And just like that, a wild stallion becomes famous.
September 7th
We cheer for his perseverance, his bravery and his personal victory over a terrible and cruel roundup.
Let’s hear it for Merlin of Sand Wash Basin, for the SWAT volunteers, and let’s hear as many of your voices as possible against the roundups and FOR humane management in the field.
There are better ways, SRWHMG.
Shared from our coalition partner the American Wild Horse Campaign.
She couldn’t be more than 1 month old. But she found herself completely alone on over 150,000 desolate acres of Colorado’s public lands. This was after she and her mother, a mare named Serendipity, were stampeded by low flying helicopters and became separated the day prior. No one even bothered to go looking for her.
The next day, she was found in the care of a stallion known as Merlin, who had seemingly brought her to the trap site for help. While Merlin could provide protection, the foal desperately needed milk. Upon being spotted, the helicopter took to the sky and began chasing the pair, then a wrangler on horseback followed and both the small foal and the brave stallion were captured.
The two most important things to a wild horse are family and freedom. The bonds of wild horses are intense, dynamic, and complex. On this day, Merlin chose family and while we all were grateful, we were heartbroken for the valiant stallion.
But here’s the thing about wild horses: they defy the odds.
This morning, Merlin chose freedom. He jumped over the metal panels that surrounded him and took back to the open range. Because as they say, freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.
Photos by WilsonAxpe Photography #savesandwash
