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The following are suggestions regarding methods that have worked for the 6W Ranch. It is well to remember that the safety of the handler is the priority and that a horse, whether domestic or former wild horse, can easily injure or kill a much more frail human being. Always train and ride with your safety in mind and that of the animal.
Thank you, The 6W Ranch Training Center

July 2008

Feds consider euthanizing wild horses in West

No one has been a stronger proponent of the adoption program and the wild horses than the 6W Ranch, but....

An Opinion:

Is it the economy or the arising of the ineptness of those in charge of the program? Either way, it is the American icon which is to suffer.

The "program" or those in charge, came to the point of not caring about the realistic promotion of the program, but the numbers game... in this writer's opinion.

Having been deeply involved at one time, we have seen the program (in the West or more specifically, CA) go from flourishing, under Mindy Odom, to inter-rifts within it's own ranks and the program's ultimate downward spiral under Tom Pogacnik.

The economy and price of hay will hurt all equine sales/programs by non-dedicated horseman, but the continued, unrealistic approach in what the average person needs to make their adopted wild horse a success continues to elude the BLM in it's promotion of the program.

We have professed for years, realism in what is being acquired, along with working with the cattle and sheep ranchers in working together to make the program a success. Yet, that option seems too tough to swallow.

Instead, the program surrounds itself with vocal, yet amateuristic antics by those that are parasites 'on' the program, yet have no basic equestrian training or desire to better themselves within the equine venue other than to promote their involvement within "their" attempt to dictate the program's direction to the betterment of themselves or their entity.

In the end, it is the horses, the manner in which the public has been misguided ( the 90 day mustang Extreme "thing" Challenge ), and the only concern of numbers that has brought the program to it's knees. What "Challenge??"

Look at some of those horses. We've seen them. We've seen those that just have no expression, no soul, do whatever you want with me, etc... Again, the horse has been left behind in mechanical actions and responses.

It is our "understanding" that the horses are pre-selected by the BLM, then lots are drawn for which trainer gets the animal from that pre-selected lot. NOT AT ALL the manner in which the public selects a horse at a satellite adoption or the holding facilities. It would be just as unrealistic to say that all of them would turn out just like our wonderful Abby, just as it would be as preposterous to say that about any breed. But again, the Mustang takes the rap and not the moronic humans that are involved in the process.

The program was building to a success in the mid to late 90's under Mindy Odom, until what appeared to be, petty, internal, politics (Janet Nordin and Tom Pogacnik tantrums) that got in the way. Odom and the wild horses (program) suffered greatly while many of the satellite adoptions were being 100% successful and flourishing in California alone, yet were the target of unrelenting attacks because she dared to disagree with the pettiness and was looking to the welfare of the not only the horses, but the program as well.

The intelligence and spirit of the mustang has been taken for granted as that of being like any other horse and we despise the image that is being promoted today. This isn't any other horse and approaching it as such has lead us to what we reap today thanks to Nordin and Pogacnik.

It is unfortunate that our opinion has degraded to such a level regarding the running of the program, but maybe Pogacnik can supply an answer? Then, maybe it's that "macho" thing, isn't that right...Tom?

Either way, the horses suffer from the collective ineptness that the BLM has promoted to be the manner in which the program is manipulated.

Maybe those in the program should learn (from) their own product, working in honesty, instead of being used car sales folks. The horses are completely honest and cannot lie. Maybe those in the BLM's wild horse adoption program should take a lesson from their horses.....

Phil West
The 6W Ranch Training Center

Feds Consider Euthanizing Wild Horses in West

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