Bonbon

Great things come in small packages. This little pistol has a huge personality that cannot be contained by his little body. It bubbles over the rims and into the world as mini-mule mischief. An instigator, rabble rouser, troublemaker, this bolshy little ruffian wants to show everyone he’s the boss. It has never crossed his mind that maybe somebody else might be in charge. He doesn't give up and will never give in when he draws other equines into his games. His short little legs are no hindrance to his shenanigans. Being adorably ornery and comically uncooperative is part of his charm.

There were lots of chuckles when Bonbon hopped off the trailer with Ziggy and raced around the pen with him in games of tag. On the road, he was a fearless travel buddy, who helped the orphaned zebra stay calm. Once in Malibu, they became partners in crime. We were asked which equine had the most influence on the other, the wild zebras on the mini-mule or the mini-mule on the wild zebras. It was definitely the mini-mule teaching the baby zebras - and most of it was naughty lessons.

We moved them all up to Oregon to be gelded when they were big enough. When they were ready, we gave them bigger space to run on. There, something unexpected happened. When Bonbon met Waldo the Donkey, it was the beginning of a beautiful bromance. We’d find them resting side by side, cheek to cheek in the sun. The zebras came back down to California where they prefer the warmer winters, but Bonbon stayed in Oregon to be with his best friend. Bonbon can take humans or leave them, but while watching Waldo express his everlasting love for Clare, the mini-mule has realized we’re worth a closer look.

#skydogbonbon

American 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 two Senators to urge them to support these bills. 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

Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act of 2025 (H.R.1661 in the House and S.775 in the Senate). This bill would amend the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the “Farm Bill”. There are several important provisions for animals in that omnibus federal law, including the Cat and Dog Meat Trade Prohibition Act. It is currently illegal to slaughter, transport, possess, purchase, sell, or donate dogs and cats, or their parts, for human consumption. The SAFE Act would extend the ban to equines and 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. 4356) The bill would eliminate the use of helicopters in rounding up wild horses and burros, and require a study into alternative methods for humanely gathering the animals.

Ejiao Act of 2025 (H.R. 5544). 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.

See our How to Help menu for other actions to ban zebra hunting at canned hunt ranches in Texas & Oklahoma, bringing an end to the BLM using Sale Authority to funnel wild equines into the slaughter pipeline, and stopping production of Premarin & other drugs made from pregnant mare urine.