Domestic Partnerships between Wild Horses and Mankind

Wild horses are too often categorized as interlopers in the wild, when scientifically they are a historic native species. They have not been managed respectively as other species that migrated over on the land bridge even though it is believed they first originated in North America of the western hemisphere. The land bridge area now called the Bering Strait is a canal that runs between the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and separates Russia and Alaska. Water levels and ice sheets throughout the area have alternated for thousands of years in exposing and uncovering the land here. Not only did animals use this migration passage, but also mankind, as was noted by the Strait’s namesake, the Danish Explorer Vitus Bering. He was recruited by the Russian Czar, Peter the Great. The people Bering encountered in 1741 knew there were people across the strait.

"Beringia" 8000 years ago map from Wikipedia.

Wild horses offer something domesticated generations do not, such as the hardiness and resiliency for certain types of tasks. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service enlists horses and mules as partners for wilderness work, like packing supplies for remote firefighting crews and freeing up helicopters for water distribution.

Carter Reservoir wild Mustang stallion, Mateus showing off his sparing moves. Note his extreme dun factor shoulder cape exposed by the afternoon sun.

More and more, the Mustang, as horses have in general, have been used for rehabilitation programs for veterans, convicts, the handicapped, and troubled teens. The Marine Corps Color Guard, which renders military honors, uses adopted Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mustangs of primarily the palomino color. In 1988, a Carter was adopted for the Color Guard, then in 2009 a Carter was adopted and went to work for the New Mexico Border Patrol. These range agile animals, with their keen instinctive senses could be incorporated into cattle ranch remuda strings to maneuver on the more difficult ranch terrain.

Sir Carlos Z is an extremely versatile Carter Mustang. He excels on the trail or in the arena.

There are many wild horses in holding pens across this country, whose only chance for a new life outside crowded corrals and meat markets is the opportunity to partner with humans and reclaim their place of relationship in building a better world. “The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and freedom.” by Sharon Ralls Lemon.

Carter Reservoir wild Mustangs nicknamed Blue Steel and The Branded Mare.

CRMI’s mission is to help save what could be the purest and oldest Spanish-Iberian wild horse heritage herd existing in the wild today. For more information about these horses and how you can help, contact Carter Reservoir Mustangs, Inc. P.O. Box 357. Richland, OR 97870.