Sorraias at Quinta do Sol

Tocara (formerly of Ravenseyrie) and two Sorraia x Garrano mares greet the Sorraia stallion, Bimbo
Quinta do Sol, Côa Valley, Portugal

There are to be found on the internet many "My Pretty Pony" type pictures of impeccably groomed, glossy horses and numerous photos of sport horses trained to high levels for human enjoyment.  Such photos have great meaning for some and no doubt provide the tingling sensation of awe and appreciation for those who like to see horses portrayed in those ways.

For me, it is a rawer image that quickens my pulse and generates a swell of entrancement.  Speaking from the perception of life I am presently experiencing, I prefer to see horses living in wilderness environments - free to choose: when and what to eat, where and when to take shelter, when to run and when to not run, etc.

You can imagine, then, how giddy I was to receive new photos from António Monteiro - (who we read about in last month's journal entry:  Genetic Migration in the Conservation of Sorraia and Sorraia Mustang Horses) - showing where some of  Claudia Radbauer's horses, including two mares born here at Ravenseyrie, are now living.

Levada, Tocara, Epona, Estrelinha and Tieta at Quinta do Sol

Levada (Altamiro x Sovina's Zorita),  Tocara (Altamiro x Belina) and Tocara's filly, Epona (by the Sorraia stallion, Grelo) along with two young Sorraia x Garrano mares were released last month into a property called Quinta do Sol, adjacent to the Faia Brava Nature Reserve in northeast Portugal's Côa Valley.

Epona, Tocara and Levada at Quinta do Sol

The lovely landscape at Quinta do Sol

With the participation of Hardy Oelke and Martha d'Andrade, António and his team were given the opportunity to acquire two Sorraia stallions from Herdade do Azinhal, one of which I saw in person during my visit to Portugal in 2011.

The stallion named, Bimbo (an Italian word of endearment for a child) will live with the mares at Quinta do Sol, while Sombra will be the male force present in the Middle Côa preserve where some of the mares from the Vale de Zebro now live.  The atavistically striped Lusitano colt, Larápio, that Claudia purchased for ATN to run with the five mares will be given time to mature before being expected to live the wild life with the ladies.  Martha tells me that ten year old Bimbo was the leader of their bachelor group of Sorraia stallions and with them was a show off and a bit of a bully...sounds very much like our Altamiro!


This image of António's is one that overflows with poetry...how marvellously Bimbo fits the landscape, as if he was sculpted from it!:

Sorraia stallion, Bimbo day one at Quinta do Sol
An image of inherent poetry!

Sorraia stallion, Bimbo and the windswept expanses at Quinta do Sol

António also sent along a bit of video he took when Bimbo was released (after a many hours journey) into the Quinta do Sol landscape.  The mare who comes up to say "hello" is our very own Tocara...how it makes my eyes wet with happiness to see where she is now!

Squalls at dawn, over Ravenseyrie

Spring comes much slower to Manitoulin Island than it does to Portugal, but our spectacular vistas are enjoyable all times of the year - and when I hike out to visit with our Sorraia bachelors and sit for a sip of the warming magic of Alpen Bitters No. 7,  it is immeasurably pleasant to be thinking of Tocara and Levada grazing in the Côa Valley with a fine looking Sorraia stallion - free to "be"!

Watching the horses while the sun sets at Ravenseyrie

View from the Top of the World at Ravenseyrie

Fidalgo, full brother to Tocara

Altamiro, sire of Tocara and Levada

Genetic Migration in the Conservation of Sorraia and Sorraia Mustang Horses

(Click on image to enlarge)

It was in January of 2015 when António Monteiro sent me an email inquiry.  António is with the Associação Transmâcua e Natureza, a non-profit organization (established in 2000) in northeastern Portugal.  ATN is dedicated to revitalizing abandoned agricultural landscapes in ways that return them to self-sustaining natural biospheres, as well as creating a new economy that thrives on the ever growing human need to experience wild spaces in non-invasive ways.  ATN presently manages five different nature sites.  Their award-winning ecotourism in the Faia Brava Nature Reserve is testament to the excellent vision and management skills of all involved.

Anótonio's love of nature and commitment to it also extends to horses, specifically those that are allowed to live wild lives.  Among other keystone herbivores, ATN already has incorporated Portugal's Garrano horses into their Faia Brava preserve and are now desiring to create a similar situation for Sorraia horses as well. 

Sorraias formerly of the Vale de Zebro now living in the Côa valley

While traditional breeders of Sorraia horses continue to protect genetic patrimony by utilizing only registered purebred Sorraia stallions and mares into their programs - a course that is no doubt important - they continue to risk further loss of genetic diversity.  

ATN is taking a supportive role along a different path - one that they believe will not only insure the physical and genetic fitness of their horses for virtually autonomous lives in the wild, but will also consolidate and enhance the primitive traits that are attributed to the extinct European Wild Horse (the Tarpan) which morphologically continue to be expressed in local rustic breeds in many European countries, including Portugal.  The Iberian variant of the Tarpan may have been the wild horse of medieval chronicles known as the Zebro, a swift-running, small, mouse-grey, dark-faced, striped equine that remains an enchanting, enigmatic creature even today.   By including Sorraia Mustangs from North America and atavistically striped Lusitano horses along with purebred Sorraia horses, ATN draws from a related yet diverse genetic resource pool, increasing the propagation of notable characteristics of the Zebro.

Having heard about our Sorraia Mustangs from Hardy Oelke and reading about them here in the Journal of Ravenseyrie, António sent me an inquiry regarding what the expenses associated with importing horses from Canada to Portugal might be.  In my reply to António I let him know that the expenses associated with flying horses to Europe are very high indeed, but I provided him with alternative options to check on within Europe.  He connected with Claudia Radbauer in Austria, who imported two fillies from Ravenseyrie in 2012.  

(Claudia's acquisition of our own girls Tocara and Levada born here at Ravenseyrie can be read here and further reading about her Sorraia preservation efforts can be read here and here.)

Over the course of last year, Claudia and António worked out an agreement where ATN would pay for the transportation of three Sorraia Mustang mares from Claudia's herd, which she would continue to own but would loan them to their Sorraia/Zebro rewilding project.  In addition to this, Claudia funded the purchase of an atavistically striped Lusitano colt that was purchased within Portugal to also become part of ATN's Zebro project.

I wanted to wait and report upon this phenomenal event after I knew for sure the mares made a safe journey from Austria to Portugal.  Tocara, Levada and Epona arrived in Portugal in the evening of the 25th of January - a history making event!

Ravenseyrie mares are now in this region of Portugal

Photo: ATN/Faia Brava

To more adequately relay the excitement and importance of our Ravenseyrie offspring sharing their genetics with the Sorraia/Zebro rewilding project in the Côa valley, I put together a mini-documentary which I published on YouTube and include embedded in this journal entry.  Note:  To view the video properly, you may have to go directly to YouTube using this link:  

https://youtu.be/muAkUAuSZYI

This rewilding project initiated by ATN is especially timely as last year the Vale de Zebro Sorraia Refuge was terminated due to the land they occupied being sold.  The horses there have been dispersed, but some have been sold to new preservation initiatives like the one ATN has undertaken.

I will be following ATN and their great work and reporting new events with the Sorraias there, here in the Journal of Ravenseyrie.

Some photos from the days when Tocara and Levada were still here in Canada with us at Ravenseyrie on Manitoulin Island:

Levada as a newborn

Levada (left) and Tocara on the Ravenseyrie beach

Tocara!  Such a beauty!

Levada, looking oh so wild!

There are many wonderful articles on the web describing the efforts of ATN, here is one that shows you some of the Sorraias already part of their rewilding project.  Here is a fabulous video showing the Côa Valley and the prehistoric rock art.  And here is an older video that provides a good look at the Faia Brava reserve.

Elemental Lives

Esperanda! (Altamiro x Ciente)

A primal scream, nostrils flared, neck arched, an eruption of equine energy

Of snow and wind and freedom of expression for all.

Inhale and savour

Unbridled beauty!

The Tao.

The way of free range horses!

Wilderness out my door,

Winter number twelve,

The austerity of this way of living has altered my perception,

Expanded my manner of being,

Is much preferred to the modernity of the city and human domination of day and night.

Here the elements rule - neither kindly nor unkindly,

Free from pretension, 

Stimulating ancient stirrings of innate cooperation, capability, creativity,

A flow of beginnings and endings and new beginnings.

How rich life is!

Earlier this month, during one particular two day "snow and blow", a lessening of the conditions prompted the horses to come out of the forest and into the open, coming up near our dwelling where Kevin was preparing a toboggan load of hay for me to bring out to them.

But the storm was not finished!  The roaring, bitter wind and snow intensified.  And the horses ran back to their forest shelter, knowing I would soon arrive, knowing I would spread out enough dried summer for all...knowing no storm lasts forever... 

When you begin to see through the eyes of horses you will enter another world.  In this world, laws more ancient than ours are in effect.  Existence is clear and uncomplicated.  Every step into this world lets us sense more deeply, breathe more freely.  A quiet rhythm encompasses this life.

    --Imke Spilker (from her book, Empowered Horses)