8th Annual Wild Horse Census~Big Summit HMA Oregon

Men don't like taking orders from a 

woman, even though she might be the boss.

~Kerry Smith 1889~

Another great Wild Horse Census of the Big Summit Herd Management Area in the Ochoco National Forest west of Prineville Oregon has come and gone. Five days and four nights...it's just not enough. We had enough food, water and supplies to last us for at least another four days!!

My organization, Central Oregon Wild Horse Coalition, has been a part of this census since 2003. On the very first one, my Old Man Toby was lame and the only other option was Coyote, then a 3 year old mustang! He was perfect...just like he's always been. In fact, this is the first time I didn't ride a mustang for the census. Colt got the honors this year!

Colt had no problems high lining; "Just give me the food Mom!"

Also this year it was all girls! We had an absolutely wonderful time. My buddy Kris and I hadn't seen each other since last year's census. Debbie and I hadn't seen each other since last November. And a new member Judy, is a hoot (as well as a great cook). We never ran out of conversation to say the least!

"So, what does your GPS read?"

The above photo is just classic. Deb, Kris and I are like identical triplets when it comes to camping and trail riding...give us a map and a GPS and we'll go anywhere! There's been times where we weren't quite sure where we were...but we were never lost ;~) Over the years and the miles of trails, we've had many an adventure.

Shortly before this photo we saw a black bear. Probably an adolescent, and it just ambled off into the brush...but I couldn't get my camera out fast enough. I'm going to start carrying my old Fuji on my hip for occasions like that one (I can operate it with one hand).

We had just rode down this hill.

The photo doesn't make that hill look very steep, but we had to switch back all the way down. In our territory for the census, it's either up or down. After the third day, we had some pretty tired ponies.

The upper meadow on Fisher Creek.

This meadow is one of my favorite spots in the Ochoco's. It's not visited by many people; just wild horses, some grazing sheep with their herder and the wildlife...gorgeous, peaceful...a place you would like to lay down the blanket and spend the afternoon.

My best ridin' buddy.

Kris is riding Kachina on this trip. We've been riding together for over 15 years. The days that we get up at the crack of dawn and ride 25 miles are past...we've matured, slightly. Sleeping in a lil' bit and having cocktails in the late afternoon and relaxing has its merit ;~)

Colt rode in the two-rein the whole weekend. He did great!

I guess I didn't do too bad either for not ever doing it before. But I realized that Colt is better using one hand than I thought he'd be...and it really makes you work on perfecting the leg cues and develop the neck reining with softer cues...I liked it!

Oh yea...the wild horses you ask? It was a lil' bit disappointing from previous years with Dreamsicle, O'Neil and the mares and foals hanging around camp. But we didn't get skunked!

In our whole territory, we only had one resident...an older lone stallion named Lonesome Joe. I don't have my photo issue fixed yet, but I did get a bit of a video of Ol' Lonesome Joe.

When we first saw him, he was way down at the bottom of our territory. The next morning, we saw him up across the road from our camp. He was too shy to come visiting though.

The unofficial count at this time is approximately 71 horses (stallions, mares, young, and foals). The frustrating part is that there are about 40 horses in one area and since it's breeding season, the stallions are battling it out...with a few injuries. Unfortunately when this happens, the lil' ones get in the way. One foal got a broken leg. The foal was taken to the vet in town, but it was too bad to try to mend and had to be put down. We can't stop what Mother Nature instills in the wild horses, but we all think that if Dreamsicle and his band had not been captured last winter and then released back into the wild, the situation probably would not exist. But that's just our theory.

Colt and I standing in Ochoco Creek.

And Colt loved playin' in the water!

He loved playing in the water and didn't want to get out! Now, he didn't like crossing the 2 foot wide lil' creeks, but these larger ones were his thing! We don't have creeks here without going up into the mountains, but by day 3, he realized they weren't going to eat him and was crossing the creeks a whole bunch better.

Well, one parting shot...we played the board game "Cowgirls" the last evening...it was a great time!

The girls playing "Cowgirls."

After the game ended, we selectively picked questions out of the deck...Oh...that was fun!

FYI, the wild flower photos from this past Wordless Wednesday were from the Ochoco's. There were many more up there, but I didn't take the time to get down off my horse every time I saw a flower...but I wanted to!

Thanks for coming along for the trip...we're always looking for good riders and horses for this event, so let me know if you're interested for next year!

Searching for the Wild Ones~Part 2

The adventure continues from Searching for the Wild Ones~Part 1...


The way our "Judy Creek" territory lays, we set up our camp in the middle of the territory and ride up going south, and ride down going north. As I mentioned before, it's either up or down! But, we ride out one direction in the morning and come back to camp for lunch and a break, and then ride out the other direction in the afternoon. It works out really well, and we do that all three days (Thurs-Sat).

There's a lot of this happening after a sandwich for lunch.

But, we've got horses to find!!! So, let's hit the trail again. When we spotted the bachelor boys, they were north of camp. Heading out to the south, we follow the gravel forest service road for about a mile then take off cross country.

Debbie P. and My Man following me.

Debbie C. (new rider on day 2) and Kris are ahead. Ha...Kris
is always ahead! She rides a TN Walker.

We carry GPS units, but really we just mark way points when we locate horses. After riding in the same area for 6 years, we know the area by heart. We follow trails that horses make and search locations that we know they frequent...such as watering holes.

After crossing through this clear cut, we spread out abreast about 30 yards apart and head down hill toward the watering hole. It didn't take but 2-3 minutes and a band was spotted. We also carry 2-way radios and those are really helpful.

My Man and Coyote viewing the situation.

This is a band that we recognize...and, believe it or not, some of the horses even have names! The stallion is Dreamsicle, the bay mare is Rosebud, and the yearling colt is Rosebud's from last year and his name is Slider (as last year he was doing the prettiest sliding stops while he was playing).

Then, it seems Dreamsicle has picked up a new mare (the black bay) and each of the mares have fillies from this year.

Dreamsicle with his band.

Members of the Central Oregon Wild Horse Coalition frequent the Herd Management Area quite often and horses with unique markings tend to get names. The majority of the horses are pretty plain in color (browns and bays). But, it's nice to be able to identify horses year after year, know which horse you're talking about, and to see how the bands restructure themselves.

Another observation you may have made is that the horses don't seem very frightened...and you're right. They see humans on a VERY regular basis. They are accustomed to us, but that can make them all the more dangerous. We've had two year olds just want to walk right up to us because they are so curious at that age. At that point, we make sure they don't get too close...they need to stay wild to live in the wild.

I don't know if these are mushrooms or fungus...or what...
but, we found them close to the water hole and it looks
like one of the horses tried a taste test on them.
But, it doesn't appear that it was edible as they
spit out the pieces!

We really enjoy the trip up to the Ochoco's every year. It's an actual vacation for us! The whole family gets to come along...

Cowboy enjoying a nice spot.
BTW, yes, that is Certified Weed Free hay
as it is now required on all public lands (BLM and Forest Service).

Abby prefers tearing up the hay for her spot!

Cowboy and Abby stay at camp while we ride out. They are both just getting too old for that kind of trail riding anymore. Cindy Sue came with us most of the time.

Food is the other great part of the trip. We each take a meal and cook for everyone. It works out perfect and sure saves on bringing so much stuff. And, that means more "kick-back" time too!

As we are eating our dinner on Thursday evening...we got company!!

Evening grazing...so peaceful.

Two fillies and Slider the yearling.
We didn't name the fillies, but I would call them CUTE!

Dreamsicle isn't missing any meals either...doesn't he look great?!?

Remember me mentioning that we put up a hot wire fence around camp? Well, this is why. And, it really does work! The bachelor boys were visiting us on Friday morning when we got up.

The final day arrives all too soon. Saturday at 4:30, everyone heads down to base camp. A BBQ is provided andeveryone's documentation is turned in...photos, GPS way points etc. This year's total count...80 (give or take a couple). So, it looks like there will be a gather of these wonderful horses. Please let me know if you are interested in adopting, as I live only 50 miles from the Burns Wild Horse Corrals where they will be processed. I can get stats and photos of all the horses that are gathered.

We stay Saturday night and drive home on Sunday. It's a great time...always an adventure! Thanks for coming along for the ride!

Searching for the Wild Ones~Part 1

Here we are again with another year at the annual inventory of Wild Horses in the Big Summit Herd Management Area (HMA). The Big Summit HMA is located in the Ochoco National Forest east of Prineville Oregon. There are only 2 HMA's inside of a National Forest. The rest are on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands.

As Central Oregon has had a huge increase of population in the past 10 years, it's increasingly difficult for the wild horses of the Big Summit to find peace in their territory. It's close enough for people to take day trips to the area and with Off Road Vehicle use almost running rampant in the area...the horses are having a challenge.

I've been on the Board of Directors of the Central Oregon Wild Horse Coalition (COWHC) for many years now. We focus on promoting and protecting the wild horses in the Big Summit HMA, as well as assist anyone who had adopted a wild horse and needs help. We sponsor a training clinic and mustang show every year. This year we are working with Oregon Equestrian Trails and the Oregon Back Country Horsemen groups to put on the first annual Wild Trails Expo in Prineville Oregon.

But, the annual inventory is to assist the Forest Service (FS) in determining whether the herd is within it's optimum number; approximately 60 horses maximum. No, that's not very many when you think of the genetics. So, DNA testing has been an ongoing thing for the past 3-4 years. There will probably be some new blood brought into the HMA in the near future.

My boy Duncan was from that HMA and even though he was not the prettiest to look at, Kate, his new owner, is TOTALLY THRILLED with him. He is a natural at packing and trail riding. He officially a working horse now! Duncan even has a fan club with the Search & Rescue group that Kate works with. They all want a horse like Duncan!

We've been doing these inventories since 2003, and this the first time that the quantity of horses is large enough to warrant a gather. That will probably be late summer or early fall this year.

Approximately 80 people are divided into units and are assigned a territory that they ride through for 3 days documenting the wild horses they find. The terrain in the area is either up or down...canyons, draws, ridges, tall pine trees...it's very beautiful, but not easy riding.

We arrived Wednesday and set up camp. Horses
are high-lined and a hotwire fence is set up
around the perimeter of camp.

My Man will ride Coyote and I brought Rohan; both are mustangs themselves and have participated in many past inventories. In fact, Coyote has done all of them since 2003 when he was just a 3 year old.

Thursday's riders in our unit. L-R are Debbie, Pate,
Kris, me and My Man.

Riding down into Fisher Creek. It's pretty much a dead
end and we have to climb back out. Only sign was
a stud pile about 2 days old.

Gotta give the horses plenty of breaks with those deep canyons.
My Man and Pate are having a Cowboy Pard talk.

Then, after climbing out of Fisher Creek...we found what we were looking for...

Coyote, the former wild horse, watching two bachelors.
I wonder if he was reminiscing about his younger days...
running free in the wilds of SE Oregon?

Are they handsome or what???

"The Blubber Boys"
as Gayle Hunt, COWHC President
has affectionately named this pair.
No lack of feed in this area!!

It still amazes me that, until 8-9 years ago, I actually didn't know that there were wild horses in America. Yep, I was right there when the Wild Free-Roaming Horse And Burro Act in 1971 was passed...and was a horse-crazed child that hadn't a clue. I'm so in awe of the legendary Wild Horse Annie who gave her all to save the beautiful wild horses that ran free.



But, what would a trip be without lil' Cindy Sue. She is one heck of a trail dog I tell ya...totally in her element...catching squirrels along the way too!

Lavender flowers and Cindy Sue's lavender bandana.

One "done dog" at the end of the day!