Dear Friend of the Sanctuary,
I hope you and your loved ones are doing well and that life is returning to some degree of normalcy.
Here at the Sanctuary, the past two-plus years wrought unprecedented challenges - which we met with resiliency and creativity. The healthy, happy mustangs inspire us to keep moving forward and our mantra, “preserving the past while preparing for the future” guides every step.
As you will read in this newsletter, we plan to resume our trail rides (which raise funds and friends) in 2023. We are also delighted to welcome interns back to the Sanctuary after two long years without their passion, energy and laughter. We also offer three Sanctuary-born mustangs for adoption. Take note: They are among the last of “our own” as our zero-reproduction plan is working as intended.
We are so very grateful for your unfailing support. Our team is truly gifted at making the most of every donated dollar. Repurpose, recycle, rebuild, salvage, and did I say repurpose, are watchwords around here. This approach has enabled us to make the Sanctuary safer and more functional for horses and people alike, even as our financial position has been adversely affected by cancelled rides and events, and our inability to welcome visitors. With your continued support, we are emerging from the pandemic stronger, with more sustainable operations and an even greater ability to provide a haven for wild horses that have nowhere else to go.
Looking forward to seeing you at the Sanctuary!
Elizabeth Palmer
President, Wild Horse Sanctuary
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Meet the Mustangs
Available for Adoption!
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These three beautiful youngsters are looking for their forever homes.
Prospective adopters must complete an adoption application and interview with a Wild Horse Sanctuary representative prior to adopting. Please contact Liz Juenke at 530-474-5770 or ljuenke@wildhorsesanctuary.org to learn more about these amazing mustangs!
Sienna, foaled in 2019, is a kind, smart, and sensible girl. And, beautiful to boot! She was gentled over a seven day period in the summer of 2020 during an Anna Twinney, Reach Out to Horses (ROTH) clinic and did beautifully. She’s a bit shy but once she connects with her handler she’s very open to learning. She is in refresher training and would love to find the perfect partner – patient and committed.
Tex is a very curious and kind two-year-old gelding. He was gentled under the supervision of Anna Twinney in August 2021. During that week he enjoyed scratches and grooming at liberty, was haltered and led in a small space, and learned to enjoy apple sauce through a syringe (a precursor to deworming). He’s currently in refresher training and doing great!
Ranger just found his forever home! He’s a very special gelding. He loves the company of people and enjoys showing off how smart he is, too! He’s very curious and open to adventure. He was also gentled under the supervision of Anny Twinney in the summer of 2021. He was groomed at liberty, learned to be haltered and led in a small space, and REALLY enjoyed water play. This two-year-old guy is awesome!
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Our Summer Interns Have Arrived!
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We are thrilled to welcome two young women to the Wild Horse Sanctuary - Melissa from Florida, and Carina from Germany. Due to the pandemic, it’s been two full years since we’ve had interns living and working every day on site. Both women are doing a great job helping support our mission as well as learn and develop skills useful for their future endeavors. A favorite “chore” is working with the young mustangs we have available for adoption.
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Living and working on a sanctuary may sound like a dream, and to some, it is. But it also requires hard work, long hours, and dedication. A typical day starts at dawn feeding the roughly 250 wild horses and burros that call this place home. Miles of fences are checked for damage and repairs made. Roads and trails are cleared of debris and overgrowth.
The one piece of equipment we cannot live without is “Camo”, our feed delivery truck. Each day, Camo is loaded with hay from the barn and hay is distributed to the designated feeding spots around the sanctuary. Farm equipment requires regular maintenance and repairs to keep the sanctuary running smoothly. This year, Camo received some much-needed maintenance thanks to donors like you, so we can continue to provide quality care for our residents.
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Friends of the Wild Horse Sanctuary often reach out to inquire how we are doing during these challenging times. We are pleased to report that the horses continue to live out their lives wild and free, thanks to our many volunteers and donors. We would like to share our most common questions with you.
Has the pandemic impacted the Sanctuary financially?
Yes. Many people have been challenged during the pandemic and haven’t been able to donate as they typically would. Weekend trail rides are a significant revenue source and we’ve been unable to host guests for trail rides for the past two seasons.
Will you be bringing back the trail rides this year?
No. But, we are looking forward to returning to trail rides in 2023. We hope to host both day trips and overnight adventures.
How has the hay shortage and higher prices affected the Wild Horse Sanctuary?
Fortunately, we’ve had a contract with a hay supplier for many years. That relationship remains strong, so acquiring hay hasn’t been difficult. We do feel the pinch of increased prices, combined with reduced annual revenue, however. There are so many horses in need and we are frequently asked to take more in but we are very careful not to over extend. Our board of directors carefully monitors the budget to ensure there are funds to feed the horses and burros currently in our care.
Are you looking for volunteers?
Yes! For most of 2020 and all of 2021, we had to limit the number of volunteers on the property in order to follow protocols established by public health officials. Today, we are happily welcoming volunteers to assist with a variety of jobs. We need help with: brush clearing and ground maintenance, fence repair, feeding horses, mucking corrals where our horses in training reside, and cleaning water troughs. There are many ways volunteers can assist. If you have time and a talent you’d like to share, please contact us at info@wildhorsesanctuary.org.
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Comfort Food - Cowboy Beans
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We miss the weekend trail rides and the delicious food served at camp. Many of you have ridden with us and have enjoyed our hearty “Cowboy Beans”. So that everyone might enjoy, we are sharing the recipe. These beans are sure to be a hit at your summer cookouts. You can easily convert it to vegetarian by simply eliminating the steak. The recipe below serves 8-10 people. Feel free to modify to accommodate the size of your group!
What You Need for Cowboy Beans
- Deep cast iron pan or 5 quart stock pot
- Wooden spoon
- 3 ounces steak meat (any cut), sliced thin or diced
- 1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
- 1 - 28 ounce can of Ranch Style Beans (undrained)
- 1 - 15 ounce can of Ranch Style Beans with Jalapeno peppers (undrained)
- 1 - 15 ounce can of pinto beans (any brand, undrained)
- 3/4 cup salsa (any brand)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions: Heat olive oil in pan/stock pot, add sliced or diced steak and cook until brown. Add the onion. Sautee until onion is translucent. Add ranch style beans, jalapeno ranch style beans, and pinto beans and stir. Add ¾ cup salsa and stir. Cover and simmer for approximately 45 minutes.
Optional garnish: cheddar cheese, chives, avocado, sour cream
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Lets Be Friends
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