Coyote Canyon Heritage Herd has new arrival in Ramona

By Karen Carlson

Ramona’s original horses have a new arrival. Born on the morning of April 5, the foal is sired by Batista and the dam is Carmel. Mother and foal stood in the pasture while the little one gained the strength and balance to stand.

More foals are expected over the coming weeks and excitement is building for those arrivals.

Members of the Coyote Canyon Heritage Herd are descendants of San Diego’s original horse herd, and efforts are being made to re-establish our heritage and place the horses back in the wild where they belong.

Radio talk host Roger Hedgecock has been out to investigate and report on the horses and the series he’s created can be seen at the herd website at www.heritageherd.com.

More photos will be added as we are able to obtain them, so stay tuned!

Members of this heritage herd are icons of the unique local cultural evolution from Spanish occupation to Native American ranching to pioneering western settlement.

The last herd of Southern California wild horses were removed in 2003 by a management plan oversight. Rising above the canyon, the Beauty Mountain ranges are subject to a Herd Area revision to provide the herd with permanent home.

Only four stallions remain of this herd and are being “fostered” in captivity by Coyote Canyon Caballos D’Anza (CCCDA) near Warner Springs.

The vision is to return them to their natural, free-roaming ranges and restore their genetic viability for future generations