"HARD LUCK" BUCKSKINS IN SEARCH OF WATER Part Seven Skulduggery on the Range! On June 18th Don Alt, a local cattle rancher who runs cows on the BLM section where the emergency water tank was located (in spite of his grazing authorization having expired at the end of March,) rammed the tank with his pickup and rendered it useless. When volunteers responded to the scene Kanani was trying to water 19 stressed and agitated horses from four 5 gallon buckets, a chaotic and potentially dangerous activity. Volunteers assisted and helped get the horses watered. The rancher is a wild horse hater who claims to own this section of public land even though he is simply a part time (winter only) grazing permitee on land legally designated for multiple use. He destroyed a state approved watering station, which, among other things, helped keep the state owned wild horses that crossed this section each afternoon from having to water from the rancher's personal stock tanks that he maintained for his trespassing cows. Since the rancher known in the community as being volatile and typically is armed, the residents and volunteers agreed that it might be less confrontational to place a replacement tank on the private property side of a nearby gate. Maintaining water would be far less convenient, but it could still be safely done. The Allens donated a 300 gallon stock tank, the Lamms donated fencing and a float valve, and other volunteers provided various miscellaneous components and helped install the tank. Thirsty horses. A horney toad supervises the project. Securing the fencing. The finished project. The volunteers had to leave before the horses returned however Kanani reported that they came to the tank late in the day and were quite orderly while "filling up." Involved in the installation were Lee and Kathy Graves, Bob Retzer and Willis and Sharon Lamm. The rancher, Don Alt, was ordered by the Fernley Justice Court to pay for the tank and court costs. Continue to view the Damonte Band Return to Part Six Return to The Beginning Go to Wild Horses of Silver Springs Return to KBR World of Wild Horses & Burros Return to LRTC Wild Horse Mentors Return to Wild Horse Workshop Return to Wild Horse & Burro News Go to other Wild Horse Links Go To KBR Horse Net