Lil’ Rain
The Colts
Lil’ Rain is a handsome buckskin, who should have come into this world with the freedom and protections intended for them by Public Law 92-195: The Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 (WFRHBA). Instead, his family was violently rounded up from Paisley Desert HMA in Oregon by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Born in captivity, he was confined to barren dirt pens without sage scrub, bird song, open space, big sky, or the fresh, clean air of their natural habitat.
They changed hands several times thru the failure of the BLM’s corrupted Adoption Incentive Program (AIP). They were adopted for the federal money and then sold without any intention of giving them good homes. Severe training methods caused emotional and physical damage. We rescued six colts from a bad situation before they were sent to auction in July 2023. Two went to wonderful homes that we keep in touch with. Lil’ Rain, Boone, Panda, and Tux came to Skydog.
On our 9000-acre ranch, these two-year-old colts were able to stretch their legs to run and graze on grasses of their native land for the first time. They needed to be free and play like the youngsters they were. Then we turned them out with Maverick, Anselm, Apache, Cisco, and Stetson to learn from the older boys about herd hierarchy.
When they first arrived, Lil’ Rain exhibited paralysis on the left side of his face from being tied to a patience pole. He’d be left without supervision for extended periods of time to teach him to stand, to break him. He had a broken tooth caused by trauma. He also has a clubbed foot. Thankfully, his nerve damage was not permanent. It was resolved by our wonderful veterinarian and a a lot of physical therapy that included reiki and bio-energetic massage offered by a generous volunteer.
With proper care, love, and kindness, Lil’ Rain was a sweet, loving, and very friendly colt. It was clear he and his friends would thrive in a loving home as they welcomed interaction with kind humans. They’d come to the fence hoping that people would stop to love on them. When photographer Scott Wilson tried to take pictures of them in the wild, they surrounded him for pets and scratches.
We absolutely adore these boys. Clare has a special place in her heart for black & white horses like Panda and Tux. Boone could not be more beautiful. Lil’ Rain reminded us all of our beloved Rain in his coloring. Even so, young, healthy mustangs who would be very happy domesticated in good homes are not candidates for sanctuary at Skydog. The massive roundups fueled by the Path Forward for Management of BLM’s Wild Horses and Burros, mass bailing, failed and fraud rescues, and the AIP are plunging unprecedented numbers of wild equines into the slaughter pipeline. We prioritize animals with the least chances of adoption: seniors and special needs equines that require more care, as well as those who refuse to be gentled and trained. For the colts, we turned our attention to finding them an ideal forever home.
The hope of keeping these bonded friends together was realized in our partnership with the Saving Gracie Equine Healing Foundation at the Blue Sky Lodge in Utah. In the setting of the guest resort, the colts can make a connection with lots of people in a sanctuary that offers a platinum standard of equine care, including an in-house veterinarian. It’s a rare opportunity to experience the powerful beauty of the mustang spirit in person. In an environment that protects and celebrates the magnificence of the American West, Lil’ Rain, Boone, Panda, and Tux will serve as ambassadors raising awareness to the plight of wild equines.
Mustangs & 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.