When you think of Central Idaho, you might picture wild and scenic rivers, charming rustic communities and endless panoramas of towering mountains. However, one of Idaho’s most unique havens is hiding just out of sight in our beloved middle region.
Wild Love Preserve is an amazing non-profit working towards the goal of a protected, open sanctuary for Idaho’s wild horse population, and it welcomes equine-lovers who want to learn about, help, and view these stunning and beautiful creatures. Check it out!
Surrounded on all sides by glorious mountains, the idyllic White Clouds included, Challis, Idaho is home to some magnificent beauty.
It's also home to the Challis Herd Management Area (HMA), which encompasses 154,150 acres of public land and houses numerous bands of the native Challis Wild Horse Herd, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Up until 2012, this herd was subject to regular "helicopter roundups" to reduce the native population below 300 horses.
In 2010, Andrea Maki made the incredible commitment to help Idaho's wild horses and protect them from a shrinking habitat by starting the Wild Love Preserve.
Local ranchers with their own livestock to graze, a state-wide commitment to protecting the native Sage Grouse population, and fear of these horses over-breeding in the wild has created a shrinking landscape and dangerous (as well as expensive) state roundup methods.
Maki's first step? Adopting each and every rounded up wild horse in 2012 to prevent the equines' families from being broken apart and to keep the animals from being shipped out of Idaho.
A space with a permanent water source, plenty of room to run free that doesn't conflict with other land uses is in the works, even as Maki commutes to and from Challis to care for and monitor the horses in their temporary corrals.
In the meantime, this artist, photographer, and horse-lover cares for these horses as though they were family.... because they are!
All of the horses and their foals have their own names and unique personalties. To care for them, the WLP goes through 2 tons of hay per day for the 130 rescued Idaho wild horses from 2012 alone! As a non-profit, donations and partnerships are always welcome to keep these beauties healthy and happy.
Andrea's traveling photo art exhibit In Wild Eyes is currently for sale, with all proceeds going straight back to Wild Love Preserve.
To learn more about Wild Love Preserve, how to get involved, or how to set up a visit, check out the WLP website here. Or, follow their Facebook page to stay updated and keep tabs on Andrea Maki’s fabulous photography.
What a beautiful story and noble goal!
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