The True History of the Jarrita Mesa Ferral Wild Horses

Regarding the Jarrita Mesa allotment and the Ferral Wild Horses surrounding the Jarrita Mesa, which consists of the communities of Canon Plaza, Vallecitos, Holguin Ranch, Ancones, El Llanito, La Madera, La Sorra, Servilleta Plaza, Petaca, Las Tablas, Schofield Ranch, Mopens Ranch and Vallecitos Ranch.

We, as a community and permitees agree with Kurt Winchesters recommendation regarding the adoption program according to the Burro Act.  We, as Native Hispanics whom have been born, raised and know the history of our communities reject all comments, petitions publicized in newspapers and/or communications from individuals outside of our communities who are trying to take control without knowing what exists in our communities and forests.  We know that these Ferral Horses that drifted in from all the above mentioned communities.  Record shows that the Forest Service did away with all permitted horses on the forest land in the late 1940’s.  People who had land were allowed a team of horses and a saddle horse; this was calculated according to the amount of land owned.  People would work their land, turn their horses loose to the forest, back and forth to work their lands.  Every spring a mare would hove a colt our people were poor, they could only afford to feed or take care of their using horses.  These colts were left in the forest, eventually they turned wild.  Our ancestors, grandfathers and fathers suffered greatly when horse permits were revoked, they believed in the land because the land was their way of livelihood.  Forest Service employees used their positions and perceived power to intimidate our grandfathers, fathers by saying that the horses were destroying the land.  These people made an excuse, saying that the horses had something in their mouths that was killing the grass.

The Forest Service gathered most of the community horses; these horses were impounded then sold in a public auction in Tres Piedras.  Our ancestors were forced to place the remainder of the uncaptured community horses in the land they had previously used for cultivation; they were unable to produce food due to this.  This caused people to go on welfare.  They did not sell the land that they worked so very hard to acquire, they gave it away in order to qualify for welfare.  In a state of depression, most of our ancestors moved to the city because their culture was sadly taken away from them.

Now 50 years later, this group of outside people with their petitions are trying to protect the Ferral Horses that they once rejected.  Now they are saying that these horses are the real Onate horses or the real Conquistadors of 600 years ago.  Where were these concerned individuals 50 years ago when our ancestors were forced out of their land and when our cultures disintegrated.  What now, should we allow these individual to put the cattlemen and ranchers on welfare once again to protect these horses. These are the newcomers that have been here very few years, they think they know more history than we natives.   But they fail to understand that their knowledge comes from a book not a lifetime of being raised in this land and culture. 

We, the natives know that these Ferral Horses go back to our ancestors whom were sheep herders and ranchers, and horses that drifted in from all these communities.  Shetland, Welsh, quarter horse and other breeds unknown to us, since our ancestors were true horsemen and raised quality horses.  We agree on the Burro Act Adoption Program and with the Forest Service to capture and adopt these horses according to the Burro Act.  Anything that is not managed has no value.

Sincerely

Sebedeo Chacon
President,
Petition for the Jarrita Mesa
Livestock Association

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Last modified: 04/25/08