Location: Just five miles north of Kingman, Arizona lies the Cerbat herd Area (HA) in the northwestern portion of the state. East of U.S. Highway 93 toward Las Vegas, Nevada, the Cerbat HA runs west of Stockton Hill Road. The historic mining town of Chloride, Arizona sits at the western base of the HA.
Size: The Cerbat HA consists of 83,000 acres of Arizona interior chaparral grassland and Grand Canyon desert shrub. The most notable and definitely hard to miss feature of the region are the Cerbat Mountains, with its associated peaks, ridges and canyons. The mountains run in a general northwest to southeast direction and are flanked by Sacramento Valley to the west and Hualapai Valley to the east. At an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet, Cherum Peak is the prominent landmark within the HA and is also the heart of the wild horse use area. The climate is generally warm, dry and windy. Because the HA varies in elevation from 3,400 feet to 7,000 feet, temperatures and rainfall also vary. The thermometer can read 105 degrees in the summer and drop to a freezing zero degrees in the winter.
History: The Cerbat HA is one of only two HA’s in Arizona known as home to wild horses. There are several popular beliefs concerning the origin of this particular herd. One theory is that the Cerbats are descendants of Spanish mustangs, introduced as early as the 1500s. A second theory is that these horses escaped from early explorers in the 1700s. Yet another belief is that the horses were abandoned by livestock ranchers in the early 1800s. Though the horses do typically show some signs of Spanish descent, their exact origin remains a matter of speculation by scientists. Regardless, this heard is protected by law.
Population: About 60 wild horses roam the Cerbat HA today. The population is relatively stable, and as a result, recruitment is fairly low. It is believed that the high density of mountain lions roaming within the HA keeps the wild horse population stable. The body size of a Cerbat horse is usually small, with an average weight ranging between 750 to 800 pounds and an average height of 14 to 16 hands. The horses are predominately bays, with numerous red, strawberry and blue roans. Other colors include grey, black, sorrel and dun.
Management: The horses are managed as living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West. To date, an Appropriate Management Level has not been determined for the Cerbat wild horse population. With relatively stable numbers, removals by the BLM have not been necessary, and the habitation conditions remain good. At times, animals may be removed to drought conditions, or if they become a problem for private land owners. When this occurs, the horse is wormed, vaccinated against equine diseases, branded and offered to the public through the BLM’s Adopt a Wild Horse or Burros Program.