Rare Heritage Horses
Northern California has found a diamond in the rough and now the whole world is going to want to be a part of preserving it, but California has the advantage! This precious piece of western history is hiding right under your noses. The Heritage Herd were brought to the Santa Cruz island from Spain in the early 1800’s and used to herd, plow, and pull buggies for the families on the island. In the early 1900’s they were used as stunt animals in the silent western films by the American Film Manufacturing Company’s “Flying A” movie studio. In the 1990’s Santa Cruz Island was purchased and became the property of the National Park Service. Extraordinary effort was made to keep the horses on the island however they were finally removed in 1998 and placed in a wild horse sanctuary. On the island the horses were named the “Heritage Herd. Sunshine was the first foal born to the heritage herd after they were relocated. The Cremello filly was found abandoned and near death from starvation and pneumonia in June of 1999. She was sent to Kids Coral (now Sunshine Sanctuary) at only 5 days old, with no chance of survival. The love of visiting children and the determination of the sanctuary leaders gave Sunshine the strength to survive. Sunshine was just the beginning. She became the name sake of the sanctuary now called Sunshine Sanctuary for kids and horses. Christina Nooner head of the sanctuary personally adopted all offspring of the Heritage Herd over the next 10 years, knowing that this breed of horses were something special.Nooner, began calling them the Heavenly Heritage Herd. She gathered hair from these wild horses and sent it off for DNA testing to genetic analysis Dr. E Gus Cothran who is the world renowned equine geneticist. Dr. E. Gus Cothran was ecstatic when his DNA testing proved these horses were pure horses who originated from the Iberian peninsula of Spain and even Dr. Cothran had thought them to be extinct…. This breed of horses are unique in many ways. These horses have 100% live births, year around breeding, text book perfect feet (found in a 3 year study by doctor Blumenshine), shorter thicker leg bones; with more bone marrow resulting in a stronger endurance horse, and an A frame chest bone giving them superior agility and sure footedness through rugged terrain. Dr. E. Gus Cothran Dr. Phil Sponenberg at ALBC formulated a conservation breeding strategy for the herd by analyzing the DNA test results of the horses. To support the breeding plan Nooner was able to have the horses officially recognized as a unique strain of Colonial Spanish and has been able to register the herd with Horses of America. The breeding plan is the only chance this breed of horses has for future generations to be able to enjoy them. However with never enough volunteers, and funding the sanctuary is struggling to make this plan a reality. The Heavenly Heritage Herd continuously gives back to the community by making great therapy horses for troubled teens and mentored children. Also the sanctuary is using these horses to offer riding lessons to children and adults in surrounding communities. Here at the Sanctuary we have many horses ready to be adopted/fostered, and we are always looking forward to many visitors!
