|
Meet the Rescued
Spirits...brief stories |
"The Grey Family" (click
for their story) -
Experience the 10,000 mile rescue journey of 114 previously
 adopted wild
horses from Montana. This is unique family of five wild
horses whose Montana adopter could no longer take care of them. Grey, 26y/o BLM mare, Mica,
11y/o BLM mare and their offspring, Sarah, 3y/o, Jonni, born April 2000, and Katy, born May 2000, were 5 of
a total of 114 wild horses rescued from May thru August 2000.
Young Sarah had her foal on 4-8-2001 at 10:30PM.
His name is Miles, as he can run miles and miles in this life and in
his past lives. Yes, all the Grey family are now turning
gray...including Jonni Rose, Katy and Miles. The Grey family
continues to live at their home with Wild Horse Spirit. |
Bugz
(click for her story)
-a now two year old brown Virginia Range
filly. Bugz somehow survived the northern
 Nevada 1998 Christmas holiday slaughter
of 34 Virginia Range wild horses.
When Bugz was about 4 months old, her
mother was likely one of the victims of the shootings. A bachelor
band befriended Bugz for the next two months, but they could not provide her with her mother's milk. She was
found "down" at 6 months of age, no longer able to survive in
the wild. Her recovery was quite a struggle, but eventually she
became stronger and stronger. Betty walked her every day in
order for her to develop muscles and strength. Her mother would
be proud of her today. And Bugz is a tribute to her mother and
her heritage. Please see the story of the
1998 Christmas holiday
slaughter. Bugz
continues to live at her home with Wild Horse Spirit. Bugz and
her story is told in Deanne Stillman's new book (JUNE 2008),
"Mustang...the
saga of the Wild Horse in the American West"
...a classical must for all to read and who care about the horse.
Click here for Deanne Stillman's website►
http://deannestillman.com/mustang.shtml
|
Mona
(click for her story),
a bay Virginia
Range mare and her little one, Sparky, were trapped by Reno
Animal Control, along with Red in January 1997. After about
3 months
at the animal control, all three were finally released to us by Nevada
Department of Agriculture to come home to Wild Horse Spirit. Mona's milk had dried up.
Sparky and Mona were underweight. The brand inspector thought
Mona was just a old mare but turned
out to be only about 4 years old. Mona has a beautiful
personality...gentle and absolutely a love. See Mona now...a
beautiful Virginia Range wild horse mare with long mare and tail.
Mona continues to live at her home with Wild Horse Spirit.
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Sparky
(webpage
coming soon)
- a brown
weanling at Mona's side
 when
she, Sparky and Red were captured by Reno Animal Control by driving
them across busy, dangerous McCarran Blvd. in Reno NV near Mira Loma
Park. Sparky is now a beautiful, hunky horse, with a long mane
and tail like his mother, Mona. Sparky was adopted by Jan in
Gardnerville NV, but now is with a trainer who has fallen in love with
him. |
|
Charlie
Wild Horse (click for
his story), born to Mona in captivity. Father is
Red. Last year Charlie left Wild Horse Spirit with Alf to their
special new home at beautiful Freedom's Fields to live with Patti and
Jeff in Sebastopol CA. |
Red
(click for his story) -
a sorrel Virginia Range gelding.
Red was treated for a leg injury while
 free-roaming. Eventually he
was captured by Reno Animal Control, along with Mona and her foal,
Sparky, who had made Mira Loma Park their home. Red
continues to live at his home with Wild Horse Spirit. |
Kitty
(click for her story)-
A bay
Virginia range filly was rescued
after being mauled by a mountain lion.
 Kitty
was surrounded by three coyotes waiting to finish her off. She was
underweight, weak and moved slowly. Immediately we setup a
trap. With hay, she walked slowly into the trap where she began to
munch on hay and drink water. Her wounds were debrided. She
gradually recovered. She was one of the official greeters at Wild
Horse Spirit. Her story does not end there. In November
2000 Kitty had emergency abdominal surgery at UCD after a short illness,
but did not do well.
Kitty was one special wild horse. We know she finally found her
ultimate home as she was went upon the great wings of Pegasus to join
others that preceded her. We miss you, Kitty!
|
Skye
(click for her story)- a bay Virginia Range
filly was rescued as a 4-week- old orphan. We were called as
a
last effort by a man who were afraid that the "cats"
would get her. She was weak,
dehydrated with infected canine bites. She would not have lasted
another day. When we gently roped her, she fell into the sage
brush. We had to bodily lift her to her feet. She slowly
walked her down the hill into the trailer. Betty rode in the
trailer with her to help prevent her from going into shock as we rode
from Silver City NV down the winding road to the vet hospital in Reno
NV. Several days later, we learned her mother had been killed by a
motorist. Skye grew up under the protection and security of
Taffy. When they were out with the others, Taffy would run between
Skye and any others that tried to come close to Skye. Skye
continues to live at her home with Wild Horse Spirit. |
Spirit
(click for his story)-
a bay paint Virginia Range colt was
rescued at 4 months of age while
 free-roaming after he fractured a right
front leg likely from a motorist. Euthanasia was not acceptable. Wild Horse Spirit accepted full
responsibility for him, including all vet bills. With the help of many, his fracture required specialized surgery
at University of California, Davis. After his first surgery at UCD, he
returned to a Reno vet hospital where he continued to healed. Finally, he came home to Wild Horse Spirit.
Once his fracture
healed, Spirit returned to UCD to have his plate and screws removed to
allow normal growth. He finally came home once again to Wild
Horse Spirit. Spirit continues to live at his home with Wild
Horse Spirit. |
L-Jay
(click for her story)-a
1 month old bay Virginia Range wild horse colt. L-Jay was found with a lone stallion.
The whereabouts of his mother unknown. The Nevada Department
of Agriculture brand inspector said he looked "okay". But we
knew that such a young foal would not survive in the wild without his
mother's milk. Two to three weeks later, he was discovered
alone, malnourished with multiple abrasions and bites over his body.
Luckily a mountain biker found him before it was too late. Wild
Horse Spirit was contacted. With the help of the biker and
others, L-Jay was taken to Wild Horse Spirit where a vet examined and
treated him. L-Jay was befriended by Billy, a bachelor wild
horse gelding, who provided him with the support he needed to feel
save. They continue to be the best of friends. L-Jay and
Billy continues to live at their home with Wild Horse Spirit.
|
Brite
(webpage coming soon) -
a light bay BLM filly yearling. We
first saw her in a corral with other BLM wild horses in 1992 at the first
 Wild Horse and Burro Show in Reno. We fell in love with
her. We finally traced her to the
Susanville BLM facility where she was headed for a BLM adoption program in
California. They said we could adopt her if we could get there by
3PM that same day. Through windy, rainy weather, Bobbi pulled the
trailer from Reno to Litchfield CA BLM Facility. However, when Bobbi
arrived, she was told that Brite had been injured. They said we could
pick another horse, but we said NO. If Brite could be loaded, we
would take her to a Reno vet hospital for treatment. When Betty
first touched her at the vets, tears came to her eyes...she was so underweight from
all the stress of the roundup, separation from her family and friends
and repeated
loading and unloading. Her
story is typical of the saga of many wild horses captured by BLM. Others are not as lucky as Brite.
Just remember massive captures
to remove healthy horses is one of the most stressful experiences that
any horse can endure. Brite continues to live at her home at Wild
Horse Spirit. Brite developed central Cushing's disease
manifested by chronic laminitis. With appropriate medications,
trimming, and great vet care, Brite is doing quite well.
|
Casey (Kachina)
(webpage coming soon) -
a
black and white paint BLM filly.
Rescued as a weanling after an
/8-12-94_Casey_at_Bonde-depressed-dejected.jpg) untitled
BLM adopter could no longer keep
her. Casey still at the vet's in Reno and just before we took her home to
Wild Horse Spirit. In this photo, Casey was obviously depressed...she
was separated from her adoptive family. Her untitled adopter
had spent 3 days and 3 nights at the Palomino BLM facility near
Sparks, NV, waiting to
adopt her and making sure she did not disappear. They finally
process her to the adopter. She was only a few months old.
Kachina is now with an adopter. |
Cinnamon
(webpage coming soon) - a sorrel BLM
Nellis mare. She
was heading for auction and
 slaughter,
but they were not able to load her, even using electric cattle prods.
She was waiting for us. Cinnamon continues to live at her home with
Wild Horse Spirit. |
Felix
(webpage coming soon) - a
young brown Virginia Range stallion, 1-19-97.
Felix was rescued by Wild Horse Spirit after injured by a hit and run motorist
 that
critically injured one of his free-roaming bachelor buddies, Pretty
Boy, a roan young stallion near Hidden Valley Community. Felix was first cared for by Dennie
and Sherry. He then came to WHS where he was gelded, gentled and
halter trained. Felix was then adopted to Jan where he enjoyed being
with Sugar, Daisy, Sparky, Blondi, and Jan's domestics quarters
horses. When Felix began to collect his harem of mares at Jan's,
he became aggressive to the geldings...typical wild horse stallion
behavior. Felix then went to Tim's where he continued to be
trained to ride. Now he is with an adopter who loves him dearly. |
Jess
 (webpage coming soon) - a black BLM
Nellis mare. Jess was rescued after she was found close to the
Hidden Valley community, free-roaming, evidence of abuse and 200+ pounds underweight.
In this photo, Jess, who regained weight and her minor injury healed, is waiting at
the vet to go to a temporary home until both she and Casey can go to Wild
Horse Spirit. Jess continues to live at her home with Wild Horse
Spirit. |
Snow (now Cookie)
(webpage coming soon) -
a young sorrel Virginia
Range filly. Cookie was treated for a
 severe laceration of her leg while free-roaming. However, this young filly was never accepted
by any bands. Because she was in jeopardy of being hit by
motorists in the Hidden Valley Community area, she was rescued by Wild Horse Spirit. Approximately 4 months later, Ned was
born in captivity at Wild Horse Spirit.
Ned and Cookie continue to live at her home with Wild Horse Spirit. |
Ned
(webpage coming soon) - a sorrel Virginia Range gelding.
Born at WHS in 1995 after his young pregnant
 mother,
Cookie, was rescued. In the photo, Ned was only one
week old. In January 2002, Ned was chosen by
Monty Roberts from over 20 horses as the starting horse. Ned
demonstrated Monty Roberts' Equus Language perfectly. It was a
great experience for Ned. We were so proud not him. He was a
great tribute to wild horses and his mother, Cookie. Ned and
Cookie continue to live at her home with Wild Horse Spirit. |
Reina
(webpage coming soon) - A
brown Nellis Air Force Base BLM mare who had been titled by BLM
subsequently went through had multiple "owners". At one
time she had been reportedly a "trail horse" before being shuffled
around from owner to owner. .Her current owners
were headed for Las Vegas and
she was headed to Fallon NV for auction. Before we
rescued her, she has been with a couple of alpha Arabians who
dominated her...Reina was always last at the chow line. After
coming to WHS, she has stood her ground and more. Reina
continues to live at her home with Wild Horse Spirit. |
|
Shadow
(webpage coming soon) - a black
Virginia Range yearling filly, who was rescued with Shelby who had
befriended
her. During a heavy long winter snow storm, Alex, a wonderful
and gentle stallion, brought her
back to join his band . She had a fuzzy winter coat, but was
underweight. Shadow is one smart spirit who continues to live at
her home with Wild Horse Spirit. |
Shelby
(webpage coming soon)- A 9 year old sorrel Virginia Range mare.
Rescued with her 3 week old foal, Little
 Horse Love, who had developed a
severe infection in the shoulder joint. Despite aggressive
treatment, Little Horse Love, did poorly. Love went upon Pegasus
wings to join other wild horses about three weeks after she was rescued.
Shelby continues to live at her home with Wild Horse Spirit. |
Lil Horse Love
(webpage coming soon) - born to
Shelby while free roaming. Love at about 3 weeks of age
 developed
what is called a foal septic arthritis in her shoulder joint.
For this reason, her mother, Shelby and she were trapped so
that Love could be treated. Shadow was also trapped
with them as Shelby had befriended young and underweight Shadow after Alex brought
her back to his band after a heavy winter storm. In spite of
IV antibiotics, Love did not do well. Love went with
Pegasus. Shelby ever since has always been a Godmother to
all or any orphaned foals that Wild Horse Spirit has
rescued. |
Snort (Billy)
 (webpage coming soon) -
an unusual Roan-Palomino Virginia
Range gelding. Billy was rescued along with 5 others
members of the free-roaming "Bachelor Band" after they were captured by Nevada Brand Department as
"nuisances" and
impounded at the Reno Animal Control facility.
He at one time had a potential adopter, but this fail through.
Billy and L-Jay are inseparable buddies and continue to live at their
home with Wild Horse Spirit. |
Taffy
(webpage coming soon) - a dark
chestnut Virginia Range mare. She was born in 1989 and a member
 of the "Palomino
Band". See photo on home page. She is the reddish foal
trailing behind. Fall 1990, she became lame from a severe leg injury
while free roaming with her band. She was captured and taken to
the vet for treatment. She eventually, went to WHOA where shortly
after Whisper was adopted, she, too, was adopted and brought home.
Taffy was Wild Horse Spirit's 2nd rescued Spirit and continues to live
at her home with Wild Horse Spirit. |
Whisper
(webpage coming soon)
- a sorrel Virginia Range mare.
Whisper had only one eye since
she was a foal free-roaming with the "Palomino Band". She was
born in 1990. She and Taffy were in the same band.
Shortly after she was adopted thru WHOA as an "unadoptable", her blind
left eye was surgically removed. If you looked at the photo of
the "Palomino Band" on the
home page, her mother is a gray dappled mare-3rd down. With her
is Whisper's brother -4th down- who was born Spring 1990 while the
Palomino Band was free-roaming. Whisper was Wild Horse Spirit's
first Spirit and continues to live at her home with Wild Horse Spirit. |
Freedom
(webpage real coming soon)
- a sorrel paint Virginia Range
wild horse gelding. Extremely
malnourished, weak and alone, Freedom was rescued one day after Alf.
Freedom raised orphaned Alf and provided him with love,
security and confidence until he grew into a young horse. Once
Freedom did his job, he became ill once again. Freedom went upon Pegasus's
great wings and is now "free" in Spirit. Alf and Charlie
now are at their wonderful new home that his human "brother and
sister", Patti and Jeff, call Freedom's Fields. Freedom's spirit
is there, too. Also see
Spiritual Writings. |
Alf
(webpage real coming soon)
-a brown 6 month old
Virginia Range colt when rescued. Alf, orphaned, weak and
malnourished, had managed to stay with his band, but without his
mother's milk, he would not survived. What happened to his
mother is unknown. Alf was captured one day before Freedom.
He and Freedom became "brothers". See Freedom above.
Alf with now at their beautiful home at Freedom's Fields with
Patti, Jeff and Wild Horse Charlie. |
Blondie
(click for her story)-
a 6 month old palomino filly with injury leg. Someone had tried
to roped her
which likely caused her injury. She was still dragging the
rope. Blondie is now at her adoptive home with Jan in
Gardnerville NV. |
Dolly
(webpage coming soon)
- a 6 week old Virginia Range
filly with a severe hind leg injury...almost complete "de-gloving" of the
skin from the hock to the fetlock, rescued late August 2001. It
took months for her wound to heal. As she grows, Dolly
Wild Horse's color is changing to "appy" as she is getting freckles
over the nose and genital area. She still has her baby fuzzy
coat, but should soon shed this by the fall. She thinks she is
the biggest "Spirit" around, but is learning good wild horse behavior.
She has become attached to Grace, but also likes Bugz,
too. Our vet says that wild horses have a super-natural ability
to heal as compared to domestic horses. We agree. Dolly
continues to live at her home with Wild Horse Spirit. |
Grace
 ( webpage coming soon) -
a Goshute BLM mare "trained" using a 2x4 board beating her into
unconsciousness because
she
would not stand still to get her feet trimmed or if she bucked.
Her story is unbelievable but not uncommon human mentality to
"training" wild horses. As Robin said now, she will never be
"used or beat" again. Grace continues to live at her home
with Wild Horse Spirit. |
Elko Estate Wild
Horse Rescue
 (webpage
coming soon)...five
wild horses would have gone to the "meat man" if we and
others
had not helped purchased them from the estate attorney. That is
where we meet Grace who had been rescued earlier by a concerned Elko
person. |
Trigger (Wolfie), Copper (Marge) and
Moon
(webpage coming soon)...trapped
3-3-2000 by a private person for the Nevada Department of Agriculture
who then called us about Tigger, on the right. He had elf-like
hooves on the hind feet only. Yes, we would take him. We
also rescued Copper who was pregnant at the time. Within a week
after we transported them to their adoptive home, Cooper gave birth to
Moon, a beautiful filly. Tigger has had extensive treatment to
re-shape his hooves, etc. and is doing quite well. Tigger
continues to live at his adoptive home with Cooper, Moon and humans,
Dennie and Sherry in the Virginia Foothills community. |
Sugar and Daisy
(webpage coming soon)...an
amazing and miraculous story about Sugar a young Virginia Range
 filly
who turned out to be pregnant and her foal, Daisy. Sugar
developed an uncommon "twisted" uterus late in her pregnancy that
required surgery to un-twist the uterus. This condition has a
high mortality rate for the mother but more significantly for the
fetus. When the uterus twists, it cuts off the blood supply to
the uterus and fetus. The fetus was still alive. Several
weeks later, Daisy was born. She was a little premature but
quite spunky. Daisy at a few weeks of age, developed a fracture
of one of the growth plates in her knee. She, too, underwent
successful surgery. Jan, their adopter, saved Sugar and Daisy
because she was immediately aware that Sugar was not acting normally.
Within a short period of time, the vet was called and the diagnosis
made on the spot. Sugar was immediately taken to the vet
hospital for treatment and surgery. Sugar is a "strawberry roan"
and Daisy is a sorrel. This photo was taken 9-20-98...both
healthy and doing well. Sugar and Daisy continue to live at
their adoptive home with Jan in Gardnerville NV. |
Angel and Pumpkin
(webpage coming soon)...Angel
is a Virginia Range wild horse appy mare that was captured
 with
Sugar by the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Angel was adopted
by a family that resided in the community where she free-roamed with
her family until removed by the Agri Department. Shortly,
Pumpkin was born to Angel. Subsequently, the family could no
longer care for both. We took them home to Wild Horse Spirit
where they were gentled and eventually adopted to Jan who had
previously adopted Sparky, Sugar, Daisy and Blondi. They loved Jan's
lush pasture. Angel continues to lives at her adoptive home with
Jan in Gardnerville NV. Pumpkin, now called Shelby, lives at her
adoptive home with Lynn who also adopted 2 members of the bachelor
band...Tony and Tyler. |
Pearl and Benji
 (webpage coming soon)...two
orphaned 5-6 month old wild horses wandering the streets of Hidden Valley
community. They were following a very young roan yearling
stallion, Junior (or now named "Tony" by his adopter.)
that had befriended them. They would not have survived without
their mother's milk.
Pearl is a strawberry roan and Benji is a sorrel.
This photo was taken just after they were trapped and before they were
taken to Wild Horse Spirit. Junior soon joined up with
the "Bachelor Band" that was subsequently captured and impounded by
Reno Animal Control and Nevada Department of Agriculture as
"nuisances". Pearl continues to live at her adoptive
home with Denise. Benji is now in the Dayton NV area in a great
home who loves him dearly. |
|
More
"Spirit" webpage stories coming... |
|
Wild Horse Spirit, Ltd.
25 Lewers Creek Road
Carson City, NV 89704
(775) 883-5488
Website: http://www.wildhorsespirit.org
 |
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