Priscilla

Priscilla is a gorgeous mare, whom we found in the horrible Fabrizius kill pen in Colorado. She was with Swayze. Both were listed as BLM mustangs, but the lot told us their brands didn’t show up because of their white necks (which isn’t unusual). It was winter and we couldn’t be sure, but we said yes to taking them both. She was not as skinny as Swayze as he was sick and collapsed during the haul. She traveled well, but was found to have strangles when she arrived. Both horses went through quarantine together and became as close as two horses can be. As they regained their health, Priscilla grew bigger and bigger until we realized it was more than good nutrition. Priscilla was pregnant. We had rescued not two but three horses from shipping to slaughter.

Priscilla gave birth to Dalton and was a wonderful mother. Sadly, Swayze loved her, but he didn’t like the foal. Priscilla became aggressive to protect her baby whenever Swayze came near them. It wasn’t safe for them to be together as a family, so we separated them and Priscilla got on with raising Dalton as a single mother.

One day, we decided to try adding Dalton and Priscilla to Bear’s herd, where the babies could play and the mothers could protect the young ones from predators. They thrived. Dalton still lives with that herd, but Priscilla fell head-over-hooves in love with Jackson over the fence. We let her go over to Buddy’s herd to run with Jackson until he passed away.

In May 2024, a newborn mule, Shasta, needed a nurse mare when her mother was unable to nurse her. We needed one who was tame and had given birth before. We narrowed down the list and chose Priscilla. We took her to the clinic, where they started her on hormones, and soon Priscilla began lactating. This was our first experience with this situation and we had no idea what to expect.

“Priscilla is perfect,” texted the vet with a video of Shasta drinking from her nurse mother. Priscilla’s maternal instincts must have have sensed this baby needed her in every way. She rose to the task of being a mother again with love and kindness. Gently, she helped Shasta latch on. Calmly, she groomed, nuzzled, and guided her new baby, standing over Shasta as her eyelids grew heavy with sleep.

When they returned to Skydog, they had to be isolated until Shasta was clear of clostridium. On June 28th, Dr. Findlay gave the green light for them to come out of quarantine. Priscilla will enjoy the company of other mothers as their babies run and play - and get a break from aunties in the group who will help raise the babies.

We will never know why Sierra stopped nursing her foal. Whatever the reason, mother and daughter are doing beautifully now. Sierra carried Shasta to term despite cruelty, neglect, and the terrible stress of a kill pen. Priscilla is nourishing and nurturing her with everything a happy baby needs.  The stunning generosity and love shown by this maternal mare to another mare’s baby has been heartwarming, uplifting, and we are grateful to her.

#skydogpriscilla

 Helping Mustangs & Burros

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 2023 (H.R. 3475 in the House / S.2307 in the Senate). This bill will 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. 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.

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, stop production of Premarin & other PMU drugs, and defund the Adoption Incentive Program.