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Our Latest Count |
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How exciting is seeing a wild horse? On June 19, 2006 I got to find out. I'm sure it will always be a highlight in my life. At first you wonder if you will see even one wild horse and soon you have your face pressed against the glass trying to get a good look at each one. We counted 89. Included in this number is 21 babies but I am sure we missed some. They blend in with the terrain very well.
We kept track of how many in each group: 7 adults 2 foals Many of the groups were quite close together and it is quite possible that some were in the same herd. |
Submitted by Lynn Scott
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Renowned Photojournalist, Patrice Halley interviews WHOAS for upcoming book |
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Just returning from a month in India doing a story on their people, the much sought after photojournalist, Patrice Halley, came to Olds on March 25 and 26th, 2006. His mission was to get winter shots of wild horses along with interviewing members of the Wild Horses of Alberta Society executive. Bob Henderson and Bev McCracken took Patrice out West in search of free roaming horses to photograph. Along with finding horses for him, they also provided Patrice with information on the society and current critical issues surrounding the wild horses, which include an alarming dwindling number. Patrice interviewed a few area ranchers as well. His book is on the last of Canada's wild horses. The other wild horses include the endangered Brittany Triangle Horses of BC and the protected Sable Island Wild Horses. Patrice's work includes a Canadian Geographic Documentary on these horses. Feature stories published or soon to be published on our Canadian wild horses include magazines in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the French version of Canadian Geographic. The goal of his book is to gain public awareness and protection for these horses.
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Patrice Halley photographed with Patrice's has a profound knowledge of animal behaviour Human ears appear hostile to a horse because they seem to point back. Holding his hands above his head and moving them like horse ears, Patrice makes the wild horses stop and take another look. This herd had started to run away prior to Patrice making that hand gesture. Patrice's work is not exclusive to wildlife, he has a keen interest in people, and has done articles on the Inuit of the Artic, and the Nahuas, Indians of Mexico, to name a few. He also does Corporate projects on a selective basis. Patrice works with companies that are respectful of the environment and have a social conscience. A few companies listed include Air Canada, the Canadian tourism Commission and Precision Drilling. WHOAS was honoured to show Alberta's wild horses to Patrice and to be included in his upcoming book, and look forward to its publication. Submitted by Doreen Hendersen |
WHOAS Takes to the Skies |
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WHOAS members did a preliminary aerial survey April 2, 2006. The results appeared grim, as they only spotted 41 horses. However, WHOAS is hopeful that a large number of horses were under the cover of the the trees. The area flown over was between the Red Deer River and Clear Water River and the Forestry Trunk Road, east to the Forestry Boundaries, covering the wild horse designated area. We had planned to fly again April 9th however, the weather forecast was not in our favor, so the flight has been postponed to April 23, 2006. Plans are underway for an indepth Aerial Survey in July which would involve at least five aircraft, each covering a specific section of the designated area. The count in the government aerial survey in 2005 was 220 head. |
Pictured are left to right, Pilot Chris Huhn, WHOAS President, Bob Henderson & WHOAS Member, Robby McHenry at the Sundre Air Park, April 2, 2006.) |
2005 - 2006 WHOAS Newsletter |
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Members of the board met with Government officials and other interested parties in April of 2005, in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. The purpose of the meeting was to allegedly resolve some of the concerns that WHOAS and other individuals had in the wild horses. Despite our best efforts we accomplished little in this meeting. The government is still listening to a very small number of other individuals who have other interests in mind for the horses, preservation not being a part of it. Members of Sustainable Resource Development attempted to more or less intimidate the members of WHOAS by having a large number of their different |
agencies there, lumber company representatives who definitely are opposed to the wild horses and ranch operators who lease grazing rights where the horses roam but who also have staff who capture some of these beautiful wild horses. So, instead of procuring a stop for one year on the issuing of capture permits, SRD decided, listening to only one person, to have a separate month when the roping and running down of the horses was allowed. READ MORE |
News Archives |
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From: Doreen Henderson |
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On September 12th, 2004, Bob and Doreen Henderson were riding in the Forestry near Bearberry Alberta when they came across the remains of wild horses. All were riddled with bullets. Bob, a retired City of Calgary Police Officer had remarked that judging by the size and shape of the entry wounds it appears they were shot by a 22 calibre rifle. One horse had been shot between the eyes. One carcass, found in the ditch next to the road, the second approximately 150 feet from the road Both were less than a mile from eachother. The perpetrator(s) was likely shooting from his vehicle. Bob and Doreen were sickened and outraged by what they saw. It only goes to prove that they need their own protective legislation, instead of weak and minimal protection under the Stray Animals Act of Alberta, said Doreen. Bob and Doreen then rode back to their truck, unsaddled and loaded their horses into their horse trailer when they came across four Locals on horse back. Upon discussion of their gruesome findings, one of the Locals mentioned that their were four dead horses in total. Bob found the third horse in the same area, in the trees a hundred feet, probably dead only a week or so. It was a grey mare, likely only a two year old, shot |
numerous times. She ran into the trees trying to escape when she collapsed and died. The fourth horse was not found by the Hendersons, but take the Locals word for it. When Bob asked the Riders who they thought might do such a thing, one fellow replied that "it was probably teenagers, using em for target practice." The findings were reported to the Minister of Alberta's Sustainable Resource Development, Mike Cardinals office. The Wild Horses of Alberta Society (W.H.O.A.S.) would encourage people to write to the Minister in support of tougher legislation, pertaining to the Wild Horses of Alberta and may do so by writing Mike Cardinal (now David Coutts) or by telephoning (780)415-4815, Fax (780) 415-4818. Wild horse abuse and slaughter had gone on for decades and it is time to put a stop to it. |
Horse Capture Regulations ReviewTo: Keith Lyseng
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Table of Contents Introduction to WHOAS Addressing Discussion Document, problems surrounding the wild free-roaming horses.
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Alberta Wild Free-Roaming Horse Legislation In General Supporting Documents/Attachments
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2004 - 2005 WHOAS Newsletter |
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Here it is a new year with another eventful year having gone by for WHOAS. The accomplishments achieved have been largely due to caring members like yourselves who took the time to write to the government reagarding the plight of the wild horses. We would like to thank all new and long term members for your continued support. We are growing in numbers and in power, the last membership card printed out was number 193. It has been a busy year. In January 2004, we were asked to submit a proposal to the Alberta Goveent reagarding our recommendations for changes in the legislation governing the horses and the perceived problems surrounding them. |
We responded with a ten page report stating our viewpoints and recommendations. As a result of this report we were requested to attend a meeting to further discuss our viewpoints. This monumental meeting was held on June 9, 2004, between WHOAS, government officials from the Department of Sustainable Resources, Fish and Wildlife, LIvestock Inspection Services and Rangeland Management. The recommendations of the January report were discussed and the parties agreed to work together regarding improving current laws and reporting crimes against Alberta wild free roaming horses. Read More |
| WHOAS meets with government officials to review Horse Capture Regulations | |
A monumental meeting was held in in the Red Deer Provincial Building on June 9th between representatives of Lands and Forest Division, Livestock Inspection Services, Fish and Wildlife Division and the Wild Horses of Alberta Society. The parties met together for a round table discussion regarding the problems surrounding the wild free-roaming horses of Alberta. (otherwise referred to as feral by the government). The meeting was held to discuss input provided by WHOAS (and other stakeholder groups) as requested by the government back in January. The meeting was called to address the concerns regarding these animals for the benefit of all concerned. Some of the issues addressed include the following;
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READ MORE |
Alberta Wilderness Association Letter |
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Thank you for requesting Alberta Wilderness Association's (AWA) participation in stakeholder meetings regarding feral horse management along the Eastern Slopers. Unfortunately, we will not be able to participate; howeer, further to your request we are providing a written response. AWA's primary concern regarding feral horse populations on the landscape is their impact on native species and habitat. Mangement steps should be taken if it is determined the horses jeopardize the native ecology or species, particularly of those natural regions that are poorly protected and recognized as sensitive or ecologically significant. |
AWA has some history regarding feral horse management in certain areas of the proince. The Association advocated for the removal and relocation of feral horses from the Suffield Wilderness Area. At the time, the hores were compromising this internationally significant ecosystem and action was necessary. Management options shouold also be contemplated if some of the population is negativity impacting public safety, particularly along major highway corridors. READ MORE |
| Add pdf of Gov response | |
Illegal Snaring of Wild Horses |
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The Wild Horses of Alberta Society has recently received information of culprit/culprits unknown, illegally snaring three wild horses. This is an extremely cruel and inhumane method of capture. The culprits used rope leg snares, which causes the risk of the horses breaking their legs or other serious injury. The Alberta Horse Capture Regulations specifically prohibits the use of snares in the capturing of the wild horses. Further too, the Regulations also stipulate who is allowed to capture the wild horses and the location that they are allowed to operate in doing so. This offence took place behind the Red Deer River ranger station, where the culprits cut the fence to allow access to the horse trail. A white Dodge dual wheeled truck, towing a silver trailer was seen parked in the area around the time of the offence. WHOAS mandate is to assure the protection and humane treatment of Alberta's wild free roaming horses and is offering a $500.00 reward for information leading to the apprehension of the person/persons responsible for this act. |
Information is to be forwarded to the Department of Sustainable Resource Development, Rocky Mountain House, at 780-422-4568. The Alberta government is currently reviewing the Horse Capture Regulations under the Alberta Stray Animal Act. WHOAS was invited to submit our recommendations for changes governing the wild free-roaming horses in Alberta. This 10 page report outlining our concerns such as this offence and our recommendations was submitted at the end of January 2004. Incidents such as this clearly outline the need for changes and the ability to enforce violations to the laws governing these wild free-roaming horses. It also points out the inability to adequately investigate such acts. The number of wild horses is diminishing with less than 300 remaining. Natural factors make the survival of the horses difficult and illegal acts such as this latest incident really jeopardize the future of the last wild free-roaming horses in Alberta. |
Patrice
has a passion for all kinds of wildlife, and a few examples of other
animal species publications include in-depth coverage on the recovery
of the American Bald Eagle and the Caribou Migration. Patrice's most
recent book called Far North, Published by Les Editions de'l Homme, is
a compilation of 15 years of travel in the Canadian Arctic. 
