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WHAT IS THE REGISTRY
ALL ABOUT?
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The purpose of the registry as stated in the by-laws is defined as:
1. In conjunction with the Bureau of Land
management (BLM), the Sulphur Horse Registry
(SHR) proposes to protect, preserve, promote,
perpetuate and enhance the wild herd which
currently inhabits the Sulphur Herd Management
Area in Utah.
2. To encourage and promote the establishment of captive herds of the Sulphur Horse Registry (SHR) for the purpose of preserving the gene pool, as it is found in the wild herds.
3. To disseminate historical information and education relating to the Sulphur herd in both its wild and captive domain.
To establish a Registry and studbook for the
registration and preservation of pedigrees of
adopted Sulphur Mustangs and their progeny.
To promote activities and fellowship among
ownem, breedem, and other individuals interested
in the SHR.
To encourage the use of the Sulphur Homes in all
applicable areas of recreation, competition, and
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Inside This Issue
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What is the registry all about? Contributing Members Column The Sulphur
Range
Current Registry Statistics Coming events
BLM Comments
Adoption Event Information Classified Ads
CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS
COLUMN
Hello to the SHR membership! The first thing I'd like to do is extend a big "Thanks!" to Leo and Kathy Campbell and Clinton and Dorothy Galbraith for starting a much needed and deserved registry and organization for the Sulphur horses. I hope the membership will give them all the help and support that can be given. As for me, I'd like to use this opportunity to introduce myself, and explain why a mn of the mill person such as me got interested in these special horses. First of all, I'm certainly no horse expert, in fact when people ask me if my horses are gaited the first thing I tell them is I don't know a horse gait from a backyard gate. For the most part I'm probably like you in that I just like horses. I also like the history of the old west, and especially the original horses that helped make that history.
I've had an interest in the Sulphur horses for six years now, but what started it was the 1987 Nature Series television show "America's Wild Horses" where the Pryor Mountain horses of Montana-Wyoming and Kiger horses of Oregon were shown. The thing about these horses that was so unique and caught my attention was the primitive markings (dorsal stripe and striped legs). My curiosity eventually led me to the Sulphur horses and a personal research of the three herds to find out just where these uniquely marked horses came from. I've since done a great deal of book research and interviewed many individuals to find out about the horses. What I'd like to do in this and future newsletters is share my findings with you in order to give you a greater appreciation for and increased knowledge of the Sulphur horses. So, starting with this newsletter I'd like to tell you why I think the horses are so special, and why there should be a registry for them.
Most of the people I have taiked to who are experienced with wild horses first of all say the Sulphur horses are differem from those of other herds, both in conformation, behavior, and especially in having the primitive markings. To go further, it's been my observation that the horses of the Kiger, Pryor Mountain, and Sulphur herds, as a whole, are even somewhat different from each other in conformation. Now, as a disclaimer I want to first state that I don't want anyone to think I'm saying horses from one herd are better than those from another. I have a great appreciation for them all but each has it's own special uniqueness. What actually makes the Sulphur horses different from most other wild horse
continued on page 3
SULPHUR REGISTRY NEWS '1
continued from page I
COMING EVENTS
EVENT: UTAH WILD HORSE & BURRO
FESTIVAL
DATE: MAY 21 & 22, t999
PLACE: DESERT PEAK COMPLEX TOOELE, UTAH
There are various events being planned for the festival so everyone needs to get their homes ready to go. For more information on the festival contact Darcy Duce 435-882-3155 or
Audrey Carver
WH&BS Co-Chair
2329 N 5025 E
Eden, Utah 84310
Phone: (801) 754-3010
EVENT: ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
DATE: MAY 21, 1999
TIME: 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: DESERT PEAK COMPLEX
TOOELE, UTAH
Everyone bring your ideas for a logo for the Registry. If your design is chosen you will receive the next year's membership FREE!
We are planning to have some items for raffle as a fund raising project for the Registry. If you would like to donate items for the raffle please contact Leo or Kathy Campbell at (208) 529-3074 or Clinton or Dorothy Galbraith at (208) 745-0860. Any and all donations whether they are items for the raffle or monetary donations will be greatly appreciated. All funds ars used for the production of necessary Registry materials, no payments are made to individuals, all work for the Registry is done on a volunteer basis.
herds is that they are for the most part a breed of their own, they are Spanish Mustangs, or at least have a predominance of Spanish Mustang in them.
Probably the most distinguishing characteristic of the Sulphur horses is the number of line backed horses in the herd as compared to other herds. Back in the early 1970's when the Oregon BLM was doing a round up in the Beaty Butte area a group of 350 to 400 homes were captured and from this group approximately 25 line backed horses were selected out by the Bums BLM. Rom Harding and Bill Philips of the Bums BLM were looking for what they thought were remnant examples of the old Spanish horse of the Conquistadors. They thought they had found them but were unaware of what already existed on Utah's Mountain Home Range. All the horses except a couple line-backed homes that were already present were removed from the East Kiger and Riddle Mountain Herd Management Areas and the 27 line backed horses were split between the two areas. That was the birth of the Kigers and the Bums BLM has been selectively breeding for the line backed horses ever since. There now exists three separate registries for Kiger Mustangs. To me though, 27 out of 350 or so homes was not a very impressive number.
Before the founding of the Kigem, the Pryor Mountains already had a good number of line backed horses. According to Reverend Floyd Schwieger, who has been associated with the horses for over thirty-five years, the herd started with between twenty and thirty- percent line backed horses before the BLM took over management which was probably no more than 200 homes. Line backed horses in other herds within Nevada and Utah can also be found but not in significant numbem. The Pryor Mountain horses have had an organization and separate registry for many years now.
The Utah BLM didn't realize what they had in the Sulphur herd until 1985 and selection within that herd has not taken place until recently. Between 1991 and 1993 a large number of horses were captured from the Sulphur herd. The last two captures during this time, I was told was a good representative example of the color makeup of the herd on the Mountain Home Range. From the BLM list of homes, I broke the individual colors down and found that fitty-six percent of the horses were line backed. These consisted of buckskin colored duns, red duns, grullos, and didn't even take into account line backed bays. When considering that the entire herd may have consisted of upwards to five hundred horses, this is a very significant number in comparison to the Kiger, Pryor Mountain, or any other herd for that matter.
Dr. Gus Cotbran, Ph.D. is the Director of the Equine Blood Typing Research Laboratory of the University of Kentucky and has used blood typing to study and compare many breeds and thousands upon thousands of horses. He
continued on Dacle 4
SULPHUR REGISTRY NEWS 3
continued from page I
COMING EVENTS
EVENT: UTAH WILD HORSE & BURRO
FESTIVAL
DATE: MAY 21 & 22, 1999
PLACE: DESERT PEAK COMPLEX TOOELE, UTAH
There are various events being planned for the festival so everyone needs to get their horses ready to go. For more information on the festival contact Darcy Duce 435-882-3155 or
Audrey Carver
WH&BS Co-Chair
2329 N 5025 E
Eden, Utah 84310
Phone: (801) 754-3010
EVENT: ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
DATE: MAY 21, 1999
TIME: 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: DESERT PEAK COMPLEX TOOELE, UTAH
Everyone bring your ideas for a logo for the Registry. If your design is chosen you will receive the next year's membership FREEI
We are planning to have some items for raffle as a fund raising project for the Registry. If you would like to donate items for the raffle please contact Leo or Kathy Campbell at (208) 529-3074 or Clinton or Dorothy Galbraith at (208) 745-0860. Any and all donations whether they are items for the raffle or monetary donations will be greatly appreciated. All funds are used for the production of necessary Registry materials, no payments are made to individuals, all work for the Registry is done on a volunteer basis.
herds is that they are for the most part a breed of their own, they are Spanish Mustangs, or at least have a predominance of Spanish Mustang in them.
Probably the most distinguishing characteristic of the Sulphur horses is the number of line backed horses in the herd as compared to other herds. Back in the early 1970% when the Oregon BLM was doing a round up in the Beaty Butte area a group of 350 to 400 horses were captured and from this group approximately 25 line backed horses were selected out by the Bums BLM. Ron Harding and Bill Philips of the Bums BLM were looking for what they thought were remnant examples of the old Spanish horse of the Conquistadors. They thought they had found them but were unaware of what already existed on Utah's Mountain Home Range. All the horses except a couple line-backed horses that were already present were removed from the East Kiger and Riddle Mountain Herd Management Areas and the 27 line backed horses were split between the two areas. That was the birth of the Kigers and the Bums BLM has been selectively breeding for the line backed horses ever since. There now exists three separate registries for Kiger Mustangs. To me though, 27 out of 350 or so horses was not a very impressive number.
Before the founding of the Kigers, the Pryor Mountains already had a good number of line backed horses. According to Reverend Floyd Schwieger, who has been associated with the horses for over thirty-five years, the herd started with between twenty and thirty- percent line backed horses before the BLM took over management which was probably no more than 200 horses. Line backed horses in other herds within Nevada and Utah can also be found but not in significant numbers. The Pryor Mountain horses have had an organization and separate registry for many years now.
The Utah BLM didnl realize what they had in the Sulphur herd until 1985 and selection within that herd has not taken place until recently. Between 1991 and 1993 a large number of horses were captured from the Sulphur herd. The last two captures during this time, I was told was a good representative example of the color makeup of the herd on the Mountain Home Range. From the BLM list of horses, I broke the individual colors down and found that fifty-six percent of the horses were line backed. These consisted of buckskin colored duns, red duns, grullos, and didn't even take into account line backed bays. When considering that the entire herd may have consisted of upwards to five hundred horses, this is a very significant number in comparison to the Kiger, Pryor Mountain, or any other herd for that matter.
Dr. Gus Cothran, Ph.D. is the Director of the Equine Blood Typing Research Laboratory of the University of Kentucky and has used blood typing to study and compare many breeds and thousands upon thousands of horses. He
continued on oaae 4
SULPHUR REGISTRY NEWS 3
BLM COMMENTS
Gus Warr, BLM employee and wild-horse specialist
provide the following comments.
Four things are currently being emphasized to protect the horses and their habitat:
1 .) No outside horses will be introduced into the herd management area.
2,) An increase in BLM law enforcement activity is being placed on patrolling the area to reduce any illegal harassment or capture.
3.) Selective removal of horses that do not exhibit characteristics of the Spanish and/or Sorraia type wild horse. This includes keeping all colors or phenotypes that exhibit Spanish characteristics.
4.) Promote and implement an aggressive signing program in the horse area.
Approximately 100 animals were removed from the range in September. The current population of animals on the Herd Management Area is still over 350-400 animal! Our current management plan calls for around 200. •
Gus also forwarded the following two letters from the BLM Cedar City Field Office
Dear Interested Citizen:
Our office currently manages the wild horses of the Sulphur Herd Management Area, a portion of which roam in the Mountain Home Range located in western Beaver County, Utah. This horse herd is thought to be one of the purest breeds descended from the Spanish Horses which ran free in this country over 100 years ago. There has been a concern raised by interested members of the public that perhaps these horses are not being protected adequately and that the genetic purity of this herd may be threatened by breeding with other herds.
In the last few years, our office has received hundreds of letters from wild horse
continued on oat, e 5
has tested many feral populations, including Kiger, Pryor Mountain, Cerbat, Wilbur Cruz, Banker, and Spanish Mustang Registry horses, along with many Spanish horse breeds. A little over a year ago he completed a study of the Sulphur horses and in a personal letter to me he stated, 'What I can tell you is that the Sulphur horses have the highest similarity to Spanish type homes of any wild horse population in the US that I have tested." And, to me, that is a very significant statement!
So. if you ask me if I think the Sulphur horses are special, and do I think there should be a registry for them and an organization to support them, well, I think the answer is obvious.
Now the question is, where did these horses come from and how did they
get there? This gets into the stuff I like, history, with a strong element
of mystery and a whole lot of speculation. Next time I'll talk about the
Sorraias. •
Run Roubidoux
This is a cute little story about what happened to us the other day while working with some colts. We had two geldings and one stud colt that we were working in the round pen. One was a quarter horse the other was half quarter and the stud cold is a registered Sulphur. We had been giving them groundwork and teaching rein control with long lines. I had been working with the Sulphur/Quarter cross and the quarter horse. They were doing well but Dusty the little Sulphur wanted in on the games so I let him in the round pen and worked him up to their level which was fight turns left tums and backing up. Then I brought a little lightweight practice saddle into the pen and started again, this time saddling them to let them get used to a chinch and feel free moving under the saddle. I took two of them out so I could spend more time with the quarter horse and give him a little more one-on-one. He was working well but every time we passed the gate Dusty would reach through and try to grab the saddle. He obviously had not had all he wanted of these games. So I took the quarter horse out of the corral and brought Dusty in, put the saddle on him and put him through all the games again. He was doing so well that my wife said, "I believe he could be ridden." As he had done nothing wrong to this point and reacted so well I agreed and she climbed in the saddle. Surprisingly enough he was a perfect gentleman. To this point we had spent less than an hour on all three homes not
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SULPHUR REGISTRY NEWS 4
enthusiasts who are interested in an official designation for the Sulphur wild horse herd. They would like to see some, if not all, of the area designated as a National Wild Horse Range. Others have considered designating the area as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Both of these designations could prevent or restrict other land uses which conflict with wild horse needs.
We are seeking your ideas about how we can protect these horses while still accommodating other land uses. Attached is a map of the Sulphur Herd Management Area. What are some of your issues or concerns in this area? What resources do you feel need to be protected or utilized in the area of concern? What changes would you like to see in this area?
Please send your comments to me at the address above by September 25, 1998. We appreciate your input and will send you additional information as this project progresses. If you know of others who would be interested in this subject, please pass this information to them. We cannot send further correspondence, however, unless return addresses are included with their comments.
Sincerely,
Arthur L, Tait
District Manager
November 10, 1998
Dear Interested Citizen:
Thank you for your comments regarding a potential designation for the Sulphur wild horse herd. We have received hundreds of letters from citizens who desire a designation for additional protection of the herd. We have also received hundreds from citizens who do not want to see any type of designation which could limit otherland uses in the area or prioritize wild horse management over other resources.
At this time, our office is considering amending our land use plan for the area, the Pinyon Management Framework Plan, to update wild horse issues. These amendments could include changing the boundaries of wild horse herd management areas, designating the appropriate number of horses allowed before a gather would take place and other issues. Your concerns will be considered when making these determinations. This process may be started in the next year, but may not be completed before September 30, 2000.
We appreciate your interest in the management of public lands and will keep you informed as this process unfolds. We would appreciate being notified of any activities you see on public land which could threaten the herd or other resources. Please feel free to contact this office if you have any questions or additional comments about land uses or wild horse management in this area. Sincerely,
Arthur L. Tait
Associate Field Manaeer
really intending to ride any of them that day. We had worked with the
other two horses before but this was Dusty's first day in the round pen..
Before that time he was broke to lead and had a little groundwork done.
There is nothing he would rather do than to be with people and get personal
attention. The only problem that still remains is when we're saddling a
horse we have to tie Dusty up or he will try to steal the blanket or the
saddle, he wants all the attention.
DARN WILD MUSTANGS!!!
J.D.KAY
We would like to thank Ron and John for their excellent contributions.
All members are invited to share their knowledge of the horses and their
habitat, personal stories and experiences, or any information you might
think would be of interest to the membership. Contributions need to be
typed, written legibly, or submitted on disc. If you do submit an article
on disc Microsoft Word would be the easiest to convert to the newsletter
format being used.
Adoption Event Information
Adoption Location: Spanish Fork, Utah/
Date: November 14, 1998
Administering Office: Salt Lake City Field Office
HORSES
BURROS/MULES
Competitive: Oral Bid
Silent Bid X
Sealed Bid
Lottery/1 st come- 1 st served ($125)
Number Animals Offered (1) 104 (94 Utah-Sulphur 6
HMA & 10 Nevada
stallions)
Number Animals Adopted (1) 70 (62 UT & 8 NV) 6
Number Halter Broken or Trained 1 0
Number Put Down 0 0
Number Adopted at Reduced Fee 0 1
Number Returned 34 0
High Bid 1,200 135
Average Bid All Animals (2) 213
Optional - Other Pertinent Information
Ages of Adopted Animals weanling to 8yrs old
1 to 6 yrs old
Sex of Adopted Animals
Number of Approved Adoptem 414 on state approved list (since
1 / 1/98).
Adoption Conditions: Weather Cold morning
temperatm'e @ 30 F, Mid-day conditions
were sunny with an outside temperature of 55.
Facilities Held in an indoor arena with an average temperature
of
45.
Notable Occurrences
• The top 5 bids were: (1) $1,200 {dun, male, weanling}, (2) $975 {grulla,
female, weanling}, (3) $900 {dun, female,
yearling}, (4) $725 {dun, female, weanling}, and (5) $700
{grulla, female, 2-year old}.
• Only 15 homes were adopted for $200 or more
• 34 animals were adopted at the base fee of $125.
• 52 animals were adopted in the 1st bid round, with 24 adopted in
the 2nd bid & open rounds
1) Count each animal as individuals in mother/foal pairs.
(2) Do not include reduced-fee animals in the averages.
There are still Sulphur Horses at the Butter field Canyon facilities.
For more information on these horses contact
Phil Bennet at (801) 561-4632
