Newsletter For the Wild Horse Sanctuary

FOR THE LOVE OF WILD HORSES

By Guy C. Klitgaard

The wild stallion was standing about 50 yards away from his herd, a majestic looking animal with his head up, ears cocked towards me and alert to any danger. As I moved to get a better picture, he started toward the rest of the herd – mares, young horses and new foals. He put his head down, ears back and made some low noises as he rooted the other animals and moved them back into the tree cover away from the stranger. I got some good shots of the beautiful wild horses and it was hardly any work at all.

To see wild animals in their native habitat is a thrilling experience. To see wild horses in such a setting is highly unusual, as they normally inhabit the most remote and inaccessible areas of the western United States. What a treasure for us all to be able to enjoy such an experience in our own backyard. I am talking about the Wild Horse Sanctuary, located between Shingletown and Manton, a short drive from Redding, California. There is no other place like it in the United States.

The Wild Horse Sanctuary has been there for over 18 years and is run by an engaging couple, Dianne and Ted Nelson. A non-profit organization, it is operated almost exclusively by volunteers. Actually, there is only one paid person to take care of the books and that sort of thing. The Nelsons are retired from other work, live in a historic house over 100 years old and manage the entire program. How is that for dedication? Their love of horses in general led to their interest in wild horses, which are basically in the process of being eliminated for a variety of reasons. Should their goals be reached, there will always be a safe place for wild horses and for the public to have the opportunity to observe them in a wild state. More about that later.

Where did they come from?

Like a lot of things about origins, there are a variety of positions taken regarding where wild horses came from. The traditional biological story is that horses evolved in the Mississippi Basin, then spread throughout the world, eventually dying out in the basin. That is based on fossil evidence. As the story goes, they were then reintroduced in the 1500’s by the
Spanish explorers and Conquistadors.

On the other hand, some believe wild horses never died out in North America, but interbred with the horses from Spain. Needless to say, horses are hardy animals. It seems they can thrive in a wide variety of climates. With the reduction of natural predators in North America, their population exploded to where they required some sort of population control. Many were captured, broken and utilized like other horses, while many others were just killed. Today, although the number is disputed, the government estimates there are about 40,000 wild horses in the 10 western states.

In 1978, a contractor for the U.S. Forest Service was involved in rounding up wild horses from Forest Service land. When 80 horses were all that remained of the 300 rounded up, they were scheduled to be destroyed at a government holding facility near Tule Lake, California. A major life decision was made to rescue the horses and individuals committed to saving the 80 horses personally decided to adopt them. This ended up in the purchase of land near Alturas, California. For the first five years in Alturas, the Sanctuary provided a home for unadoptable wild horses and burros. Then, the current permanent home with better public accessibility, milder winter climate and more natural cover was established.

Adoption and Sponsorship

At the Wild Horse Sanctuary there are approximately 200 animals separated into several small herds. Each year there are from 30 to 50 foals birthed and there has to be some way to control the numbers. What the Wild Horse Sanctuary does is interesting and certainly commendable. When it is time that the foals can be weaned from their parents, a round up of sorts takes place, ending up with the foals being separated from the rest of the herd and gathered into a holding area. These foals, perfectly good young horses, are then put up for adoption by suitable homes.

Speaking of adoption, there is another program offered by the Wild Horse Sanctuary that has a broader appeal than to individuals wanting to acquire a horse to take to their home. This is the mustang sponsorship program. For a minimal fee of $38.00 per month anyone can sponsor a wild horse. The wild horse remains in the sanctuary, yet the sponsor can visit his or her mare, gelding or stallion when time is available. The sponsorship fee pays for supplemental feed and whatever minor veterinary care that is required. A great way for those who love horses but have no way of keeping one at their home and in turn it helps those working toward preserving the wild horses. After all, there is no governmental support for this program. About half of the wild horses have sponsors.

Interesting Programs

Anyone is welcome to visit the Sanctuary. It is located 5 miles south of Highway 44 on Wilson Hill Road. Just come to Shingletown and turn on Wilson Hill Road until you come to the white fences and Wild Horse Sanctuary sign at the entrance. At the minimum you can spend an hour or two touring the building complex, some of the fields and observing the wild horses and burros that tend to stay close in.

If you would like a real adventure, sign up for a two or three day horseback trip through the area to a camp right out of the Wild West with traditional rustic facilities. Enjoy riding regular horses accommodating any level of rider, including the rank amateur like yours truly. This will allow you to observe and photograph wild horses and burros in their natural, protected habitat that is shared with black bear, bobcat, mountain lion, wild turkey, deer, badger and bald eagles, plus over 150 species of songbirds. The base camp is located on Vernal Lake and consists of frontier style sleeping cabins, a “cook” house featuring a main kitchen, a wood burning stove, hearty meals, and bathroom facilities, complete with hot shower. Relax around an evening campfire and get away from TV, phones and the rest of our hectic daily regimen. A two-day pack trip (usually about 10 individuals plus 2 guides) costs $295 per person, a three-day trip $395 per person. Not bad for a unique and unforgettable experience. All proceeds go toward making the Wild Horse Sanctuary self-sufficient. Call (530) 335-2241 for more details.

If one has the desire, one can become an integral part of the operation by volunteering to assist in the many chores and activities necessary to keep such an undertaking in working order. The day I visited there were three girls from Shingletown cleaning the tack in preparation for the active season of pack trips – usually May through October.

The Wild Horse Sanctuary has been involved in a very important program with the Medical College of Ohio, Department of Physiology and Molecular Medicine. This was in relation to immunocontraception research basically designed to develop the potential of this technology for more humane and cost-effective management of wild horses and other wild animals unthreatened by natural predators. Over a 20-year period, this procedure has been perfected – a simple procedure that “far outweighs the disadvantages of culling by translocation and/or slaughter” says Irwin KM Liu, DVM, Ph.D., of the University of California, Davis.

What is it like?

One of the other worthwhile activities of the Wild Horse Sanctuary is to work with other organizations to provide special experiences for those in need. For example, they have worked with the Wilderness Recovery Center, a program for adolescent males ages 14-18 who have emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorders with which substance abuse is commonly associated. Here are a few comments from such youth who have been in the program:

Jacob, “I love horses. I like being around the horse. I feel free being there. I love working on the ranch. It makes me feel like I am doing something productive and worthwhile. Some things don’t get done unless someone helps and that makes me feel like I am making a difference.”

Shaan, “It’s a good experience, you can learn a lot about horses. The work is worth it. The views from the mountain are nice. People there are kind and eager to answer all questions. They treat us like normal people.”

John, “I like the experience of riding and working with the horses. I think its cool they have a safe environment. It’s wonderful for people like me who have never ridden horses before. Trigger was a beautiful horse, he was calm and easy for my first time.”

Organizations that do such positive things with young people deserve all the support they can get. This brings us to another point. It seems there is always a need.

The Future

The Wild Horse Sanctuary is permanent – sort of. The land is currently leased from year to year, but the future is not certain. The land needs to be secured in order for the Wild Horse Sanctuary to continue in perpetuity. The ideal would be to purchase the land (cost about $1,000,000) and secure a conservation easement on it so that sanctuary land use would go on far into the foreseeable future. Although a million dollars is not much in the big picture today, it is still hard to come by. A philanthropist, monetary angel or well-endowed foundation could strike a significant blow for preserving one of our unusual natural resources – wild horses and their relation to the west – by endowing the Wild Horse Sanctuary. It is difficult for the individuals involved in this endeavor to be able to do everything needed to keep it in operation. They are seeking assistance from anyone interested in seeing the Wild Horse Sanctuary become a long-term certainty. Should the land be lost, the wild horses and burros will face relocation and an end to their free-living, natural lifestyle.

If you would like to contact the Wild Horse Sanctuary, write to them at P.O. Box 30, Shingletown, CA 96088, email: info@wildhorsesanctuary.org, phone or fax (530) 335-2241. One can also visit their website at www.wildhorsesanctuary.org It is time to remember the heritage of our wild west!

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

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