Mr. Parker & Midnight

Mr. Parker was a thin, 28-year-old mustang when we started receiving photos of him at a kill pen in Texas in the spring of 2025. You know how we love our seniors and it made me so upset to see him being ridden through a puddle of filth when he was confused and scared. Gentled and trained, he most likely worked his whole life for people, only to be bitterly betrayed when he needed them the most in his old age. I couldn’t wait to get that saddle and rider off his back, the bit out of his mouth, and bring him home to Skydog.

As always, we like our rescues to have a travel companion to make the haul less stressful. At the same pen, there was a dusky mare in her twenties, whom I named Midnight. She was halter-trained and followed a lead. I can’t imagine how this beautiful mustang ended up there, but she also needed a soft landing. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to bring both of them to Skydog. As with Mr. Parker, we knew nothing about her, but we are hoping to get their brands read, find out where they come from, and maybe learn some of their story.

Mr. Parker and Midnight didn’t hesitate to jump out of the trailer and into their spacious, clean pen with trees, grass, fresh water, and bins with nutritious food. One of the first things they did was go over and say hello to the babies, eagerly waiting to meet them thru the fence. Shasta approached with Frosty, who clacked to tell them he’s a baby. This is an instinct they are born with to let older horses know they aren't challenging them and please be gentle. A curious Fiona, Forest, Cheyenne, and Snow watched calmly as Midnight and Mr. Parker walked the fence line with the welcoming youngsters.

I can’t wait to get closer and get to know these two, but we’ll give them time to settle in. For now, it was enough to call out, “Welcome to Skydog!” These three words mean they are now in a place where they will never go hungry again and will always have clean, fresh water. They will remember the sweetness of spring grass and how good it feels for their bodies to wander and their minds to explore. They will make friends and form close bonds that will last a lifetime, feeling safe in the company of a herd. They will sleep in soft dirt under a shady tree with the stars above them shining so bright. They will be treated with the kindness and respect they deserve and a human hand will only be offered in love. Nobody will throw a saddle on them, force bits in their mouths, or dig spurs into their sides ever again. Welcome to Skydog.

Lately it's been so hard because there are so many wild horses needing sanctuary right now. It's a never ending heartbreak saying no to so many. The reality is that I also have to protect our team and not overload them with horses. We rescue responsibly, taking only as many as we can care for at the high standard we do for the rest of their days.

#skydogmrparker  #skydogmidnight

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 Senators and urge them to support these bills:

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.

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 and stop production of Premarin & other PMU drugs.

Bills from the previous 118th Congress that we hope will be introduced again this 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.