Observation of wild horse roundup and removal operations is one of the most difficult things to do as an advocate.... it is also one of the most important things an advocate can do for the wild horses.

The idea of stopping roundups in their tracks sounds wonderful... but it is not at the moment practical, and while we each have a dream of a time when wild horses are no longer removed from their wild lands, we must also be practical in the things that are before us in the moment, and be willing to participate where we may have some effect in the life of a wild horse.

Roundups are one of these things.... and we need more people able to step into the role of observer during roundup operations.

Meaningful observation is necessary because it can help to ensure that BLM and the contractor are following written policy and protocol during roundup operations - if no one shows up then there is no one to question if things were done correctly, there is no one to challenge something that does not fit with the written policy, and there is no one to tell the general public that something has failed and that correction is needed.

If we are not standing there as a witness for the wild horses losing their freedom, there is no assurance that all that can be done to keep them alive and uninjured is done, public oversight is a very real responsibility.

How do we observe roundup and removal operations? I am so glad you asked....

It starts by contacting the BLM public relations person for the individual roundup, either an email or phone number is usually provided for this person or the local office in the press release announcing the pending roundup, you can contact them and asked to be added to the list of interested observers.... they will add you to their email list, you will receive an initial email notifying you of the planned start date of the roundup, and you will typically then receive an email each night during the roundup notifying you of the next days schedule, with the time and location to meet, if operations are going to happen - sometimes they are cancelled for a day or two because of weather or other unexpected circumstances.

This email can sometimes include the details of how many horses were removed that day, if there were any deaths of horses during the operation, and if any horses were shipped to a holding facility. This same information will also be posted on the BLM page that is dedicated to the HMA or Complex roundup and removal operations.

You should continue to receive those emails until the conclusion of the roundup - unless you request to be removed, most of us cannot attend every single day of roundup operations, very few do not have some kind of personal obligation or have the financial ability to stay for an entire roundup.

Any questions that you may have are mostly answered by the public relations person, they will usually be with you at the observation site, and will often also be one of the people you follow in the convoy of vehicles out to the observation site, and then to the short-term holding corrals to see the horses being held at the end of the day.

So.... what exactly do you do when observing, what is important, how long does it take, what all do you do!?!

Honestly..... a lot of waiting! Bring a book... and water and food. And if possible a friend.

And these things:

- binoculars, you are going to need these so much more than you would guess, it allows you to look for the helicopter when you hear it from far away, you will be able to see how the horses are being moved when they are too far for your camera. You will also need them to see the horses condition as they come in...

- pens or pencils and notebooks for note keeping, you are going to keep track of what time each group of horses are brought into the trap, you are going to note how long of a time it is between groups because that gives you an idea of how quickly or how slowly they are running the horses - you are going to want to notice if the horses are lathered in sweat and exhausted or if they are slightly sweaty and still moving with ease.

You also are going to count how many horses are in each group if possible, sometimes the public relations person or the ranger is also keeping track, but I like to keep my own count as well.

- digital thermometer, you need to take notes of the temperature throughout the day when the weather is extremely hot or extremely cold, there is guidance about running the horses in extreme weather, and while it is ultimately up to the person in charge of the roundup operations, it is still something that we can bring up when we see horses that are struggling from running in extreme heat.

- a watch or something that helps you keep track of the time so you can keep track of how long between groups of horses coming in, I note the time each group is brought in so that I can get a sense of how much care the contractor is taking in bringing the horses into the trap, or from how far away they are bringing the horses in.

This is a really big piece of observation, as exhausting as it may be to sit for hours waiting, the slower the contractor the better for the horses, and if they are bringing them from ten miles away, you want them to do it slowly!

** while it may be stressful to see two helicopters working to bring in a group of horses - it is actually really much more control and better for the horses if two helicopters are bringing in a herd, especially if it is a very large bunch of horses, as it can help to keep the lead horses from taking off at a hard gallop, which will then lead to the following horses also running hard, and that hard running is when you will see more injuries or exhausted and separated foals.

- camera or video camera, extra SD cards - you are going to take so many more images and video than you think! Extra batteries and a tripod.....

- a printed copy of the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program [CAWP] for Wild Horse and Burro Gathers, this little printout is short but it discusses standards and expectations of what should be done during operations, how the corrals and traps should be set up, and allows you to speak with authority when it is being ignored by BLM staff or the contractors.

If there are serious CAWP violations and no one on site seem to be interested in correcting them, you can always contact the CAWP specific BLM staff via email, with photos and descriptions of what you feel is a risk to the well-being of the horses.

- a chair or something to sit on the ground and support your back, remember, you are going to be in this spot for hours... possibly an entire day.

- clothes that are fitting to whatever the weather forecast, and for possible sudden changes, bring a sweatshirt and rain poncho even if no rain predicted! And try to be in natural colors or non-flashy clothing - they will not allow fluorescent orange shirts!

- bug spray in summer, the mosquitos have been very hungry my last couple of trips out, the flies are always obnoxious in summer, and there can be ticks!

- water and snacks because you will be sitting there for hours, if it is summer you need to keep yourself hydrated! Granola bars, crackers, or other small snacks have been my go to for food while at the observation site.

Find a backpack that has lots of pockets to stash all that you need to bring with you! Very rarely do we get to observe from our vehicles, most times we park and walk a bit from them, and usually it is limited access to walk back to get something.

And one more thing..... know that there are no potty niceties of any kind provided! You will have to find a spot of sagebrush or hide behind your vehicle for those private moments.

So now you have all the things you need to physically go and be an observer and a witness for the wild horses.

But that is not all..... those are important, but they are not everything, because you also need to be a practical observer.

Beyond the gear that we use during these things - photos and videos are so very incredibly important - but we can have all of that and not be what the horses need us to be..... we have to be collected and thorough, we have to keep most of our emotions to ourselves, we have to be able to endure this thing, all while others make fun of us within earshot and later on social media.

The first few days are almost always filled with ranchers or others who openly celebrate each time horses are brought in by the helicopter, there will always be someone who thinks it is their god-given mission to educate us about why the horses need to be removed, and sometimes there is someone who is spoiling for a fight, you want to try and not engage with any of them beyond required civility.

The most hysterically hilarious memory of my own is sitting in observation as other observers walked around with their handguns bouncing on their hips in a proud display of bravado.... they have since bragged repeatedly on social media how they no doubt frightened us advocates into behaving by showing off their weapon - both me and my husband carry our own handguns but neither of us displayed them during roundup operations - it is unnecessary and only adds stress for the BLM law enforcement officers that are almost always either with us at the observation site, or nearby during roundup operations.

So yes, the ability to tune out some crazy weirdness, stay reasonably calm and collected, keeping notes and taking videos or photographs, all while horses you love are being run into a trap in front of you.

Please know you do not have to be an unfeeling robotic recorder of things when you observe.... it is not possible if you have a heart to not have feelings or to keep all of those feelings completely under control!

I have sat recording video of horses coming in with tears falling... I have sat with other advocates that became good friends, I have said a lot of very 'descriptive' words to myself or anyone sitting near me, I have hid at the side of my truck and sobbed uncontrollably, and I have also lost my cool a time or too when speaking to BLM, maybe not outright screaming obscenities, but not my best moments either.... if you love these horses this will be without any doubt one of the single most horrible thing you will ever have to be witness to.

But I continue to stand witness because it is necessary, because the wild horses need us to stand witness to the end of their freedom, they need us to be there to observe that the written policy and procedures are followed, to suggest something that might be a better way, to record what is happening, and when necessary - to challenge that something was not done per BLM policy, and to report to the general public the actions of each day witnessed, because if we fail to do this, if we shrug in apathy and fail to show up - this ability to observe could be lost, and as awful as these things are, they used to be so much worse - make no mistake - if we do not show up and observe things can and will be much worse for the horses!!!

Each roundup operation is a chance for us to share an educated observation of how things are being done - which includes saying thank you when done correctly, it is our opportunity to be a voice for the horses, it is our chance to encourage something that could be done more kindly or with more care for the horses, change does not happen without involvement, and observation is a very real and up close involvement and a key part of wild horse advocacy.

One day I hope we no longer have to observe these things, but in the meantime I will be there as often as I am able to go, I hope you will join me on that miserable little hill, where we will stand witness for the wild horses that have taught us all to be just a little bit more wild than we knew we could be before we knew them.