Welcome to the blog by Marylu Weber

This blog contains dozens of posts and photos of the wild, feral horses from the park and some of the people involved with them. These horses are owned by the park and not managed by the BLM. To see most of the photos, scroll to the bottom of this page. To find earlier posts of interest go to Blog Archive on the right and follow this guide:

For some of the history of the horses and people involved:

2008
Wild Horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
2009
Tom Tescher's Story
The Boicourts
The Roundup

The Sale

For some of the special horses' stories:
2008
Fire's Story
Whisper's Story
2009
Our Boys Come Home
Dancing with a Wild Horse
Whit's Story
2010

The Dance Continues
Training Update

More Dancing with Hawk
More Training for Hawk
Bashful, the Steps of His Life

Post of Interest:
2009
Four Stallion Fight
Hazards, Did I Mention Hazards?

Thursday, April 16, 2015

NDBH Adoption Qualification POLICY and RECOMMENDATIONS


ADOPTION OF NORTH DAKOTA BADLANDS HORSES


POLICY
·         The North Dakota Badlands Horse (NDBH) goal is to place wild horses from TRNP in a safe environment where they will be gentled and trained, not lost to slaughter. 
·         NDBH does not endorse breeding of these horses because of the availability of other high quality horses coming out of the park in the future.
·         Proceeds from sales of North Dakota Badlands Horses are used in accordance with and to further the Partnership Agreement with TRNP and NDBH for the welfare of the wild horses.
·         The base fee is $350.  This fee will include Coggins testing, health certificate, brand inspection, DNA testing to support ongoing research, and possibly other costs such as worming. The cost of castration will be added onto the base fee of a stallion. (If a stallion has not already been castrated, $200 will be added to its base fee to be refunded with proof of castration from a Veterinarian.)  Also included in the base fee is a Certificate of Registration (with ancestral DNA report if available), which will be granted once requirements are met. 
·         REQUIREMENTS: horse must be gentled enough to be caught, haltered, and led, and in good condition as shown in photos or video.  Digital photos or video are preferred showing horse being caught, haltered, and led.   For registration, 3 digital photos (each side of the horse and the full face, showing all markings) must be submitted along with the horse’s registered name and owner’s name and address.
·         Adoption of a NDBH will be by the highest bid received on Facebook, or by telephone (someone will represent callers) during the prescribed time announced for bidding on Facebook.  Horses will be shown by video on Facebook.  Qualified adopters will be informed of the time of an auction by Facebook or email.
·         To bid on a horse, qualified adopter must be pre-qualified before the day of the auction.  NDBH application must have been submitted and reviewed by the NDBH Adoption Qualification Team.
·         No personal checks will be accepted; acceptable methods of payment are: cash, Money Orders, and Cashier’s Checks.
·         Horses can be loaded only after funds are received in full by NDBH.   (Location to be announced.)   Arrangements must be made with NDBH if horse is not picked up within 7 days.
·         These horses were born wild. Therefore, neither NDBH nor TRNP will be held responsible for any issues of temperament, soundness, health, fitness, or level of training of the horse, nor for any injury or damage to persons or property caused by the horses.  
·         If the adopter cannot achieve gentling of the horse or for any reason wishes to sell or give it away, it MUST be to a good home and NDBH must have name, address, email, and phone number of the new owner.  NDBH will do our best to help find a new adopter who would have the facility and experience to gentle the horse.
·         If all quality of life is lost due to age, disease, or injury, humane euthanasia and proper disposal are REQUIRED.  These horses may not be sold for slaughter.
  
TRANSPORTATION
  • Adopters must provide their own vehicles or make private arrangements.
  • Standard covered stock trailers and horse trailers large enough for 4 or more horses are generally acceptable, contingent on final approval prior to loading.
  • NO 1-HORSE TRAILERS. Two horse trailers are not allowed unless they are a stock type, with no internal dividers. Animals will ride loose and must have enough space to turn around.
  • Lengthwise and slant-load dividers must be removed.  Drop ramp doors are not recommended.
DISCLAIMER
All activities pursuant to or in association with North Dakota Badlands Horse shall be conducted without discrimination on grounds of race, color, sexual orientation, national origin, disabilities, religion, age, or sex, as well as in compliance with the requirements of any applicable Federal laws, regulations, or policies prohibiting such discrimination.
However, North Dakota Badlands Horse will reserves the right to disqualify anyone based on knowledge of animal welfare issues with that potential adopter.



RECOMMENDATIONS
HANDLER’S EXPERIENCE
For success with a NDBH it is recommended that the adopter:
·         Have extensive experience in working with horses.
·         Have some experience in gentling wild horses or young domestic horses that have not yet been gentled.
·         If the adopter is inexperienced, it is highly recommended that he/she work closely with an experienced trainer in gentling a wild horse.

HOUSING FACILITY
·         No wild horses, particularly stallions, should be turned out in ordinary wire fenced enclosures.
·         It is best to have two horses kept together or keep the new horse penned near others that he/she can see.
·         The first pen for a wild horse should be at least 400 sq ft., but not too large (60,000 sq ft would be pretty large to be able to easily move the horse/horses into a training pen.)
·         It is best to have a smaller round pen connected to the pen for gentling.
·         The pen should have a shelter with a roof and at least 2 sides protecting the horse from the wind.  Any metal walls must be lined with wood to prevent serious injury.  Thick trees would substitute for one side of the shelter if they stop the wind.
·         Fences should be no less than 5 ½ ft. high for horses 12 months and under and no less than 6 ft. for those older than 12 months.
·         Fences should be of sturdy wood or metal construction with no more than 1 ft. between rails.  Steel mesh may be used if openings are no more than 3 inches.  
·         No sharp edges, protruding nails or screws, etc. should be inside this structure where horse could be cut.
·         No wire should be used to confine the horse until it is gentle, castrated, and easy to catch, then only well maintained wire fences would be acceptable.
·         Once the horse is gentle it should have more space to run and move.  Stalling is not recommended for these horses but can be used if turnout is often and large enough for the horse to run.  These horses are good jumpers so be aware of that even after gentling.

  FEED
·         Fresh grass and clean grass hay is recommended.  These horses are not used to rich feeds.  Small amounts of grain based feed are OK when the horse is growing and if it is very active, but avoid too much grain.
·         Always have plenty of fresh water available year round.
·         Supplements are OK but not necessary if the horse has plenty of good clean grass hay.


VET AND FARRIER CARE
·         Castration is highly recommended on all stallions.  Talk to your Vet. about the proper time.
·         Vaccinating for rabies is recommended as soon as possible.
·         Use other vaccinations as recommended by your Vet. or your situation
·         Worm with feed as soon as you can get the horse to eat small amounts of feed unless the horse has been wormed at the time of capture.  Oral wormers are recommended as needed once the horse is gentle.
·         As soon as you can handle feet have the hooves trimmed.  It often works well to have the farrier trim hooves when a stallion is under sedation for castration.
·         Have your Vet. or Equine Dentist check teeth as soon as you can handle the horse’s head.  This also works well when a stallion is castrated.  Pull wolf teeth at this time.
·         It is wise to have a young horse’s teeth checked often to prevent dental issues.

TRAINING
·         Gentling should be done slowly and patiently.
·         Excessive running in a round pen or on a lunge line is damaging to young legs.
·         Keep training periods short but often with young horses.
·         Do not tie a young horse solid as it can cause damage, injury, or even death.
·         Seek the help of a good natural trainer or learn from DVDs and videos from respected, experienced trainers if you are unsure about the gentling process.
·         Under saddle training is not recommended until the horse is at least 3 years old, although teaching acceptance of a saddle and weight in the saddle is acceptable at younger ages.















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