Anni’s Santa Cruz Island Horses

Is our animal best friend a dog or a horse? I’d love to hear that debate, and in Tehama County I wouldn’t be surprised if horses came in a very close second. Horses have long been a vital part of this landscape and culture. We use them for herding, touring, plowing, showing, hunting and companionship. Now our area is home to a growing number of Santa Cruz Island horses, also known as Anni’s horses. Annabelle Lencioni, a 14-year-old Los Molinos, CA, resident, has big plans for them.

Both Anni and the Santa Cruz Island horses have had interesting journeys to their current home in Tehama County. The Santa Cruz Island horses began their homecoming long ago. Spanish conquistadors and missionary padres brought the horses to the New World from the Iberian Peninsula in the 18th and 19th centuries. A group of the horses ended up on Santa Cruz Island, the largest Channel Island that was also known for banished convicts. The island’s inhabitants put the horses to great use plowing, maintaining vineyards, pulling buggies and eventually starring in silent western films. When ranching ceased on the island, the horses were left up to themselves (santacruzislandhorse.com).

In 1998 the National Park Service purchased the Channel Islands and removed the Heritage Herd consisting of the 15 remaining horses. The horses were taken in by Dianne Nelson who relocated the small herd to her Wild Horse Sanctuary near Shingletown, CA (wildhorsesanctuary.org).

Horse enthusiasts, historians, veterinarians and scientists continue to take an interest in these genetically unique equines. UC Davis researcher Amy McLean is one professional who is looking into methods to both save and improve the breed. “It’s truly a piece of California history we’re trying to preserve,” Amy explains. “If we lose these genetics, we lose these horses. We lose that history and a part of our heritage.”

After the Heritage Herd’s relocation to the sanctuary, various breed stewards stepped in to raise the foals. Today there are estimated to be 60 of these Santa Cruz Island horses in the United States. Twelve of them live in Tehama County thanks to a Los Molinos nurse, Christina Nooner. Christina first took in Sunshine, a very ill orphaned foal born to the Heritage Herd, and that was the beginning of Sunshine Sanctuary Kids (sunshinesanctuary.org). Christina recognized the trusting and affectionate nature of the breed and saw a chance to let at-risk teenagers take part in their care.

The Lencioni family was living in Bakersfield when they came across an article about the Sunshine Sanctuary Kids in a Tractor Supply magazine. The article began a series of events leading the family to journey northward to Los Molinos. Anni, who is homeschooled, is the proud owner of Wings, a Santa Cruz Island stallion, and her herd is expanding with three foals due, one this spring and two in the fall. Anni’s parents, Jim and Brenda, are now watching their daughter’s dream take flight.

Anni hopes to invite veterans, disabled adults, the homeless and anyone needing a friend to come help with the care of the horses, goats and, what she plans will be, a community farm. Anni says, “I want to farm because of how much I love my animals. Also, saving the endangered Santa Cruz horses is special to me. I cannot wait for the birth of the foal this spring.”
Along with strong hooves and legs and small, non-threatening stature, Anni’s horses are also known for their intelligence and easy-going nature. Brenda says they are so stoic that you won’t even know when they are sick. They have learned to watch closely for signs of illness.

The Lencionis are continuing Christina’s hard work. They want to share the unique, dignified and beautiful Santa Cruz Island horses with the community. They believe they are watching two dreams blend into one—Christina dreamt of a brown-eyed girl helping with the horses and Anni hopes to someday soon use her best friends as therapy animals.