Wild Mustang Mare Arrives at Equine Advocates Under Emergency Circumstances |
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Onaqui arrived at the sanctuary on June 4, 2022.
Photo taken by Melissa Murray/Equine Advocates.
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Dear Friends,
This past Saturday, we welcomed a new resident to the sanctuary. She is a Wild Mustang Mare who we named “Onaqui” in honor of the Onaqui Mountains in Utah situated on the public lands where she lived and the famous herd she came from of the same name.
Onaqui (pronounced O-nah-kee) is a Native American word that means “Salt Mountain” or “Pine Tree Mountain.” The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) captured her and more than 300 other wild horses from that herd during a brutal 5-day roundup last July. The Salt Lake Tribune published this report about the roundup.
“Onaqui,” who the BLM estimated to be around 16 years old, should have been returned to the range immediately due to her age. Instead, she ended up suffering in captivity like so many other wild horses.
In addition to her BLM freeze brand under the left side of her mane, she has another brand of “BZ” on her left flank. That brand indicates that she had been darted with the PZP fertility control vaccine.
As you know, we are opposed to all roundups of wild horses and burros. We have three wild horses here at the sanctuary: Nelson (from Nevada), who had been captured as a foal in 1999, and Hayden and Kachina, who were both captured in the Pryor Mountains of Montana at the age of two in 2007 and 2010 respectively. All three of them had been abused, mistreated, and needed to be rescued. The bottom line is that many people who adopt or end up with a wild horse or burro are not always equipped to care for them properly and often become frustrated when they realize these animals do not behave like domestic equines. For many of these animals, it is just a matter of time before they end up at auction and sold for slaughter.
The cruel, inhumane, and disastrous governmental policy called “The Path Forward,” which permits and promotes the rounding up of wild mustangs and burros from America’s vast public lands, among other atrocities, was first instituted in 2019. Mystifyingly, several national animal “welfare” groups, as well as some wild mustang “protection” organizations, joined pro-horse slaughter industry groups and became “strange bedfellows” in support of this terrible policy.
Industry groups representing ranchers, fossil fuel companies, and pro-slaughter politicians, including Utah Congressman Chris Stewart, who represents many of these special interests, have used their power and influence in eliminating these herds from their rightful homes on America’s public lands.
I will be writing updates about this issue and about our beautiful Onaqui, who we hope will be able to adjust well and be happy here at the sanctuary. Although it has only been four days since her arrival, Onaqui seems calm and not as stressed as we thought she would be. In the meantime, we are designating the first day of every week as Mustang Monday featuring video and information about the four wild horses who live here at the sanctuary. The first Mustang Monday will be on June 13th, so please look for it on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media outlets.
I also would like to take this opportunity to thank Jen Rogers, President and Founder of the Red Birds Trust, for helping to facilitate Onaqui’s release to us. As a professional photographer, she has poignantly documented this mare’s former life on the range when at age 16, her entire world was suddenly shattered and the life she had led was taken away.
While our sanctuary is not close to the kind of environment Onaqui is used to, we are committed to doing everything possible to make her feel safe, secure, and loved. We love her already!
Sincerely,
Susan Wagner
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Onaqui was photographed by Jen Rogers in happier days when she was still wild and free with her herd. |
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On July 16, 2021, Onaqui became a prisoner following her brutal and unnecessary capture by the BLM. |
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Will you become a Sponsor for Onaqui? |
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Onaqui needs sponsors to help support her care. For as low as $50 per month, you can enjoy the perks of our Equine Sponsorship Program. This includes a Sponsorship Pack with bio information, photos, and other goodies related to your equine. All sponsorship funds go directly toward the routine care of an individual equine, as well as medical emergencies and special care. In addition to knowing you’re supporting our residents, sponsors don’t have to wait for a Public Open Day to visit their equine at the sanctuary. You can stop by any time, as long as there is advanced notice. If you're not local to the area, we'll provide a virtual visit with your special friend.
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Our next Public Open Day is June 12! |
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See Onaqui and our other 80+ equine residents in person at our next 2022 Public Open Day in June!
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Please consider making a tax-deductible donation.
No contribution is too small!
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Thank you so very much!
Equine Advocates is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) equine protection
organization founded in 1996. In 2004, we moved our base of operations to a 140-acre horse sanctuary in Chatham, NY, currently home to 81 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys & mules, and our two adorable goats. We have a Humane Education Center on the sanctuary grounds where we welcome visitors of all ages throughout the year.
Please visit our website for more information on our work.
Click here to join our mailing lists
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EQUINE ADVOCATES:
PROMOTING THE HUMANE AND RESPONSIBLE TREATMENT OF HORSES
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