Newsletter For the Wild Horse Sanctuary

Dear Friends,

It has been great to see some sunshine the past few weeks - the grass on the hills is growing again and we already have 15 new foals! Two beautiful paint babies, also buckskins, sorrels and bays.

Some newly resued horses have joined our resident herds. Some of these horses are fromt he rescue we told you about last November, (more about those 48 horses in our May newsletter). In this newsletter, I would like to share with you three stories about different wild horses - all of which were in desperate need of a home.

T.C. (short for Tough Cookie) had been adopted from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as a mature horse over five years ago. After several unsuccessful homes with owners that had difficulty caring for here, T.C. was brought to the Sanctuary to be returned to a natural free roaming life. She should have never been deprived of her natural existence as a wild horse by BLM. Thankfully, she is now living free again here at the Wild Horse Sanctuary with other wild horses.

Chester was hit by a car while on him home range in Nevada and now has a permanent limp. A group of people there had corralled him in order to receive veterinary care. The veterinarians advised that he would recover if kept confined for six months. After being held in captivity and Chester was healed, he could no longer go back to his free roaming life on his Nevada range. The Sanctuary was contacted and asked if he could be turned out here with our wild horses. Of course we accepted him, it's hard to say no when the only life he'd known was freedom. Life in a 'pen' for Chester and other wild horses like him is just like prison to them.

Then there is Johnson (alia L.T. for Little Tough). Johnson was born with a clubfoot, had been rejected by his herd and was having trouble surviving on his own in the wild. He managed to survive and eventually found his way to a friendly human family that began a search to find help for him. The family contacted the Sanctuary in desperation, which brought Johnson to us. The caller was in tears - she was so happy that after months of calling other agencies, she had finally found the Sanctuary and that Johnson could come here to live. After his arrival, Johnson received minor surgery on a ligament in his leg that has enabled the foot to grow back to a more natuarl position. We will continue to aid and improve his malformed hoof through continuous corrective trimming.

Someday, it is our hope that Johnson may enjoy a natural life with our resident wild herds. If not - he will be an ambassador for all the countless wild horses - like T.C. and Chester that can't remain on their native ranges and can't be adopted successfully due to age or some other circumstance.

We are very grateful that the three callers were able to find the Sanctuary. Thanks to your support, we are here to help and provide a home for these wild horses and many others that are free from pain and suffering.

Every year the calls increase about individual wild horses that never adjust to capture - they were too old, too wild, or too misunderstood to be trained properly. For the many wild horses that can never make the change to captivity, the Sanctuary is their only hope.

If we can't take these horses they are doomed to destruction or confinement in constant fear or pain.

I know of no other place that offers the natural free roaming life that the Sanctuary does for wild horses where stallions can form harems, bachelors can bond in bands, wild horses can interact with other wild horses, and where all can live safely without being harassed.

As we continue our efforts to raise funds to purchase our grazing land, the need to retain the land is emphasized with each new rescue. We have negotiated a purchase option ont he land (we have by December 31, 2002 to raise needed funds), more about that in our next letter.

I have never been able to express my feelings adequately enough to tell you how much the Sanctuary needs your support and how much I appreciate whatever you can continue to give to help us remain here.

The times we live in are difficult and uncertain - which makes me even more grateful than ever for your help - thank you again for caring. Together we can make a better life for wild horses and each other!

Warmest regards,
Dianne Nelson

P.S.; Arthur and Elena Court have generously continued their matching gifts for 2002. You can double your contribution to WHS by writing your check to A. & E. Court Nature Watch Conservancy. Also, weekend trail rides begin in May. Visit the Ride Registration page for dates or give us a call!

Wild Horse Sanctuary
P.O. Box 30
Shingletown, CA
96088-0030
(530) 335-2241

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