Las Vegas & Smoke San Jose & Black beauty

McCullough Peaks

The Roundup

The round up that targeted the McCullough Peaks herd clearly demonstrated the complete absence of any justification for wild horse removals. This herd is famous. People travel from abroad to see them, attracting tourists to Wyoming. They are photographed extensively and have huge followings on social media, where photographers offer almost daily updates on their lives. We know their families, backgrounds, victories and setbacks. We’ve celebrated the birth of their foals and watched them grow to adulthood. We’ve mourned the passing of elders, whom we’ve followed for decades. To the public, they are dearly loved mustangs and a national treasure.

The BLM touted this herd as a success story of PZP darting efforts for population control. Volunteers not only helped the BLM identify and dart the horses, they paid for and supplied the vaccines (regardless of the $11 million in the BLM’s budget for PZP programs). The foaling rate was brought down to 2%, which would have made the bureau proud if population control was really the objective. It isn’t. Even though the law states that wild horse herd management areas (HMA) are to be managed primarily for the use of wild horses, the BLM manages McCullough Peaks primarily for the use of the Rocksprings Grazing Association’s commercial cattle and sheep.

In their official documentation on the McCullough Peaks roundup over the winter of 2023-24, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) stated they would focus on removing horses 5 years old and younger. Nineteen of the 40 horses permanently removed from the range, however, were ages 6-15.

There were egregious violations of the BLM’s own Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) Guidelines. A yearling, Kat Ballou, died of head trauma her first night in BLM holding. They separated nursing foals from their mothers. Another motivation for this bait-and-trap roundup was the money the BLM stood to make off famous horses, like Thora. This nursing foal was the spitting image of Thor, a magnificent, world-renowned stallion. The BLM sold her for $60,000. Rather than prioritize placing these horses in excellent homes, they only cared about profit. In doing so, they drained funds from good homes and sanctuaries for the life-long care they want to provide for these federally-protected animals.

Auctions

There was so much noise around this roundup and auction, it was hard to hear. We knew if we were going to help, it would be to assist the older, bonded, or special needs mustangs. We received so many emails, messages, and letters about them with the most heartfelt pleas for us to take and reunite them. We want you to know, we heard all of you. We couldn’t answer as adoptions of horses from a herd like this have to be handed very carefully. The fact is there are people, who have nothing better to do with their time than try to prevent wild horses from getting a second chance at happiness and reunion with family. Regardless of the consequences, we were determined to do what was right for two pairs of senior, bonded mustangs who had spent the majority of their lives together. Too old and wild to be good candidates for adoption, they are without doubt among the most beloved mustangs in this country. We were committed to keeping Las Vegas with Smoke, and San Jose with Black Beauty as they would have chosen to do on the range.

The online auction for the mares was held in May 2024. We won the bids on Smoke and Black Beauty. At that time, we didn’t think we would have to keep it a secret long as the geldings would come up for auction a month later. Sadly, the neutering process was hard on San Jose and had difficulty recovering. He and another senior boy were held back until mid-September.

As one follower described it, “Black Beauty entered the Skydog Witness Protection Program.” As did little Thora and her aunt Moon Shadow. The threats made against their wonderful adopter were so fierce that we were asked if we would haul them to our sanctuary in secret and keep them here until the danger passed. We were happy to offer temporary refuge. Smoke and Black Beauty were protective, comforting matrons for Thora and Moon Shadow. It was our honor to give them peace and safety until they went on to their beautiful home - and it is beautiful.

Visitors asked about the black mares, but all we said was, “Their stories will be told later”. At long last, we can share this history. It felt like this day was an eternity coming and our witness protection program worked perfectly. This makes me very proud of our staff, sponsors, photographers, and vets, who knew these horses were here, but did not say a word.

Las Vegas & Smoke

Many people were desperately concerned for Las Vegas. He was 15 when they trapped him and not a good candidate for adoption, which placed him in danger of being sold as a “Sale Authority” horse. Tony Douzenis (@t.d.307_photography), who documented Las Vegas on the range for years, said one of the things he loved about him was “he never backs down”. There were reports he was aggressive in the trap. With his age and temperament, if not rescued, he would easily have ended up in the slaughter pipeline.

It was widely believed that he was a horse who needed sanctuary and we trust the people who knew him well in the wild. Another sanctuary raised funds to help rescues and private owners win the bids on the McCullough Peaks horses in the BLM’s online auction. Skydog did not accept any of this money when we took Las Vegas so that there would be more to help other good adopters.

Las Vegas and his lead mare, Smoke, were rounded up at the same time in March 2024 and separated in the trap. A foundation family of McCullough Peaks, they had been together ten years in the wild and raised some incredible offspring. In describing the roundup aftermath for the mustangs remaining on the range, another authoritative McCullough Peaks photographer, Sandy Sisti (@sandysisti), wrote: “Las Vegas’ long time mares, Oakley, Cactus Cate, and Sonoma, and his 2-year-old filly, Sable, have been quite agitated and don’t appear to be adjusting well to the absence of their band stallion and lead mare, Smoke.” 

We gave Las Vegas time to settle in before reuniting him with Smoke. We introduced him to Spartacus, Gatsby, Dundee, and Oliver, figuring the wildest of the wild boys would speak the same language. Calm, confident, and steady, Las Vegas walked right to them and held his own as Spartacus literally jumped for joy at his arrival. They really liked each other and bonded very quickly. We separated him from that group before releasing them. They were not at all stressed about going their separate ways as their dreams came true when we turned then out to join Apollo’s herd.

Las Vegas has an arthritic knee that made it hard for him to gallop on hilly, rugged terrain. A quieter life on easy ground with his beloved mare is the ideal situation for him. Las Vegas stopped in his tracks when he heard Smoke nicker. She followed the sound of his voice, calling to him as she worked her way from the barn to the open gate. Then she ran to him to begin what feels like an equine ritual dance after separation. They circled each other. Nose to nose, they stopped to take in one another’s scent. Then they ran again, repeating these steps over and over. Smoke used all her senses to know that this was really her Las Vegas, stopping periodically to snort disapproval of the humans who were filming their reunion - in tears - at a distance.

San Jose & Black beauty

While Black Beauty waited for San Jose in the company of Smoke and Las Vegas, the mares formed a deep friendship and alliance. Finally, on September 16th, the auction took place. We won the bid on San Jose and shed tears of relief and happiness. There are no words to fully describe what was the most intense labor of love by many kind, compassionate, generous people to save this mighty and legendary stallion of McCullough Peaks.

He's indescribably powerful, strong and huge. Like some magical beast from a fantasy novel, he's more dragon than horse and a force to be reckoned with. He's definitely not playing and must have been such a powerhouse on the range. He had three mares, including Black Beauty's best friend Wapi, and their lead mare Seminole. The losses were enormous for them both.

San Jose is a storm, so it seemed fitting that he arrived during a snow storm. He seemed pretty shut down when he got to us, a shell of his former grand self. He would stare at us with a "now what" expression, albeit curious. He was regal, yet seemed incomplete. All it took was the reunion with his mare from the wild, who dropped her mouthful of hay when she realized her love was running toward her. They had not seen each other since they were rounded up in early 2024 and were separated at the trap. They took off into the woods for some privacy to share stories and breathe each other in.

a band is born

We decided to turn out the McCullough Peaks horses together. That morning, they were peacefully eating close to each other, there was no sign of animosity. The third time I went to check on them, Las Vegas suddenly startled San Jose and they began to fight. The sheer power and strength of both horses, the loud blows as they struck each other was frightening.

The reaction of both mares to the conflict was fascinating. Smoke got into it to try and intervene. When San Jose broke away, Black Beauty made it very clear that she was upset with him. These mares were so close, I think they were keen to make this arrangement work and needed their boys to get along. Smoke came super close to Las Vegas as if to have have a word with him about keeping the peace. San Jose heard the message loud and clear and settled down. It took Las Vegas a little longer and he continued to stalk the other couple. Anytime San Jose would turn to confront him, Black Beauty would keep him walking. It was intense, but also beautiful to see their wild behavior and realize they were feeling like their old selves. The rest of the day, there were no more signs of aggression. The following day when we came out, a whole new dynamic had prevailed. They had settled into a band. The two mares got exactly what they wanted. For all the brute strength of these legendary McCullough Peaks stallions, the mares are the real powerhouses of the herd. A third mare, Flower Moon, joined this family and you can read her story here.

#skydoglasvegas #skydogsmoke #skydogsanjose #skydogblackbeauty

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.