Wild Horses Up for Adoption: Sorrel Gelding #1361 Jackies Butte HMA, Oregon Painting # 333

Jackies Butte Oregon Gelding #1361
4 by 6 inches watercolor
by LindaLMartin
$35.00

The Eastern States Internet Adoption is happening as I post this. The 15 day event has about  5 more days to go. The adoption is open to approved bidders and the BLM will ship to pick up points as far East as  West Virginia or  Mississippi. This yearling has a sweet face and beautiful chrome. He would add class to any barn.  He would certainly benefit from a good home willing to use natural horsemanship to  partner with her and build a lasting relationship. Trust building with a mustang is always the best way to go for a successful adoption.

Remember that horses offered for adoption through the BLM three times, will most likely be placed in a long term holding  federal sanctuary pasture some place in the Mid-west. When horses enter those facilities, unless you know their exact registration numbers they are very difficult if not impossible to find. On occasion they are adopted or purchased in groups as Sales Authority horses with no limits. Once sold the horses are no longer considered wild and loose their protections under the Wild Horse and Burro Act.

So please if you know of anyone who would be interested in adopting one of these horses please share the link with them and lets get them adopted.

Here are his stats:

Sorrel Gelding #1361

Sex: Gelding Age: 1 Years   Height (in hands): 14.0
Necktag #: 1361   Date Captured: 08/03/11
Color: Sorrel   Captured: Jackies Butte (OR)

Notes:
#1361 - 1 yr old sorrel gelding, captured Aug 2011, from Jackies Butte HMA, Oregon.
This horse is currently located at the Corral Facility in Hines, Oregon. For more information, contact Patti Wilson at 541-573-2748 or email pwilson@blm.gov or Tara at tmartina@blm.gov.

Pick up options (by appt): Burns, OR; Salt Lake, UT; Elm Creek, NE; Pauls Valley, OK; Piney Woods, MS.
The Burns, OR facility will haul 400 miles, one-way, for successful bidders.
Other pick up options: Glen Rose, TX (Oct 4); Canutillo, TX (Oct 11); Canvas, WV (Oct 19).
      
The opening bid is $125.00     
 You must be approved to bid and logged in.
 https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/horse.php?horse_id=5357 

How to be approved to adopt a wild horse: https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/howtoadopt.php

Wild Horses Up for Adoption: Black Filly #1505 Three Fingers HMA, Oregon Painting # 332

Three Fingers Black Filly #1505
4 by 6 inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin Artist
SOLD

The Eastern States Internet Adoption is happening as I post this. The 15 day event has about  7 more days to go. The adoption is open to approved bidders and the BLM will ship to pick up points as far East as  West Virginia or  Mississippi. This is probably my favorite horse from the number offered on the Internet Adoption this time. I think she is gorgeous. Anyone who adopts this little girl would be very lucky.  And she would certainly benefit from a good home willing to use natural horsemanship to  partner with her and build a lasting relationship.

Remember that horses offered for adoption three times will most likely be placed in a long term holding  federal sanctuary pasture some place in the Midwest. When horses enter those facilities, unless you know their exact registration numbers they are very difficult if not impossible to find. On occasion they are adopted or purchased in groups as Sales Authority horses with no limits.

So please if you know of anyone who would be interested in adopting one of these horses please share the link with them and lets get them adopted.

Here are Her Stats:
Sex: Filly Age: 1 Years   Height (in hands): 13.3
Necktag #: 1505   Date Captured: 08/09/11
Color: Black   Captured: Three Fingers (OR)

Filly #1505

Notes:
#1505 - 1 yr old black filly, captured Aug 2011, from Three Fingers HMA, Oregon.
This horse is currently located at the Corral Facility in Hines, Oregon. For more information, contact Patti Wilson at 541-573-2748 or email pwilson@blm.gov or Tara at tmartina@blm.gov.

Pick up options (by appt): Burns, OR; Salt Lake, UT; Elm Creek, NE; Pauls Valley, OK; Piney Woods, MS.
The Burns, OR facility will haul 400 miles, one-way, for successful bidders.
Other pick up options: Glen Rose, TX (Oct 4); Canutillo, TX (Oct 11); Canvas, WV (Oct 19).
   
  To bid on this horse: 
The opening bid is $125.00         
You must be approved to bid and logged in.
The link for this horse: https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/horse.php?horse_id=5369
Information on How to adopt: https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/howtoadopt.php

Amy Flood's Grayson Highlands Pony, Flicka, Mustang A Day Challenge Painting # 331

"Flicka"
Wild Pony of Grayson Highlands
5 by 7 inches Watercolor
by LindaLMartin
$65.00

Amy Flood is a photographer, horsewoman and has rescued a number of BLM Mustangs. Her nearest wild horse herd is actually in Virginia at the Grayson Highlands State Park. For several years she has traveled over the boarder from North Carolina to document the herd of wild ponies there and photograph the beautiful mountains.

When Amy was looing through the ads for horses for sale one day, she discovered an add for a Grayson Highlands Wild Pony. Amy's dream since begining to photograph them ponies was to eventually adopt one of her very own. Imagine her surprise when she discovered this beautiful tri-colored filly was one she had  photographed since her birth.

Amy bought her, brought her home and in a very short time had halter trained the tiny mare. Flicka was not only taught her the finer points of  being led over obstacles; Amy also taught Flicka to carry a pack and hop up into the back of a low pickup truck on command.  It wasnt long before they made the trip back to the Highlands and hiked the trails where the little mare was born.

The rest of the story has yet to be written. Flicka was discovered to be in foal prior to Amy bringing her home. Perhaps once the new foal is born hopefully I will paint that little one too.

You can follow Flicka on her own page on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/flickaofgraysonhighlands

To read more about the Grayson Highlands Ponies I have painted for the Mustang A Day Challenge please look under April of 2011.

Regal G of Sand Wash Basin HMA Mustang A Day Challenge Painting # 330

2/7/2013 News and Update on Regal G: He is now in sanctuary at Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary(GEMS), in Deer Trail ,Colorado. Along with a collection of mares who were captured at the 2008 Sand Wash Basin HMA round up. A portion of the sale of this painting will go to GEMS to help support their efforts in protecting and  preserving and helping train the horses for adoption. 
Thank-you to all those at GEMS for your hard work in keeping Regal G and the mares safe.

"Regal G"
Sand Wash Basin HMA Bachelor Stallion
11 by 14 inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin
Original $280.00

2/7/2013 News and Update on Regal G: He is now in sanctuary at Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary(GEMS), in Deer Trail , Colorado. Along with a collection of mares who were captured at the 2008 Sand Wash Basin HMA round up. A portion of the sale of this painting will go to GEMS to help support their efforts in protecting and  preserving and helping train the horses for adoption. Thank-you to all those at GEMS for your hard work in keeping Regal G and the mares safe.

~*~

Regal G, Bachelor stallion from Sand Wash Basin HMA.

He was living on the edge. Well the edge of the HMA. When Regal G found a gap or a fence down someplace he would go back and forth between the herd management area and the private Rancher’s land.  Sometimes the gates were open, sometimes they were closed. Sometimes the Fence was down; sometimes it was repaired behind him. It was just a matter of time before Regal G would find himself on the wrong side of the fence.

As it happens this week Regal G was on the wrong side of the fence. The BLM has done such an amazing job managing the herd  at Sand Wash Basin  over the last 4 years for type and health that, according to one report,   the woman who called in the horse thought he was someone’s well cared for blood stock. His copper color coat shone with vigor and his beautiful white star centered above and between his eyes looks as if God had just taken a big paint brush with a huge dollop of white and touched him just so. Another person who saw Regal G’s photos said he reminded them of a thoroughbred/quaterhorse stallion they had once. I can honestly say that this copper bay doesn’t have a bad photo anywhere on the Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses page.  Regal G is believed to be aged somewhere between 5 and 8 years of age and has not yet had a band of his own.

So now what happens to a wild horse found to be on the wrong side of the fence with no brand.  All the proper authorities were called and they tried to catch him. Not an easy task, I assume, as they very shortly discovered that he was indeed unhandled and very wild. 

Detail of Regal G

Because Regal G was captured right next to the Sand Wash Basin HMA (later his identity was confirmed by photo documentation) The decision was made to remove him to be assigned a number, assess his health, trim his feet, give him inoculations, geld and brand him. And then he would be taken to Canon City Prison to become part of their training and adoption project. The program there is called Wild Horse Inmate Program or W.H.I.P.  They train wild horses there to get them started to help ensure their successful adoption.

The one awesome thing about the loose association of followers of the Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses page on Facebook (now over 9,000 people ) that we have the opportunity to help get these wild horses adopted by net working so they never have to go into long term holding.

Painting Detail

 If you would like to be a part of this, please help us get him adopted as soon as possible. The way you can participate is to share his photo from the Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses group or share this blog with friends and help network adopters. In order to see what is necessary to adopt through the BLM please go their page and become approved to adopt a wild horse you can find more information here: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/adoption_program/how_to_adopt.html
  If you already have qualifications already and would be interested in adopting Regal G or are serious about adopting another horse from the Wild Horse Inmate Program at Canon City Prison please check out their website: http://www.coloradoci.com/serviceproviders/whip/index.html?intro
If you are Regal G’s happy adopter please contact me or the Sand Wash Basin Wild Horses page with photos etc. and let us know that he is happy and safe.

Just a note: Regal G is the name that the horse watchers(who are private citizens) use to document and track the wild horse on the range at Sand Wash Basin HMA in Colorado. When the BLM enters the horse into the system, he will be assigned a number and branded. This new number will be the way to find and track him the rest of his life.  He may also be given a new name by the Inmate program. When the horse is adopted he will most likely be renamed by his new owners. A description of him and what you know about his back ground will help identify him, if you don’t know his number.

General Sanctuary Mustang At Black Hills: Mustang A Day Challenge Painting # 329

"General, Home At Last"
9 by 6 inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin Artist
$100.00
Signed Prints: $35 each

The very first photo of General I had seen showed him in a 400ft by 400 ft steel piped enclosure. He was practically up to his knees in mud. I was told later that he had been kept in this pen for nearly 10 years.

During that time he was fed regularly with good hay and given fresh water daily. But he had never had any training and was a stallion. He had never been groomed. He did not have a sheltered place to come in out of the rain or snow. In all that time his feet had not even been trimmed. And he had never so much as been able to run free in a pasture since his capture.

His vigor, vitality and the fortitude allowed him to have a good attitude inspite of his circumstances, as well as his ability to adapt certainly must have come from  his wild horse heritage. This was the place that rescued him. I cant imagine what they rescued him from.

Today this beautiful mustang now resides at Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota. He is one, of a number of  mustangs from Delaware that included Spirit, who, thanks to a large number of people through out the country, found their home at the Wild Horse Sanctuary begun by Dayton O.Hyde. A portion of the sale price  of the original and the prints will be donated in General's name to the Sanctuary for the on going  care of these horses. Contact the Artist for more information on how to buy at info@llmartin.com Thank you for being a part of the Solution.

To read more about  the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary  see their  web page: http://www.wildmustangs.com/

Mustang A Day Challenge Painting # 328 The Passing of Flip, Sanctuary Mustang at Alder Hill Farm

"Flip with Branson"
5 by 5 inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin Artist
$ 50.00
Prints available upon request to benefit Alder Hill Farm

Flip was one of  many mustangs rescued  or sancuaried by Alder Hill Farm in Missouri. This past weekend He passed quietly in his sleep from natural causes resulting from his age.

According to Jamie, the interim farm manager, Flip spent the last remaining months of his life at  Alder Hill farm as he was destined to, had he remained in the wild. He was a band stallion (of sorts). He had all the instincts and training that any wild horse receives from the day he takes his first wobbly step and breathes in the first delicious scents of freedom on the range.

Flip had been a hard keeper since his first days at Alder Hill Farm. He would incessantly walk the fence line, worried, wanting to gather a herd and be with his mares. It was hoped that gelding him would help him over come that desire but it seemed  that not only trust issues but never being able to adjust to not having a herd were hard  for him to forget. At first he spent time alone trying to recover. Then the summer of 2011 came with all the hardship of extreme heat. Hours were spent trying to keep him cool and help him make it through one of the hottest summers on record by hosing him down every half hour during the hottest part of the day.

Latter the little stallion was introduced into the stallion paddock with others like himself that had been gelded or were due to be gelded. He held his own with the other horses but still liked to be alone.

This past spring Flip was turned out into the general herd at  which was a mixture of mares and geldings of various ages. With in several hours the game little mustang had found and gathered the three most dominate mares in the herd and was established as their protector. Among the horses in his band was Honey the Branson Mustang and her foal Branson ( A.K.A Little Davy G) Flip was in his element for the first time since his long and varied capture experience.

Flip a few weeks before he passed away showing his adopted son, Branson,
how to swatt flies. Photo courtesy of Alder Hill Farm.

Like most Band stallions, Flip doted on Baby Branson his adopted son.  Flip knew his job well and when Honey was removed from the herd Flip doted on the quickly growing foal and helped to make his weaning less traumatic. Flip also in the following weeks allowed Jamie more contact. She was able to halter him and even give him a treat and touch his face. A great step for a little horse with such long ingrained trust issues.

According to Jamie, Flip quietly gave up his band sometime late last week. Then sometime on Sunday, After noon he passed quietly into a new found freedom where the skies are always blue, the grass is always lush and green, and the water never stops flowing. We shall miss your bravery, your courage and your ability to look past the cruelty of the world and  to hang on to the hope. You shared with us that tender spirit of freedom that never dies. Rest in Peace Dear Friend.

This painting is dedicated to the memory of Flip and all the people that came to his aid in his time of need. Thank you for your tireless efforts.

Mustang A Day Challenge Painting # 327 Spirit More details of his story.

This Story is dedicated with grateful thanks to all who helped get Spirit to Sanctuary. And especially to Ellie who kept me updated along the way and shared the story with me so I could be involved. Blessings Friends.

"Spirit  Released"
The Delaware Mustang
Now Residing at Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota
8 by 10 inches Watercolor Original
by Linda L Martin
$300.00
A portion of the proceeds from the Sale of this Painting
will be donated to the continued care of the Horse and His relatives

Purchase prints of this painting on Fine Art America

Currently updated Story Of Spirit:
The Background:

Early in 2012 the family who had adopted a beautiful Mustang stallion they named Spirit had a sudden change of economic circumstances. They were going to have to move and Spirit was not going to be able to move with them.

Because the horse had never been trained it was problematic. Spirit was completely desensitized to humans and everything that revolved around their daily lives. But Spirit had no formal training, except accepting the halter to lead from the  trailer to the pasture. He had not been led since his arrival. He had never been groomed. And he had not had his feet trimmed since he left the BLM. And in all those years except for treats, petting and throwing hay over the fence for him and a few toys they gave him to play with, he had no hands on contact with humans.

To make matters worse he was an uncut stallion who had been breeding.

There are few choices for an adult horse with very little handling. And for a basically untrained wild horse there are even less choices. To complicate the problem he was a wild horse and a stallion over 15 years of age. And even though he was loved and cherished by his family, everything came down to three choices:

Ship him to an open sale, Find him a sanctuary or put him down.

The first choice was an automatic resounding "NO". The owners knew that he was a healthy candidate for slaughter buyers. They also knew that most people didn't want a stallion that age with no training.

The second choice was actually their first choice. Every shelter and sanctuary they contacted in the Mid-Atlantic Region was either filled or didn't have the facility to handle an un gelded formerly wild horse with very little training.  With out gelding first, not even temporary foster homes wanted to take the chance or assume the liability if he got loose and did damage or bred someone's mares.

Click on the photo to see details
of the photo of Arizona and his father
Spirit at the Corrals at Black Hills Sanctuary
in South Dakota

Even the gelding of the horse was proving to be a bigger issue than anticipated. There were vets who were willing to tackle the operation, however, the charge for extra man-power to keep the horse subdued would be $700 more than a normal gelding. And if there were complications how could that be handled?

The owners were out of options. Their move was coming soon. There was no back up plan for Spirit. They set a date, told as many people that they could and decided that if he wasn't at least in foster care by that date, they would have to have him humanely destroyed.

At the last moment a number of organizations stepped up to the plate, not only for Spirit, but also for his other band members and offspring.

A local trainer donated her time and spent several days giving Spirit a refresher course in leading and handling and also worked with his son, Arizona. A transport  firm with some experience handling wild horses was hired. Arrangements were made as a place opened up At the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota. A total of 6 BLM Branded wild horses would eventually make their way to South Dakota from Delaware as a result of helping Spirit.
More than 50 people gave money or support from Delaware, Pennsylvinia, Virginia, Maryland, Oklahoma, New Mexico, California and places I dont even know of, to help these horses get back to the range.

There is more to the Story.

First about Spirit. Spirit was not an unwanted horse. He Also was not abandoned, however, he was a wild horse in crisis. The crisis was brought on by the change in circumstances for his owners, the economy of the region where people selling off and even giving away horses because they could no longer afford to keep them, and because Spirit wasn't trained. Were Spirit trained he would have had many more options when a crisis arouse for his owners.

Letter from Black Hills with Confirmation
that Arizona and Spirit had arrived in good
condition and that they had received the donation.

When I held my on-line fund raiser for Spirit in March 2012, we were originally trying to raise half of the $900 it would take to get him gelded. Then the circumstances changed fast. The Black Hills facility no longer breeds mustangs in captivity; instead, we discovered, they will take uncut stallions and geld them on site for a lot less money than it would cost to do it on the East coast. They have a mustang specific facility geared to handle wild horses in all stages of handling and the expertise to do the job safely for both horses and caregivers.

When Black Hills agreed to take the horses they were moved out before our April 8th, 2012 Deadline. Arizona and Spirit were in the Sanctuary corrals and quarantine facility before the donations could be sent by pay pal. I received a letter from the Sanctuary on April 18th, 2012 with Photos of Spirit and his son becoming acclimated to their new surroundings. They had already been gelded.

Then I heard of another mustang in Delaware that was in even worse circumstances. This beautiful gray stallion had been confined to a BLM Approved corral with out even a run-in shed for over 10 years, since his adoption. I will tell you more about that one in my next post.

Here is  how you can help more horses like Spirit right now:
"You can be involved. For each print in the "Release" series I sell, a portion of the money will go to the upkeep of Spirit and his family at the Black Hills Sanctuary.  Please buy a print and help us protect and preserve the amazing animals. if you would rather have an original that is possible too. Every purchase you make helps."

As a result of being involved with helping to fund raise and get the word out about Spirit I began the Mid-Atlantic Wild Horse Project. If you would like more information on the Mid-Atlantic Wild Horse Project or to become part of the network of dedicated people helping to rescue adopted mustangs in crisis please email  info@llmartin.com  Please write " I would like to help Adopted Wild Horses" in the Subject line so your email.
Thank-you for your generous support. ~Linda