Wild Horse Preservation League (WHPL) helps local Stagecoach rescue.

Volunteer Louise Martin called WHPL looking for help with providing hay for Carol Valles who lives in the Stagecoach area.  Carol spent several days in the hospital last month and found herself needing some help.  The WHPL board approved assistance for her and jumped into action. John Cottrill brought his large bed truck, and Jim Wetzel and Richard Lemming helped load and unload the emergency hay from the WHPL diversionary feeding stack.  WHPL has helped Carol in the past, and she presently has 16 rescue horses and 2 burros, and recently lost her 30 year old horse.

WHPL’s diversionary feeding

WHPL is raising funds for its public safety diversionary feeding program. This program is authorized by the Nevada Department of Ag and Wild Horse Connection. Donations can be made via their website.

The program is operated in areas away from Highway 50 (Dayton, Stagecoach, and Silver Springs) and its goal is to keep the horses from crossing the highway.

Prior to the program’s implementation, there were weekly horse strikes. Since it started, only two horses have been hit. WHPL’s diversionary feeding program has been extremely successful and has made the highway a safer route for both horses and drivers.

Exciting New WHPL Updates!

In August 2020, Wild Horse Preservation League (WHPL) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Bureau of Land Management to implement a fertility control project in the Pinenut Herd Management Area (HMA), south of Dayton.

The Carson City BLM ordered necessary supplies such as darts, mix kits, range finders, etc., while American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) is furnishing the PZP and adjuvant, as well as darters, documenters, and spotters, and their equipment.

Recently Wayne Woolway, an AWHC volunteer darter, and Deb Walker, an AWHC staff member took to the hills and darted 4 mares to kick off the project!

They’ll be back out there again in 3 weeks to boost those mares, and hopefully prime other mares.  One of WHPL’s Directors, Cathy Cottrill,  is lining up folks to continue the work so that each mare and filly are treated in hopes that a roundup helicopter will never come to the area again, taking these horses away. 

In addition to the fertility control project, WHPL will be completing fence projects and shoring up seeps and springs in the HMA. 

Up for adoption!

Africa, aka: Addie, was found with a very large, infected wound on her left buttock and in horrible shape. She was taken to our coalition partner LBL Equine Rescue and they lovingly nursed her back to health.

Kahtea, aka: Katie, was found alone, away from her band, limping on a clearly painful hip injury and terribly underweight. She was also taken to LBL Equine Rescue and given much love and TLC. Her hips will never be quite "normal" and will always be uneven, and she will likely never be able to be ridden. But she can run and is smart and attentive and would likely do very well learning some liberty ground work!

Today Katie and Addie are good friends and pen mates. They both love scratches and are total loves. Katie will even greet you with kisses. 

Either one (or both) of these girls will one day be someone's very own Black Beauty! For more information, go to https://wildhorseconnection.org/adoptions

Happy adoption Cali

Remember Cali? She was adopted from LBL, and left for her forever home on April 20th!! She has a new girl to love and who loves her back. We’ll miss you Cali-girl, but we know you will be very happy in your new home!

LBl Volunteer

I grew up in Livermore Ca. We moved there when there were only two streetlights and the biggest thing in town was the rodeo. I lived within walking distance from the rodeo grounds.I had a horse when I was young and as a young adult. Beside the joy of just loving these animals, I was fascinated with the veterinary aspect. As a youngster that is what I wanted to do. Then as a teen I found out how much schooling that was going to take … school and I didn’t get along well.

If you were to ask those who know me what my dream would be, they would tell you she wants to have a million+ acres. That way she could travel around, and rescue injured or unwanted animals, giving them a safe place full of love and hope.

I joined the Air Force at 17 …. To see the world. Not only did I see the world … I grew up a lot.  I spent 10 years as a jet engine mechanic on the SR-71 and U-2 aircraft, while serving in the Air Force.  I had 2 daughters during that time, and decided it was better for them if I was not in jeopardy of leaving them due to military transfer and deployment.

After leaving the Air Force, I began working for UPS loading delivery trucks. That job turned into 27 years of my life.

When I retired, I was looking for a simpler slower paced life. I looked in Nevada, Utah, and Idaho to set down roots. That is when I found the little town of Dayton and fell in love. At the time I was my father’s caregiver, and it took almost a year of searching and researching, until I finally bought my home last September. I lost my father in January and moved here permanently in February.

While researching the area I happened on to Wild Horse Connection, through Facebook or the Next Door app.  I reached out to become a volunteer with the Diversionary Feeding. It is through WHC and AWHC organizations that I was introduced to LBL Equine Sanctuary. When I began volunteering with them …..along with WHC …my lifelong dream has been fulfilled.

This summer, I will attend the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) dart certification class with the Science and Conservation Center and will be one of the Virginia Range darters. I hope to contribute greatly to the rescue and rehabilitation at LBL while being a strong voice for our treasured wild horses.

Lbl says goodbye

On April 17, 2021, we said goodbye to three amazing horses at LBL. Unfortunately, they were hurting due to medical issues and we made the tough decision to end their suffering. These are the hardest days we go through.

Rico came to us from auction. He was a massive Quarter cross gelding who lived with us for about 4 years. We noticed a limp and had our vet out who did X-rays. He concluded Rico had navicular in his front left foot. We tried all sorts of meds to treat him, corrective shoeing and he just eventually got worse. We decided that the kindest thing for us to do was to end his suffering and let him run free.

Skip came to us as an owner surrender. He was in his mid-20s and had major arthritis in his knees. He lived with us at LBL for about 3 years and became pasture mates with Spirit. Unfortunately, Skip was at the point where when he was let out of his stall to play, he would become sore for the next week and was spending more time on bute than off. We did the kindest thing we could and decided to let him run free.

Pie was an owner surrender who came to us almost a year ago. After vetting him we found he had a spine injury. We had chiropractic work done on him but unfortunately it did not help. We knew it was time when he started showing signs of difficulty getting up.  These decisions are not taken lightly, and we have always discussed options with our vet. These three boys will be terribly missed by all of us at LBL!