As I am reviving my blog 'MUSTANG ECO TOURS" I disclose that mustang eco tours did never go live, meaning that I actually never guided a group of excellent riders from the strawbale house to the Continental Divide on Mustangs. Whereafter we were picked up by a small single engine Cessna to fly over the 800some mustangs of the Sand Wash Basin only to return back to the Strawbale House to dive into the advantages of Sustainable Living.

And why did this not happen? 

Like with so many other things, one does not really know. It was an intent, a vision, a dream and it is clearly a beautiful idea to be pursued now by someone else.

What has continued though is the love for the AMERICAN MUSTANG and the engagement to secure a spot for the wild horse on Public Lands and/or whatever the next development of a PRECIOUS GIFT to the People of this land. is

What also continued is the life of my horses here at the strawbale house. The 7 mustangs, Aragon, Silhouette, Escalante, Galicio, Veedawoo, Ruigoord, and Coppersmith. 

Aragon is now 26 years old and I hope to ride him through the coming spring and summer. Silhouette is 17 and lives with a neighbor who has a mustang mare, that wanted a sistermare. I will ride her also this year. Galicio is now 13 and as my only here-born mustang is my special child with detail to be revealed later. Escalante is still the non riding companion horse to Chief, who is blind. 

Veedawoo died 4 years ago (at age 12) after a rather simple dental procedure, I think he had a severe reaction to medication. Coppersmith who had been close to a lightning strike at one point (no injury though), overreacted in another storm and broke his coffin bone (and even after successul surgery did not heal and was euthanized) he was 9 years old (born 2008-2017)

Escalante

Silhouette

galicio

aragon

What wonderful images that show these years gone by

And here come the friends that left.

Ruigoord (35 years old)

Veedawoo (12)

Coppersmith (8)

With that we can probably close this post and return with more stories tomorrow that will go back to report about the horses on the PUBLIC TRUST LANDS

...sometimes we concentrate our efforts in what we can do and sometimes in what we can stop...

Contact: Moritz4@q.com or FB Gabriele Moritz

Since 2010 and the tragic Calico Roundup a number of things have changed for the AMERICAN MUSTANG. I also always believe that "EVERY EFFORT" counts. Individual, groups, campaigns. At the same time it is very important to realize that the ADVOCACY cannot FLOAT each enterprize. All engagement should assume voluntering and self finance, unless you produce a product that is in demand. That could be Art (photography, movies, writing) training, performing, Tours onto HMAs or a sanctuary open to the public.
I have been a bit involved with all of those aspects: I have ridden and toured on the range (on Mustangs), particpated in the friends of the mustangs, and with that witnessed a roundup. I have trained a mustang in 90 days for the 2011 Mustang Make Over, I have worked in 2 Sanctuaries and are familiar with at least 3 others. I have been to long and short term holding, I have been to a BLM sanctioned ECO-Sanctuary and I have demonstrated on the streets for legislation to change. I have made presentations on the searing questions of the issue and I am not afraid of conflict and conflict resolution:
Since the resources of advocates are limited it is important to be able to distinguish:
SOMETIMES WE FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON WHAT WE CAN DO
and sometimes
ON WHAT WE CAN STOP.

THE FIRST PRIORITY IS TO STOP THE ROUNDUPS
TO PRESERVE THE MUSTANG ON THE RANGE (genetic viable numbers)
TO DO EVERYTHING TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND ESTABLISH STANDING on the range.(Active citizen engagement with clean up and possible fertility control, census etc)

Then the camp usually splits:
Some only train and ride and are not involved in the fact finding mission.
Some concentrate on the "AFTER LIFE", the rescue, the sanctuary the Holding facilty.
Some concentrate on the art of the mustang, spending valuable time on the range with the animals.
Others again are deep into the facts and discussion with focus on litigation and problem solving.

But for most of us it is some sort of a mix, or an alternating circuit, which gets us involved here and there.

Here is my bit for today:

There are approximately 20 WILD HORSE (MUSTANG) SANCTUARIES in the country; (Some overlap with domestic horses, most are a mix of rescue and sanctuary and domestics and mustangs)

ONLY 4 of those SANCTUARIES have shown longevity and prevalence:

RETURN TO FREEDOM (CA) - NEDA DE MAYO -
BLACK HILLS WILD HORSE SANCTUARY(SD) - Susan Watt, Dayton o'Hyde
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF MUSTANG and BURRO(ISPMB)(SD) Karen Sussman
MUSTANG SANCTUARY SHINGLETOWN (CA) Dianne Nelson

Most if not all of the Sanctuaries are 501C3 - non profits - depending on public support for their operating expenses. Some of them are as small as "5 horses on 300 acres" (no public access or org. association) Some are obscure and defunct, but still carry a non-profit status and ask for donations.

I would prefer that those who are in the beginnings or looking for self-definition and access stay private and develop their character before addressing the PUBLIC FORUM with pledges and mission statements.

In the example of the BLACK HILLS WILD HORSE SANCTUARY we have annual operating costs in the Millions, approx.500 horses on approx 13 000 acres and a large annual tourism traffic on the byway of the Custer National Park etc.

PIcking up

 here we are 2021 and i am picking up where i left off