Monthly Highlights
Meet Kandace Perry!
Kandace volunteers for both Wild Horse Connection and LRTC’s Large Animal Rescue Team. We asked Kandace about her involvement with the Virginia Range horses and here’s what she shared with us:
Tell us how you got involved in wild horses?
When I was a young girl, I loved horses and my favorite movie was Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken. It created the dreamer in me of one day having a horse of my own. Years later that dream of having or working with horses continued. The opportunity came when I moved to Reno, I did not really know anyone, and I was not sure how I would acclimate with the sudden change, how I would meet people or learn about the area. Driving around one day getting familiar with different neighborhoods I came across a band of horses and a lady that was helping them cross the road safely. I stopped and asked her about what she was doing, she explained to me it was volunteer work and I should join, I felt like it was an answer to my prayers, a dream, a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I joined!
What is your favorite part of volunteering?
Not only seeing but learning about these beautiful, majestic creatures is by far my favorite part. But also when a call comes in, you never know what the outcome will be, we have had some tough losses. But when you have a win, a horse that was saved in one way or another, it overshadows those loses and makes you feel proud that you are out here making a difference in hopes of keeping them wild and free.
Why are wild horses special to you? What do they represent to you?
Wild horses are special to me in many ways. Horses have always been one of my favorite animals, they are very smart and can be sweet, sassy and spunky but they also bring a sense of peace and calm. I suffer from anxiety and depression and each time I get to help them, all my problems disappear. I then not only can focus on them but it also gives my life purpose and meaning.
A wild horse represents beauty and freedom. “I have seen things so beautiful they have brought tears to my eyes. Yet none of them can match the gracefulness and beauty of a horse running free.” Author Unknown
What is/was your day job?
During the day I work full time as a Compliance Coordinator for a local real estate company.
Do you have a favorite memory from the range that you can share with us?
My favorite memory on the range would be a sweet little foal named Sadie, who was spotted by another volunteer wandering the range without her mom. I was called in to keep eyes on her in hopes momma would be found. During that time frame she quickly bonded with me and her trust grew. Sadly, although her mom was never found, I was able to assist in her rescue and was able to visit her a few times up until her adoption. (the picture attached was her walking along side me down to the trailer and then a current picture of me visiting her)
What other animals have you seen on the range?
When on the range I have seen deer, coyotes, sheep, snakes and a bobcat.
Okay, aside from horses, what is your favorite animal?
Aside from horses I absolutely love turtles!
If a theme song played every time you go out on the range, what would your theme song be?
Jason Aldean Dirt Road Anthem
If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
TACOS!!
What’s the next place on your travel bucket list?
A trip along the East Coast stopping at Assateague Island National Seashore and also a visit to Salt River Arizona, yes you guessed it, to see the wild horses!
New Beginnings
By Deborah Sutherland
The new year brings about new beginnings for many of the wild horse bands in the Virginia Range including Will and Shaggy’s band. The series of events that started the change for these two families began several months ago when stallion Will lost his three mares. Several of us witnessed Will wandering the range alone and found Will’s mares Tiega and Cipriana with another stallion, while his mare Valentine was reported missing! Many of us searched for weeks to find her but we were unsuccessful and feared the worst. Will and Valentine had been together several years and none of us thought she would leave Will unless something unusual had happened.
About a month later I was on the range when I spotted a large pinto with a red roan stallion and a smaller bay filly. As I approached them to take a closer look, I realized that the large pinto was Valentine! It’s clear why she was named Valentine as the large heart shape on her right side can be seen from far away. She was with Lionheart and Tesari! Tesari is a young filly from Cairo’s band who I reported missing over a year ago. As I was taking updated photos I noticed claw marks on Valentine’s neck, face and chest! It was determined that she had been attacked by either a mountain lion or a bear, both of which had recently been seen in the area. We were all thankful that Valentine is a big mare and that she survived the attack.
If you are new to Shaggy’s story, you can read it here.
Soon after that Shaggy was found alone on the range and his band was nowhere to be seen! Shaggy has had his family for many years and it was hard to watch him travel from one end of the valley to the other searching and calling out for them. A few weeks later I found Shaggy’s band in a field and was excited to see that they were all accounted for, all except for Granny, Shaggy’s oldest mare. I expected to see Shaggy with them in the field but to my surprise they were with a beautiful black stallion, it was Will! Will and Shaggy’s colt Buckley seemed to get along well and played with each other in between taking bites from the same bush.
I was concerned that Granny was still missing because she is very old but on my way home that day I saw Granny at the other end of the valley standing with a bachelor but Shaggy also spotted her and set out to get her back. I love how Shaggy always treated Granny, even though she walked slowly he never left her behind. Granny reunited with Shaggy and followed him over the ridge and I haven’t seen them since. As for Valentine, her wounds have healed and she is still with Lionheart and Tesari and live high on the range close to Will’s band. I do hope to see Shaggy and Granny again this new year, and am curious to see if Shaggy has gathered new family members. It will be exciting to watch the many “new beginnings” on the range in 2023.
