So much to share since our last email in February. At the top of our priority list, the critical issue of our winter hay supply.
Summer is well under way here in West Central Louisiana and has been a hot and dry one thus far. We have had weeks in the 100’s with very little to no precipitation, producing excessive heat warnings with “feels like” temps upwards of 115 degrees. Not only does this affect our natural water sources but it absolutely impacts our local hay production and grass growth. I can already see the grass dying. This is the current situation for our area.
Our local hay suppliers are getting 1/3 or less of what they normally get from their fields. In early spring, we were confident our suppliers would be able to set aside enough hay for us for the upcoming winter but due to the lack of rain and continued excessive heat warnings in our area our suppliers are not getting the usual return on their fields. They are expressing doubt as to what they will be able to produce this year. We need to be able to secure the hay available in our area asap, as we expect low supply and high demand. This means when it becomes available we need to be able to pay for it and can not procrastinate on securing it. It will be a “first come, first serve” situation.
Just last week one of our hay suppliers cut a field which normally yields 45-60 bales. Once all said and done he was only able to sell us 28 bales. While 28 round bales is a start, it is mire fraction of the 250 bales we will need.
Lack of supply production means high demand and consequently we will likely see prices rise, therefore, it is imperative that we are able to secure hay at a decent price when it becomes available.
This first load of 28 bales costs $1,400.00, which is $50/bale. Our last hay fundraiser, which was on Facebook raised $310.00, while every little bit counts, this is not enough. Please consider donating to our hay fund so we can ensure these horses will have adequate hay for the winter to come.
There are several ways to donate. See the blow link or contact me if you have additional questions 337-739-0036
https://linktr.ee/Pega
With Your Help All is Possible!
As we look back on the last 7 months we are filed with profound appreciation. First and foremost, our hearts overflow with gratitude as we extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every person who has played a part in ensuring the well-being of these unique horses. Your remarkable contributions serve as the very lifeblood that propels this noble mission forward. You are the foundation, the cornerstone on which our journey rests, and without you, our cause would be mere words without substance. It is through our collective unity and steadfast commitment to the welfare of these unique horses that we push forward. Thank you, from the depths of our souls, for being the driving force behind our cause.
We are deeply grateful to have the opportunity to acknowledge and express our heartfelt appreciation to our corporate donor, Supreme Rice of Crowley, Louisiana. Their unwavering generosity in providing the essential donation of one-ton sacks of rice bran as needed, has played an instrumental role in our ongoing success. It is thanks to the support of remarkable organizations like Supreme Rice that we have been able to not only survive but thrive. The impact of their contributions on the well-being of these unique horses and the realization of our mission cannot be overstated. It fills my heart with utmost admiration to witness how this exceptional organization has wholeheartedly embraced our cause and dedicated their resources to the care and support of these unique horses, especially during the challenging times we have faced this year. Words simply cannot express the depth of our gratitude.
Back in February, we were graced with an email from the Mr. & Mrs. Harrison, expressing their heartfelt desire to contribute 81 bags of high fat horse feed! We cannot stress enough how this extraordinary act of kindness carried us through the most grueling four months of winter, bringing solace not only to us but also to our beloved equines. Our heartfelt gratitude overflows as we express a profound THANK YOU for their immensely generous donation.
As you can imagine pellets are an essential and ongoing requirement to maintain their welfare. Currently we require 20 50lb bags of high fat pellet per month. If anyone would like to donate feed, please reach out to me. Our local feed supplier is O’Neals Feeders Supply, Inc. of DeRidder LA. 337-463-8665
Many of you may remember in January we gelded 5 of our stallions. This went very well and we hoped to geld more before the heat of the summer sets in. This is a goal that I wasn’t sure we could reach with the limited time and funding but after months of hard work, planning, and outreach we were able to accomplish this goal. It was only with the help from a grant awarded to us by American Wild Horse Campaign that we were able to geld an additional 9 horses in April.
Gelding days are not easy days! For me personally, I dread it. They are intense to say the least. And even if you do everything right and have the very best professionals things can go wrong with 1000lb unhandled horses, who are being ran through a chute. Explosions happen, but thankfully with patience, professionalism, and lots of prayer we were able to get through all 10 without any serious injuries to horse or human.
In addition, an extra special thank you to our friends who gave their time and energy to these horses. who showed up when I didn’t think we would have the help needed to complete this task; Petra, Kari, Katie, & Donesia, I’m so grateful to have such caring horsewomen come to our aid when we needed it the most!
And of course we have the best vet who is willing to do the work many vets would shy away from. Brandon Veterinary Clinic , Dr Jesse, Cory and staff I cannot express my appreciation enough for being such a kind-hearted, skilled, professional team who always get the horses (and me lol) through the tough moments, going the extra mile to make sure both horses and those assisting are safe.
New Friends and Visitors!
In June, we were graced with the presence of two incredible visitors who came to spend a remarkable few days with us, immersing themselves in the beauty of our noble horses and discovering the true essence of our organization.
Our first guest was, Kisa Kavass, a passionate traveling equestrian, wild horse photographer, talented poet, and esteemed author of, “The Horse Wins the Kingdom“. Moreover, Kisa’s exceptional artwork is prominently showcased at the esteemed Edition one Gallery located in the captivating city of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
I was thrilled to have someone with such talent and experience interested in our mission. Kisa road along with me for a typical day of feeding the horses at our sanctuaries and we spent time connecting with and photographing our herds. She was so enthralled with not only this unique herd but our local area, known as No Man’s Land. She was inspired to make a documentary about our local heritage and our mission. Please watch for the trailer to this documentary which will be submitted to Equus Film Festival for consideration. This is a big deal for us and we hope to raise awareness and interest in our mission to protect and preserve Louisiana’s Wild Horses. It was an absolute pleasure to share this experience with her. Look forward to seeing more of her her beautiful work and I hope you do too.
Please take this moment to watch and share the trailer to a documentary that will be coming out Fall 2023 !!!
The Horses of No Man’s Land , a film by Kisa Kavass
We also thrilled to welcome our second guest, Mrs. Sue Immen, who journeyed all the way from North Carolina immersing herself in the rich history of our cherished horses. As the co-owner of Wild Horse Preserve at Grayce Wynds, “a ministry to connect people with the wild horses of the Eastern United States through education and recreation”, we are honored to have her interest in adding our Kisatchie Horses to her special herd. And through divine timing we were able to witnesses the herds that remain wild and free. This was a special treat!
Both Kisa and Sue embraced the challenge and joined me, immersing themselves in the daily care of this magnificent herd. Throughout this time, they were passionately dedicated to understanding the immense responsibility that comes with nurturing and tending to such a sizeable group. They gain firsthand insight into the unique history and mystery of No Man’s Land and its wild horses. As well as the demanding yet fulfilling experience of overseeing a herd of this magnitude. We are so grateful to share our experiences and mission to inspire and educate the public on these unique horses.
Back to Business
In our February newsletter we outlined several projects and/or goals we set for our organization and for the horses. Below you will see an update on our 2023 Projects & Goals. We are proud of what we have accomplished thus far, but there is so much more to accomplish.
- Winter Hay
- Complete:
- Purchased First of 28 bales
- Outstanding:
- Purchase 222 more bales for winter.
- Complete:
- De-worming:
- Complete:
- Safeguard administered in March
- Outstanding
- Purchase Strongid for summer de-worming.
- Purchase Ivermectin 100 tubes needed for end of summer de-worming.
- Complete:
- Sorting Colts out from mare sanctuary
- Complete:
- Sorted out 3 colts and relocated to fosters for weaning
- Outstanding:
- Little Spring has evaded our efforts thus far but we will be working on getting him safely caught and with the others who are at our fosters home.
- Complete:
- Vetting Facilities
- Complete:
- Phase 1: Build 60X48 pen
- Outstanding:
- Phase 2: Acquire chute for vetting at Mare Sanctuary
- Complete:
- Gelding Stallions.
- Complete:
- Gelding 14 stallions
- Outstanding:
- Fall 2023 Gelding of approximately 5 more to complete our AWHC grant requirements.
- Complete:
- Land management projects
- Completed:
- Dragging areas pasture
- Outstanding:
- Bush-hogging
- Repairing old fencing to section off areas to manage health of natural forage.
- Install hot wire on south end of sanctuary to secure.
- Completed:
- Adoptions:
- Complete:
- Finalized adoption contract
- Outstanding:
- Have pending adoptions for the 3- 4 gelded colts.
- Complete:
Our Top 3 Critical Needs
- Winter Hay
- 222 more bales to go to complete what will be needed for winter. $11,100
- De-Wormer
- Strongid (pyrantel tartrate) pellets 2x late Spring/Summer. (2 50lb bag 400 doses) $560
- Safeguard (fenbendazole) pellets 2x Summer (8 25lb bags) $1,054
- Feed
- 12% high fat pellet. 40 50lb bags per Summer Month $510/mth
| Ways to Donate or Help: PayPal @PEGAfortpolkhorses Venmo @kisatchiewildhorsesFacebook. To donate via Facebook click the Donate button at the top of our page. Fort Polk Horses of Kisatchie Mail donations to, Pegasus Equine Guardian Association PO Box 572 Dry Creek, LA 70637If you would like to contact me directly to help in another way, please reach out to me @ 337-739-0036 or email admin@pegasusequine.org |
| Local Suppliers: 1. Tractor Supply 1050 N Pine St, DeRidder, LA 70634, # 337-460-7760E-Gift Cards are a great way to help! Click this link to purchase an E-Gift Card for the horses. You will have to use our email address to ensure receipt. EMAIL is admin@pegasusequine.org and my name, Amy Hanchey 2. O’Neals Feeder Supply Inc. 115 E 4th St, DeRidder, LA 70634 # 337-463-8665You can call them and place an order or purchase a gift card in our name: Pegasus Equine Guardian Association Attn: Amy Hanchey. And please notify me via email admin@pegasusequine.org |
With your help, all is possible
Kisatchie Wild Horses 
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