The Morgans and (some of) their people! Mira and Sierra, Knighthawk and Julie, Gentry and Bonnie.

June 12, 2026

Greetings!

Greetings from the Morgan Horse Ranch! Though the past year has not been without its challenges in our beautiful corner of Point Reyes National Seashore, we have also celebrated great successes and moments of beauty. 

Here at home base, the Ranch crew has been up to their normal shenanigans, with Shrek the mule returning from Yosemite for his third winter season at the Seashore. With big ears and bigger attitude, he helped the Morgans and their people complete several pack trips to support trails and resource management operations out in the park. The Morgans also attended several special events throughout the year, visited with student groups, and spent time with park staff during a mental health awareness day—after all, horses are good for the soul!

Between myself and the rangers who work with the horses, we covered 600 miles in 2025 and are on track to do the same in 2026. The Ranch supports so many aspects of the park, and we could not do it without your generosity.

Shrek and his big ears. Big attitude not pictured. 😉

Here’s a snapshot of the many accomplishments of the Ranch team this past year, from conservation to community engagement:

• Cleared downed trees on trails
• Packed out supplies for plover nesting protections
• Supported invasive plant removal
• Hauled trash off remote beaches
• Welcomed 30+ new American citizens at their naturalization ceremony in the National Seashore
• Participated with National Night Out in Point Reyes Station
• Walked in the Western Weekend parade this past weekend!

Something we’re really looking forward to is having a ranger and Morgan horse presence at Wildcat Camp for multiple weekends this summer, following the success of a pilot project last year. With aid from PRNSA, we purchased temporary fence panels to be set up at the Camp, and on two separate weekends were able to patrol the area, keeping visitors safe and providing preventative search and rescue measures.

Bonnie / Gentry, Julie / Knighthawk and Shrek embark on a trip to support a conservation initiative.

Why your support matters

The Morgan Horse Ranch relies on donated funds to support daily operations, and we need your support as we gear up for the second half of 2026. This past winter, two of our horses—Mira and Honcho—faced serious medical issues. With your generosity, we were able to get them the care they needed quickly. Donations also helped us purchase new packing equipment, cover annual feed costs, and fund educational materials for public programs.

Please consider a gift today to keep this one-of-a-kind program at the Seashore. Thank you for believing in and being part of our mission. 

Gratefully,

Julie Byerly

Morgan Horse Ranch Manager

PS. We’re looking forward to celebrating the 56th anniversary of the Morgan Horse Ranch on June 27th, and we would love to see you there! 

Morgan Horse Ranch Anniversary Celebration

Join park staff, volunteers, and partners in celebrating the 56th Anniversary of the Morgan Horse Ranch on Saturday, June 27th! This event is free and open to the public.

Drop in any time from 11am to 2pm to meet the horses, and enjoy activities like: horse grooming, crosscut sawing, leatherworking, butter making, roping, a kids obstacle course and tables from various community partners. A schedule of special events will be posted soon.

Inspiring Conservation Through Photography

It all started with a superbloom. Over thirty years later, Nita Winter and Rob Badger are still hard at work photographing wildflowers across California's public lands. Their goal is to create a connection between the viewer and each flower. Rob shares, "Every unique living thing has a place, a right to be here, and to have its existence fulfilled and continue through the next generation. When you feel that value in your heart, you care and protect that being.”

A selection of their wildflower photos is on display at the Bear Valley Visitor Center through the end of June. Read more about their work here.

Upcoming Programs & Events

Songs of the Sea & Chantey Sing-along

Sat. June 13, 3pm

Meet at the Ken Patrick Visitor Center to raise your voice with others in songs of the sea! This free event is for chantey singers of all levels.

Backcountry

First Aid

Sat. June 20, 9am-2pm

During this interactive hiking experience, participants will role play various medical emergencies that may occur when hiking or traveling.

Thursday Weeders at Abbotts Lagoon

June 25, 10am-2pm

Join PRNSA staff and volunteers at Abbotts Lagoon to help restore critical coastal dune habitat. Tools and snacks provided!

Morgan Horse Ranch 56th Anniversary!

Sat. June 27, 11am-2pm

Join us for an open house to meet the horses and learn how they support conservation in the park! Demonstrations and activities for all ages.

How to Use Poles for Hiking & Exercise

Sat. July 11, 9:30am-2:30pm

Poles engage your whole body while hiking and improve performance and confidence on varied terrain. Learn how to use them and practice with us!

Book Event with M. Kat Anderson

Sat. July 11, 3pm-4:30pm

Join PRNSA, Point Reyes Books, and author M. Kat Anderson to discuss her new book, I Sing to the Earth and She Sings Back.

Temporary North Beach Dog Closure

For the first time since 2024, the Seashore's western snowy plover monitoring team discovered a nest south of the North Beach parking lot—and last week they found another one! While dogs are usually allowed on-leash in this area, the park has placed a temporary beach closure for pets on a portion of the beach (see the map for details) to safeguard these nests. Leashed pets will still be allowed on the beach directly in front of the parking lot, and people without pets can still walk in either direction on the beach. Thank you for helping us keep this threatened species safe! As of last week, the team has confirmed the third fledge of the season.

Party on the Pacific Plate 2026

Sponsorships are now available for our 17th annual Party on the Pacific Plate! This year's celebration will take place at Bear Valley on Saturday, September 19. Our theme is listening to the land, and we invite you to join us in honoring and celebrating this special place and the people who steward and protect it. Please consider supporting this vibrant gathering and PRNSA's vital conservation, education, and community-building work with a sponsorship. Learn more.