Last week marked six years of Montgomery Creek Ranch taking in the beloved Deer Run herd - a small band of wild horses that lived outside Carson City, Nevada.
The horses were a part of the Pine Nut Mountains Herd Management Area that is adjacent to Deer Run Road in Carson City. The BLM claimed that the removal was going to be conducted because of public safety concerns.
Photo by Annie Jantzen
The roundup sparked several passionate protests from the locals, who urged the BLM to take simple steps to work with them on a plan that would allow the family to remain on the public lands they called home for decades.
Their pleas fell on deaf ears, and in March of 2013, 11 members of the Deer Run herd were removed.
Heartbroken that the BLM rejected its pleas to work with them, the local community pulled together. The horses were bought at auction for $850 by the Deer Run Preservation Group in a collaborative effort with the American Wild Horse Campaign. Nearly 100 people attended the auction, many of whom were supporting the group and its efforts to save the horses.
Deer Run horses at auction. Photo by Mark W. Hansen
Montgomery Creek Ranch offered to keep the family intact on our 2,000 acres where they could live wild and free for the rest of their lives.
This herd is the poster family for all wild horses who are subjected to the BLM's mismanaged Wild Horse and Burro Program, and why we advocate for common sense solutions to be implemented on the range.
Luna, lead mare of the Deer Run herd.
Luna, the lead mare is now in her late twenties and is inseparable from her look-a-like daughter, Diva.
Rio, the original stallion still lives with his mares along with Cocoa, and Luna’s son, Moon Shadow. Bravo, a BLM gelding from the Fox Hog HMA in Nevada, and the lead horse in the film, American Mustang, has since attached himself to this herd and became Rio's lieutenant.
This group of horses are tight knit and do not socialize with the other horses at our Preserve. They have a special status, and we respect their strong sense of family. We are so happy that we were able to keep these family bonds and dynamics intact and grateful to the local community who fought so hard to make it happen.
