The Cayuse Ranch along with a Coalition of Wild Horse Advocacy and rescue groups that include: Return to Freedom, The Spanish Mustang Foundation, Cana Foundation, Spanish Mustang Preserve, Reach Out to Horses, Cranio-Connection and Zuma’s Rescue Ranch, are pleased to announce the successful rehoming of an entire herd of more than 100 Spanish Mustangs from Wyoming to California.
The Cayuse Ranch, founded in 1957 by Wyoming homesteader Bob Brislawn, has for decades been home to some of the original bloodlines of the Spanish Mustangs, those horses brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 1400s. Brislawn made it his mission to preserve the dwindling breed on his ranches, but following his death in 2016, his family was left with the overwhelming task of caring for the more than 100 horses in his charge. When the ranch was sold in 2017, the Brislawn family put out the call to help find the herd a new place to roam, and several groups answered.
“It takes a dedicated and focused group of warriors to save some of America’s last remaining Spanish Mustangs,” said Jodi Messenich of Zuma Rescue Ranch. “Together a group of private citizens and a few amazing horse preservation groups pulled this mission off seamlessly.”
Adam Edwards of PaHa Ponies and The Spanish Mustang Foundation worked tirelessly with the Brislawns to undertake this monumental effort throughout 2017, and were joined this year by CANA Foundation, Cranio-Connection, Reach Out to Horses, Return to Freedom, Spanish Mustang Preserve and Zuma’s Rescue Ranch to help rehome the herd.
Return to Freedom, The Spanish Mustang Foundation, Cana Foundation, Spanish Mustang Preserve, Reach Out to Horses, Cranio-Connection and Zuma’s Rescue Ranch came together to bring this herd to a sanctuary in California. Relocating an entire herd of Mustangs from the range is a monumental undertaking and every single member of this focused group did all they could to make it possible.
In an outstanding effort there were two women that drove from Longmont CO to Hulett WY multiple times to bring some of the horses to Denver for training and forever homes. After the initial trips these two amazing women saw how huge the task was and realized quickly that one man (Adam Edwards) on the ground with the herd wasn’t enough. So, Lorraine Campbell and Kelly Moore continue to make multiple trips, trailer in tow to WY offering more hands-on helpers to sort and move the horses.
After two years of effort, this small group of dedicated, passionate individuals were able to transport 30 of the herd to Lompoc, California, 20 stayed in WY with PaHa Ponies (Adam Edwards) and 40 were placed with Spanish Mustang preserve in Bayfield Wi. Now the entire Cayuse Ranch Herd has been placed into forever sanctuaries across the US. “Relocating an entire herd of Mustangs from the range is a monumental undertaking and every single member of this focused group did all they could to make it possible,” said Neda Demayo, founder of Return to Freedom.
“We were proud to answer the call and join with so many amazing groups working to protect and preserve these majestic creatures and ensure they have a healthy and safe home where they can run free. I thank the coalition members and Jodi Messenich from Zuma Rescue Ranch for being the catalyst of our involvement as the transportation sponsor. Sponsoring their journey to freedom is truly an honor for the CANA Foundation and inline with the work we do in rewilding America’s wild horses,” shared Manda Kalimian, founder of the CANA Foundation.
While this operation was heavy on passion, it was light on funding, and there are still outstanding expenses that the groups are seeking donations to help pay. Donations are being accepted through Zuma’s Rescue Ranch, a 501c3 charity in Littleton, visit the site to learn more and contribute: http://www.zumasrescueranch.com/general-donations.
About The Cayuse Ranch:
The Cayuse Ranch was the first mustang preservation effort in the US. They were hell bent on preserving the often thought extinct, rugged old Indian pony: the Spanish Mustang. Historically speaking, these horses are incredibly important. They are the last remnants of the mustang that was here before the westward migration of the United States. How do we know this? There is a paper trail. All of these horses that were found are proven, pure old stock and type were have been catalogued in the Spanish Mustang Registry.
About CANA Foundation:
The CANA Foundation is Long Island-based national 501(c) 3 not for profit organization that works to rescue, rehome and re-wild the more than 60,000 of America’s wild horses who have been rounded-up off their lawful habitat and held captive in inhumane and overcrowded taxpayer funded, government holding facilities to the tune of over $100 million dollars annually. CANA is a solution based organization who is spreading the humane concept of REWILDING America’s wild horses so they can live free, at no cost to taxpayers while in-turn protecting our open space, enhancing our environment and empowering the communities who welcome them home. For more information on the CANA Foundation, visit http://www.canafoundation.org.
About Paha Ponies—Adam Edwards:
I believe that the horse was put here to help humans evolve in the best possible way. In the past, horses have helped us during war, provided transportation, and supported our agricultural pursuits. Now they are here to help us spiritually evolve as a species. In a time when we need to embrace and protect the natural world, we need a guide that is as close to nature as possible. There is no better conduit to nature than the Spanish Mustang. This is the most natural horse available to the human. There has been little human interference in their evolution for the past 500 years on this continent, which has resulted in an incredibly smart, herd driven animal. The Spanish Mustang is truly a magical horse.
About The Spanish Mustang Foundation—Doug Lanham:
Our mission is to educate the public about the Spanish Mustang and the need to protect and perpetuate the breed.
Thanks to a handful of dedicated breeders, who have made it their life’s work to preserve these special horses, the breed is still in existence today, albeit on the critical list of rare breeds.
With funding from government sources, foundations and contributions from the general public, the Spanish Mustang Foundation seeks to promote understanding and protection for this deserving American horse.
About Return to Freedom—Neda DeMayo:
Founded in 1997, Return to Freedom (RTF) is a national 501c3 non-profit wild horse conservation organization. Return to Freedom is dedicated to preserving the freedom, diversity and habitat of America’s wild horses and burros through sanctuary, education, advocacy and conservation, while enriching the human spirit through direct experience with the natural world. Return to Freedom also operates it’s American Wild Horse Sanctuary on 5000 acres in 4 California locations and models minimally intrusive management solutions that can be applied on the range. Neda DeMayo is a lifetime horsewoman and advocates for viable alternatives to horse slaughter and for the preservation and protection of our wild horses and burros on their ranges.
About Spanish Mustang Preservation— Cindy and Dick Kalow, founded this Mustang preserve in 2007 after years of research into how the family could create something of meaningful for the Spanish Mustang Breed. Now the preserve located in Bayfield, WI is home to more than 70 sanctuary Spanish Mustangs including about 40 of the Cayuse Ranch Herd.
About Reach Out to Horses – Anna Twinney:
Anna is an International Equine Linguist, Natural Horsewoman, Clinician, Animal Communicator, and the founder of Reach Out to Horses®. She is recognized in the industry for her unique and effective, collaborative training methodologies. For more than 2 decades she has brought her highly successful, gentle approach to thousands of people and horses from all walks of life and equine disciplines. She has conducted clinics, classes and training sessions across the globe including Europe, China, Morocco, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and throughout the entire U.S. and Canada. Anna has been involved in animal rescue for over 30 years and has been heavily involved in the rescue and protection of the American Wild Horse. She has assisted in the rescue and training of thousands of horses and has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the horses in need and the organizations that share her passion for our majestic planetary companions. In 2019 she will be launching a new non-profit to these ground-breaking methods to the people and animals who need the them the most.
About CranioConnection—Tracy Vroom:
The CranioConnection, founded by Tracy Vroom, has been providing complementary healing and performance solutions specializing in horses and dogs for 20 years. Having grown up on a farm with many species of animals, Tracy’s passion for them came naturally. Today Tracy is the owner of Rocky Mountain School of Massage and Acupressure in addition to CranioConnection, both providing healing for animals throughout the US.
About Zuma’s Rescue Ranch—Jodi and Paul Messenich:
Our organization is named in honor of the first horse our founders, The Messenich Family, purchased together nearly 20 years ago. Zuma was a bright spirit – a truly once in a lifetime horse who forever changed the hearts and minds of some very experienced professional horse people. By partnering those in need so that they may in turn rescue each other, we honor Zuma’s legacy. Serving the community since 2008, the mission of Zuma’s Rescue Ranch is to foster an environment of healing by pairing rescued horses with at-risk youth in mutually therapeutic programs.
