spartan
Legend of the Fall
Spartan is one of 15 senior sale authority mustangs from the Red Desert Complex of Wyoming, a save that began with Blue Zeus and Apollo. Clare spotted this black beauty at the adoption event in Cañon City, Colorado. While observing the horses, she noticed Blue Zeus turned to this black companion for comfort or hid behind him to stay out of view. She wanted Blue Zeus to leave the corrals with a friend, but she also wanted to take the oldest, the most overlooked, and unwanted. This was Spartan.
Twenty-one years old, he was rounded up after 20 years of living wild and free on his range. In the pen, he hid behind a long curtain of mane that occasionally revealed his weary, frightened eyes. His ribs and hips were jutting out. His coat was dull and covered with bite mark wounds. He was utterly consumed by loss. We knew nothing about his background. There were no photos of him in the wild. Horses like this deserve sanctuary as much as any other and we were so happy to bring him home.
When Spartan arrived at Skydog, he was shy and kept his distance from humans. He was pushed off his food and left to find the last pile. His mane and forelock still covered his eyes and it was impossible to read his expression. He surprised Clare once by coming up behind her with Drifter. The two stood quietly observing her, reading her intentions. They may not have known where they were or how they came to be there, but they seemed to understand that she had something to do with it. The intensity of that exchange of energy was palpable even to those watching it on video.
We could see there was an issue in his left hind leg that caused stiffness. The vet checked him out and we monitored the situation, never seeing signs of pain. He was able to get around walking, at the trot, and at the gallop, so we were pretty sure there was no need for concern. The problem took care of itself as he regained his health, confidence, and sense of security. As he gained weight, his coat took on a glossy sheen and turned to velvet in the winter. Spartan’s transformation was truly remarkable.
It took time for him to trust humans, who had taken so much from him. Then one day, he put all that aside and forgave. He came close to Clare as she sat in the sage to get a good look at her. Her heart was in her throat and all she could say was, “Wow…wow…”. She thought, “I am so sorry for all of it. For this greedy world we live in where humans have to get every last bit of all they can at the expense of such incredible beings.” She felt Spartan heard her and understood.
When all was said and done, Skydog saved 24 Red Desert horses after the Blue Zeus roundup in 2020. A handful had names or had been photographed on the range, but most of them were brown, bay, black, and completely unknown. We have nicknamed his group of old Wyoming boys the Legends of the Fall. Like the book and movie, their stories were set in the rugged and captivating big sky beauty of the American West. Their lives on the range were filled with family, love, passion, rivalry, loss, and a relentless pursuit of personal freedom. Blue Zeus went on to be reunited with his family. Drifter, living up to his name, drifts along with different bands while keeping mostly to himself. Spartan remains close to Noble with frost bitten ears, who is also a Legend of the Fall.
#skydogspartan
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.