Where the wild horses run - Sable Island, Canada

Have you heard of Sable Island? There is a good chance you haven’t, as Sable Island National Park Reserve is a small Canadian island that is located 300 kilometers southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Canada’s east coast. Despite its small size, Sable Island has an interesting history, unique vegetation, and exciting wildlife, including a population of wild horses!

The history of Sable Island

Since the 1500s, there have been numerous attempts to settle on Sable Island by various colonists and adventurers from Portugal, Basque, France, Spain, England, and New England. These attempts at settlement only lasted a few years or less, as the location of the island made settlement quite difficult.

Sable Island is known for the large number of shipwrecks that occurred as a result of the island’s sand bars. It has been estimated that 350 vessels have met their fate at this location as a result of its low visibility, treacherous currents, and the fact that it was located in the middle of a trading route. As a result of these numerous shipwrecks, the colonial government in Nova Scotia founded a lifesaving establishment in 1801 to reduce the number of deaths that occurred near Sable Island’s shores.

After confederation in 1867, the Canadian government took over administration of the lifesaving establishment on Sable Island and added additional life-saving measures such as two lighthouses on the East and West of the Island. As the number of shipwrecks began to decrease, the establishment was shut down and eventually replaced by the Sable Island Station, currently managed by Parks Canada, where weather and environmental research and monitoring programs occur.

Sable Island: Home to…wild horses?

Yes, you read that right! One of the most interesting things about Sable Island is that it is home to a number of wild Horses. As of 2016, there was reported to be 550 free-roaming horses on the island. While it is still unknown how exactly horses ended up on Sable Island in the first place, the current theory is that the horses were seized by the British from Acadians being deported from their homes during the mid 1700s and brought to Sable Island by Thomas Hancock, a man who was responsible for transporting Acadians to the United States. By the early 1800s, the horses were no longer domesticated, as they lived wild on the island.

In the 1950s there were plans to get rid of the wild horses on Sable Island, but luckily, these plans were averted due to public pressure to preserve this beautiful component of the island’s ecosystem. Today researchers are finding that the horses, although descended from domesticated horses, have an number of adaptations that make them hardy to withstand the harsh island conditions. They have shaggy coats and are short and stocky in stature and seem to be able to tolerate eating sharp grasses.

Friends of Sable Island Society

The Friends of Sable Island Society is a non-profit organization that was created in order to ensure the long-term preservation of Sable Island. The island has an important ecological function, as it is home to several large bird colonies, including the Savannah sparrow which only breeds on the island, and serves as a breeding ground for harbour and grey seals.

Before the Friends of Sable Island, the Sable Island Preservation Trust was established in 1997 in response to Environment Canada’s announcement that they were closing the main station on Sable Island.

Because members of the Sable Island Trust knew that human presence was required to ensure the preservation of Sable Island’s fragile ecosystem, they signed a lease agreement with the federal government and continued management of the island’s main station. However, once Sable Island became a national park, the Sable Island Trust became the Friends of Sable Island Society, a non-profit organization whose main mission is to educate people about the island in order to promote conservation.

Be sure to check out their website which contains a plethora of resources, information, and images that explain the history and importance of this beautiful island!

Friends of Sable Island Society conference and scholarships

One of the best ways to protect and preserve Sable Island is through education and the exchange of knowledge and ideas!

Friends of Sable Island encourages researchers to share their knowledge and experiences at the semi-annual Sable Island Conference. Exchanging knowledge about the island’s flora and fauna is useful in order to develop beneficial conservation practices and sustainable management programs. This conference also welcomes those who research the history of Sable Island or share their personal stories and experiences.

Friends of Sable Island encourages students to learn about this beautiful and unique environment through their scholarship program. Nova Scotian students in grade 12 are asked to research a topic about the island and submit a project based on their research.

The more people getting involved with and learning about Sable Island, the better, as it is important to have strong supporters who will advocate for the health of this island!

Be a part of the conservation efforts!

If Sable Island is of interest to you, consider joining The Friends of Sable Island Society by completing their membership form and paying an annual fee of $20 or a lifetime fee of $100. By becoming a ‘friend’ of Sable Island, you will be directly contributing to the conservation and preservation of the island, be provided with volunteer and participation opportunities, receive an annual newsletter, have voting privileges at the Annual General Meeting, and be eligible to be nominated and elected to serve on the Board of Directors.

I bought a membership for my niece who, like many girls her age has a deep love and attachment to horses. She has inspired me by showing me how majestic and beautiful these animals are, and how connecting to them can make such a difference to children. Seeing the wild horses being protected is worth supporting!