ABOUT THE WILD CARTER MUSTANG HORSES
The unique wild horses known as the Carter Reservoir Spanish-Iberian Mustangs exhibit physical color characteristics known as the primitive "dun factor", which was also common in a major portion of the horses that the Spaniards reintroduced into North America in the 1500s. The dun factor is what makes the majority of the Carters so different--they have stripes, stripes, and more stripes! Stripes on their legs, backs, shoulders, bellies, and elsewhere. They have large shoulder capes and smudges; dark outlined ears; multicolored manes and tails; cobwebbing on the forehead; and face masks too on dun body colors that range from light cream to dark honey with black points, light to dark solid reds, together with some grullos (mouse grays). Very few wild mustang herds within the United States exhibit these exquisite primitive dun characteristics as strongly as the Carter Reservoir Heritage Herd!
Carter Reservoir Wild Stallion - Hollywood is known for his vivid dark leg stripes and hazel eyes. Here you can see his narrow dorsal stripe down his spine and his frosted mane.
Adopted Carter Reservoir Mare - Shoshone is a dark buckskin dun with a dark face mask, extra large neck & shoulder cape, dorsal stripe with herringbone stripes, ventral stripe which goes under her belly up between her front legs, and hazel eyes. Shoshone tips the scale with her extreme dun factor markings.
Adopted Carter Gelding - Legacy showing a very wide red dorsal stripe and long herringbone stripes at his withers. They fade and shorten as they go back to his hips.
Shoshone's extra wide dorsal stripe narrows at her withers. Her herringbone stripes are very smudged and blend together through most of her back.
Adopted Carter Reservoir Mustang - Red Ryder had quite a few markings on his forehead known as cobwebbing.
Adopted grullo-colored Carter Reservoir Mustang - Noche during certain times of the year had unusual coloration on his upper chest/lower neck.
Wild extreme dun factor mare - Cinta is known for her unique shoulder stripes, very dark face mask, teardrop, and dark ear tips.
The striking leg stripes that are shown in this photo (also called garters, barring, or zebra stripes) are fairly common within the Carter Reservoir Wild Herd. These markings are thought to cause confusion to predators.
CARTER COUNTRY
The Carter Herd roams in a remote desolate area of public land in the high desert of northeast California and northwest Nevada, where sagebrush, juniper trees, lava rimrocks, hills, valleys, and canyons are plentiful. They are considered a California wild horse herd as they are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Cedarville, California.
Caution should be taken when traveling into this remote region located east of Cedarville next to Surprise Valley. A high clearance vehicle is recommended if driving off of Highway 299 / County Road 8A. If riding horses, use geldings as the wild stallions are sensitive to mares in season and may try to take them into their family bands. When traveling in this isolated high desert area, tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Carry extra water. Have a full tank of gas. Do not approach a herd nor get too close. Help keep them wild by staying a respectful distance. Do not get between a mare and her foal. Do not bring dogs out to the range. Also note, cell phones may not have a reception in Carter Country. Remember, the Carters are not easy to spot as their coloring can cause them to blend into the landscape, so patience and good binoculars are key. It is highly recommended to check in with the BLM Surprise Field Station for maps and the best location to view wild horses.
Coyotes, fox, antelope, deer, elk, mountain lions, bobcats, occasional bears, raptors, and other birds are seen among wild horses in North America. In the steeper, rocky terrain where the Carter Reservoir Mustangs roam, you are more likely to see antelope, deer, coyotes, and lots of raptors. There are a few mountain lions in the area, but it would be very unlikely to see one, although they may certainly see you. Other critters to watch out for in mustang country are rattlesnakes, mosquitoes, and ticks. Awareness, preparedness, and caution are advised.
Carter Reservoir Herd Management Area
The California Wild Mustang Herd with the #CarterWOWfactor!