Sunflower

As darling Henry was about to leave quarantine for Malibu, someone sent me a video of an untitled, well-trained mustang mare in a kill pen in Oklahoma. They said she was 18, but her brand says 24! It utterly broke my heart to see her being kicked to run when she was visibly sore and lame.

“At one time she was a wild and free roaming horse. Previous owner said that her kids rode her everywhere, they rode her on trail rides, and rode her up and down the road, just did what a family does with a horse, take ‘em and enjoy ‘em.”

Take them, enjoy them, then throw them away when they are no longer of any use. It was a terrible betrayal to plunge a horse who had brought them so much happiness into the slaughter pipeline. Well, that’s not how the story will end for this lovely palomino.

We named her Sunflower as we knew she’d make the sun shine for Henry the moment she climbed into that trailer with him for the drive to California. He’d been very anxious, but settled down as soon as she loaded. The couple checked into private accommodations with ocean view in 5 star quarantine at the first ranch in Malibu.

The next day, she was enjoying the beautiful weather with her back foot cocked, showing her relaxation and ease. With no demands upon her and an endless supply of hay and grain, she is beginning to understand that she has landed in a real home. “Home: The place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family.” Sunflower is a member of my family, the Skydog family.

Once they’re cleared, they’ll move over to senior assisted living at the second Malibu ranch.  This is the beginning of the rest of their lives and it will be as gentle and beautiful as they are. That’s a promise, Sunflower.

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.