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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 1981)
Pag« 6 July 8,1981 --------------- —------------------------------------ ,--------------- :--------------------------------------- ;__________________ _ __________________ '_________ Spilyay Tymoo New methods aid in EIA round-up by Marsha Shewczyk Wild horses are not easily captured. Ordinary methods are of no use when a horse takes an energetic stance to remain free and wild. But with Equine Infectious Anemia spreading among reservation horses, all domestic as well as wild stock must be tested. The uncontrollable horses which are difficult to overcome are the only horses which have not received their first Coggins test. The Coggins test is the blood sample used to determine whether a horse has EIA or not. “This is a mop up job,” rider Jacob Frank commented. These horses are ‘‘what we couldn’t catch before.” Rounding up the first 2600 horses was easy compared to rounding up the uncontrol- lables running rampant throughout the reservation. Many dedicated men, much time, proper equipment, money and an effective method is necessary to test every single horse. Testing for EIA began in March of 1981 when it was discovered that several horses on the reservation had the disease. Since that time range Spotting and pursuing horses from a helicopter provides an expedient means of rounding up uncontrollable horses. riders, ride bosses and Spilyay Tymoo photos by Shewczyk volunteers have been involved Spears pointed out is in in the testing program. Money out $39,530, totalling $91,530 is coming from both tribal and spent on helicopter service increasing the quality of stock from March 1 to June 10,1981. on the range. With these added federal sources. Rounding up uncontrollable The total expenditure for the advantages to testing during the EIA operation, both horses on horseback was EIA program since its discovered to be unfeasible. inception in March is manpower and money utilization are being put to the Riders had to find a much more $171,949.97. This does not most efficient use. efficient method of locating include salaries of range riders The most difficult part of the and capturing the wild stock. working with the ride bosses. EIA percentage figures for entire project, rounding up the They began with the use of a uncontrollable horses, has yet helicopter for spotting and the entire reservation run to be accomplished. Much have how expanded their around 20 percent. Statistics more time and effort Will go method to include a tranquilzer for various range units on the reservation vary, however. It into this round-up before it is gun. over. The scheduled comple The three-seat helicopter, has been found that 30 percent tion date for the first testing piloted by Frank Knokee of of the horses in the Log Springs is in. the fall of this year Corvallis Aero-Service aids in and Mutton Mountains units locating the horses from the air. have EIA. Boulder Creek, when the second testing on reservation horses will begin. The helicopter swoops down Miller Flat and the Dry Creek Riders are all too aware of close enough to enable a area have a 10-15 .percent rate the necessity to get EIA passenger to shoot a dart at the along with the Tenino range infected horses off the horse. The darts contain a unit. Metolius and Sidwalter reservation. The heat will tranquilizing drug which have a 1 percent rate. increase the possibility of downs the horse. The horse will According to acting land fall within five minutes operations officer Dean Elliot, ’vectors contaminating more horses. With the utilization of depending upon where the dart “Virtually all of the horses with EIA in the south end came out ¡helicopter, tranquilizer gun strikes. and dedicated workers, the Within three minutes or less of the north end originally' for the low infected horses as well as the the helicopter must land, accounting percentage rate on the uncontrollable stock on the passengers in the helicopter southend. range will be eliminated and , Buford Johnson (left) an must jump out and hobble the r___ ____ Most of the horses in the eventually in as short a time as veterinarian Harry Vaughn of the University of Idaho in loading horse. Riders are then be able south end are branded, says possible, the disease will be ( and shooting a 32 guage rifle loaded with dart and tranquilizing to pursue the animal which Elliot. Because of this it is eradicated. drug. travels at a slower pace due to difficult to get help to round the the hobbles. The horse can then stock up. Money for the sale of be rounded up and tested. these horses goes to the owners, The horse must be observed whereas money for the sale of closely after it falls as the unbranded horses goes to the tranquilizer can cause heart ride boss who distrubutes it arrest. With the aid of a pump, among the volunteers working the horse can be revived if with him. A hard day’s work in resucitation takes place the north end is more immediately. worthwhile financially than at Using a helicopter has a the south end of the definite advantage when it reservation. comes to spotting horses. The round-up and sale of However, if the horses are uncontrollable horses has its running in timber it is too often advantages on the reservation difficult to get close enough to range land, according to Range shoot a dart accurately. It may Conservationist Brian Spears. be even more difficult to land Spears says, “Ideally perennial the helicopter fast enough to grass would cover the range. It get to the horse before the is more palatable and tranquilizing drug wears off, nutriative to the stock.” But mentioned pilot Knokee. because the range has been Helicopter service appears to overgrazed “it will be a long be the only sensible way of time before annual grass is rounding up these uncontroll replaced by perennials. This able horses—but it is not may never happen,” he says. cheap. The federal govern EIA testing also provides the ment, through the Bureau of opportunity to get rid of small Indian Affairs, has spent inbred stock on the range. Resucitation of ahorse downed by tranquilizing drugs might be necessary during round-up of $52,000 on helicopter “There is a lot of culling,” says G“r rS on proper contracts. The tribes have paid Spears. The advantage ta this.
