In Support

For the wild horses of DreamCatcher...

2012 Weekly Planner

All photos in the planner are resident horses and burros of DreamCatcher Sanctuary.

Wild Horses Journal and Sketch

Journal contains photographs of wild horses and burros taken at Twin Peaks Herd Management Area, in holding corrals and at DreamCatcher Sanctuary.

All profits from book sales go directly to DreamCatcher Wild Horse & Burro Sanctuary, helping to support the resident animals and the continued effort of reaching out in assistance and raising awareness.

Thank you!

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Feels Like Coming Home

The day finally came, 8 of the 29 Twin Peaks Sale Authority horses who were sold for a mere 25 dollars each to a woman in Michigan arrived back home! With them only one of the foals born while they were back east.

Rolling in after traveling the many highways between Allegan MI and Northern California, covering 2184 miles, the wheels of their coach finally came to a stop at 7 AM, Sunday 9/11, at DreamCatcher Sanctuary.

 

 

Inside they stood still and quiet, ears flicked back and forth listening intently to the sounds outside, nostrils reached for any scent that wafted through the open windows.


The drivers quickly but very quietly opened their door to freedom.

Jewel was the first to emerge.

She put her nose in all directions smelling deeply the scents that now surrounded her.

Directly on her heels were the Paint mare Chocolate and the gelding called Onyx. They wasted no time catching up to Jewel.

The drivers opened another interior compartment for the next group to be released.

The next to take her careful steps to freedom was the buckskin mare, Phoenix.

She also put her nose to all directions then headed toward the others.

Stormy, the gray mare, could not get away from the truck fast enough passing her stall mate running for the others.

The gelding called Cortez close behind.

In the forward compartment was the Appaloosa mare Lace and her foal who were the next to make their dash to freedom.

With her baby boy Shilo right on her heels...

up the hill they went to have a look around.

To be quickly joined by the gelding called Duke after he was released from the rear compartment he occupied during the trip.

They immediately formed a herd and ran, rolled, sniffed the air, squealed at the other horses over the fence, then went for a big long drink of water.

 

 

Jewel carefully studied the horizon in every direction, her gaze was far away and long.
As incredible as this new sanctuary home is, her real home is just over those hills and she knew it.

The light and sparkle quickly returned to the nervous eyes that first emerged from the trailer. 

So happy to be home!

As it should be... together and free, free from human interference or expectation.

To everyone who played a part in what to me is nothing short of a miracle...

Thank You!!!

Read Older Posts below for more of their stories and many photos.


In Defense of Animals www.idausa.org founder Dr. Elliot Katz joyfully observed the safe return and release of these lucky few. With him was filmmaker Michael Bailey www.planetviews.com who was filming. Watch for their upcoming documentary of this event.
Also read IDA's story IDA Helps Mustangs Return Home


Also see the Humane Observer blog for more information.
More pictures are posted on The Michigan Horse Welfare Coalitions facebook page.
Straight From the Horse's Heart blog posted an article Abused Twin Peaks Wild Horses Come Home to DreamCatcher.

Sunset over the Sanctuary

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Home Again, Home Again...

Wild horses graze peacefully at DreamCatcher Sanctuary

If you have been following the story of the 29 Twin Peaks mustangs that were sold to a woman in Michigan and soon after were found starving, there are exciting new developments along with some disheartening news. 

First the great news…  the future for 8 of these mustangs, along with one mare’s new foal born while in MI, has taken a turn for the better! After difficult deliberations and many sleepless nights, with no help from the local authorities, these fortunate few will be making the trip back to California and DreamCatchers Sanctuary on September 9^th.
Some of the horses returning home are...

# 1765 Appaloosa mare along with her appaloosa colt.

photo by Jodi Louth

# 1981 "Jewel" - the sorrel mare whose foal died at Michigan State University. (read their story here)

Shortly after arriving in MI.

The day MHWC found her starving and ready to foal.

photo by Jodi Louth

MHWC took her to a foster home.

photo by Jodi Louth

Her foal was born but she was to weak to care for him.
He died at the MSU despite the intensive care.

photo by Jodi Louth

Shortly after foaling.

photo by Jodi Louth

On the road to recovery...

photo by Jodi Louth

and ready to go home!

photo by Jodi Louth

 

# 1598 Dun gelding.

His story went like this...

Chased from his home and family by helicopter   photo by BLM

Day after capture at Litchfield corrals

Sorted to be gelded in preparation for sale

Suffering in Michigan

photo by Jodi Louth

At foster home waiting for his ride back to California

photo by Jodi Louth

# 1557 Black gelding, star and missing left ear tip.

photo by Jodi Louth

photo by Jodi Louth

# 1523 Black gelding with 4 white socks.

photo by Jodi Louth

This victory for the horses has come at quite a high price and now they need our help again! Financial support to help cover the expense of interstate vet checks and testing along with their safe, caring and comfortable ride home. These horses have been through so much trauma and hardship they need to be returned to a life of freedom... the only life they knew before they were stripped off their home range last summer along with over 1700 others from the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area.

Donations are being accepted by DreamCatcher Wild Horse and Burro Sanctuary please visit their web site. If you feel the call to help these misplaced mustangs in Michigan get back home please know your donation is fully tax deductible, greatly appreciated and will be recognised! Watch for more information.

DreamCatcher is a 501c3 not for profit sanctuary.

Thank You!

A letter from Barbara at DreamCatcher

As for those still in Michigan we have not given up on their safe return home but for now most remain in the hands of the original purchaser. Some of the mares are still believed to be heading to Florida, to a "breeding farm" and an owner who has admitted to selling horses at auction. There are many illegal horse slaughter operations in FL and Sale Authority BLM mustangs are easy targets.
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Updates and more photos to follow.
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The Lonely Filly

On July 10th we took a drive over to Twin Peaks to see if we could find any horses at Painters Flat. On our way down Horn Road a young filly jumped up out of a water hole shrouded by vegetation and trotted across the road right in front of us.
 

Initially I was excited to see her but soon realized she was all alone. We watched for a long time to see if she would join her family but she walked on alone, nibbling grass, not even looking around for anyone else.

 How could it be one so small was all alone?
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Reservoir at Painters Flat

Reservoir at Painters Flat

The reservoir was full, the grass tall, flowers were blooming, birds were singing and we were excited to see some horses come in for a drink. 

Cascade Downingia in and around the water

Water Buttercups

Looking out across the flat with our binoculars and lenses we guesstimated there were only 75-100 head of cattle but we could only see one dark horse. 

One Lone Horse

We could see him off in the distance coming toward the water hole, and he was limping, so we quickly moved further away from the water to be sure he would feel safe enough to get his drink.