Ryan Marquez, 4, of Lompoc lends a hand to ranch foreman Merced Tagle during a Volunteer Day in September 2016. Photo by Amber Smith.
On April 22, Return to Freedom will host a special volunteer day in recognition of Earth Day and in celebration of recent awards received by wild horse ambassador Sutter.
The event will also coincide with the ASPCA’s “Help a Horse Day,” which seeks to draw attention to the plight of horses with events held around the country by equine rescue organizations and sanctuaries.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., RTF volunteers will plant drought-tolerant native plants, clean water troughs for wild horses and burros, and see some of our resident wild horses on walks to see a lined reservoir that represents the first phase of a larger scale water conservation project.
They’ll also have the chance to meet RTF’s wild horse ambassadors, including Sutter, the 31-year-old stallion who was named the ASPCA’s 2016 Horse of the Year and is slated for induction into the Horse Stars Hall of Fame. Sutter is the first horse born wild on the range recognized with either honor.
Visitors will also be able to get up close to Isadora Cruce (Breyer’s 2010 mustang model) and Spirit, the Kiger mustang and inspiration for the movie “Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron.”
Light refreshments will be provided.