Meet Carmen
Carmen is a survivor of the 2010 Calico Roundup, where nearly 2000 wild horses were captured and over 140 horses perished either during or as a direct result of the roundup. In 2010, Return to Freedom gave sanctuary to 20 stallions and 74 mares who endured this devastating roundup which shattered their family bands forever.
Carmen is alert and thoughtful. She takes her time before reacting. It is clear that she plays a leadership role within the herd. She shares 400 acres with approximately 68 mares, who also survived the roundup as well as geldings and horses from Hart Mountain and Sheldon roundups.
These horses are a testimony to the enduring spirit and hardiness of the diverse strains of horses that adapted to the remote Great Basin habitats. Draft horses used to develop the vast ranchos bred with breeds such as morgans, standardbreds, and thoroughbreds used for cavalry adapted to the rugged and remote terrain and returned to a natural state over the last few hundred years.