He was lesser-known, but not less magnificent— Tyrus, may you run forever free, as thundering and proud as you always did.

We are sorry for the late night post, but we are sharing as fast as we can, because we know how much people care. We don’t want anyone to dread which other horse has died, but between checking on horses with VSV symptoms, answering hundreds of messages, feeding and monitoring our rescues, and even running our wild horse merchandise booth today (thank you to everyone who stopped by!), it’s been a whirlwind and it sure doesn’t feel much like Christmas.

The “other” unexpected death we found on the same day as Red Wind, was Tyrus—a healthy, powerful, beautiful eight-year-old stallion in the prime of his life—suddenly gone. Just days earlier, he’d been seen doing what bachelors do best: running the river, sparring, posturing, and dogging his favorite band—Inspector’s band. (Dogging means following a band while waiting for a chance to “steal” a mare or slip into the band as a lieutenant.)

Tyrus was tall, he was tough, he had healed many a battlewound and he shouldn’t have succumbed to VSV, which is not known to be fatal. We sent out our SRWHMG veterinary team immediately to determine cause of death, and also took the AZDA and State veterinarian Dr. Wolker to his body for testing. We want to thank them for responding so fast.

Tyrus had clear VSV lesions around his mouth and on his tongue, but here’s where the mystery deepens:

He had no battle wounds.

No trauma.

No blood.

No bloating or sign of colic

It looked as though he had simply… collapsed into a bush.

Because EHV is a more dangerous virus, and was also confirmed in Arizona, we ordered a full necropsy ourselves, and SRWHMG will bear the full cost. Tyrus’s entire body is now at Midwestern University, where experts are digging into every possible cause: EHV and/or other viruses and infections, toxic plants, colic, internal issues, and yes—even the possibility of a bullet we might have missed. We asked them to look for everything. We hope to find out his cause of death soon and will immediately inform you.

Tyrus was a stunning stallion with four white socks, the son of Athena and Kayo, and half-brother to Venus, so he at least, is related to a bloodline that will continue through Iris, born in 2024.

You may recognize him and remember him by below photos of different phasis of his short, but beautiful life, which he lived out loud. The Photos are from our app, taken by Destini Rhone, Rick Blandford and Karen Carney. Please share, and also feel free to share your own photos and videos of Tyrus in remembrance.

May he run forever free as thundering and proud as he always did.

For the public and by the public, SRWHMG.
#wildhorses #saltriverhorses #saltriverherd #IStandWithWildHorses ##wildandfree