February Local Happenings
Adoption Day!
Adoption days bring big smiles! Wild Horse Connection is so pleased to announce that sibling babies Tio and Calico (now named Mesa and Ryver) have been adopted TOGETHER into their forever home! New owners Jenn and Dave were excited to bring their little ones home and have been working on building trusting relationships with them. And their other horses have been just as excited to meet the new members of their “family herd”.
Jenn and Dave volunteer for Wild Horse Connection delivering hay to one of the diversionary feeding sites. Jenn saw little Tio (Mesa) when he was on the range and followed the babies’ progress.
Congratulations to Jenn, Dave, Mesa, and Ryver! We look forward to seeing these babies bloom in their new home!
Wild Horse Connection still has colts Ross, Jahan, and Eley looking for their forever homes. And two mares Katie and Addie also need to find their special humans! You can read more about them at wildhorseconnection.org/adoptions If you are interested in adopting, please contact info@wildhorseconnection.org
SPARKY MEETS HOLLYWOOD...
By Wayne Woolway
“HOLLYWOOD”
Johnny Takacs, AKA “Hollywood,” Is my darting partner. We work Stagecoach and Silver Springs. We are also members of the Douglas County Technical Large Animal Rescue team. Before I tell you the story of Sparky, I must tell you how Johnny got his nickname of Hollywood. There was an open casting call for extras to appear in The Mustang Movie with Bruce Dern. Johnny was in the group selected to play inmates in the movie. They sent everyone to wardrobe where they were fitted with the appropriate clothing to make them look the part of prisoners. Johnny stepped into the wardrobe trailer; they took one look at him and said, “You are perfect, we don’t need to change a thing.” Yes, you can conclude that Hollywood is a very colorful “character.” His love of the wild horses and work ethic make him a wonderful darting partner. His colorful style makes our hard work on the range more fun and certainly memorable.
WHAT’S IN A NAME
It all started when we first saw Sparky standing alone in a huge corral in our Silver Springs darting area. He is a little guy with unusual coloring. He always seemed a little forlorn and we felt sorry for him because he was all alone. Eventually, Hollywood wanted to share his lunch carrots with Sparky. However, good manners dictated that we get permission from his owner prior to feeding him. Sparky’s owner is a supporter of our fertility program and she knew us from our work in the area. She gladly gave us permission.
It started out a casual thing, but over time became a regular part of our darting routine. Johnny made sure he brought carrots every time we worked the range and it had nothing to do with his lunch: it was for Sparky. We did this for a couple of months until Johnny realized he did not know the name of our little equine friend. I called another one of our staunch darting supporters and she told me our horses name was “Starky.” Both Johnny and I did not like the name as it did not seem to fit our new buddy. I told Johnny he could just give him a new ‘“barn name.” Johnny picked Bandit and we called him that for a couple of months. One day I finally saw Bandit’s owner and I ask her his real name. She replied, “Sparky.” Now that was a name that fit our buddy and we have called him Sparky ever since.
MY VIEW
This is the way it looks through my eyes. We pull up in the same corner of the rectangular corral. Usually, Sparky is on the far side near his stall. Sparky will look up but he does not move until he sees Johnny get out of our vehicle. He immediately goes into a very smooth and determined trot and goes right to the fence-line where Johnny is standing. I intentionally remain in the vehicle as a courtesy to Johnny. I do not want to intrude on the special bond that has developed between Sparky and Hollywood. I’m not really sacrificing much as my pleasure is enhanced by watching the interaction between the two of them.
No matter how tough a day we have on the range, our stop to see Sparky is often the high point of our day. It amazes me that a brief encounter with this little domestic horse can be such a pleasure.
We have an hour drive from Minden to our darting area so we carpool from Johnny’s house. I used to remind him to bring carrots before we left his house. I no longer remind him: Johnny never forgets carrots (and now an apple!). I think he would forget his darting rifle before he forgot treats for Sparky.
FINAL THOUGHT
One look at Johnny and you might think he has a harsh attitude. After all, the movie company thought he looked like a perfect prison inmate. He is my good friend and yes, he can have “edges.” However, when I see him with Sparky, there is no doubt in my mind that if I cut him, marshmallow goo would seep out. He is a softy with our domestic buddy Sparky and with all the wild horses that we work with on the range. I’m lucky to have such a multi-faceted darting partner.
Johnny and Sparky
LBL EQUINE RESCUE:
Hanna came to LBL as an owner surrender, and was very thin. She is a 16.3 Hanoverian estimated to be approximately 20 years old. Hanna is green broke and stands for the farrier. She hasn’t been ridden for a number of years and will need to restart her saddle training if she’s used for a riding horse. She loves attention and will stand for hours while you groom and love on her. Could Hanna be your next best friend?
Our next featured adoptable horse is Cali. Cali originally came to LBL as an owner surrender. Cali was adopted a couple years ago, but due to unfortunate family circumstances, she is back at LBL. Estimated to be in her late teens, Cali is saddle trained and has been ridden English and Western. She will require an experienced rider, and trailers and stands for the farrier nicely. As you can see from her picture, she is a love bug. Come and meet Cali – you will fall in love with her!
Cali is looking for her forever home!
Come meet Hanna!
Wild Horse Preservation League
Wild Horse Preservation League (WHPL) has continued their Diversionary Feeding project on the Highway 50 side of the Virginia Range. The diversionary feeding thus far, is working. Public safety and the safety of the horses are top priorities and according to sources, only two horses have been hit since the start of the diversionary feeding project in this area. All Diversionary Feeding projects are done in coordination with the Range Management Team at Wild Horse Connection who has a cooperative agreement with the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA). Individuals should not feed wild horses. If you have any questions or input, please contact the hotline at 775-352-3944. Please, never take on feeding wild horses on your own. The NDA has specific regulations for hay on the Virginia Range, as well as distances from roads and structures. This can only be done legally by coordinating with the Range Management Team. Volunteers wear safety vests to identify them with a feeding project that is legal.
LBL VOLUNTEER FEATURE
Justin & Wendi Denoyer currently live in Caldwell, ID with 3 of their children. Justin has been active-duty in the Army for the last 10 years. Wendi spends her time homeschooling their children. They currently have two dogs and 7 chickens and have had a wide variety of animals growing up. The entire family absolutely loves being around animals, and they are making plans to have a homestead of their own very soon. Recently the family adopted Blaze from LBL after their son Blake began bonding with him.
Witnessing the love and dedication for the horses everyone at LBL has, Justin and Wendi decided to become board members. They travel to LBL at every opportunity they have. They love being out with the horses and help as much as possible as often as possible. Putting in the work at LBL gives them a very rewarding feeling, knowing they are contributing to the well-being of the horses as they wait for their forever homes.
Wendi and Justin
Blaze and Blake
Blaze just celebrated his first birthday - pretty sure he just got the best present a yearling could ask for! Meet one of Blaze’s new owners! This is Blake and he’s a 6-year old who fell in love with Blaze, who also seems to have found his little boy! These two hit it off from day one!
Blaze will be boarded at LBL Equine Rescue until his new family gets their land in order so we can still watch Blaze grow and learn.
Congratulations to Blake and Blaze!
Wendi and Justin’s son, Blake with his new horse Blaze!