Kent Nelson and Diamond: Continuing Their Master Water Dog Title Journey

Kent Nelson and Diamond ©Leyla Caynak for Tryon International Mill Spring, NC – August 17, 2025 – The Movers and Shakers Portuguese Water Dog Club of the Carolinas took over the White Oak Cross Country course pond at Tryon International for the 2025 Blue Ridge Splash Water Trials. Kent Nelson (Mill Spring, NC), Water Trial …

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Dual Threat to America’s Wild Horses: Misplaced Darts and Genetic Erosion

Image: A wild horse with a misplaced dart in its abdominal wall. Courtesy of Michele Cheeseman Introduction Wild horses, roaming the arid rangelands of the American West, embody a legacy of freedom and resilience. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) across Herd Management Areas (HMAs), these populations face a dual challenge: immediate welfare …

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Encore & Family Welcome a Sweet Grulla Filly in the Pryor Mountains

Encore and her daughter Xacara rest with the newborn filly. Photo © TCF We’re thrilled to share joyful news from the wild Pryor Mountains — Encore, look-alike palomino daughter of the legendary Cloud, has given birth to a grulla filly! Ginger Kathrens was on the mountain when the foal was born in the early morning …

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Update from Wild Horse Fire Brigade

There are many exciting projects underway this year at Wild Horse Fire Brigade, thanks to the generosity of our donors. We don’t like to talk about the cuisine until it’s served, and while some projects are still ‘in the oven’ so to speak, soon there will be some very exciting news! And we have a …

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65 Years Later, It’s Still the Gold Standard for Ethological Study! – ‘The Goodall Method’

‘Spirit’, a beautiful 3-yr.-old Appi boy, who is still with his family band, greets Calstate Univ. student Ciera (foreground). By: William E. Simpson II, Wild Horse Fire Brigade The first 2-week session of our summer Wilderness Wild Horse Ecology-Ethology Field Study course was completed by our Calstate students!  We’re currently putting together a short video …

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Report on Wild Horse Population Dynamics and Critique of BLM’s Appropriate Management Level

by William E. Simpson II We’ve been hard at work studying the ecology & ethology of our herd of 200 free-roaming, naturally living heritage horses and conducting research on their environmental benefits with our students from Cal State. And in the evenings, sometimes until 2:00 AM, we’ve been writing research papers to help provide additional …

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Wild Horse Fire Brigade – Update

Photo: William E. Simpson II — Wild horses calmly graze in front of approaching 38,000-acre Klamathon Wildfire. The issue around wild horses is not a one-liner or a quick study for anyone. Innocent wild horses are literally dying at the hands of bad actors as you read this, so I ask that you excuse my …

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Horses and Mules Were the Unsung Heroes During Hurricane Helene Recovery

Horses and Mules Were the Unsung Heroes During Hurricane Helene Recovery

Horses and mules were the unsung heroes of Hurricane Helene. As we know, Helene left deep imprints on North Carolina. Traditional vehicles fell short in this thousand-year event, with roads washed out and communities stranded. In these critical moments, our amazing horses and mules became reliable partners, extending aid where modern machines couldn’t reach. I …

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Evacuation Plans for Horses During Fire Emergencies

Evacuation Plans For Horses: Steps To Ensure Safety During Fire Emergencies

Horses are incredible animals, but when it comes to fire emergencies, they’re also surprisingly vulnerable. Their size, sensitivity to sudden changes, and dependence on people put them at serious risk. The worst part is that their instincts often backfire—panic takes over, making them hard to control and turning an already dangerous situation into a life-threatening …

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Plus-80% Personal Best Hands World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle to Adrienne Lyle and Helix in AGDF 5

Adrienne Lyle & Helix. Photo ©susanjstickle.com In a beautiful display of riding, Adrienne Lyle (USA) pulled off a huge new personal best of 80.325% on Friday, February 7, in the FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle, sponsored by The Dutta Corp, on her Paris 2024 Olympic partner, Helix. With it, she booked a starting place …

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