reNO
Here is the email we received about Reno’s retirement:
Good afternoon Clare,
My name is Katie Griffith and I’m a US Border Patrol Agent down in San Diego, CA. I am a member of the San Diego Sector Horse Patrol Unit, where we patrol the border vigilantly with our BLM Mustangs.
I’m good friends with Suzanne and Jeremy Walker, who gave you beautiful “Rain” a few years ago. I remember when he arrived at the USBP barn, he was such a stunning horse. But ultimately, I knew he belonged back in the wild and I am grateful that you gave him that opportunity until the end. Thank you for that.
I contacted Suzanne today and spoke with her about a sweet little mustang that we have up for adoption. I remember when she told me that Rain was going to live at Sky Dog, so I thought I would reach out to you about our Reno, who worked alongside of Rain years ago.
Reno was captured in Coppersmith/Susanville in 2009 and has been with us at the US Border Patrol for 10 years. He's approximately 14 years old, 15 hands, and very healthy. Reno is very sweet and has always been a pleasure to be around. He has always been our go-to for public events and parades, as well as a reliable patrol horse. Reno stays fat on Bermuda and a handful of rice bran (although we are trying to get him a little lighter due to an injury). He has high ring bone, which was just diagnosed by our vet, Dr Larry Martin. He's got pads on his fronts at the moment and seems to be doing well. He will also be getting Equioxx.
Our horses endure a high workload of 6–7-hour workdays, 5 days a week. Reno was one of our top horses (because practically anyone can ride him) so he was taken out to the field often. The areas we patrol are mountains and rocky in nature. Our vet suspects that Reno’s injury developed from his heavy workload throughout the years, combined with climbing mountains and traversing rocky passes carrying a rider. Reno is currently out on a dry lot with 3 other mustangs, he gets along with all horses and people.
I was diligently trying to find Reno a retirement home here in San Diego at therapy ranches. However, most ranches shy away from him when they find out about his high ring bone. Reno has served our nation and tirelessly patrolled the borders for 10 consecutive years. I am determined to find this hero horse a soft landing.
He's located in Imperial Beach, CA at our facility, and we can deliver him to you at no charge. We are just looking for him to have a beautiful life and purpose after his retirement from the USBP. Suzanne thought Reno would be a great addition to the Malibu location – due to his incredibly friendly nature, his story, and desire for attention. #skydogreno
Reno successfully went through the same BLM mustang training program as Rain. He did everything that was asked of him. Now, with a disability that likely stemmed from the years of hard work, people who loved and respected him made sure his retirement was safe and comfortable for the rest of his days. The connection to Rain has great meaning to us and it’s an honor for us to be able to do this for Reno.
USBP drove him and unloaded him in Malibu. He later came up to Oregon. His ring bone makes it impossible for him to run free on thousands of acres with the wild guys, but even the special needs enclosures are roomy with trees and all the scents and sounds of the wilderness. Nothing is asked of him, he just gets to enjoy being a horse.
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.