Metolius
On the wintery morning we drove to the corrals to pick up a horse, a stretch of fog banks made the sunrise look so magical. I just knew it was the beginning of a special day. We truly went out thinking we would only be taking Rogue, but we left that up to donors, who made it possible for us to come home with four: Rogue, Metolius, Coyote and Ariat.
Metolius is the largest of these four extraordinary wild horses. They stayed true to themselves and rebelled against being gentled and domesticated. These are the holdouts, the ones who said no thank you to halters, saddles, bridles, and bending their wild will to humans. They had all been in captivity for 2 years or more and were bonded by everything they’d been through. They fought valiantly to hold on to their wildness, not giving it up for anyone. “It’s in the stars and written on the scars on their hearts: We’re not broken, just bent, and we can learn to love again.” (Alecia Moore)
Wild Horse Photographer Steve Rymers said the best way to describe Metolius is “Oh My Gosh!” He is magical, mystical, and magnificent at about 16 hands with flowing mane and a very powerful build. He is the fabled gentle giant, whom you never want to make the mistake of provoking. Even when he’s quiet and still, his presence tells you he’s a force to be reckoned with. We saw it the day he arrived when he bolted out of the trailer in a burst of thunder, lightening, fire, and fury. Yet he had a soft spot for a little sorrel, Coyote, with whom he was so bonded, he never took his nose off his little friend at the corrals. He’s like a brooding rock star, who surprises you when he writes sensitive lyrics.
Rogue had already been named for a river in Oregon, so we continued that theme with Metolius. He projects the depth of still waters, where turbulence can rage beneath a dark, tranquil surface. The wars he fought are behind him. Today he goes with the flow of his herd, which has grown to include Atsa, Pony Boy, and Suede. They have a mountain to climb, woods for shade, lush grasses, cool water from streams and springs. Skydog gives them exactly what they want and need: to live unencumbered by human demands.
“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there is something stronger.” (Albert Camus)
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.