thousand wild horses.

Based on this dubious overpopulation claim, Mr. Salazar wants to continue removing wild horses from their rightful Western range: Over 30 million dollars will be spent in fiscal year 2010 to capture over 12,000 wild horses and burros!

Removing thousands upon thousands of horses from their legally allocated range to move them into government-run facilities is not in keeping with the intent of the '71 Act, which aimed at preserving the horses "where presently found." This was reaffirmed last August by the US District Court for the District of Columbia in its decision to prevent the capture of Colorado's West Douglas herd. The Court stated in part: "Congress did not authorize BLM to manage the wild horses by corralling them for private maintenance or long-term care as non-wild free-roaming animals off the public lands." The Court deemed removal for long-term care to be contrary to Congress's intent to protect the horses from capture "as components of the public lands."

On a more positive note, we applaud Mr. Salazar's acknowledgement of the horses' value as an ecotourism resource. But wild horses should be viewed in their natural Western environment and expressing their natural social behavior. Captive, gelded, non-reproducing herds hardly convey the majesty of these icons of the West.

Of course, the devil is in the details, and we are withholding further comment until the specifics of Mr. Salazar's plan are fleshed out: how will the new "preserves" differ for BLM's current long-term holding facilities, also located in the Midwest? Will the preserves be established for the benefit of the 32,000 horses currently held by BLM, or will they constitute an outlet for further roundups? Will the remaining Western herds be managed in the wild at genetically viable levels?

While we applaud the government's efforts toward a more humane approach, Secretary Salazar's new initiative is another step toward the privatization of America's iconic wild herds and away from the survival of the American wild horse in its natural state as an integral part of the Western landscape. More than ever, a moratorium on roundups is in order until actual numbers of wild horses and burros on public lands have been independently assessed, and legally-mandated range studies have been conducted. The ROAM Act needs to be passed so that the horses can reclaim the more than 19 million acres they have lost since being granted federal protection.

On behalf of America's wild horses, thank you for your support,

The AWHPC Team
American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign
www.wildhorsepreservation.org

Iceman Update 10/6/09

2009-10-06T20:00:00.001-07:00

A great day at the ranch today, perfect weather. Eric and Iceman spent some time in the Round Pen together today. Iceman was fully tacked, and as you can see, he took to the bit very nicely. After a few minutes, he didn't even seem to notice it.