by Carol Walker, Director of Field Documentation, Wild Horse Freedom Federation

I had the best news today.

On Friday I got an email from Terry Fitch, Co-Founder of Wild Horse Freedom Federation. Someone had written to the WHFF tip section of the website. It was Brad Langley, working south of Rock Springs in Wyoming’s Red Desert. He had found an orphan foal, with no horses around for miles and nowhere in sight, and he did not know who to call or what to do. He said that the foal ran after his truck. He gave directions and GPS coordinates, and the foal was near the Eversole Ranch, where the harrowing last days of the Salt Wells Creek and Adobe Town roundup took place. I immediately emailed him that he needed to contact Jay D’Ewart, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, and gave him Jay’s cell phone number so he would have the best chance of catching him immediately. We did not know how long the foal could hold out without its mother.

(Before – all alone)

I thought on Saturday all was well until I received another email from Brad, that the number was disconnected. Of course BLM offices are closed on the weekend but I emailed and called the office number for Jay, and tried texting him. The text seemed to go through so I reported back to Terry and Brad that I would let them know if I heard anything, and they said the same. Brad had gone into the same area with his wife that day trying to find the foal again, with no luck, and sent directions again.

I really was thinking that it was unlikely that the foal would make it through the weekend, but to my utter delight I got a message from Jay D’Ewart this afternoon. Apparently wranglers went out on horseback Friday to find the foal with no luck, but on Saturday, Marvin, who works in the oil and gas fields found the foal and took him home.

(Foal napping)

Apparently he and his wife Tiffaney have filed papers at Rock Springs BLM to foster the foal, and he spent the weekend in their subdivision – he seems quite at home there! He has been drinking milk replacer right out of a bucket, and the vet said he was 1 month old. They will be moving him to a new corral soon, and are thinking of a name. They said he will have a very good home.

(Foal in the kitchen)

It is wonderful to hear about a happy ending for one of the Adobe Town horses in the aftermath of the roundup.

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