Wild Horses: Please Comment on BLM’s Plan to Reduce North Lander Complex in Wyoming Herds to Dangerously Low Numbers
January 23, 2017Stunning Lack of Tranparancy in BLM’s and University of Wyoming’s Adobe Town Wild Horse Study
February 11, 2017
Sundance and his Family
Last week I drove to the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. My last trip to see the Adobe Appys was in September, and I was very excited to see them in the new snow that had fallen the day before.
I found it hard to believe that it has been almost 2 years since the 10 horses in three families had been rounded up, sent to a holding facility, then were reunited here at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. Of course there were now 13, with three fillies born here at the Sanctuary.
Sundance and his family were the first I saw. Their pasture was blanketed in white, and they were easy to spot as I drove in late Wednesday afternoon, as most of them were in the lower part of the pasture, with very few other horses around.
Sundance and Aurora, Storm is behind him
Sundance and Storm
When I got out to see them the next morning, the first thing I noticed was that Snowfall was hanging around Diamond Girl and their filly Zarina. As the filly and her mother started toward me, I thought Zarina had snow on her face, but as she came closer I realized it was spots! The filly did not seem to mind as I burst into laughter, delighted with her new spots. She came very close, checking me out, and even had to taste my jacket.
Snowfall, Diamond Girl, and their Filly Zarina
She has spots!
She came very close
Bronze Warrior’s and Sundance’s families stuck close together as usual. I noticed Harley, Sabrina’s filly, and there was a blizzard of spots all over her too! I had done a little reading about Appaloosas and I knew that they often would show spots on their coats as they got older.
Harley has Spots Too!
Harley’s gorgeous eyes
Gwendolyn and Daughter Flurry
Flurry in front of Dad Bronze Warrior
I looked closely at Dakota Dawn, Aurora’s filly, and not a single spot! She’s an independent little filly, I am not surprised she is not following the trend. But her gorgeous flaxen mane had grown even longer.
No spots for Dakota Dawn!
Dakota Dawn fooling around with Sundance
Sundance goofing off
I watched Bronze Warrior and Sundance sniff each other and posture a little, but nothing serious. They have clearly grown to respect each other.
Bronze Warrior and Sundance
Bronze Warrior and Gwendolyn
Bronze Warrior and Flurry
If you are wondering what has happened to Theodore, I have not forgotten him, but he was the last one of the Appys that I found. He spends most of his time in the upper pasture. He has a mare who is his lady love, and they are never far apart.
Theodore watches a gelding coming close
Theodore’s Girl
And Snowfall has a black mare that he loves to follow around.
Snowfall and the black mare
Snowfall
I did get a chance to see other horses at the Sanctuary, and the snow made a gorgeous setting.
In the Sundance Pasture
The Spanish horses
It was a wonderful visit, and hard for me to leave, but I was as always extremely grateful that they have such a wonderful place to live out their lives together, the way they should be.
You can visit the Adobe Appys at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary – they have tours:
and you can donate to support the Sanctuary and the horses.
Find out about the Cana Foundation, who rescued these horses at www.canafoundation.org
To find out more about the Adobe Appys you can read their story in Galloping to Freedom: Saving the Adobe Town Appaloosas by Carol J. Walker, sponsored by the Cana Foundation, and it is available here:
https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/products/galloping-to-freedom
5 Comments
Carol – have to say in my eyes the Appys are the best! I remember seeing my horse, Chico’s colt picture & he was brown with a few spots – by the time I got him (he was 12) He was more towards white & roan with big dark spots on his rump. The rump spots used to stick right up when he had his winter coat! Thanks for the wonderful pictures.
These horses, the Adobe families, are most special. Spectacular images as always! Those spots! And Theodore with his new friends.
It’s so hard to leave that place, and all those lovelies.
Thanks for sharing your time with them, with us!
The story of the Adobes always needs to be told and retold!
Lynn
Sweet spots! Thank you for sharing an update of my favorite Appys! One of these days I must get there to see them in person -Laura
Feb. 7
Hi Carol:
You sent me “Galloping to Freedom” many moons ago and I said that I’d write a review. When it arrived, I was so stunned by the magnificent photos and the story of the rescue of the Adobes that I hardly knew what to say. This is unusual for me. I normally have little trouble finding words. But there are times when words fall short — and “Galloping To Freedom” is an example of that.
There are tons of brilliant photographs in the world that many of us see each and every day. But, like great art, few of these “Talk” to the viewer. We appreciate them at a distance and some even serve to remind us just how distanced from the subject we are.
But your photographs reach out to speak to the viewer. Your passion to save the Adobes rings loud in the images and deepens the portrayal of this band of beautiful wild horses. It is impossible to look at the photographs without a surge of human feeling that pours out of heart and soul. We are moved and begin to understand the fight to save the wild horses from deep within us.
I have rescued two American mustang mares who now run free at Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, thanks to the compassion and resolve of Susan Watts. I went to visit them in September (2016) and was not prepared at all for the power of spending the day with Susan and the wild horses. I left the Sanctuary a forever-changed woman.
I met some of the Adobes while I was there and could recognize several of the herd from “Galloping To Freedom.”
Even though my mares aren’t in your powerful and exquisite book, the spirit of the Sanctuary and of America’s wild horses as I saw them gallops through the pages. I can only hope that all who come here will buy a copy of “Galloping To Freedom.” It is a book that belongs in the home of anyone who loves horses and is dedicated to the survival of the wild in them in these uncertain times.
Kudos to you, Carol. You are an artist and a humanitarian.
Abigail Anderson
Montreal, Canada
They are looking wonderful! I’m in love with Zarina’s new spots! And Dakota Dawn’s flaxen mane is beautiful! For my birthday (actually today) I want my parents to take me up there for a weekend to see the horses and go on a tour. I recently found out my grandmother’s neighbor has a BLM burro, he’s very shy, but that’s off topic. I’m glad all the horses are healty and looking as beautiful and handsome as they are! 🙂