Captured Calico Mustang Stallions Begin New Life Thanks to Return to Freedom

November 30, 2015

AWHC Contributor

Pioneering approach seeks to re-establish family bands shattered in BLM roundup

Return to Freedom has embarked on a groundbreaking mission to rescue and reunite Calico Mustang stallions after a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundup disrupted their family bands. This initiative aims to preserve the leadership and wisdom of these noble horses, symbolizing a commitment to change in the federal wild horse program.

Rescue and Reunification Efforts

A beautiful buckskin Calico stallion was recently acquired by Return to Freedom after being declined by a buyer in an online auction. This stallion will soon join 18 other Calico stallions, along with a mare and her foal, all rescued to re-establish the family bands shattered in the BLM's January 2010 roundup in Nevada's Calico Mountains Complex.

UPDATE: OCTOBER 14, 2010

Mr. Buckskin and his companion, a bay gelding, are on their way back to Nevada. During their time in Oklahoma, Mr. Buckskin found comfort in the presence of this gelding, leading Return to Freedom to adopt both horses. They will join the other rescued studs in Nevada.

Preserving the Calico Mustangs

Many of the rescued stallions are senior studs known for leading their family bands. “These elder stallions represent leadership and wisdom for the Calico herds,” said Neda DeMayo, founder and CEO of Return to Freedom. “These noble horses, once free on the range and now held captive, symbolize the tragedy of the federal wild horse program.”

In July, Return to Freedom placed winning bids for eight horses in a BLM online auction. Ten additional stallions were acquired later when it was discovered that some intact Calico studs remained in BLM holding pens. In September, the nineteenth stallion, a senior buckskin, was rescued after being declined by a buyer in Oklahoma.

In partnership with Soldier Meadows Ranch and Lodge, Return to Freedom plans to create a wild horse preserve, returning these horses to private lands near their original home ranges. The initiative includes re-establishing family bands by adopting and purchasing mares to match with stallions from the same herd management areas.

The proposal also suggests a model program for on-the-range management of wild horses in the Soldier Meadows Ranch's public grazing allotment, offering a cost-effective alternative to mass roundups and removals.

“This rescue is a gesture of restitution for what has been taken from these horses and an affirmation of our commitment to fundamental change in the BLM wild horse program,” DeMayo said.

The Calico Roundup

Between December 28, 2009, and February 4, 2010, BLM captured 1,922 horses from five Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in the Calico Mountains Complex. Over 140 horses died, and an additional 40 heavily pregnant mares aborted, according to DeMayo.

On September 1, 18 of the rescued stallions were moved to temporary quarters in Fallon, Nevada, awaiting the creation of the Return to Freedom/Soldier Meadows Ranch Wild Horse Preserve. Read more about the stallions beginning their new life here.

Rescued Horses

General (#1363), 22-year-old band stallion, captured January 16, 2010, from Warm Springs HMA.
Commander (#1334), 25-year-old stallion, loyal companion to General, captured January 16, 2010, from Warm Springs HMA.
True (#1322), 2-year-old son of General, captured January 16, 2010, from Warm Springs HMA.
Tomahawk (#1366), 12-year-old stallion, captured January 16, 2010, from Warm Springs HMA.
Redman (#1385), 17-year-old stallion, best friend of Tomahawk, captured January 16, 2010, from Warm Springs HMA.
Ranger (#1307), 12-year-old Buckskin stallion, captured January 29, 2010, in the Calico HMA, rescued by Return to Freedom after being declined by a buyer.
Fog (#1308), 4-year-old pinto stallion, captured January 29, 2010, from Calico HMA.
Mist (#1361), 4-year-old stallion, captured January ?, 2010, from Black Rock West HMA.
Önder (#1711), 17-year-old stallion, captured January 2, 2010, from Black Rock East HMA.
Raya and Mia, captured January 27, 2010, Granite Range.
Beautiful paint mare and foal adjusting to temporary quarters at Fallon.
Elvis (#1347), 6-year-old palomino stallion, captured January 20, 2010, Warm Springs HMA.
Apollo (#1246), 7-year-old palomino stallion, captured January 29, 2010, from Calico HMA.
El Presidente (#1255), 6-year-old stallion, captured January 29, 2010, from Calico HMA.
7-year-old sorrel stallion (#1324), captured January 20, 2010, from Warm Springs HMA.
8-year-old stallion (#1547), captured January 20, 2010, from Warm Springs HMA.
Leaf (#1715), 8-year-old stallion, captured January 2, 2010, Black Rock East.
8-year-old stallion (#1262), captured January 29, 2010, from Calico HMA.
Tornado (#1535), 9-year-old stallion, captured January 20, 2010, from Warm Springs HMA.
Phoenix (#1834), 2-year-old stallion, captured January 5, 2010, from Black Rock West HMA.
Black Moon (#1401), 7-year-old stallion, captured January 20, 2010, from Warm Springs.

To support this rescue and the historic quest to reunite these majestic stallions with their mares and re-establish their family bands, please donate to Return to Freedom and specify "Calico Rescue Fund".