river
We get so many pleas for help for horses in need but this boy’s story just broke all of our hearts. An incredible lady contacted us trying to get this horse to a new safe and beautiful life after all he had been through. Here’s what she wrote:
“River was adopted from the BLM and ended up in the hands of a Mexican family who used him as a tripping horse. From there he ended up owned by a family whose father would get belligerently drunk and beat the crap out of River. The teenage son walked River to a neighbor’s house and begged an old lady to take him to save him from his dad. The horse has a history of mishandling and severe abuse. Several trainers have tried to get him saddle broke but he is just terrified. After going through yet another home it has been determined River would have a much happier and better life just being left alone. Looking for pasture homes is a scary prospect and at only 14 years old and sound, I fear someone will continue trying to train him with potentially less than gentle methods, as humans get frustrated. River is a sweet boy, and completely gentle and non-aggressive, but he is extremely flighty and can even be impossible to catch for some people. I believe River deserves to be left alone to just be a horse, but finding that home is looking impossible and the owner is getting ready to send him to auction.”
We knew we had to get River so he could start his new life with us in Oregon. He needed sanctuary and a new life full of love, kindness, and no demands. After all, he has endured to still be kind and gentle is astonishing. This is the type of mustang we started Skydog to save!
We are so grateful to people like the woman who wrote us about River, and to all those who write letters and call rescues and try to help these horses and get their stories out into the world. And especially to the young boy who rescued him from his abusive father to get him to safety — I wish I could hug you. River is safe now. He will never again know anger or abuse. He will live out his days in freedom enjoying nothing but love and kindness and roaming the hills. Welcome home River. #skydogriver
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.