king

King is a grand dun with a dorsal stripe and barring on his legs that looks like zebra stripes. His mane and tale are two-toned. After a summer of running and grazing on grasses in Spring Valley, he's pretty much carved out of solid muscle.

At the time we saved Blue Zeus & Apollo at the BLM prison in Cañon City, I was among a small group of people allowed back in to adopt more. Many of the mustangs at the first adoption event had already shipped to long-term holding in Kansas. There were only a few left to choose from. I entered with the intention of adopting two, but could not leave without four.

The nobility of these senior Red Desert boys was unquestioned. After 20 years challenging each other on the range for mares, they were reduced to fighting over piles of hay spread out on the dirt. The sight was sad and jarring. Janelle chose Joker from a video the wrangler sent me. When I learned that Gandalf, thin and arthritic, was the oldest (25), he was a no brainer. He was bonded to Frost Moon, so there was no leaving him behind. That left one spot for one horse, whose life would be changed for the very best.

I stood and prayed as it felt so unfair and overwhelming to make a decision like that alone. Then I saw a big dun, a soul without a friend. It hurt to think of the family he lost when he was removed from the range, but I wanted the chance to make things right. It was hard walking away, but when they loaded an hour later, it felt right. Somehow, every horse who comes to Skydog is meant to be here. There is no such thing as coincidence, it's just God's way of staying anonymous.

So King came to Skydog, where he had the strength and resilience to rebuild his life on a vast space where he could stretch his legs and run free. He has the mental stimulation of exploring new land with new friends, as well as some Red Desert wildies. He's been strong and steady, an easy keeper and no trouble or health issues to speak of. Just a good wild horse who blends right in and belongs to the magnificence of the scenery that stretches as far as the eye can see.

#skydogking

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 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.