A Rightful Place

photo by Rich Sigal

The Horse of the Americas registry says they are Colonial Spanish Mustangs eligible for registration papers. DNA testing supports it – once in 1992 and again in 2008. And now, we are “this close” to the resilient, powerful, intelligent, and athletic horses that grace our northern beaches and Shackleford Banks taking their rightful place as a North Carolina state symbol – our state horse.

On January 22nd, nearly a thousand letters were presented to Representative Bill Owens during a very special event at Shawboro Elementary School. Students from Currituck, Dare, and Carteret Counties asked their state legislators to support their request to designate the Colonial Spanish Mustang as the North Carolina state horse.

In addition to Representative Owens, attendees included Representative Tim Spear; Secretary Dee Freeman (NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources); Katie Hall (for Senator Marc Basnight); Steve Windham, Chairman of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission; Betty Jo Shepheard (for United State Senator Richard Burr); Carolyn Mason and Anita Kimball, President and Vice President of the Foundation for Shackleford Horses; CWHF staff and Board President, Kimberlee Hoey; Currituck County Commissioners and members of the Board of Education. Governor Bev Perdue supports the effort and letters from the Governor, Lt. Governor, and United States Congressman Walter Jones were read.

In March of last year, as part of their state mandated writing assessment, the entire fourth grade in the Currituck County School District participated in an effort to designate the state’s two historic wild herds of Colonial Spanish Mustangs as the North Carolina State Horse. Students in fourth and second grade as well as kindergarten took part in an educational program presented by the Corolla Wild Horse Fund that also included a rescued and once wild horse on site. They conducted research on other state symbols, studied North Carolina and local history, and wrote individual letters based on what they had learned. The program then expanded to include additional grades in Currituck, Dare and Carteret counties.

In her letter of support, NC Governor Bev Perdue wrote, “They have graced our shores for generations, bringing visitors from across our state and beyond, to North Carolina’s outer banks to witness this marvel. We are privileged to have these horses as part of our heritage . . . Long after they arrived in the 16th century, they continue to thrive and inspire writers young and old with their tale of survival.”

We are thrilled beyond description at the prospect of North Carolina becoming the tenth state to have a designated horse – but most of all – that it is the Colonial Spanish Mustang. House Bill 1251 is scheduled to be presented in May.

Whether they are wild or domestic, this is a noble breed on the brink of extinction. Recognition as our state horse will be the lifesaver that they so richly deserve.

My Greatest Joy - My Greatest Sorrow

This past September marked my third year anniversary as Director of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. I moved here from Pennsylvania to take this position, leaving behind family, friends, and my last remaining horse (age 34 this January). My husband still works in Pennsylvania and we are not in a position for him to retire for several years, primarily because this job has a significantly lower salary. Many sacrifices continue to be made in order for me to do this work and I will never be able to express how grateful I am to my husband and family for their loving support.

At the risk of showing my advancing age, I have been in the nonprofit workforce now for 37 years. I have worked in the juvenile justice field, for organizations that deal with domestic violence and rape, and I have worked with disabled children and adults. Each position was rewarding in many ways, and gut wrenching in others. This job however, has far and away been my greatest joy – and my greatest sorrow.

My joys:

I have met so many wonderful people who love the wild horses with all their hearts. There is nothing that they wouldn’t do to help and they volunteer their time freely. I have met so many generous people who support the Corolla Wild Horse Fund’s efforts to become a financially stable, growth oriented and visionary organization in a multitude of ways. I am continually amazed by the generosity of strangers and how just when we seem to need it the most, someone appears and provides it. And, I am so grateful to our current elected officials who have been willing to update and change laws and ordinances to protect the wild horses.

I have been fortunate to work beside staff who always give 110%. They work long hours for low pay and drive long distances to get to our place of work. They are often criticized by people who have little, no, or incorrect information. They are always polite and respectful even when it isn’t deserved. There is no task too menial or too difficult for them to undertake and they do it because they love the wild horses.

The wild horses – I never tire of seeing them. Every new baby is another step closer to a herd size that will ensure survival of the breed. Every time a see a wild horse I am reminded that it is my honor and privilege to work to protect and preserve them. Every life that we save after illness or injury is a reward beyond description.

My sorrows:

Seven horses shot and killed with no one held accountable. Three horses euthanized as a result of being hit by vehicles. I will never erase the vision of the last horse to be shot, the drive to the Department of Agriculture with his body in the bed of the truck, and the sight of the winch that lifted him from the truck for necropsy. I will also never erase the memories of seeing three horses with broken legs and being a part of their subsequent euthanizations.

The never ending fight to keep them wild and free is complex and pressing. The wild horse is systematically being removed from the west due to pressures from lucrative cattle grazing deals. We cannot let the same thing happen to our wild horses as a result of irresponsible development or irresponsible behavior. Development is inevitable but it must be done in a way that is respectful to our fragile coastal ecosystem and wildlife.

Our government’s refusal to recognize wild horses as wildlife. Instead, they are defined as “feral,” “pest animals,” and “invasive species.” Horses are native to North America. They became extinct 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Primitive horses crossed land bridges into Europe and flourished. They were returned to their homeland by the Spaniards.

My dream:

The Corolla Wild Horse Fund will continue to build the kind of national, state, and local alliances that will enable the organization to effectively protect and conserve the Colonial Spanish Mustang breed and to specifically maintain the optimum physical and genetic health and safety of the wild herd. In addition a wild herd will freely roam portions of the Currituck Outer Banks for generations to come.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who is a part of making this dream a reality.

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.”