HISTORY OF THE CALICO MOUNTAINS HORSES

According to Glenna Eckel, Wild Horse & Burro Specialist, the first wild horses in this area were the descendants of 500 Spanish Barbs brought into the Smoke Creek Desert from San Diego in the 1860's. Adding to them were high-quality horses of popular saddle, draft, and carriage breeds that were raised by ranchers and allowed to roam on the open range. Ranch horses were raised and periodically gathered in this area by the Jackson family until 1971. They introduced Thoroughbred studs and Pinto mares to "upgrade" the local wild horses. (According to the DNA test results, apparently the "pinto" mares included Tennessee Walker and American Saddlebreds!)

This HMA consists of 157,000 acres of steep volcanic mountainous terrain. Elevations range from 4000 feet, at the foot of the Black Rock Desert, to 8491 feet at Division Peak. Calico Mountains horses are highly desired by adopters for ranch work and performance riding. It is a very colorful herd with lots of creme (cremello, palomino, buckskin, perlino, and smokey black), Medicine Hat Toveros, and Frame, Sabino and Splashed White Overo pintos, as well as Tobiano pintos.

Much of the Calico Mountains Herd Management Area is contained within the High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trail National Conservation Area.

Click here for Nevada BLM'S "MUSTANG COUNTRY" booklet - Glenna Eckel's wonderful e-booklet that is chock full of info for mustang buffs, including wild horse history, visitor tips and camping info. It takes a while to download but is well worth the wait!