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Western Wild Horse Groups Working Together
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A handsome stud looks on | ||
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The group of four trailers assembled at the Fish Creek corrals at 11:00. Participants in the "trailer train" included Shirley Allen, Herbie Kicker and Willis Lamm from LRTC, Betty Kelly from Wild Horse Spirit and Arlene Sillings from VRWPA. Jill Starr and her assistant from Lifesavers had everything organized by the time we arrived so our only task was to get the pairs loaded without the foals getting hurt. Chewie had a couple of assistants on hand so there were plenty of people available to move panels and gates and make the loading process as minimally chaotic as possible. We figured on transporting a maximum of two pairs per stock trailer (divided into front and rear compartments.) Betty Kelly hauled the pregnant mare along and a pair since she had a TV trailer monitor in the cab of her pickup with which she could watch the pregnant one. Loading generally went pretty well although one rather stout 16 hand tall sorrel mare made it clear that she could challenge the cattle fencing if she desired, so she and her foal were turned back for the time being. (They later set up a 6 foot loading chute for her.) The effort still resulted in moving 11 horses; 5 pairs plus the pregnant mare. More importantly, all the animals loaded and transported safely. The weather was perfect for moving horses. Due to a cold front the high temperature in the high desert was about 74 degrees. The trip to Dayton was uneventful and all the horses settled in nicely. The mares and foals arrived relatively stress free and in good condition. |
Two pairs and a pregnant mare
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| Wandering in from unloading
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Exploring the pens
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| Unfortunately the Fish Creek story was a minor act in a much more sinister play. The bulk of the horses shipped to Slick Gardner's ranch in Buellton were similarly neglected and estimates are that horse deaths there exceeded 200 head. The District Attorney handed down ten charges ranging from animal abuse to theft of services. Gardner entered into a plea bargain to avoid trial and subsequently served a reduced sentence. A number of animals were seized by the County and several hundred were taken in by an organization named Wildhorses In Need. The links that appear below follow this story. |
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