KAMIAH, Idaho:— This winter, two new animals joined the Moose Creek Ranger District’s herd. Born in the
wilds of eastern Oregon in 2020 and gentled by inmates at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center’s Horse
Facility, Tito and Nugget transferred from the Bureau of Land Management to the Forest Service this December.
Forest Service Packers Pete Armichardy and Heidi Brackebusch took their trailer to Nevada to pick up their new
coworkers. Pete explained that, “The adoption process was really easy for us and came at no cost to forest, besides
the time and travel to Carson City.”
The Moose Creek Ranger District first tried to adopt horses from the BLM’s program in 2019, but due to the
Covid-19 pandemic, “for 3 years we didn’t really get anywhere and it was in limbo.” Last fall, however, as the field
season slowed down, he tried again and was successful. Since late November, the two horses have resided at Fenn
Ranger Station on the Selway River, where they are learning to be a part of the herd. Armichardy explained that,
“It’s a fairly standard equine integration process. Their experience level is still pretty low and almost everything
they’re seeing is new, with different terrain, different smells, and different sights.” Recognizing the need to move
slow, Armichardy “didn’t start training them hard immediately. I wanted them to move at their own pace.”
The six- and seven-year-old animals spent their childhood in the wild before joining the team at the Nez Perce-
Clearwater National Forests. Armichardy anticipates a bright future for Tito and Nugget, who will eventually be a
part of the pack strings that bring supplies to the forests’ remote and wilderness areas: “they’re going to get to a
competent enough level that they can just do the job of being a riding animal, leading the mule string for the rest of
their working lives. I could get them used to packing but generally we just ride the horses and pack the mules. The
general working life of a horse is until about the age of 20.”
Armichardy stressed that their personalities and the integration process will determine how soon they will start
working for the forests. “Nugget looks at me and trusts me. Tito/Nick is a little more high strung and may have had
a traumatic experience and isn’t as trusting but he’s putting his guard down and is recognizing I’m a solid person,”
Armichardy stated. Because, Nugget “is the gentler and calmer one and we think will be able to get out on the trail
soon.”
The experience of adopting these horses is one that Armichardy believes will likely continue: “I think we will adopt
other wild horses in the future for our forest. It’s definitely an option considering the prices in the horse and mule
market, it’s a cost effective way to get some good stock.”
Packers Pete Armichardy and Heidi Brackebusch with their new colleagues Tito and Nugget
Tito and Nugget getting the lay of the land in their new home
Pete Armichardy checks on Tito and Nugget as they prepare to head to their new home