Frost

We rescued three very wild mares from a kill pen - Snow, Sierra, and Cheyenne - and two of them were pregnant. The AIP adopter claimed to have bred them to an Appaloosa stallion, but the birth of Shasta, a darling mule, proved otherwise. As Snow’s belly swelled to the size of double wide, we had no idea what to expect, and it didn’t matter. In the wee hours of August 3, 2024, Snow safely delivered a beautiful, healthy colt with long legs and a two-toned tail. He was born in the heat of the summer and wildfire season, but only a wintry name would do for the son of Snow. The top suggestions on Patreon were Flurry and Frost (for Jack Frost).

Frosty’s entry into the world was the exact opposite of Shasta’s (she spent her first months fighting for her life in the vet hospital and quarantine). It’s always amazing how quickly these prey animal newborns are able to stand and run, if necessary. He had no trouble latching on to take in the colostrum so vital for a strong start in life. Cautious and observant, he followed the lead of his wild mother. Snow had every reason to be protective and we completely respected that. Auntie Cheyenne was always there to back her up, nudging him on if he fell behind. Across the fence, two matronly mares, Violet and Rosa, doted upon him - and Violet was ready to charge at anyone or anything that might pose a danger. When he graduated to the baby pen, Shasta, Pepper, Marcie Marshmallow, Forest, and Blossom were ready and waiting to show him how to stretch those long legs in games of tag and races.

When he was big enough, Frost and Snow were turned out with a band that included Priscilla and Shasta. We caught the magical moment when they were introduced to the pond. His eyes were wide as he watched the mares splash and roll in the water. Then Priscilla led them off through a meadow of lupines to explore their new surroundings.

#skydogfrost

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 US canned hunt ranches and stop production of Premarin & other PMU drugs.