Heritage Herd May be Forced to Move from Ramona [Blog]

Ramona's original horses may be forced to move from the pasture land they occupy on Highland Valley Road in our lovely town.

The Herd Management team has been leasing the land and insuring it while the herd is there, as well as maintaining the fencing and keeping it and the horses safe. 

The land is being sold and there is much stipulation about what and who and how the land will be managed. The County Parks Department might manage the land as a portion of the Ramona Grasslands, but that has yet to be verified. 

The herd needs a place to stay as work continues to repatriate them in the region in which they were removed in 2003 and this parcel on Highland Valley Road has been a wonderful, safe place for the Herd to begining to re establish itself. With three new babies having arrived in April of this year and more on the way, the future of the Herd is more viable. It is ever more important to protect them. The herd management team has been trying to work with all involved in the parcel in attempt to keep it as a nursery and holding pasture. 

The following message came just a day ago:

"The Herd management team received notice to vacate the Heritage Herd mares and foals from the pasture by property owner, the Judd company come july. Karen Carlson also got a letter from County Parks Director stating that the Heritage Herd will not remain on the Highland Valley property which might be managed by the County as part of the Ramona Grasslands.

If the Ramona Grasslands are managed for wildlife habitat, then the herd should be allowed to remain as a wildlife distinct population, special status species. There is an over abundance of state and federal legislation, historic preservation, and endangered species decisions that support the restoration, preservation, and maintenance of this tiny herd. It was state and federal malfunction that removed this wild herd; uniquely the property of San Diego's citizenry under the Public Trust Doctrine. It was also the BLM offer of partnership to restore the herd that we are asking the county to endorse...including our heritage proclamation Meanwhile these pregnant and foaling mares must have suitable habitat. In their condition they should not be moved.

Our country is plagued with policies that circumvent OUR Constitution rule of law. If San Diego County would apply the law that would save one small Heritage Herd, our heritage hoofprints, we can begin to recover our county, state, and nation. Isn't conserving our heritage worth this step?"

You can all help by e mailing Supervisor Dianne Jacob at dianne.jacob@sdcounty.ca.gov or calling policy adviser Janice Downs 619 531 5522.