WITH GRATITUDE
Your generosity is helping us give wild Mustangs a second chance at freedom, safety, and dignity. We are profoundly grateful of your support. Thanks to our sponsors and transformative grants, we are able to care for and provide food, veterinary care, and training for rescued Mustangs. You are truly changing lives - both theirs and ours.
We couldn't do this without you.
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We extend our deepest gratitude to COLORADO UNWANTED HORSE ALLIANCE for their support and generous grant. Your commitment to our Mustang rescue ensures these iconic horses have the future they deserve. With our whole heart, we thank you!!
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The Day the World Met StellaLuna
A Story of Hope and Heroism
Every Tragedy Needs a Hero
On September 7, 2021, amidst the harsh realities of a Sand Wash Basin helicopter round-up in northwest Colorado, a narrative unfolded that would capture hearts and inspire awe. Just after sunrise, on a high ridge, observers noticed a tiny newborn foal, seemingly in the company of a mare. Yet, as the moments passed, it became apparent that the foal’s protector was not a mare, but rather a mustang stallion famously known as Merlin.
The newborn foal, later named StellaLuna, had been tragically separated from her mother – and her vital source of milk – by a helicopter the previous day. Merlin, in an extraordinary act of sacrifice, had taken the young foal under his care, seeking to bring her to safety. Witnessing this tender and compassionate behavior from a wild stallion left observers deeply moved. It was a rare and extraordinary testament to the profound family values and altruism found in the untamed spirit of these majestic animals.
A Moment of Hope
As the drama unfolded on the ridge, the hope was clear: StellaLuna needed to be humanely captured to ensure her survival, either through reunion with her mother or access to milk. At the same time, observers hoped Merlin could escape the looming threats of captivity. But the wild can be a precarious place, and as a helicopter soared overhead and a cowboy approached, Merlin sensed danger. In a breathtaking display of bravery, the stallion bolted with the foal in tow, shielding StellaLuna from harm.
Eventually, the tiny foal was maneuvered into a holding pen and sent to a foster care facility where her needs would be met. Merlin, however, paid the ultimate price for his heroism. He was captured alongside 120 wild horses rounded up that morning and placed in a federal holding pen.
Merlin’s Defiance
What followed was nothing short of legendary. The very next morning, Merlin defied the odds and vaulted over the seven-foot-high fence of the holding pen, an incredible feat given the lack of space for a running start. With pure determination and strength, he galloped his way to freedom, leaving behind a story that would elevate him to mythical status in Sand Wash Basin folklore.
Merlin’s dramatic escape cemented his place as a symbol of resilience and freedom. Inspired by this tale, artists began creating poetry and paintings that captured the essence of the stallion’s heroism and the poignant rescue of StellaLuna.
Unbelievable Family Values
The story of StellaLuna and Merlin serves as a powerful reminder of the compassion and familial bonds that exist even in the wildest corners of nature. It is a tale that bridges tragedy and triumph, showcasing the extraordinary sacrifices animals are willing to make for one another. Through acts of courage and defiance, Merlin and StellaLuna have left an indelible mark on the hearts of those who witnessed this unforgettable moment in northwest Colorado, reminding us all the beauty and resilience found in the untamed spirit of the wild.
Charlie’s Legacy Program directly impacts equine welfare through rescue, rehabilitation, training, and responsible rehoming (or sanctuary) of mares who are pregnant or nursing. These mares stay in our program for as long as necessary to ensure a successful transition to a new home. The foals are integrated into our training program and re-homed between the age of 1-4
Through our Charlie’s Legacy Program, we provide lifesaving intervention for mother mares facing neglect, starvation, or slaughter, ensuring they receive the medical care, nutrition, and handling necessary to transition successfully into domestic life.
Our direct services include:
** Emergency Rescue & Intervention – Identifying and removing at-risk mares and foal from BLM auctions, hoarding cases, and neglectful situations, including our upcoming pregnant mare rescue from the Delta Auction in April 2025.
** Comprehensive Veterinary Care – Partnering with Iron Horse Equine Medical and Surgical Services, Colorado State University and Littleton Equine to provide pregnancy monitoring, ultrasounds, vaccinations, re-feeding protocols, and emergency medical treatment for mares and foals.
** Nutritional Rehabilitation – Supplying high-quality feed and supplements to underweight or malnourished horses, ensuring proper development for foals and recovery for their mothers.
** Foal Training & Socialization – All foals undergo a structured training period similar to young, rescued mustangs, focusing on gentle handling, halter training, leading, standing for farrier and vet care, and early desensitization to prepare them for future adoption.
** Postpartum & Mare Support – Ensuring new mothers receive ongoing veterinary care, proper nutrition, and recovery support to regain strength while nursing their foals.
** Sustainable Adoption & Education – Facilitating adoptions into qualified homes while educating the public on responsible equine ownership and the unique needs of rescued foals and mares.
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Because of our intentional, long-term training process, our adoption program requires a minimum of 12 on-site visits where potential adopters engage in groundwork and training sessions to ensure the horse-human partnership is a good fit.
In 2024, we invested over $28,000 in veterinary and rehabilitation costs for critical cases like Aurora, a mustang who required hospitalization for severe post-foaling complications, and three additional pregnant TWH mares rescued from the same hoarding situation where they faced starvation and neglect.
We have a nominal adoption fee of $1200 for gentled and/or companion horses and up to $5,000 for horses started under saddle who have completed a full training program. Our training program for young horses averages 3-4 years and begins with gentling when the foals are weaned, pasture turn out and basic handling for 2 years, then groundwork gradually leading up to work under saddle in years 3-4.
Because we invest an average of $6,000 into each horse annually, and the foals and young mustangs stay in our training program for up to 4 years, their average expenses prior to adoption are near $20,000 each.
This funding request will allow us to continue and expand these lifesaving services, ensuring more mother mares and their foals receive the time, care, training, and preparation needed to transition into safe and loving homes.
Charlie & StellaLuna: An Untold Story of Family, Love and Grief
It has been six months, ten days, and eight hours since Charlie left. Although much was shared about her when she passed away, there is still a lot that has not been discussed. This piece aims to provide an account of events following her death, particularly in relation to StellaLuna's wellbeing, in response to comments suggesting horses do not grieve or care about family connections. Due to the nature of this topic, time was needed to process these events before sharing.
StellaLuna is currently in good health, but recovery took time and specific care. This recount does not attempt to humanize her experience but rather offers observations and interactions through an animal communicator.
StellaLuna was separated from her family during the September 2021 helicopter roundup in Sand Wash Basin. She arrived in October 2021, thanks to assistance from individuals, veterinary care, and her resilience. Earlier that year, a broodmare named Charlie joined us after losing her own foal. They bonded and thrived together until Charlie's unexpected death due to colic in October 2022.
On the day Charlie passed, StellaLuna remained by her side, and we facilitated a natural farewell among their companions. StellaLuna chose to stay near Charlie until her body was moved, indicating her method of saying goodbye.
The subsequent two months were challenging as StellaLuna frequently returned to the spot where Charlie had died. This behavior suggests the significant impact of familial bonds on equines. While Telluride, another broodmare, offered support, StellaLuna often isolated herself, returning to the precise location multiple times daily. This period highlighted the importance of allowing time for grief and underscored the potential memory retention in horses.
After a month, advice from mentors and logical thinkers provided guidance. The difficult period prompted a consultation with an animal communicator for insights into StellaLuna's perspective on Charlie's passing.
StellaLuna's conveyed these words regarding Charlie:
"Why do you want to help me instead of just letting me do things in my own time? This is life, this is sadness and all of this is okay. I’m sorry it’s hard for you to watch and I know I will move forward again. Please don’t put a time limit on me. I will show you when I am ready to “move”. I will show you that you don’t have to follow any rules, any timeline or anyone else’s ideas of what this looks like. Feel it all, feel it fully, let it change you, let it change what others think, let it be the reason you no longer feel the need to move on when you are not ready. The longer the goodbye, the greater the love. I will never feel this kind of love again, so let me soak it all in for as long as I want.”
