Nike

Of all the transformations that have taken place at Skydog, Nike's is the most subtle but most profound. In the Red Desert, she was not only the lead mare of Blue Zeus, she was the love of his life. During the roundup in 2020, he took the lead, trying to guide his family away from the helicopter, as Nike brought up the rear. Their deep bond made their separation all the more painful when they were captured.

In Greek Mythology, Nike was the Goddess of speed, strength and victory. Sometimes pictured with wings, she was worshiped for her ability to grant the strength and speed needed to be victorious in any task undertaken. That energy was certainly present during my year-long quest to locate and reunite the family at Skydog. Hope was fading as I sloshed through deep mud from one pen to the next at the BLM’s Cañon City facility. When I reached the last pen, there was Nike. I recognized her signature swoosh on her side from her photos in the wild. She was there with the other mares and their children. This heroic lead mare kept the family together at the corrals and revealed them to me, leading to their rescue.

When Blue Zeus was reunited with his family at Skydog, they immediately fell in line behind him. He turned to greet each one, including Charlotte and Huckleberry, who had not been part of the original band.  They had integrated easily, in no small part thanks to Nike’s welcoming lead. From that day on, Nike has been at his side.

When Calypso and the Golden Girls of South Steens arrived, we decided to place them on 1200 acres with Blue Zeus’ family. There was some drama in the beginning, as is to be expected, with the herd chasing the newcomers off again and again. But then something extraordinary happened. Nike left her love, Blue Zeus, and joined the Golden Girls band. She had never been particularly close to the mares in her family band, but she liked having these new mares around. Slowly, but surely, she brought them into the fold, where they have found total acceptance.

Nike finally has the mare friends she’s wanted and is without a doubt Queen of this family. Her influence is subtle, but powerful. She unites them all and holds them together. The Golden Girls are as devoted to Nike as they are to Blue Zeus. To see Calypso, Renegade's beautiful mother, standing beside them, watching over the herd is a breathtaking sight. Just when I think it can’t get any more divine, I catch them in the last rays of the sun as it sets, and walk with them, observing their silent communication.

#skydognike

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.