This spring, the National Park Service welcomed two former BLMers to its Yosemite National Park law enforcement team – a pair of geldings known as Sandman and Drifter. Just a few years ago, they were two of the more than 70,000 wild horses on America’s public lands. 

Their story began in June 2014 during another California drought. A herd of wild horses living on BLM-managed lands in northern California’s Red Rock Lakes Herd Management Area began encroaching on private property in search of water. The landowner contacted BLM, who transported the herd to a regional BLM preparation center for wild horses and burros.

Two years later, Joe Misner, a horse trainer with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, recruited the pair for an inmate-led horse training program at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center in Sacramento County. He christened the elder horse Sandman given the animal’s sleepy nature. He named the second horse Drifter, believing him to be of Driftwood lineage.

While more attentive than Sandman, Drifter faced his own period of adjustment to the program as he recovered from a hoof injury. The horses proved themselves fast learners however and quickly advanced through the program.

Then in 2018, the National Park Service wanted to add additional horses to its Yosemite National Park patrol. Park Service Ranger Justin Fey was familiar with the training program and knew the horses to be of the highest caliber. He began his search there.

The Park Service needs animals who possessed a calm demeanor, friendliness and nerves of steel. Keeping these requirements in mind, Misner recommended Sandman and Drifter and began preparing them for their April adoption.

The recruits are quickly adapting to their new responsibilities. The officers take them out regularly, and they are often exposed to cyclists, dogs and other visitors to the park.