Mustangs: A Living Legacy

A four day field trip in the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Range

Saturday through Tuesday
June 7-10, 2003

Track mustangs in the Sierra back country

Track wild horses and relive the Old West in the seldom visited Pizona area of the Inyo National Forest. From a central meadow camp, you track the mustangs in their natural pinyon forest habitat, and observe and photograph mustang herds and wildflowers. Learn about the social behavior of the horses and their current struggle. Enjoy spectacular sunsets of the Sierras and While Mountains while a cook prepares dinner over an open fire. Later, around the campfire, our experienced tracker-guides share their knowledge of wild horses and other wildlife.

This program is a special opportunity which combines a superb outdoor adventure and a unique educational experience in exploring the biology, ecology and behavior of a proud and beautiful animal - the North American wild horse.

Location

The program site is the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Range, a pinyon pine forest and high desert region northeast of Bishop, CA. This area, on the California-Nevada border, is nestled in view of the sierras to the west and the White Mountains to the east.

Format

The program consists of a series of informal but structured presentations and discussions spread throughout a wilderness horseback camping experience. The mixture of organized and free time permits you to enjoy the full spectrum of this pristine environment.

Educational objectives

The course highlights:

• the historical background and political evolution of wild horse populations

• relevant aspects of the physical environment of the horse range, including climate, geology, water and seasonal changes

• relevant physiology, reproduction, behavior and nutrition of wild horses

• the relationship[ between wild horses, other animals and plant life in the ecology of the horse range

• the principles of wild horse management and the current policies of the federal government

• back country riding and range riding

• interpretive field observation and wildlife tracking

Instructors

Dr. Jan Roser is a professor with the Department of Animal Science, UC Davis. She directs and teaches the equine program and carries out research in the area of hormone regulation.

Dr. Craig London practices veterinary medicine in Bishop, CA, and is co-owner of Rock Creek Pack Station and Mt. Whitney Pack Trains. He received a B.S. in animal physiology from UC Davis in 1976 and graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. He has taught manu UC Davis extension courses on veterinary care and wilderness horsepacking.

Course fee, details and enrollment:

The course fee is $700.00. The course section number is 0240TH801.

You will need to bring riding gear, a hat, riding gloves, bug spray, a bandanna, sunglasses, rain gear and a jacket. The Rock Creek Pack Station will provide motor transportation to the roadhead, horses, food and other support supplies.

Days two and three of the program involve six hours of riding.

For more information, a brochure or to enroll, contact UC Davis Extension at 800.752.0881 or email aginfo@unexmail.ucdavis.edu.

This information sheet is based on information provided by the U.C. Davis Extension Program.