Picture a herd of powerful steeds galloping across a western plain, the wind in their manes, a cloud of dust at their backs, and their untamable desire for freedom so palpable it will stir a similar yearning in you. Don’t try to buckle down with your BlackBerry, Bluetooth, business hassles and the normalcy of your daily routine. Unplug. Grab your family and come ride with 300 wild horses on a 5,000 acre preserve in the shadow of Mount Lassen at the Wild Horse Sanctuary.
Nestled between Black Butte and Mount Lassen Volcanic National Park in southern Shasta County, you’ll find a refuge for wild horses and burros. Co-founder and Sacramento native Dianne Nelson and her husband, Ted, live in a century-old farm house on the preserve, and with the help of volunteers, keep things running at the ranch. From May through July and from September to mid-October, they provide two-and three-day overnight pack rides (no day rides) on the sanctuary. People from around the world, including Holland, France and England, have come to view the wild horses in their unstoppable glory, so it’s a must to make your reservations early. The waiting list is about a year long.
The Wild Horse Sanctuary is roughly a three-hour drive from the Sacramento, Napa and San Francisco areas, heading north toward Redding and east toward Mt. Lassen’s snowy peak. The closest town is Shingletown (on Highway 44), but it’s not easy to find. The whitewashed, ranch-style gate and sign are a welcome sight in the middle of nowhere amongst the colorful lupines. A dirt driveway leads to two buildings sheltered by ancient oaks, where you’ll find a visitor’s center and the old farm house the Nelsons are slowly renovating. On most days you’ll see loyal volunteers tending the voluminous flower gardens, and curious Australian Shepherds eager to sniff out newcomers.
The sanctuary has been a life’s pursuit for Nelson, a horse lover ever since she was a little girl. “We had a farm in South Sacramento before it was built up, but the only animals we had were those we used for food,” says Nelson. “When I asked my dad why we didn’t have horses, he said, ‘You can’t eat a horse.’”
So Nelson visited the neighbors’ horses and learned to ride on her own. Later, in her adult life, she became involved in the care and rescue of horses. “I worked in Modoc County, rounding up wild horses,” says Nelson. “But when contractors for the U.S. Forest Service started using helicopters to transport the horses, that put us out of business.”
Wild horses have roamed the Wild West since the 16th century, when Spanish conquerors brought Andalusians to the New World. When the growth of private land encroached on the animals’ habitat, it left them at the mercy of men’s hands with no regulations or formal guidelines. Velma Bronn Johnston, later known as Wild Horse Annie, helped get federal legislation passed in 1959 to protect wild horses from being cruelly captured by airplane or vehicle. However, due to large populations, many wild horses were slaughtered.
In 1978, a situation arose in which 80 of 300 wild horses rounded up from U.S. Forest Service lands were scheduled to be destroyed. Dianne Nelson and others stepped in to save them. They adopted and kept them on land purchased in Alturas, Modoc County. Five years later, the horses were moved to their current home on the sanctuary near Shingletown where the weather is more favorable for their needs.
Rescued at all times of the year from states such as Arizona, Nevada and California, the wild mustangs come in all colors, from beige to palomino. When a horse first arrives at the sanctuary, it’s corralled with another horse so it has a friend when let out into the sanctuary.
“Horses are very social animals,” says Nelson. “If we let them out into the sanctuary by themselves, it’s like the new student at school. They’re all by themselves until they make a friend. So, we pair them up and then they have a partner when they first go out. If you look around, you’ll see all the horses in groups, and when the horses are rescued in a group, they’ll usually stay together on the sanctuary, too.”
The sanctuary funds itself through the overnight pack rides, which are offered Wednesday/Thursday and Friday/Saturday. Guests are saddled up according to their riding ability, and they ride two hours at a time on the wild-horse trails, catching glimpses of geldings, mares with their yearlings, and even Phantom, a stallion released into the sanctuary last May. At the end of the day, everyone bunks in a western-style base camp on a vernal lake. Riders are greeted with margaritas and chips, and are given time to process the day’s adventures – around a campfire and under the stars. A tri-tip barbecue dinner, with cheesecake for dessert, is served at 7 p.m. Small cabins house the riders, who can take hot showers and get a good night’s rest on super-soft beds. In the morning, a hearty breakfast of biscuits and gravy, eggs, cereal and juice renews the riders for their return to the ranch.
Nelson escorted this writer on a one-day trek across the preserve’s rock-strewn hills to get a taste of that untamable freedom. We saw a burro and her colt and many wild horses, including a newborn that even Nelson was surprised to view. We crossed a clear and cold running creek, then made our way uphill, giving the horses a break
every few minutes. Nelson explained that the riding horses need to build their endurance after
being in all winter. I gave Jet, my horse, a pat on the neck and noticed he was sweating. I encouraged him in my most soothing voice as we pushed to the top of the hill. Reaching the crest, we looked out at the majestic peak of Mount Lassen, swathed in shades of blue, with the whitest snow its crowning glory. And in the sweet mountain air, the greens of new grass, oak and pine covered the rest of the landscape, while carpets of white and yellow wildflowers rolled out below our horses’ feet. I was thrilled that I’d made the trip to see this beautiful haven.
So you want to go on a Wild Horse Sanctuary trail ride?
Here are a few tips to help make your trip more enjoyable
- Plan ahead. The rides fill up quickly, so make your reservation as far ahead as possible.
- If you are coming in from a long distance, plan on staying overnight in Redding or Red Bluff the night before your ride begins. A good night’s rest will ensure you are fresh for your trail ride.
- Be honest about your riding ability and weight. Matching you with the right saddle horse is critical to ensuring you have a comfortable experience.
- Prepare yourself physically with a few stretching exercises prior to getting on your horse.
- May sound silly, but get to know your horse before you ease into the saddle. Know your horse’s name and talk to him, or her. For the next couple of days, your horse is your best friend.
- Pack light. Only bring the essentials. Participants will be sent a check list of what to bring. Items to bring include: sleeping bag, flashlight, bath towel, toiletries, insect repellent, sunscreen, prescription medication, and riding boots. Everything you bring needs to fit in a small suitcase or duffel bag. Leave the hair dryers and curling irons at home!
- Be prepared for all kinds of weather – t-shirt or sleeveless blouse for hot days and sweatshirt or light jacket for cool evenings.
- It can get hot on the trail, so drink plenty of water.
- Be true to your Old West experience, meaning, turn off the cell phones, I-pods and pagers. If you miss your blackberry, you may find a few on your pancakes at breakfast!
- Bring an appetite. You will be treated to a cowboy barbecue dinner that is beyond delicious!
- Bring a story or cowboy poem to share around the campfire after dinner.
- Most importantly, be prepared to have a truly unique American West experience. Viewing wild mustangs in the Sanctuary’s natural setting will provide you with memories that will last you a lifetime!
- For more information about the Wild Horse Sanctuary, visit www.WildHorseSanctuary.org.
Happy Trails!
School field trips are offered. Call 530-3352241 for details.
