It’s a thrill to announce that Arkwilds’ baby, known as WHOA, the Wild Horses of Abaco Preservation Society, now is taking its strong first steps as an independent, on site (right here in Abaco) source of help and information for the Wild Horses. In a few days you’ll be seeing some big, exciting changes. Arkwild will fade into the background as WHOA moves into the international spotlight. (Arkwild remains a registered US charity, for the convenience of and tax benefits for US citizens.) You’ll see our new logo, get regular updates, see more photos, get more information about fund and fun raising activities. Our first big event is the running of a Horse Mobile in the Annual Hope Town Box Car Derby on Elbow Cay, Saturday, Nov. 26. Come if you can, watch for the story if you can’t. We are ready for the new season, the New Year! Join us!
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Jennifer Darville, her daughter Savannah and Savannah’s friend Shannan Burrows enjoyed a wonderful visit with the horses. Jennifer ordered four bags of grain for the horses, and the horses say Thank You!
Jenn is from Fremont, Ohio, she and her husband have a home in Nassau and a business and home in Tarpon Springs, FL
Three generations of the Sheldon family visited the horses. Barbara and Jim, Their daughter Jill and Jill’s daughter Maya, and their daughter Terry and Terry’s daughter Stephanie. Jill lives in Connecticut, Terry in Myanmar. The family gathers annually for a reunion in Barbara and Jim’s second home on Elbow Cay. They gave a generous donation to the horses.
Left to Right:
Terry, Stephanie, Maya, Jill, Barbara and Jim. And Nunki. Again.
On July 18,2011 the Alan Watt family from near Edinburgh Scotland visited the WHOA preserve. The Watts are building a retirement home in Casuarina, and while Kimberly and Haydn were researching the Abacos, they both found points of interest that they wanted to help. So their father Alan organized and sponsored a kayak trip, 10 miles down the river Tweed. A chilly endeavor at best. Kimberly and Haydn raised a total of $440, with the money split between the Marsh Harbor Volunteer Fire Dept. and the Wild Horses Of Abaco. Mr. Watts expressed an interest in becoming a volunteer one the family is spending more time in Abaco.
On April 26, 2011 , 11 young people form Hopetown spent most of the day battling invasive alien plants in two heavily infested water holes on the Abaco Wild Horse Preserve. Armed only with plastic bags and a willingness to get very muddy, they waded into the horses’ drinking areas and pulled out hundreds and hundreds of sprouting Brazilian pepper trees. Several clumps had over a hundred seedlings all growing vigorously despite the crowding. Brazilian pepper has taken over entire forests in Florida ad control of it is labor intensive in the extreme. Each and every plant must be pulled out by the roots, when possible, or treated with an herbicide. Fire does not kill it. While it is not immediately toxic to the horses, it can kill the forest in which they live.
Tami Cash and Kent LeBoutillier gathered the team and joined in the work. After the big collection, everyone went to the Blue Hole for swim and snacks.
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Charlie Cash, a member of the battle team, also presented the Wild Horses Of Abaco with a donation that she raised by asking her friends for help and contributing her own money. Thank You Charlie!
Tami and Marty Cash donated a custom made pool liner for our trailer/water transporter. This has greatly increased the amount of water we can pump and carry for the base, and for fire fighting. Thank you!
And thanks to everyone who participated in this first of what we hope will be many attacks on the Aliens.
Stallion Hadar is found, back in his usual pasture
On Thursday, February 24 Dr. Fritz and I found Hadar, the outside stallion who was deceased Achernar’s friend. He looks good and still is moving well. We looked farther for the others, no luck. We were euphoric, because a six hour search the week before turned up no fresh signs of any of the outside stallions. As a result of feeling so much relief, we ‘went off watch’, we weren’t paying proper attention to the heavy tractor and the rough track. On a road in the Preserve the tractor lurched right, I went airborne then it lurched left and I went under one of those huge rear wheels. I thought it was all over.
The tire tore up my right foot, ran over my groin, nicked a rib, but nothing broke and no internal organs were affected. Abut 10 minutes after it happened I got myself sitting up while Dr. Fritz went for the truck. So grateful it didn’t happen out in the bush because it was very hard to move me. Got stitches in the foot, a friend had a large guest who carried me into the living room of her house (which is a small but real castle) and got me on to a very welcome futon where I’ve been ever since. Even though I’m going to have some spectacular bruises and my foot is turning blue and purple, and I can stand but not move much, I am very, very grateful because I could have been totally crushed had it gotten me a few more inches more to the right. So, we plod on.
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On Thurs. Feb.10 Dr. Robert Fritz, DVM, took me up in his 1953 Cessna 180 and we spent close to an hour criss crossing the Preserve at low speed (60 mph) and altitude (300’) and saw nothing. But then, we didn’t see our mares either and we know they are there. We did see well used trails with no debris build up, (we’ve had a lot of wind and I think the trails would be at least partially covered with pine needles if they weren’t being used) and a trail I’ve seen many times before when on foot in a favorite area of vine forage. The vine grows quite fast and unless the horses actually disappeared very recently, the path indicates rather current use. We did not see any bones, and were low enough that we could have, I think. Dr. Fritz lives on Elbow Cay, a nearby island, and he has joined us in helping to save the horses.
Meanwhile, we are trying very hard to get the tractor going so that we can do ground searches. The terrain is too rough for any other vehicle. Some of the parts that need be removed haven’t been moved since the tractor was built in 1985. They are frozen tight and we may have to remove the entire front axle assembly. But, Mr. Tom Lightbourn feels confident that the job can be done. Working in rain and chill doesn’t make things easy, but it’s better than a 90 degree day in August!
Mr. Tom Lighbourn braves a steady drizzle to get frozen old parts loose for replacementy. Our tractor was built in 1985. It's a great machine, but suffers from decades of neglect.
We’ve posted a new video on YouTube, a short view of the mares running up for their grain; we added the same segment in slow motion for anyone interested in what they’re doing with their feet. Nothing special, but fun to look at. At YouTube, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzfxYTE7ZIM>
Anna Beeson,
Laren Pitcairn
Mary Pitcairn,
Mary Jo Beckman
Laren and Mary Pitcairn of Bridges Cay visited the horses and brought friends Mary Jo Beckman and Anna Beeson along. Along with the crew of Schooner “Keewaytin” everyone followed the horses on a walk through the forest. While visiting the Blue Hole everyone spontaneously began a clean up of the grounds which almost always are in need. This was not a scheduled tour activity! But it certainly is wonderful when our guests join in maintaining the beauty of this wonderful place.
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At last, we seem to be closing in on a mechanic who can repair our tractor. He used to work on our machine years ago when it was on the citrus farm. He’s coming out Saturday we hope we’ll bee out looking for the stallions soon thereafter.
The mares look good, though Acamar kicked out a truck headlight in a fit of pique because her morning grain was late. We are incredibly fortunate to have found a retired equine vet on a nearby island who is interested in helping the horses. More as that develops.
WHOA, Wild Horses Of Abaco Preservation Society at long last is a duly and officially registered NGO (not for profit) in the Bahamas. We are planning on a meeting ss soon as we can gather the board, and will be electing new board members and moving ahead with newed energy.
We’ve posted a new photo album on Facebook, <http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=270525&id=130611225982> and hope that you enjoy it. Here are the top three photos from the album:
Nunki wants to meet Leo
Leo is not sure about this
Friends?
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