Tulsa World: Horse sensitivity: Show at OSU pushes preserve for mustangs

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Horse sensitivity: Show at OSU pushes preserve for mustangs

Dale Lively of Nauvoo, Ala., rides Deuce during a halftime presentation by the National Wild Horse Foundation at the Oklahoma State University-University of Colorado football game Thursday in Stillwater. STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World

By AMANDA O'TOOLE World Correspondent
Published: 11/20/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/20/2009 9:03 PM

Learn more about the wild mustangs

STILLWATER — The wild mustangs Freedom, El Compadre and Felio were featured during the halftime show at Oklahoma State University's football game Thursday in an effort to raise awareness of the plight of wild horses.

Madeleine Pickens, wife of the OSU stadium's namesake, T. Boone Pickens, hosted pregame activities and the halftime show, "A Celebration of our American Heritage," which included a parachute team, a tribute to the armed forces and various American Indian tribes, and the introduction of the mustangs for which she found homes.

"The NFL and college football are fabulous ways to share this issue," Pickens said in an interview before the game. "Football is such an American pastime, and this is such an American issue."

The mustangs have become part of Pickens' crusade to change how the U.S. Bureau of Land Management handles wild herds in the West. The bureau removes 6,000 to 10,000 wild burros and horses from the open range in 10 Western states each year to ensure a population of about 27,000, said Paul McGuire, a bureau spokesman who is based in Moore.

Horses and burros removed from the range are sold, adopted or sent to long-term holding pastures, he said.

The number of horses in those long-term facilities is growing, and the federal government will spend about $30 million on their care during the next fiscal year, he said.

Although the bureau never euthanizes the animals for population control, its leaders noted last year that doing so could be an option to reduce the ever-growing cost of the program, McGuire said.

Pickens spoke last fall about a plan to build an accessible sanctuary for the animals.

The bureau said in March that her plan was "problematic" because it included the use of public land made in- eligible by the Free Roaming Horse and Burros Act of 1971, which restricts horses to areas where they had been living.

Pickens has established the group Saving America's Mustangs, which is dedicated to raising awareness about the wild horses and creating the public-private sanctuary.

The group's star-studded advisory board includes NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman; weight-loss mogul Jenny Craig; and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Pickens said the organization had offered to buy about half a million acres in Nevada for the sanctuary, which would include some deeded public land. She's waiting to see whether the government accepts the offer, she said.

Attempts for change will always face challenges, Pickens said.

"They need to make sure it's the right thing for the horses, BLM and the government," she said. "It's nothing that can't be worked out."

As far as when the sanctuary would be built, Pickens said, "You'd like to be positive and say 18 months, but there's no way to know when we'll get started."

The organization has campaigned for support from many sports teams with horse-related mascots. A similar pregame and halftime show was presented in October at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Pickens said bringing the horses and the issue to football games makes a bigger impact than other venues.

"It's huge," she said. "You can go to a town hall meeting and be lucky if 1,000 people show up. But if you go to a football game in a place like Stillwater, you'll have 50,000." By AMANDA O'TOOLE World Correspondent

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	Report Comment Elusive, Owasso (11/20/2009 4:55:55 AM) T. Boone certainly know's how to market his idea's to the greater masses. After seeing the picture of the two together I'm wondering how old she is or if those billions he has has afforded her the best plastic surgery, sure looks much younger than him.
	Report Comment Four Sixteen Rigby, Tulsa (11/20/2009 5:47:15 AM) What Madeline Pickens wants in Stillwater, Madeline Pickens gets in Stillwater. Just ask the Dean of the OSU Vet School.
	Report Comment boomersoonergal, Owasso (11/20/2009 8:40:44 AM) Madeline Pickens is doing a much needed service for wild horses. People who are in horse related businesses know that there is a huge problem with unwanted and feral horses. We need answers to help these animals who are in desperate need. Mrs. Pickens has the means to help. She is taking advantage of the most logical and accessible way to reach as many people as possible. She's compassionate and smart. Why are people jealous and so quick to criticize others who are blessed with money....more power to her! Go Madeline!
	Report Comment tricky ricky, (11/20/2009 9:59:54 AM) i have a mustang mare - after they trust you they can be a very gentle. her home before capture was southern utah.about mrs. pickens money speaks has been that way always will be that way. we need to preserve these horses. maybe not all but some
	Report Comment owl, Tulsa (11/20/2009 12:25:57 PM) Mrs. Pickens has my admiration and gratitude for going to these lengths to fix the plight of America's mustangs and don't care what length she goes to to stay attractive.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (11/20/2009 2:02:37 PM) I applaud Mrs. Pickens for her involvement in the mustangs.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (11/20/2009 2:11:52 PM) I applaud Mrs. Pickens for her involvement in the mustangs.
	Report Comment RancherOK, (11/20/2009 2:33:30 PM) The government's wild horse program is a ridiculous waste of money. Why do we pay welfare to millionaires just to "pasture" wild animals until they die? Meanwhile, we are too mean to provide healthcare for the uninsurable sick? People are starving in the US, but not these unusable horses that keep the "fat cats" in the taxpayer pockets. Something certainly should be done to change this great misapplication of government funds!
	Report Comment wk, (11/20/2009 2:54:10 PM) I agree with Rancher - the mustangs should be turned into high quality dog food. Waste $30 million on year on this nonsense and wonder why our taxes keep going up. Ridiculous.
	Report Comment GretaSue, Broken Arrow (11/20/2009 8:45:23 PM) Thanks to the Pickens the wild horses may actually be where they were before.. Wild.. it was the government that stepped in an tried to have a roundup an auction every couple of years.. If the Pickens want to take this on as a good cause, then they should, I wish I was able to help... Thank you T.Pickens and your lovely wife Madeleine.
	Report Comment Elusive, Owasso (11/20/2009 8:49:54 PM) How come more are not adopted out?
	Report Comment OkieDad, (11/21/2009 7:17:45 AM) This is the funny thing about some wealthy people, they want the Government to put time and tax payers money to causes that they won't. $30 million per year? No really...don't you think that Troy Aikman, Jerry Jones, T Boone, Jenny Craig and others can come up with 30 million per year on their own to support this program? That is, if it is that important to them! It must be important enough to have taxpayers fund their "feel good" program but not important enough to put their money where their mouth is. I say open hunting season on these animals. It's the most effective and efficient way of managing their numbers. Plus we can save the tax payers 30 million per year to boot!
	Report Comment Four Sixteen Rigby, Tulsa (11/21/2009 7:34:21 AM) Why aren't they adopted? Well, for starters, these are feral animals that have little to no exposure to humans and therefore are very difficult to tame and train. Only the very experienced among horse people need apply, if they know whats good for them. And, since the United States Congress, in its wisdom of course, banned the slaughter of horses in the United States, you literally can't give non-blooded horses away. $30 million you say? What another 5 to 10 years, and the tax-payers' bill for this program will be pushing $100 million.

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