The sight of emaciated horses on New Mexico tribal lands between Albuquerque and Santa Fe has stirred concern among animal advocates, some of whom have taken matters into their own hands. Members of a fledgling equine advocacy group have been feeding the horses hay daily for the last month, after photos of hungry-looking animals sparked a groundswell of Internet outrage and calls to boycott tribally owned casinos. However, tribal leaders say the issue is more complicated than advocates portray it. Pueblo leaders say outsiders have made the problem worse by feeding the horses over fences that run along Interstate 25 and, in more extreme cases, cutting fences on tribal lands. “Some of the people who feel like they’re helping are actually exacerbating the situation,” said Debra Haaland, a tribal administrator at San Felipe Pueblo. The pueblo has sought to ensure the horses – roughly 100 animals that it claims are a mix of “wild horses” and those “dumped” on San Felipe tribal land – have access to water, but their efforts are hamstrung by recent federal budget cuts that have hit tribes hard, Haaland said. The situation, which is complicated by the fact that the tribes are sovereign nations generally not subject to state jurisdiction, reached its boiling point last month when tribal authorities say they received dozens of rude and irate phone calls. But there have been recent signs of collaboration, at least at San Felipe Pueblo. After a meeting between tribal leaders and non-Indian animal advocates last week, the pueblo allowed members of the fledgling New Mexico Wild Horse Relief Fund to temporarily come onto pueblo land to feed the horses at a safe distance from the interstate. Non-tribal members need to have a permit to enter tribal land. One of the horse relief fund’s founders said the group is trying to fix a windmill on San Felipe Pueblo that would provide more water for the horses. Members are also taking pictures of branded horses in an attempt to track down owners who might have let them free on tribal lands. “Right now, we’re very hopeful,” the horse relief fund’s Ann Empey of Santa Fe told the Journal . While New Mexico’s ongoing drought has taken its toll on livestock across the state, emaciated equines on tribal lands have drawn particular attention. Most of those reports focus on San Felipe and Santo Domingo pueblos, both located between Albuquerque and Santa Fe along the highly-traveled I-25 corridor. In some cases, advocates claim the horses appear to be near death. Barbara Tellier of Albuquerque said she saw four or five rail-thin horses on Santo Domingo Pueblo land on a recent drive with a friend. After a flurry of phone calls to state officials generated little response, Tellier said she became increasingly frustrated. “I’d bet you anything there are some skeletons out there,” said Tellier, who noted she has owned or cared for horses most of her life. Similar experiences have prompted other advocates to discuss options ranging from fundraisers to benefit the horses to boycotts casinos. However, Empey said she’s hopeful the recent dialogue between animal advocates and San Felipe tribal leaders might be replicated with other pueblo governments, leading to a less confrontational relationship between the two sides. As for Santo Domingo Pueblo Governor Felix Tenorio Jr., he told the Journal earlier this week the tribal government was dealing with the reports of at least one starving horse. “We’re working on that one,” Tenorio Jr. said. “We’re trying to contact the owner to see what’s going on.” Meanwhile, a rangeland management specialist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs said there is little state or federal authorities can do to help the horses. “I’ve been advised it’s a tribal matter,” said BIA specialist Ed Lucero. “We don’t really have control.” San Felipe Pueblo tribal administrator Haaland said the tribe is doing its best to deal with a situation it did not cause. “We don’t own the horses,” Haaland told the Journal . “We didn’t ask for them, but they’re on our land.” Related posts: Advocates, pueblos battle over horses Lawsuit Against BLM About Horses Dismissed Judge Dismisses Wild Horses Suit Pueblos Seek Placitas Land
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 11:42:44 +0000
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