ADOPTED SULPHUR HORSE SURVEY

Ron Roubidoux, December 1994

Because of my deep interest in the Sulphur horses, and wanting to know what was happening to the horses after being adopted out, I decided to conduct a telephone survey to satisfy my curiosity. For two years I have wanted to organize an association for individuals who have adopted the Spanish type Sulphur horses, hopefully to maintain the integrity of the breed in the private sector, and help build more interest in the horses. Since the Pryor Mountain and the Kigers each had an association,.I felt there should be one for the Sulphur horses also. I sent out over 140 letters, asking for others who might share my interest, and received very little response. Being persistent, I decided to try again, and use my survey to possibly find others who shared my interest (survey question number ten). Knowing the BLM's limited ability to follow up on the horses after adoption, I was also hopeful that the information I received may be of some help to them.

I requested a list of people who have adopted Sulphur horses over the past years, and received one from Larry Maxfield: With this list I phoned information to get all the phone numbers I could, but found many of the adopter's numbers unlisted. Out of a list of 274 horses, I was able to follow up on 155 ~horses, and make 110 interviews with different individuals. Some people adopted more than one horse while others had friends or relatives adopt horses for them. Knowing this helped me to limit some of the telephone calls I had to make. I also decided not to telephone people who lived in states not adjacent to Utah.

Questions one through five actually Pertain to the individual horse (155 horses), while six through eleven are directed to the person I am interviewing (110 interviews). A few people offered more than one answer to questions six and eleven therefore there are more than 110 comments to these questions. I split the survey into adoptions prior to 1991 and after 1991. There were no adoptions during 1991. I did this because I sensed a difference in attitude in people that adopted horses during the different time periods. This was not done for questions six and eleven. Also, horses adopted before 1991 were adopted out of the Delta corrals, and not from the satellite adoptions that have taken place since then. I threw in question number nine because it is something that I would personally like to see happen, and I wondered how others would feel about it.

SURVEY AND RESULTS

Question #1. Do you still have your Sulphur horse? A. Did you sell the horse? B. Did the horse die? Results - before 1991 9 - yes (24%) 25 - no, sold (68%) 3 - no, dead (8%) - after 1991- 73 - yes (62%) 34 - no, sold (29%) 10 - no, dead (8.5%) 1 - no, turned back to BLM (.5%) Total - 82 - yes (53%)            73 - no (47%) Question #2. Are you (did you) using (use) the horse? Results - before 1991 19 - yes (51%) 18 - no (49%) - after 1991 - 62 - yes (53%) 56 - no (47%) Total - 81 - yes (52%)            74 - no (48%) Question #3. Is the horse halter broke? Results - before 1991 26 - yes (70%) 11 - no (30%) - after 1991 - 90 - yes (76%) 28 - no (24%) Total - 116 - yes (75%)            39 - no (25%) Question #4. Can the horse be handled (hooves trimmed, etc.)? Results - before 1991 23 - yes (62%) 14 - no (38%) - after 1991 - 79 - yes (67%) 39 - no (33%) Total -102 - yes (66%)           53 - no (34%) Question #5. Are you (were you) satisfied with the horse? Results - before 1991 28 - yes (76%) 9 - no (24%) - after 1991 - 106 -yes (90%) 12 - no (10%) Total - 134 - yes (86%)           21 - no (14%) Question #6. Why did you choose to adopt a Sulphur horse? 67 (57%) Wanted a horse (mustang). 17 (14%) Liked color of horse. 10 (8.5%) Wanted a Spanish mustang. 9 (8%) Liked looks of horse (conformation and attitude). 7 (6%) Wanted Spanish mustang, color, and liked price. 5 (4%) Good price. 3 (2.5%) Adoption location (availability). (None of the adopters from 1991 and before chose their horse solely because it was a Spanish mustang)

Question #7. Did you know the Sulphur mustangs were Spanish horses? Results - before 1991 8 - yes (36%) 14 - no (64%) - after 1991 62 - yes (70%) 26 - no (30%) Total - 70 - yes (64%)            40 - no (36%) Question #8. Did knowing the Sulphur horses were Spanish mustangs influence your wanting to adopt the horse? Results - before 1991 3 - yes (14%) 19 - no (86%) - after 1991 33 - yes (37.5%) 55 - no (62.5%) Total - 36 - yes (33%)            74 - no (67%) Question #9. Knowing that the Sulphur HMA's Mountain Home Range is one of only three areas in the United States that is being managed for Spanish mustangs by the BLM, would you be in favor of having it made into a National Wild Horse Range? Results - before 1991 18 - yes (82%) 2 - no (9%) 2 - no comment (9%) - after 1991- 78 - yes (89%) 2 - no (2%) 8 - no comment (9%) Total - 96- yes (87%:)           4-no (4%)           10 - no comment (9%) (The no comments needed more information and would have to think about it) Question #10. Would you be interested in joining an organization that's purpose is to help protect, preserve, and promote the Spanish type Sulphur horse? Results - before 1991 4 - yes (18%) 18 - no (82%) - after 1991 37 - yes (42%) 51 - no (58%) Total - 41 - yes (37%)            69 - no (63%) Question ~11. Do you have any comments on how the BLM could improve their adoption program? 72 - No comment (satisfied with program). 12 - Inform adopters on possible difficulties in training mustangs. 6 - Make compliance checks before and after adoptions. 5 - Provide more information on training. 5 - Adopt out younger animals. 3 - BLM too rough and aggressive on horses at adoptions, get horses worked up. 2 - Wants better notification of adoptions. 2 - Preserve Spanish type, keep blood lines pure. 2 - Government agencies should quit messing things up, they create too many regulations. 1 - Have more horses available. 1 - Wants waiting list to adopt horses, first come first serve. 1 - Give Spanish mustang groups prior access to horses when adopted. 1 - BLM needs to be more interested in horses as national treasure and not a commodity. 1 - Wants closer adoption sites. 1 - Wants better corral arrangement at adoptions so horses can be viewed better. 1 - Allow running and roping horses by public to catch them so BLM wouldn't have to. 1 - Doesn't agree with horses over running range competing with cattle and sheep. 1 - Waste of tax payer's money to feed horses.

PERSONAL COMMENTS

Since I don't feel qualified to evaluate the results of this survey, I won't, but I do feel there is a more positive trend in the adoptions after 1991. As I mentioned before, I feel there is a difference in attitude in the adopters during the two time periods. Though the horses being Spanish mustangs didn't seem to influence the adopters wanting Sulphur horses as much as I would have expected, I feel this will be a greater influence in the future. The fact that the horses are unique as a rare breed, have a unique coloring, and are just good looking horses will probably make a big difference. I was actually surprised at how little people know about Spanish mustangs. This is where educating the public would help make people more aware of the horses, and help themto more appreciate the horses for what they are.

I was very pleased with the positive response to making the Mountain Home Range into a National Wild Horse Range. Those against it were of the type that offered, what I felt, were the negative comments in question number 11.

Overall, the majority of people were satisfied with the horses and the adoption program, which speaks well for what the BLM is doing.