Many National Parks face the constant problem of preventing the great numbers of visitors from damaging what they have traveled so far to enjoy. Trail erosion, litter, and even intentional destruction and vandalism of natural treasures are all unavoidable problems on public property. Hyde told us that no additional damage has been done to the petroglyphs, or to any other part of the sanctuary, since it has been in his care. Because access to the horses' habitat can be carefully controlled, the land and the horses can thrive. Guided tours, trail rides, special western events, and overnight accommodations in authentically styled tepees attract many visitors to the sanctuary.
Tourism is the driving force that allows the sanctuary to remain in operation.
As our journey continued farther south, we met a man who has brought new life to a ruined and dying landscape in the mountains of central New Mexico. Thirteenth-century petroglyphs of fish and beaver in the area gave a very different picture of the dry and barren tract of land that rancher Sid Goodloe had purchased in 1956. Through 40 years of hard work, Goodloe was able to successfully rebuild the natural savanna ecosystem historically found there. His goal was to return the land to its natural state. Like the Hydes, he used his cattle as an environmental tool.