Archived Freelance Interview
1st Publication February 2016
An interview with Susan W. Watt, Executive Director IRAM
Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary
by Gina McKnight
1st Publication February 2016
An interview with Susan W. Watt, Executive Director IRAM
Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary
by Gina McKnight
Susan W. Watt is the Executive Director of South Dakota's Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. Watt writes, “I have been at the Sanctuary
almost twenty years assisting Mr. Dayton O. Hyde, IRAM President. IRAM’s Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary is home
to ‘America’s Luckiest Wild Horses.’ Our organization was founded in 1988 by
our President Dayton O. Hyde and is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization
registered in the state of South Dakota. IRAM is an 11,000 acre privately owned
land dedicated to range preservation and balancing the ecosystem. The Sanctuary
is home to over 600 unwanted wild mustangs. Most of these wild horses were born
in other areas of the United States and were removed from their homes by the
state or federal governments. Many of our mustangs have Bureau of Land Management
neck brands on the left side of their necks.
"Our Sanctuary is a true melting pot of America’s
wild horses that have all come seeking a new home of freedom. There are bands
of American Mustangs, Spanish Mustangs, Choctaw Indian Ponies, Curly Mustangs
and American Paints and Quarter horses.
"IRAM is supported by donations from kind caring
individuals and from a Tourism and Education Mustang Sponsorship Program. No
State or Federal Funds are received to support our program as we are an
independent non-profit organization and are not connected in any way to the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or other Government entity.
"The only connection is that some of our mustang
originated in the Herd Management Areas of the BLM, were went through the BLM
Adoption Program and then the system failed them and the mustangs ended up in
rescues, other sanctuaries, or even wandering for years in the hills of Tennessee.
All of the Sanctuary Mustangs were in need of a permanent sanctuary when they arrived.”
IRAM Overview:
"It
has been twenty seven years since Dayton O. Hyde first saw masses of wild
horses standing in boredom in government-sponsored holding facilities, and
persuaded Congress and the Bureau of Land Management to let him put together a
large tract of quality horse range and set these wild horses free. He left his ranch in Oregon to pursue that
dream. With an abundance of enthusiasm and a dearth of fiscal resources, he
managed to set up, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, a private sanctuary for
America’s unadoptable and unwanted wild horses.
On
an early fall day in September 1988 the first load of wild horses straight from
the BLM arrived at the newly fenced IRAM property in South Dakota. Since that
day many mustangs from all over the United States from rescues, state
governments and parks have come into the program."
Welcome
Susan!
What are
your views on current BLM laws and regulations in regard to the Mustangs?
As
a private nonprofit organization we do not have any public views on BLM laws or
regulations. However in 2015 we granted permanent sanctuary for 10 older BLM
mustangs from the recent round up in Wyoming. These mustangs were members of
the same band in the Adobe Town HMA and we wanted to try and unite them with
some of their original band members and give them a new life of freedom outside
of a BLM holding facility.
And your
views on the current slaughter debate?
As
a Sanctuary that holds life in high esteem, all life is precious and we do not
support economic gain for ending the life of any being.
Do you
travel to feedlots, etc., to rescue Mustangs?
Most
of our mustangs were rescued and transported to the Sanctuary by our donors
that are trying to find permanent homes for America’s unwanted mustangs. Some
had already been sold to slaughter buyers and the mustangs were purchased by a
donor and shipped here to the Sanctuary for a permanent home of freedom.
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| Photo by Karla R. LaRive (c) |
How many
Mustangs come through your sanctuary on a weekly basis?
The
Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary is not a rescue organization; we are a
permanent home for the resident mustangs that live here. They do not arrive on
a weekly basis.
Does the
US Government/BLM subsidize your work and care of the Mustangs?
IRAM
receives no state or federal aid all of our income comes from grants, donation,
tourism and sponsorships from our kind caring donors. All of bills are paid by
the income from IRAM’s programs to support the mustangs that live on the
Sanctuary.
Do you
have a favorite Mustang related anecdote to share?
In
August of 2006 a shipment of 17 BLM and State of Nevada wild geldings had just
arrived in the early afternoon. One of the tour drivers told me there was a
problem over at the corrals that I needed to check on so I ran over. One of the new arrivals, a little bay Nevada
mustang gelding with one white back foot, had kicked back at another horse and
got his hind foot caught in the chain between the two panels.
I
saw quickly that this job needed the help of Dayton Hyde that I could not break
the chain. So I ran to his home and asked him to come quick. Not even
explaining the situation, I grabbed a crowbar and Dayton and ran over to where
the gelding was upside down.
The
sky had not blessed us with rain all summer and just then the lightning started
striking the ground around us and the rain poured down. As we approached the
metal panels we were soaked and trembling with fear that we would get struck by
the lightning. Dayton quickly freed the gelding. The frightened mustang lay on the ground for
a minute just getting his bearings. After catching his breath the gelding
jumped up unhurt and just a little sore. He walked over and joined the other
new mustang arrivals standing nearby.
Dayton
looked up at me and said, “When did this horse get here?”
I said, “About an
hour ago.”
“Anything else you need to tell me?” Dayton said.
“No sir," I said.
After
that group of geldings were given their freedom, that little bay Nevada mustang
gelding would come over to me whenever I was out with the herd, and look
directly at me with the kindest eyes as if he was thanking me for rescuing him
from the panel and giving him freedom!
Do you
train and find homes for rescued Mustangs?
Once
an unwanted mustang comes into the Sanctuary program they are granted a
lifetime of freedom here and they do not go to a new home.
What can
we do to help protect the Mustangs?
Sharing
the knowledge that wild horses originated in North America millions of years
ago and they are a native species worth saving and protecting. It is very
important to educate the public about mustangs and encourage contributions and
support of rescue groups and sanctuaries that work to give the unwanted
mustangs a home. Caring and doing are the most important ways to help protect
the mustangs.
Connect
with Susan at the IRAM, Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary
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Photo by Karla R. LaRive (c)
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