Thank you Currituck County Board of Commissioners

It’s the law. At their December 8th meeting, the Currituck County Board of Commissioners voted amendments to the county Code of Ordinances into effect that will further protect our small herd of historic horses. Section 10-55 has been amended to read, “It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor, maintain, possess, ride, walk or bring a horse into or upon that area of the county on the Outer Banks from the terminus of the paved portion of N.C. State Highway 12 to the Virginia state line. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a horse may be used on private property with written evidence of the owner’s permission or on a cartway, a neighborhood public road, a dedicated right-of-way, the foreshore or beach strand or any other public vehicular area in that area of the county on the Outer Banks from Dare County to the terminus of the paved portion of N.C. State Highway 12.”

We commend the members of the BOC for taking this step. Precedent has been set in all other wild horse sanctuary areas. All current physical and behavioral science regarding the exposure of wild horses to domestic horses advises against it and the decision of the Board mirrors national wild horse management practices.

Doing the right thing is often difficult and certainly not always popular, but this change was absolutely imperative if we are to protect one of our most valuable historic assets and the symbols of what makes the Currituck Outer Banks unique. The BOC is charged with protecting the safety of the public and the change to the ordinance does just that. It was the right thing to do and we are very grateful.

Sticking To The Science

On November 16th, the Currituck County Board of Commissioners took a very important step to protect the wild horses of Corolla. They amended the Unified Development Ordinance to prohibit ownership or the riding of domestic horses in the RO2 District (4 wheel drive beach). Why is this so important? Domestic horses, even those that are vaccinated, can carry diseases for which the wild horses have no immunity. Fact: The small herd size makes the wild horses even more vulnerable to being completely wiped out by a contagious disease. In addition, wild stallions will (and did) charge riders on domestic horses in an effort to protect their harem from horses that they perceived to be a threat. Two incidents necessitated medical treatment of riders. Anyone wishing to ride on the beach can still do so for at least 36 miles south of the wild horse area.

I read some comments from readers of the Virginian Pilot after an article about the change to the UDO appeared in today’s paper. The readers questioned the decision and thought that the Fund had gone too far - that domestic horses didn’t seem like much of a threat at all. Five well known experts that know far more than we do feel strongly that they are. Statements from the following were received and shared with the county planning staff:
• Dr. Rachel Cachero, DVM, Dominion Equine Clinic, Suffolk, VA
• Dr. Charles Issel, DVM, PhD, Chair of Equine Infectious Diseases, University of Kentucky Department of Veterinary Science
• Dr. Phillip Sponenberg, DVM. PhD, VMR Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech
• Karen Sussman, President of the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros, Lantry, South Dakota
• Mike Yoder, Coordinator, Regional Equine Information Network System, Animal Science Extension, North Carolina State University.

A lifelong resident commented in the newspaper article that we were “taking away more rights” and that he had horses and other livestock “up there” years ago and there “weren’t any problems.” Twenty years ago, the wild horses had a range that was about three times the size of their current habitat. There were far fewer opportunities for interaction between domestic and wild horses because there were only a small number of wild horses on the north beach. There was also no paved road from Duck to Corolla years ago either and there were a handful of houses rather than the thousands that exist in 2009. Back then, no one was monitoring or managing the health of the wild horses on a daily basis like we are now. And now, the wild horses have no choice except to live between the south fence in Corolla and the north fence on the Virginia/North Carolina border.

Thankfully, we have science, scientists, and wild horse experts today who can provide us with accurate, in depth information and data. It is right and responsible to consider the best information available when making decisions that affect both the safety of the wild horses and the safety of the public. Wild horse management all over the country prohibits the presence of domestic horses where there are wild horses. We commend the Currituck Board of Commissioners for taking action to protect both the wild of horses of Corolla as well as our residents and visitors.

STOP THE ROUNDUP OF AMERICA’S WILD HORSES!

According to the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign:
• In the 19th century, more than 2 million wild horses roamed the West (source: J. Frank Dobie, “The Mustangs”, Southern Methodist University Press, Dallas, 1952).
• Today, less than 25,000 wild horses likely remain on public lands.
• Over 6 million head of private livestock enjoy subsidized grazing on public lands.
• More than 200,000 wild horses and burros have been removed from public lands since 1971. The BLM plans to remove another 6,000 for Fiscal Year 2009.
• The 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act mandates that wild horses and burros be managed on 47 million acres of public lands on 303 herd areas.
• Since 1971, wild horses have been zeroed out from 111 herd areas representing over 19 million acres.
• BLM relies on an annual population increase rate of about 20% to evaluate population levels and justify round-ups, while the National Academy of Sciences estimates that rate to be closer to 10%.
• Wild horses account for less than 0.5% of large grazing animals on public lands.
• 6 states have lost their entire wild horse and burro populations.
• In 70% of the remaining herd areas, BLM’s population targets are set at levels that will not ensure genetic viability.
• The current removal policy is costing over 39 million tax dollars a year.
• According to the USGS, $7.7 million could be saved annually through the use of contraceptive measures alone.
• The removal and processing of a single horse through the adoption pipeline can cost as much as $3,000.
• Over 30,000 wild horses are currently held in government holding pens. Under the Burns Amendment, about 8,000 of them are threatened with slaughter.
• In 2008, less than 5% of BLM’s wild horse and burro program budget was allocated to herd management on the range, with the remaining 95% allocated to captures, holding and placement.
If you care about America’s wild horses, please visit this website and sign the petition. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/STOP-THE-ROUNDUPS-SAVE-OUR-WILD-HORSES Don’t wait – the horses are running out of time.

Feeding Was Almost Fatal

Several months ago, we ran an article in our newsletter about the serious consequences of feeding a wild horse anything that is not native to its diet. We have also discussed it previously in this blog. It bears repeating as we recently had a wild mare severely colic after being fed by residents in a rental house. She nearly died.
We received a call from a resident on a Friday afternoon who was observing the people at the rental house feeding a mare with a foal at her side. Later that evening, Herd Manager, Wesley Stallings, responded to a call about a black mare that was lying down and getting up repeatedly. She seemed disoriented. She had a foal at her side and was in the same general area as where the feeding took place. Wesley took the horse trailer up the beach and with the help of Carova Beach EMTs and other residents, he was able to capture the mare and foal.
A veterinarian from Dominion Equine Clinic examined her and pulled blood work. Normal heart rate for a horse is 28 to 40 beats per minute. This mare’s heart rate was 89, indicative of pain and distress, and it stayed elevated for over 24 hours. Early and aggressive treatment saved her life. Fortunately, this horse was located in an area where she was noticed when she began to colic. Not all horses will be that lucky. Some horses can tolerate nonnative foods better than others and do not colic. However, there is no way to determine which ones they are. THAT is why it is against the law to feed them. Feeding can be fatal. At the very least, it can cause excruciating pain. Who would knowingly want to do that to a wild horse? We have even observed visitors trying to give them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!
A horse that colics may breathe heavily or sweat and will lay down and roll repeatedly. Rolling can cause the intestines to flip and twist. If this happens to a domestic horse, immediate surgery is the only way to save its life. An intestinal blockage and high fever can occur as well. If these conditions happen to a wild horse – it’s a death sentence.
Besides being harmful to the horse – feeding is against the law. The Currituck County Wild Horse Ordinance states in Sec. 3-36. “Feeding, riding and petting prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to feed, ride, pet or approach with the intent to feed, ride or pet any wild horse.”

Please, if you see someone putting a horse at risk, call the Corolla Wild Horse Fund immediately (252-453-8002). You may be saving the horse’s life.

The Disappearing Wild Horse

It is important that we continue to update you on what is happening to wild horses out west. This is from the Cloud Foundation. Dr. Cothran is the geneticist who analyzed the genetic health of the Corolla wild herd.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO- August 28, 2009: The Cloud Foundation and Front Range Equine Rescue have filed a lawsuit and a request for an injunction in Federal Court in Washington, DC to prohibit the Bureau of Land Management from removing horses from the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, and to stop the unprecedented round up of the Pryor Wild Horses slated to begin September 1, 2009.

The appellants argue that this removal of 70 horses will leave this unique and historical herd genetically non-viable and unable to sustain itself into the future. According to noted equine geneticist, Gus Cothran, Ph.D. of Texas A&M University, “… a census population of 150-200 is required to achieve the minimum effective population size…. The [Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Herd] has been one of the most important and visible herds within the BLM Wild Horse Program and it is important that it stays viable.”

The Bureau of Land Management is circumventing Congress’ wishes that wild horses be protected in the American West. The House just passed the Restore Our American Mustangs (ROAM) act and the Senate will review this bill (now S.1579) when they return from recess in September. “Is BLM just trying to do as much irrevocable damage to America's wild horses as fast as they can before the Senate can act?” asks Ginger Kathrens, Volunteer Executive Director of the Cloud Foundation.

“Right now there are twelve entire herds being eliminated from 1.4 million acres near Ely, Nevada because these lands are suddenly not appropriate for wild horses,” Kathrens continues. “However, no action has been made to reduce cattle grazing in these areas.” There are no grazing permits in the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range and reasons for holding an unprecedented removal this year are not clear. The range and adjacent lands are in excellent condition following three years of drought-breaking precipitation.

Cloud and the wild horses of Montana’s Pryor Mountains are world famous but fame and an outcry from the American public does not seem to impact the BLM’s plans. There are currently only 190 wild horses (one year and older) living in the spectacular Pryor Mountains. The BLM plans to remove 70 of them, including young foals and older horses who could be sold directly to killer buyers.

The Pryor Mountain wild horses are descendants of the Lewis and Clark horses who were stolen by the Crow Indians in the early 1800's. George Reed, Secretary of Cultural Education for the Crow Tribe Executive Branch, wrote in 2006: “We advocate preserving our heritage, culture and language, and these Pryor wild horses are part of our culture.”

Sunny and Suerte

Kimberlee’s Sunrise was rescued on July 9 at age 5 days. She is now 7 weeks old and just gets cuter every day. She has progressed to eating foal lac pellets and drinking milk replacer from a bowl and is being weaned from her bottle feedings. Sunny has been paired up with another formerly wild Mustang, Tracie, to teach her how to be a horse.

Without a dam, an orphaned foal misses out on the nurturing, socialization, and discipline that would be provided by its mother. They often become overly aggressive. Tracie is helping to fill some of those gaps. She has been gentle, patient, and protective of her little friend.

If Suerte (see August 5 blog) was a cat, he would have definitely used up several of his nine lives. He is a totally different colt these days. His motor skills have returned to normal and as you can see by the photo, his attitude is alert and bright. The only unknown now is if he has suffered any permanent neurological damage that may interfere with learning. Only time will tell. Regardless, we will care for him.

These little horses have the strongest will to live that I have ever seen. Although I know that in order to survive on their own for nearly five centuries, they would have to be strong willed – I am always in awe when I see it for myself. They are as tough as they gentle.

Putting Things in Perspective

Summer is drawing to a close. The last five months have been exceptionally busy and stressful. Two horses hit by vehicles resulting in euthanization. An orphaned foal to raise. A poisoned foal to care for. Domestic horses living and being ridden among the wild horses. Hours and hours of education on the beach and behind the dunes in an effort to keep visitors from feeding or getting within 50 feet of the horses. Multiple activities and projects going on simultaneously. Long hours, never ending workload. By this time of year, we are all extremely tired, and I have to admit, it is easy to become discouraged. It is all too easy to focus only on the negatives. Then, just when we need it the most, something wonderful happens. Something that reminds us all over again of how very fortunate we are to be in the presence of these incredible horses and what an honor it is to be responsible for them.

The picture above is a strong woman fighting back from the effects of a stroke and a 3 year old Colonial Spanish Mustang mare called Whispering Jesse. Two and a half years ago Jesse was a part of the wild herd. She now lives in Marshall, Texas at Karma Farms. Her new mission in life is to be the companion of Mary-Margaret. After suffering a stroke her balance problems make it difficult for her to ride but she longed for a horse to care for and love. The following is an excerpt from today’s email from Vicki Ives, one of the leading experts on Colonial Spanish Horses in the country and the owner of Karma Farms.

“Mary-Margaret wanted a critter to love, groom and adore. If Margaret would agree that little Whispering Jesse would never have to leave Karma Farms (where her best friends Splendor Splash, Adam's Eve and her one day mate, our Corolla stallion The Sea King live), we would agree to sell Jessie to Margaret to be groomed, loved, trained and eventually to be a part of the Karma Farms "dude string" for our younger riders. Margaret was so excited that she had to go and meet Jessie immediately.

I drove her to the pasture where Jessie and Splash joined us as soon as they saw my truck. Were they in for a pleasant surprise--I'd brought the feed bucket! They were "in my back pocket" immediately. I slipped on Jessie's halter and handed her lead to Margaret, delighting in the joy that bloomed in Margaret's eyes.

"She's SO beautiful!" Mary-Margaret exclaimed. ""Can I take her home and groom her?"

I hadn't crossed that bridge, hadn't considered that Margaret might want to start with her RIGHT NOW. We were 1/2 a mile from my house in a meadow full of Colonial Spanish Horses and there was no way to get Jessie back to my house and the grooming equipment unless Margaret walked her there. When I thought of a young mare asked to leave her herd in the meadow for the first time by herself and then be led down the hill, across the creek and over the Home Pasture to the house by a slightly disabled stroke victim, I had some reservations. But I had started this and I believed that Jessie was what Mary-Margaret needed. It was karma--if she could get Jessie to the house by herself on her first attempt, I'd know that this was a bonding that was designed by Someone a lot bigger than me. I show Margaret how to use her lead for a come-along if Jessie balked and watched them set out over Dairy Hill.

"If she's not at the house in 15 minutes, I'll go get Jessie for her myself," I thought. But there was no need. Before I had time to really worry, I saw Mary-Margaret and Jessie coming over the creek crossing and heading for the house. I ran for my camera and hid beside the round pen to record their success. In the shadow of a small tree so that Margaret didn't even know I was taking pictures, I recorded their first success. Enjoy!”


I thank Vicki for sharing this story and putting things back in perspective for us – especially for me. The bottom line is that these horses are very, very special. Not only are they highly intelligent, exceptionally athletic, beautiful movers, strong, brave, and adaptable – they are healers of mind, spirit, and body. “Bread may feed my body, but a horse feeds my soul.” - Anonymous