Meet Ellen Albiter! October Volunteer Highlight

Ellen is a big contributor to the documentation of horses along the Highway 50 corridor, and is out on the range most days catching band changes, new additions, band movements and so much more. She also checks on injured horses for Wild Horse Connection/Range Management and sends updates as they are monitored. We chatted with Ellen about her love for the Virginia Range horses and more!

Tell us how you got involved in wild horses? 
I was born in Carson and raised in Minden. I have loved watching them since I was a little girl. My dad told us they were dangerous but I would sneak into the hills just to watch them. Now that I’m retired I can go see them every day.

What is your favorite part of volunteering?
Photographing the majestic beauty of the Wild Horse and being able to interact with God's creation.

Why are wild horses special to you? What do they represent to you?
They give me an out from all the nastiness of the world, they accept you for who you are and if you are around them enough they accept you as part of the herd.

What was your day job?
Baker/ cake decorating/ pastry cook

Do you have a favorite memory from the range that you can share with us?
Seeing a new colt stand and take his first steps on the range.

What other animals have you seen on the range?
Hawks, lizards, snakes, Magpie’s, cows, sage grouse, rabbits, coyotes, egrets, turkey vultures, deer, ducks, many other birds.

Okay, aside from horses, what is your favorite animal?
Eagles

If a theme song played every time you go out on the range, what would your theme song be?
Home on the Range

Which horse has been your toughest to photograph. Why?
Dark bay or Black horses are tough, the lighting is hard to get right.

Does pineapple belong on pizza? Yes or no?
No!

Introducing “Two Socks” and “Saddle Shoe”

By Deborah Sutherland

When I used to watch little filly Saddle Shoe run carefree through the canyon in the Virginia Range when she was only a few months old, I wondered which stallion would take her when she grew up. She was born in 2012 and her sire was the handsome black and white pinto stallion Canyon Phantom. Back then, one of Canyon Phantom’s mares was a buckskin mare named Broken Hinds. She was Saddle Shoe’s dam and Saddle Shoe was the cutest little pinto on the range. Saddle Shoe and her “mom” were always seen walking and playing together in the canyon near the springs when she was young. 

Several years later (2015), I saw Saddle Shoe standing near the springs next to a tall, good looking bay stallion with two hind socks and a bright star that could be seen when the wind blew his forelock aside. Everyone in the valley called this stallion Two Socks. From that day on, Two Socks and Saddle Shoe began their journey together and created a beautiful family band.

Over the years, Two Socks and Saddle Shoe had several offspring. Two Socks eventually invited more mares to their family band and over time some of those mares left with other stallions, but not Saddle Shoe. One time several years ago, a few stallions tried to claim Saddle Shoe but it didn’t last. Two Socks went after her and brought her back to his band where she still lives today.

Everyone in the valley has Two Socks stories, and in those tales are some common truths about him. Two Socks used to travel with his “dad” who everyone called Grandpa. You could always spot Two Socks’ band on the range with the aging Grandpa bringing up the rear as they traveled. Grandpa was his lieutenant at that time and helped him fight other stallions. Two Socks not only had Grandpa to help him in battle but also one of his mares! He had a mare we called “Meany Momma” because she used to also help with the fighting when necessary!

Two Socks is now one of the older stallions on the range and has another lieutenant, Trident, who helps him protect his family. Trident is the son of Pinkie and Bodie Braveheart and the funny thing is, Trident’s sire Bodie and Two Socks were rivals and used to fight each other. No one got hurt in those disagreements, they were just showing each other who was boss on the range.

Two Socks still has a beautiful band. If you see their band today you will see Saddle Shoe and their daughter Natalie, also Jasleen, Adelaide, Pasquala and her daughter Magdalena, and of course Trident. Saddle Shoe has been with Two Socks all of her adult life. Family bands are continuously changing but it’s evident that Two Socks and Saddle Shoe will remain together for a long time to come.

join October Events

There are still a couple of days left to grab your tickets for Spirit of the West and enjoy a fun evening at the Nevada Governor’s Mansion on October 8th. Food, music, raffles with a Carnival theme promises to be a great time!

And make sure you get to the Nevada Day Parade early for a great spot to see the Wild Horse Alliance of Northern Nevada float go by! Mark your calendars for Saturday October 29th!