Mustang Echoes
T H E M U S TA N G S O F R E D W I N G S H O R S E S A N C T U A R Y
F O R R E S T TA N A K A
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Dedicated to the volunteers of Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Lockwood, California.
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Evening falls quickly this far south in California, and twilight seems as ephemeral as birthday candles. The sun sinks toward the horizon as I prepare to capture the mustangs of Redwings not with halter and lead rope, but with my camera. I will create memories to keep; visions to share—and I’ll tell a story to learn from.
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Interactions
Horses, as prey animals, find safety and comfort in numbers. The Redwings mustangs have a 35-acre pasture in which they behave like a wild herd. I often walk up and find what appears to be an empty pasture, only to find them relaxing together in a far corner.
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These horses have a long-established pecking order—who eats first; who gets shade in the 110°F heat of summer; who gets to scratch themselves on the good spots first.
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Many in this herd have formed permanent bonds to others in the herd, and you always find them together. The younger horses sometimes form a miniature herd with their own leader, which quickly integrates back into the main herd.
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This herd falls under the authority and protection of Sport. He, along with a mare named Ellie, guide the herd around the pasture, and stay awake looking for signs of danger, allowing the rest of the herd to sleep. 14
Details
I spend much time around dressage horses—some of the best cared for, pampered horses gracing this planet. The mustangs of Redwings get food and veterinary care, but are otherwise as they would be in the wild. They never see soap and rarely feel the brush. Yet, they have their own beauty in their skin, their manes, even their shapes.
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This herd’s life wasn’t always so beautiful. They once roamed wild in the Pryor Mountains of Montana. Rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management, they were adopted to a man who put 110 of them on two acres. They didn’t have enough space. They didn’t have enough food. They had no veterinary care.
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The entire herd was seized and the man was charged with animal abuse. About to reenter the auction arena, they were in danger of being purchased for horse meat. When Redwings learned of these mustangs’ plight, they brought the six most malnourished to California for proper food and veterinary care. After the remaining horses had regained their strength, many were brought to their new permanent home at Redwings to begin their new lives as ambassadors of the plight of the North American mustang.
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Echoes
This is my favorite place, here in this pasture of souls that demonstrate the true nature of the mustang.
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But they’re not wild. Slowly, their past becomes quieter. They now depend on humans more—to feed them, to care for them, and to spread their message. They are echoes of the mustang…
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Mustang Echoes
A n i n t i m a t e p h o t o e s s a y b y F o r r e s t Ta n a k a
Explore the mustangs of Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Lockwood, California. Learn their story and their habits, and see their relationships and close-up details.
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Copyright 2009 Forrest Tanaka