Casper
Height: 11.1 hh (est)
Weight: 675 lbs (est)
DOB: TBD (est)
Sex: Gelding
Color: White
Breed:
DNA: 1st Suffolk
2nd Cleveland Bay
3rd Shetland Pony
Adoption Fee: $TBD
Category: Under Evaluation
Weight: 675 lbs (est)
DOB: TBD (est)
Sex: Gelding
Color: White
Breed:
DNA: 1st Suffolk
2nd Cleveland Bay
3rd Shetland Pony
Adoption Fee: $TBD
Category: Under Evaluation
Casper's Story
Casper came to AAE with Ace, Bucky, Minnie, and Pearl in January 2021 from a nature preserve.
These sweet ponies are part of a once larger herd of feral ponies that came from the hills west of Ukiah in Mendocino County. They were originally brought to that area by psychiatrist Waldo Cook as a surprise gift for his family in the mid 1960’s. The original herd consisted of 10 pregnant Shetland ponies. That number grew when Cook purchased a Welsh stallion. Within 10 years, Waldo sold most of the ponies at auction. Some managed to either escape or were deliberately set free. The herd thrived in the wild and evolved to become hardy ponies known locally as the Robinson Creek Ponies.
As their population grew, Ukiah residents developed mixed feelings about them. Some wanted to see their numbers reduced and controlled. Others, however, found them endearing and even helpful in keeping the grass down and reducing the fire hazard in the rugged hills. There were some reports of residents capturing and training these gentle-natured ponies.
Occasionally the ponies wandered out of their natural habitat and became a hazard along the coast highway. When herding them back up into the hills didn’t work, equine rescue organizations were called upon to relocate them. In early 2017, this wayward band of ponies needed a new place to call home. Richard and Jolee Miller, former owners of Wilbur Hot Springs, offered safe sanctuary for them at Wilbur Hot Springs’ 1600-acre nature preserve, where they were able to roam wild again.
As the years passed, however, the ponies gradually became less “wild.” Visitors frequently hiked in the preserve, and there was often work activity there as well. The ponies became comfortable approaching people and they developed a wily ability to break into the compost area. Well-meaning guests broke the rules and fed the ponies, which only taught them to approach humans more frequently.
Last spring, the ponies became ill from overeating the new grass, and vets needed to be summoned out from Lake County to treat them for founder. They were corralled and sedated for treatment and kept on a strict diet. This season, a year later, hot springs guests observed that the ponies were again in need of medical attention. One mare’s hooves needed immediate care, and two more were not far behind. Fears were that they would founder again once the grass grew out. But bringing them in was tedious, and vets declined to come so far to treat wild ponies. Farriers would not work on them without a vet present for sedation, and Wilbur did not have the staff or the expertise to give the ponies the attention they truly needed. Action needed to be taken swiftly to protect the ponies.
Wilbur’s staff researched their options, and eventually contacted AAE. Our team drove out to the Wilbur nature preserve and got all five into a trailer to bring them safety to the stables to receive appropriate medical attention.
The Robinson Ponies are beautiful animals, who will now receive the care and attention they need in preparation for re-homing.
In general, there is a lot of activity around AAE including foot traffic in and out of paddock/pasture areas, mucking with wheelbarrows, grooming and care activities, weekly farrier visits. There are resident dogs, cats, chickens, and mini horses, as well as various wildlife including frequent turkeys and squirrels in and around paddock/pasture areas. AAE is situated on the corner of a busy road with high speed vehicles, trucks, and sirens. Tractors are used in and around pasture/paddock areas, trucks deliver feed, and a squeeze is occasionally used for unloading hay. Neighbors have weekly gardeners that utilize various power tools, and children that are active in yards adjacent to some stall/paddock areas. Horses at AAE are accustomed to a more active environment as opposed to a quiet/sterile environment.
These sweet ponies are part of a once larger herd of feral ponies that came from the hills west of Ukiah in Mendocino County. They were originally brought to that area by psychiatrist Waldo Cook as a surprise gift for his family in the mid 1960’s. The original herd consisted of 10 pregnant Shetland ponies. That number grew when Cook purchased a Welsh stallion. Within 10 years, Waldo sold most of the ponies at auction. Some managed to either escape or were deliberately set free. The herd thrived in the wild and evolved to become hardy ponies known locally as the Robinson Creek Ponies.
As their population grew, Ukiah residents developed mixed feelings about them. Some wanted to see their numbers reduced and controlled. Others, however, found them endearing and even helpful in keeping the grass down and reducing the fire hazard in the rugged hills. There were some reports of residents capturing and training these gentle-natured ponies.
Occasionally the ponies wandered out of their natural habitat and became a hazard along the coast highway. When herding them back up into the hills didn’t work, equine rescue organizations were called upon to relocate them. In early 2017, this wayward band of ponies needed a new place to call home. Richard and Jolee Miller, former owners of Wilbur Hot Springs, offered safe sanctuary for them at Wilbur Hot Springs’ 1600-acre nature preserve, where they were able to roam wild again.
As the years passed, however, the ponies gradually became less “wild.” Visitors frequently hiked in the preserve, and there was often work activity there as well. The ponies became comfortable approaching people and they developed a wily ability to break into the compost area. Well-meaning guests broke the rules and fed the ponies, which only taught them to approach humans more frequently.
Last spring, the ponies became ill from overeating the new grass, and vets needed to be summoned out from Lake County to treat them for founder. They were corralled and sedated for treatment and kept on a strict diet. This season, a year later, hot springs guests observed that the ponies were again in need of medical attention. One mare’s hooves needed immediate care, and two more were not far behind. Fears were that they would founder again once the grass grew out. But bringing them in was tedious, and vets declined to come so far to treat wild ponies. Farriers would not work on them without a vet present for sedation, and Wilbur did not have the staff or the expertise to give the ponies the attention they truly needed. Action needed to be taken swiftly to protect the ponies.
Wilbur’s staff researched their options, and eventually contacted AAE. Our team drove out to the Wilbur nature preserve and got all five into a trailer to bring them safety to the stables to receive appropriate medical attention.
The Robinson Ponies are beautiful animals, who will now receive the care and attention they need in preparation for re-homing.
In general, there is a lot of activity around AAE including foot traffic in and out of paddock/pasture areas, mucking with wheelbarrows, grooming and care activities, weekly farrier visits. There are resident dogs, cats, chickens, and mini horses, as well as various wildlife including frequent turkeys and squirrels in and around paddock/pasture areas. AAE is situated on the corner of a busy road with high speed vehicles, trucks, and sirens. Tractors are used in and around pasture/paddock areas, trucks deliver feed, and a squeeze is occasionally used for unloading hay. Neighbors have weekly gardeners that utilize various power tools, and children that are active in yards adjacent to some stall/paddock areas. Horses at AAE are accustomed to a more active environment as opposed to a quiet/sterile environment.
