The Pickens Plan Takes Shape

Madeleine Pickens' plans to create a sanctuary for wild horses are coming together, according to a report on Bloomberg.com. In New York City, last week, Picken's gave reporter Mike Di Paola an update on the project.

Between 8,000 to 10,000 wild mustangs will be transported by helicopter (I am assuming this means herded by helicopter) to an, as yet, undisclosed parcel of land, estimated to be about a million acres. Many of the horses would be neutered to help maintain the size of the herd at about 30,000.

Pickens is creating a foundation to assist in raising funds for this endeavor but the foundation is not yet named. She also envisions this sanctuary to be more than just a preserve for horses. Pickens envisions a non-profit, ecology themed destination resort with RVs, teepees and environmental education programs supporting the protection of wild mustangs. The main draw, however, is the opportunity to see mustangs in the wild.

"Imagine the Americans who have never seen the wild mustang," says Pickens who only experienced the thrill this past year from a helicopter over Nevada. "I can tell you it is absolutely life-changing."

Apparently the list of land parcels is down to three. Pickens is finding the bidding process to be challenging because once the owner finds out who is bidding, the price tends to go up. "A lot of people thought this was an energy company coming in, that there would be windmills and solar, all kinds of this and that," she remarks. "I had a lot of convincing to do."

The sanctuary will also be home to horses destined for the slaughterhouses, some of them retired racehorses. "I know that I will never say 'no' to a thoroughbred or a quarter horse. When we become a sanctuary, I'm sure we'll take in everybody," she says.

Plans call for the more domesticated animals to live in huge paddocks in a separate part of the sanctuary.

Ms. Pickens has set up a website where you can leave her a comment. It is expected that the story will continue to be updated as it unfolds.