Meet Darter and Rescue Technician, Rob Felicetta…

As you’ll read, Rob works two jobs and still dedicates free time to volunteer on the Virginia Range. We asked Rob about his volunteer work and here’s what he had to say…

How did you get involved in wild horses?

I got involved with the wild horses through Nancy Florence and Deb Walker.  Nancy was taking pictures of the wild horses when we met Deb.  Deb asked if I'd be interested in becoming a darter for AWHC and if Nancy wanted to document.  Next thing I know, I'm taking a darting class to learn how to safely administer fertility control to the wild mares.  

What is your favorite part of documenting/darting/rescue/range management?

My favorite part of darting is knowing that I'm taking a stand and helping to keep our wild ones wild by humanely managing their population.  My favorite part of the horse rescues besides helping them, is letting them know that no matter what, someone will be there to help them in any way possible and being part of a team that has the same heart for them that I do.

Why are wild horses special to you?

The wild ones are special to me because they show us what a family is all about.  They show an unconditional love to each other in their family that we could all learn from. Being in their presence and feeling their energy is an amazing experience. We as people have the military to protect and defend us… it is a great feeling to be able to do that for the wild horses. 

How long have you been involved in helping wild horses?

I have been involved with the horses for just over 4 years.

What is/was your day job?

I currently work for the Lithia Jeep Parts Department and for The Home Depot.

Thank you for helping the Virginia Range wild horses, Rob!

The story of Skittles – another amazing rescue adopted from LBL Equine Rescue

Skittles was born in captivity out of a Virginia Range mare named Rain who was removed from the range. They became a neglect case and LBL Equine Rescue brought them to the rescue to recover and get healthy again. Rain eventually went to a sanctuary in Southern California while Skittles stayed at LBL. Fast forward to March of 2019 - Skittles was chosen by Holt Bogdanowicz to be his partner in LBL’s Trainer Challenge. This is Holt’s story of Skittles.

In March of 2019, I picked up Skittles for LBL Equine Rescue’s Trainer Challenge. I had 120 days to make Skittles into the best horse ever and compete in the judging for a chance to earn $1,000 and to take Skittles home. 

I quickly decided that I was going to earn 1st place that day because I was determined I was taking Skittles home with me. Skittles was eager to please and was an “in our pocket” kind of horse. We established a quick bond and I knew I was going to be giving Skittles his forever home.

For the next 120 days, we worked on leads, rides, shooting, desensitizing, obstacles, roping, and building an even stronger bond. We quickly made our way out of the round pen and started riding in the desert with dogs running amuck, while building up to shooting and roping off him. I gave Skittles many obstacles to master which he did so quickly and with confidence.

We made our way back into the arena to put together our 15-minute routine for the judging in July at LBL. We did indeed win 1st place, the prize money, and I was able to bring Skittles home with me.

Today, Skittles is still eager to please and doing work as a ranch horse. Skittles has a few jobs on the ranch. He works cattle, goes on leisure rides and parades, but most of all the biggest job for Skittles is giving lessons to folks who want to learn to ride. Skittles has been working hard to help build the confidence in our future riders. He has helped all levels of riders, including children. Skittles is a big hit on the ranch as the All-Around Guy that we can go to for anything that we need! 

Here at JFlag Horsemanship and Livestock our horses and animals are not just tools or pets. They are all a part of our family.

PJ and his surprise visitors

By Deborah Sutherland.

We all know there is a story behind every photo and on that unusually warm winter afternoon while watching PJ’s band I was surprised that the story was literally “behind” PJ!

I’ve known PJ since the day he was born. His dam Pinkie gave birth to him one summer day in 2017 in a field in the Virginia Range near the street named Iroquois. I’ve known all of Pinkie’s “children” because over the years they were born near where I live. When I first saw little PJ and Pinkie standing together I was excited and started calling him Iroquois after a nearby street. This was before the database names in my area and before I became a documenter. I now call him PJ, as it is his documented name.

As I watched PJ grow up, I saw him play and travel with his younger brother Sherwin and wrestle other stallions when he was a young bachelor until he finally became the strong band stallion that he is today. PJ and his brother Sherwin were very close until last summer when I watched PJ steal his family from his younger brother! (Sherwin had recently acquired them from another stallion.) Sherwin didn’t have the band very long before PJ rounded them up for his own and the brothers went their separate ways. Mahala, Lolita, Sharalyn, and Lila now belonged to PJ.

A few months ago while I was out documenting, I watched PJ and his family head across the canyon to the spring to get a drink. When they arrived his band drank and played, then PJ plopped down in the water and rolled around several times then rested in the pool. A short time after that his mares got restless and looked a bit startled and started to exit the water area. Not wanting to leave, PJ rested his head on his mares trying to stop them.

As I was photographing them I noticed his mares had the look that horses have when they see something that they need to flee from. So I assumed that another horse band was waiting in line behind PJ on the other side of the spring where bands usually line up to take turns.

Suddenly PJ’s mares ran off leaving him sitting in the pool. He didn’t see what his mares saw and I was still waiting to see another wild horse band come over the hill behind PJ. Soon I heard rustling in the sagebrush still expected to see another horse band. However, to my surprise eight tiny black pigs came snorting up behind PJ and invaded the spring where he was sitting! PJ immediately understood his mares wisdom and their reason for leaving the area! PJ quickly stood up and ran off to meet up with them.

Not believing my eyes that there were eight little pigs surrounding the spring, I watched in disbelief as they rolled in the mud, snorted and got drinks. They eventually ran toward me, and even though they were cute, not knowing if these were “wild”pigs I retreated behind my jeep.

I couldn’t help but laugh and thought I might be on candid camera or something. I’ve been photographing the spring area for over 10 years and have never seen anything else there but wild horses!