HONOR
Honor is tall, probably 15.2 hands high, and magnificent. She’s just an all-round beautiful mare. She was removed from the Great Divide Basin HMA as part of the Wyoming Checkerboard roundup in the fall of 2021. A massive and deadly operation with numerous CAWP violations. Her story shone a white-hot spotlight on the abuse and cruelty of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) helicopter roundups. A wonderful photographer and advocate, Ottilia, observed and documented the roundup. She described what happened when Honor’s band came into view at 9:58 a.m. on 30th October:
The helicopter was out for over an hour. Then in the distance, we saw a band ‘fighting’ the helicopter, not wanting to run towards the trap. It was a very cold day, -20C, but the sorrel mare’s band were all soaking wet. The Cattoors [Helicopter Roundup Contractor] must have run them hard and for a long time. Eventually, the band ran into the trap, all except her. She stopped and watched her family being captured. She was so brave. She turned facing the Catoors, stood her ground, and then ran under the helicopter away from the trap. The wranglers arrived and they chased her until she collapsed. She tried twice to get up, but went back down onto her knees. On the third time, she was able to stand up with the wranglers pushing her. She was so brave and wanted her freedom so badly. Witnessing the roundup is so heavy on my heart, but I’m glad I was there that day so I could share the pictures with people, for everyone to know how these beautiful animals are being treated by the Cattoors and the BLM.
The comments on social media all said the same thing: Anyone with a heart or moral compass would just have let this fierce mare stay free. From the Cattoors in the helicopter to the wranglers on the ground, couldn’t they do the right thing for the horses just once? It’s almost as if their egos have to win.
When I saw Ottilia’s photos, I vowed this mare would get a soft landing in sanctuary. She had so much honor, such fierce pride, and it’s my honor to give her back her freedom. I was able to do this when another incredible wild horse photographer and advocate, Lynn Hanson of the Wyoming Mustang Institute (@wildhorses.wildplaces), found Honor languishing in a holding pen in Wheatland, Wyoming.
We went to get her and bring her to Oregon to make right the terrible wrongs that were done to her. Honor was still so wild. I recognized that look in her eyes and the nervous licking when she turned to take one last look at the miserable facility where she’d been for so long. It made my heart break and soar at the same time because she was on the trailer, safe, and heading to Skydog.
When considering a horse’s treatment plan, we also weigh in the emotional and spiritual aspects of their well-being. Herd animals need a band and best friend to bond with for their mental health and happiness. The first step in Honor’s healing process was the introduction of a friend. Wildflower was the perfect companion. They exchanged polite, gentle hellos and went to eat hay together. Honor followed Wildflower’s example on how to do everything that was new to her. She only ate hay from the ground, but Wildflower showed her how to take if from a tub and eat delicious grain from a bowl.
Our hope of releasing Honor onto wide, open spaces to reclaim her wild life was dashed by a diagnosis of dropped fetlocks (DSLD) on both her hind legs. This would explain what happened to her during the helicopter roundup (on top of the horrendous violence and terror she suffered). It is very serious and painful. It can be managed, but not resolved. Because she was still moving comfortably, we made the decision to turn her and Wildflower out onto a pasture with other mares for the stimulation of being part of a herd. Honor wasn’t gaining as much weight as wanted to see, so when it was time to turn the others out, we introduced her to Eden, who was also underweight and kept them close for extra feeding.
When the rescue of Cruiser’s family was underway, Honor and Eden welcomed Jorja and her foal, Tupelo Honey, into their pasture. The bonds they formed made them part of that family, which now also includes Nugget and little Jojo. Even though Jorja is the great love of Cruiser’s life, he is generous and pays attention to everyone under his benevolent protection. It makes us so happy when we find him eating beside Honor. We found a way to help this majestic mare come full circle. She is wild with benefits in a safe place, where she will receive all the tenderness and care she needs and never have to fight for her freedom, her family, or her life ever again.
Mustangs and Burros Need Your Help
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 2025 (H.R.1661 in the House and S.775 in the Senate). This bill would amend the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. Commonly known as the “Farm Bill”, this omnibus federal law includes several important provisions for animals. Among them, the Cat and Dog Meat Trade Prohibition Act, which makes it illegal to slaughter, transport, possess, purchase, sell, or donate dogs and cats, or their parts, for human consumption. This SAFE Act would extend the prohibition to equines. Specifically, prohibiting a person from knowingly slaughtering an American equine for human consumption; or shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an American equine to be slaughtered for human consumption. 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.
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.
Bills from the previous 118th Congress that we hope will be introduced again this 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.