Pag« 6 July 8,1981
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'_________ 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.