Ford

Ford was one of two horses the US Forest Service reached out to us about taking. We don’t see eye to eye with the federal agencies that manage wild horses, but we were grateful for this first opportunity to work with USFS to help mustangs. With donors behind us, we didn’t hesitate to say yes to both.

Ford is a magnificent blue roan with a strong sense of self. He looks a lot like Blue Zeus: majestic, gorgeous, and powerful. Physically, he was in good weight and health. In Ford’s case, his wild spirit needed saving.

Rounded up from Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory, Ford was adopted out and returned to the corrals several times. Multiple adopters and trainers had not been able to resolve his tendency to bolt. For people who only want a horse for riding, Ford was of no use. He would not be tamed. He could not accept domestication. His wild spirit needs to be free.

It never gets old giving freedom back to mustangs one step at a time. As we guided Ford gently toward a 40 acre pen, he trotted down the road, confident and calm, as if he knew where he was going. Next, he’ll get a companion to share the pen. We are going to introduce him to another new arrival, Tesoro. Then they’ll join a small herd before being released into Spring Valley with the wild guys. They’ll have endless views of wilderness with tall grasses waving in the breeze and cool streams to drink from. Our hearts will soar with Ford’s as he reclaims the freedom that is rightfully his.

The strong name “Ford” for a horse has been in my mind for a while, but he arrived with a mare named Indy. It’s purely coincidence, but this made everyone think of Indiana “Indy” Jones and Harrison Ford.

#skydogford

In addition to supporting our work by donating, becoming a patron on Patreon or sponsoring a Skydog, there are several important pieces of legislation to protect American equines currently moving through Congress. It only takes a few minutes to contact your Rep and Senators and urge them to support these bills:

Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act of 2023 (H.R. 3475 in the House / S.2307 in the Senate). This bill will shut down the slaughter pipeline that sends some 20,000 American horses and donkeys to savagely monstrous deaths in foreign slaughterhouses every year.

The Wild Horse & Burro Protection Act of 2023 (H. R. 3656) This bill will prohibit the use of helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft in the management of wild mustangs and burros on public lands, and require a report on humane alternatives to current management practices.

Ejiao Act of 2023 (H.R. 6021). To ​​ban the sale or transportation of ejiao, a gelatin made from boiling donkey skins, or products containing ejiao in interstate or foreign commerce, which brutally kills millions of donkeys primarily for beauty products and Chinese medicine.

You can Contact Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121‬, submitting contact forms on their individual websites, or sending one email to all three simultaneously at www.democracy.io

See our How to Help menu for other actions to ban zebra hunting at US canned hunt ranches, stop production of Premarin & other PMU drugs, and defund the Adoption Incentive Program.