Kona is a big, beautiful BLM Mustang gelding from Rock Creek, Nevada. Captured in November, 2016 he was entered into the
Trainer Incentive Program (TIP). He was adopted from the TIP trainer but sadly things did not work out. Shortly before he was to be returned to BLM we saw a post about him on Facebook and contacted the current owner. We agreed to take Kona in to the Rescue and get him Re-Started. He is currently in our training program
These two mares were at the Sunnyside Feedlot in WA. Halo (on the right) formerly tag #1100 is approximately 23 years old, and had been at the lot for several weeks. She was not gaining weight due to neglect of her dental care and she was unable to chew her food. No one would step up to take her home. Shilo had also been at the lot for a long time. Formerly Tag #1293, Shilo had several people express interest in her, but after two months of being on the feedlot, sadly it was just a bunch of people commenting on Facebook, with no one actually acting on their words. So here they are at AAM, and we adore these girls! Turns out Shilo is an 11 year old registered Quarter Horse. She had an injury on her left front foot, which is healing slowly but nicely. We believe she will be a nice non-competitive riding horse very soon. Halo the older mare is unstoppable!! After getting her teeth done and receiving endless hay and lots of warm mash with supplements, she is always ready to go! She’s been on several trail rides with us, and the younger horses can’t keep up with her. Whoever threw this Horse away…..well, let’s just say it’s their loss. And leave it at that.
UPDATE: TINO HAS BEEN ADOPTED !!!
Tino is a 5 yr old quarter horse gelding who absolutely loves to kiss and cuddle. From what we can gather of his story, he’d begun training and was somehow injured in the left shoulder area. The trauma of the injury caused his leg to rotate out severely. This injury is only visibly apparent when he stands or walks – when he trots or runs he appears normal. He shows no signs of pain, but the person who owned him at the time decided that it was easier to just take him to the feedlot, than to try and help him. Sadly, when Tino walked through the auction with his very visible gimp, he had no bidders, except the meat buyer.
This is when the story gets interesting….
Two ladies who’d attended the auction and seen that he’d received no bids, decided to walk by the pen where all the slaughter-bound horses were put. When they walked by, Tino came up to the panels and started nickering at them. He stuck his head through the panel for kisses, having no idea what his future held, he just saw humans and assumed that meant good things were going to happen. Lucky boy… they did. The ladies melted, and bought him from the meat buyer.
Tino is now receiving physical therapy and deep tissue body work. We are hoping to get this sweet boy back to as “normal” as possible. He is responding well, absolutely loves the attention, so much that he doesn’t even require tieing when treated. Barbara, who is treating him, says he is already showing signs of improvement. Tino is the first of our horses to go this special therapy program. Stay tuned ~
Dallas is a big, beautiful incredibly intuitive Sheldon Mustang mare from ISPMB, South Dakota, known as the “Hallelujah Horses.” She is always “guarding” her herdmates, always watching. She’s easy on fences and very quiet. We have had zero problems caused by this mare.
We have only recently begun working with Dallas, and she is gaining trust and confidence daily. Dallas is approximately 15.2 H, and is estimated to be in her late teens. Having never been touched by a human prior to arriving at AAM, she is discovering the joy of touching, brushing and attention. She actually goes into the round pen on her own and waits for you to come and “play” with her. She is nervous still, and can overreact but she quickly catches herself and willingly returns to your side once she realizes she is not in danger.
She is constantly fighting her fear in her desire to bond with humans, which is common. Dallas is currently in the process of maneuvering through ground obstacles, flagging, tarps and getting used to saddles, stirrups, and plastic sheets on her body – all of which she handles remarkably well. She is also learning to hang out with all variety of farm animals, which terrified her at first, and now accepts and seems to enjoy. We adore this mare, and are honored to be involved in this part of her journey.
UPDATE: PENNY HAS BEEN ADOPTED !!!
Penny was voluntarily surrendered to AAM in February 2017. She had foundered over the summer and fall of 2016, so was pulled off the pasture and put into a dry field with approximately 40 other horses. Penny then developed abscesses in both front feet. In too much pain to walk far, she could not compete with the other horses for food. She slowly began to starve. As her strength diminished and winter set in, she was unable to move out of the hock-high mud and feces she was left standing in, and infection moved into the open abscesses. With her immune system compromised she began to develop skin rot on both hind legs.
The home where we found her in this condition had apparently “rescued” Penny. She’d been abandoned along with her pony companion when her human family moved away. They simply left them at the property completely alone.
Penny is slowly beginning to show improvement. Turns out she is only eight years old. She has a very sweet nature, and even with all that she has endured at the hands of humans, she is still loving and willing to trust again. Penny will not be available for adoption for several months, as she is still recovering from the skin rot and abscesses. She has required regular hoof soaking with Epsom salts, as well as antibiotics and lots of hay and supplements. She’s moving a little easier now and putting on weight. Penny is in need of a sponsor to help her return to health.
UPDATE: Nash is available for adoption. He leads. loads, picks up his feet. Nash will be a big boy, Sheldon Mustang gelding. Contact us to meet this sweet boy 541.890.1274
When he arrived: Nash was born early in the morning May 12th, 2017. His mother Carmen traveled halfway across the country in December along with 8 other horses who were rescued from a flailing Mustang Rescue in South Dakota, to be taken in by AAM. All the Mustangs had been seized by the Sheriff’s Department and were facing slaughter if not adopted. We told them we would take as many horses as they could fit into the trailer. So we ended up with nine.
There were over 800 Mustangs in need of homes or rescue. This enormous undertaking was spearheaded by a remarkable woman named Elaine Nash. This has been the largest Animal Rescue in American history. We didn’t have to think twice about what to name this little man: Nash, of course.
Nash is very personable, curious and quite the comedian. He is extremely laid back and gets along with every creature he meets.
Apache
UPDATE: APACHE HAS BEEN ADOPTED !!!!
When she arrived: Apache is a Sheldon Mustang mare, approximately thirteen years old. When she first arrived at AAM we had our doubts that we would be able to halter her for several months – she was so stand-offish. But once the halter went on, she quickly accepted being touched and her training literally took off!! 
Progress. Apache has now been on many off-property rides, dealing with dogs, tractors, garbage trucks and scariest of all…cows! She stands for farrier and trailer loads easily.
Paris is a three year old BLM mustang and went through the TIP (Trainer Incentive Program). TIP helps teach and prepare her to be comfortable to lead, load in a trainer, accept a farrier, and trailer. We took her in after 2 false starts with adopters. She was facing being returned to the BLM holding facility, so AAM stepped in and agreed to take Paris.
Anna, Founder of AAM, has starting to work with her, advancing her training to get her to be adoptable. She’s the first horse we’re launching into our Working Mustangs Program. Stay tuned for more information, as the program is developed.
Paris’s BLM Freeze Mark
UPDATE: Brynna, now named Kat, is living the life every wild horse dreams of at Skydog Sanctuary. After months of discussion, Skydog agreed to give life long sanctuary to this very special mare. She is thriving, and even has a boyfriend!
After a year of trying, and working with several trainers, we realized that she was never going to accept fully being domesticated. Can’t say that we blame her. Not having the land necessary for a wild horse to live out its life on, with the primary concern being able to keep their hooves at a healthy length, we’re very grateful to Skydog for giving her a chance. After being captured at 8 months old, kept in a metal pen for FIVE YEARS, she is now doing what she should have been allowed to do the whole time…..being a horse.
When she arrived: Brynna is a BLM Mustang. She was captured when she was under a year old and is now 6. She has been living in a government holding facility this entire time. Brynna is very wary of humans, and has been the most challenging Mustang so far. We are hopeful that we can work successfully with her and help to create a rewarding life for her. Brynna is not available for adoption at this time.
On the Yakima Indian Reservation, as on all Reservations, the US Government has little or no sway on tribal decisions. This is good, but bad at the same time. For the horses anyway….
Once rounded up off of a Reservation, Mustangs are not protected. They can and are shipped directly to Canada for slaughter in many cases. No notice, no auction – just shipped. We are very fortunate that we have several “watchdog” groups who are concerned and are actively negotiating with tribes for the purchase and saving of these Mustangs. The members of these Watchdog Groups vary and are committed as a whole to work diligently to preserve these Mustangs. Many of the most hard working members are tribal members and living on the Reservations.
Of the 51 Mustangs captured on this day, we were only able to take four. Hence, “The Yakima Four”. Driving away from there that day with only four in my trailer was one of the saddest and most shameful moment of my life. Why couldn’t I take all 51? Why leave 47 behind ?….to a fate I can only toss and turn about for too many nights to mention. I guess I could pull on the Starfish Fable, “Well, for those Four we made all the difference….” Somehow it’s just not good enough. But it’s what I am left to hold on to.
So, for these Four, I will go beyond due diligence. I will pull into emotional and financial reserves yet untapped, and will do everything I can for you……because I could not do it for the 47 left behind. – Anna Clay
