The origin of MCR's red dun mustangs traces back to a pivotal moment in the summer of 2010. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) had rounded up 174 wild horses that had wandered off public lands in Nevada's Pilot Valley and Toano Herd Management Areas.
Destined for a livestock auction in Fallon, Nevada, these mustangs' prospects looked grim until an incredible act changed their destiny. In a tense bidding war that lasted over five hours, Ellie and Chris of Montgomery Creek Ranch, in partnership with Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue, outbid kill buyers from Canada to secure the freedom of every horse at the auction. All 174. Among the rescued were 18 mares with foals, two orphan foals, 76 stallions, and 59 mares—many of whom had lost their foals during the roundup, and some were pregnant.
After their rescue, the mustangs' journey was only beginning. The stallions were castrated, the foals weaned, and all began to acclimate to a new life beyond the wild land they once roamed. Initially housed in Fallon, NV, under the care of Mike Holmes, a former Nevada state wild horse manager, these wild horses faced the challenge of adapting to life within confines, a stark contrast to their free-roaming past.
In 2012, Ellie and Chris's commitment to these animals took a significant leap forward with the purchase of Montgomery Creek Ranch, founding Montgomery Creek Preserve. This sprawling sanctuary, with its valleys, chaparral-covered hills, and abundant water sources, offered a new home for the Toano/Pilot Valley horses and many others in need of refuge.
Since their arrival at MCR in July 2012, the original herd has grown to more than 200 horses and burros, each with their own story of survival and rescue. The sanctuary has become a haven for horses and burros from various backgrounds, including the Deer Run herd from Dayton, Nevada, Virginia Range mustangs from around Reno, Ft. McDermitt horses saved from auction, and BLM mustangs from across the states at risk of slaughter.
Today, the red dun mustangs of Montgomery Creek Ranch symbolize not only the beauty and spirit of the American West but also the power of empathy and action.
