Swan & Autumn
The Ballerinas
This pair was rounded up from the Green Mountain HMA in Wyoming. Thankfully, the lady at the BLM corrals there reached out to see if we would take them so they could stay together as they were so bonded. That was the second time a BLM employee asked us to take a pair of bonded mares. We always say yes when they do - and in both cases they were spot on.
We believe that Swan is Autumn’s daughter. Their closeness is obvious to anyone who sees them. They move as one and seem to know what the other is thinking, beautifully in unison. Anyone who doesn’t believe that horses form strong bonds only needs to spend an hour watching these two to be convinced.
They run wild in a big herd and have strong lead mare energy. They are close, curious, and cautious in a way similar to Hera and Strongheart, another pair of deeply bonded Wyoming mares. They keep their distance from humans and hold back to keep watch when we appear. One word from them and the whole herd would take off, if there was any possibility of danger.
Rising Sun was rounded up from the same Green Mountain herd on the same day. She resembles Autumn so strongly, we thought the duo might become a trio of dancers, but she decided to run with other girlfriends. Having the choice is part of being free. Freedom is essential to mustangs and their happiness is all that matters.
The Ballerinas currently have sponsors
By committing annually to a $100/month sponsorship of a mustang or burro, you help us enormously by supporting our existing rescues so we can continue saving more. To learn more about becoming a sponsor and see which animals need them:
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.