Sheep in Sand Wash Basin on November 6, 2021
On November 6, 2021 I found thousands of sheep moving into the basin on the east side off of CR 75. After we had the majority of our wild horses removed in September, I truly thought the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) would have placed a moratorium on the sheep. Remember the horses were removed due to a “lack of forage” and BLM claimed the range was damaged and in serious condition due to the drought and overgrazing by horses. Obviously there’s enough forage for sheep to move through! Below I’ve posted a few photos and video clip. Make sure our legislators, BLM and anyone that supported the roundup of our Wild Horses is made aware of the sheep in the basin. This is just wrong!
Photos of the sheep camps are what you look for. If you see camps like this, there are sheep nearby. Sometimes they’re hard to spot if the sheep have moved into the bottom of the washes, or behind a hill. However, if you wait and watch with binoculars, you will spot them. Also look for sheepherders on horseback, that is how the sheep are moved around the basin.
NOTE: If you do go to the basin, please do not harass the sheepherders. Most are Peruvians and speak very little to no English. They love the sheep and their jobs, and it is not their fault that the sheep are in the basin. They are here on work visas and are working for the sheep ranchers.
Video on Facebook:
Do visit the Wild Horses for Sand Wash Basin Facebook page for discussions.
https://www.facebook.com/sandwashbasin
Ruby’s Story of Survival
We receive a lot of questions about a little filly named Ruby, who was orphaned at about 5-6 weeks of age. So we’ve put together a bit of her history for folks who are first reading about her. I first wrote this in 2014 and it was posted under the “notes” section on Facebook. It has been removed by Facebook, so will try to recreate here in a blog post.
In early 2014, Ruby’s family band was broken apart and all members became separated for some unknown reason. Some speculate it might have been a lightning strike, but nobody really knows. Ruby was the first to be spotted without her family. She was first seen with Coal a bachelor stallion.
I’d like to note that in early September of 2021 Ruby and her family, Skip’s band lost their freedom in the helicopter roundup. In early 2022 she along with hundreds of horses removed from Sand Wash Basin will be offered for adoption.
Next to be found was Ruby’s grandmother Crazy Horse (she is now in Sir Duke’s band). A few weeks later Ruby’s mom Riddler was found with a bachelor stallion Star, about 10 miles from where Ruby and Coal were.
The remaining fillies were found with yet another bachelor stallion Kokomo. These fillies are Ruby’s auntie Loco, her half sister Nayeli (who is just a bit older than Ruby and Crazy Horse’s daughter) and a yearling filly Genie. The band stallion Renegade had been spotted and appeared to be doing well. It should be noted that Renegade has not been been spotted again after 2014.
At the time of the band splitting up Ruby would have been about 5-6 weeks old (way too young to be without her mom), which is why she looked so thin. She was malnourished but she is a fighter and has a determined will to live. All we can do is hope she is strong enough to make it through winter. Coal has done an amazing job looking after her, finding food and protecting her.
Ruby has made it through winter! On March 11, 2015 she was spotted with Feather and stallion Skip. She looked great!
In early 2017 she joined Snip’s large family band. In 2019 Ruby had her first foal, a colt named Remington, then 2021 she had a filly named Tuesday.
Caption includes date when the photo was taken. All photographs are © Nadja Rider
I named this photo “Lean on Me” and can be purchased as a print at the following link:
https://www.nadja.com/Wild-Horses-of-Sand-Wash-Basin/Sand-Wash-Basin-Wild-Horses/i-Vqgj2nP
Do visit and search the Wild Horses of Sand Wash Basin Facebook page for many more photos!
https://www.facebook.com/sandwashbasin
About
Sand Wash Basin is home to an extraordinary herd of wild horses. Located in the northwest corner of Colorado on public BLM land about 48 miles west of Craig, Colorado. Do visit the Wild Horses of Sand Wash Basin Facebook page to view current photos as well as updates and information about the basin.