Recently we asked a keeper of a bed and breakfast to west of us if they are still about and this unconfirmed source said that he understood that Highland valley Copper fed them with hay about 4 years ago .That was the last he heard and has not seen them since. however he still believes that he three groups are there.
When I viewed them decades ago they looked like regular horses except that their manes were very long and the hair on the tails touched the ground.
There are no wild horses indigenous to North America as they came from Europe with Cortez centuries ago . Horses in the valley are descendants of horses that were either let go or ran off. They are truly wild though as like an elephant and his stake they would need to be broken to be of use in riding or work.
Wild Horses and Highland Valley Copper
The Nicola Valley is home to 3 groups of wild horses. About four decades ago, a bunch from Canford, an old sawmill and town site about 9 miles to the west on highway 8, was featured in a magazine article in The Star Weekly. These horses were also seen on Promontory mountain just to the west of Merritt.
A keeper of a bed and breakfast to the west mentioned that Highland Valley Copper fed the wild horses with hay about 4 years ago, but hasn’t seen them since. Despite this, he believes that the three groups are still present in the area.
The wild horses in the valley resemble regular horses, but with very long manes and tails that touch the ground. It’s interesting to note that there are no wild horses indigenous to North America; they are descendants of horses that were either released or escaped, and are considered truly wild.
The relationship between the wild horses and Highland Valley Copper seems to be one of the factors influencing their presence in the area.
Kevin Griffiths
percypaschal
The Proprietor Review 