It is with heavy hearts that we have to share the first Salt River wild horse loss of 2026. Today, One Knee, age 24, was released from this world out of mercy, because he had lost all vision in his good eye – and his other eye had already been blind since 2023.

He was missing for a week, and then was found in a heartbreaking state — 100% blind, confused, and helpless. Had One Knee lived in almost any other horse herd, his end would have been terrifying and brutal.

But One Knee was born on the Salt River — where wild horses are managed humanely from their first day to their last, – a Status Quo we have worked incredibly long and hard for.
One Knee was on our rescue list, but his eye had ruptured, and we felt he wouldnt have understood that change in his world, in total darkness.

He was one of the bravest stallions we have ever known. He served as the lieutenant stallion of Mirabelle’s band, alongside Surfer Dude, standing loyally beside Serta, the lead stallion. What a powerful band they were. Their strength, unity, and devotion to one another were unmistakable. The late Mellie was also part of this band, with Nellie. And there was Minnie with Makenzie and Mirabelle, and Seneca with Deneca, and young mares Galadriel and Windy.

One Knee’s courage was never more evident than the night the band was attacked by a mountain lion — the night we lost five-month-old Mirabelle, a loss still felt today.

The following day, both One Knee and Surfer Dude bore the marks of that fight — scratches on their bodies, silent evidence of how fiercely they defended their family.

One Knee had a scratch that ran directly through his right eye. For weeks, we monitored the injured eye, which festered, before eventually shriveling away. And yet — One Knee survived. He adapted. He learned to navigate the world with only one eye. His behavior never changed. He continued guarding the band, continuing his role as lieutenant stallion with the same determination and quiet strength he had always shown.

As time passed and age caught up with all three stallions, Serta’s band eventually came under the leadership of Light Rain. Serta, stubborn as ever, still continues to follow along in his old age and we love that Light Rain lets him.

One Knee and Surfer Dude “retired”. A term we admittedly made up, but found appropriate for old lead- and lieutenant stallions that roam in their old age without a band. They can live many more years that way, and quite peacefully.

We will miss the days of Serta’s band, and we know how many of you will miss One Knee.
He will continue to stand as a symbol of courage: a stallion who fought a mountain lion, survived unimaginable injuries, including his knee injury which gave him his name in the first place. He adapted without complaint, and gave everything he had to protect his band.

We are grateful he was not taken by the mountain lion himself, and that he was spared much fear, confusion, and suffering in the end.

We want to thank the AZDA and the loyal supporters who always call in any situation they find. (You know who you are.) We want to celebrate One Knee’s very full life of freedom and family. Please like and share to honor him and help us hope that humane wild horse management reigns the future of all wild horses.

Run forever free One Knee — with Mirabelle and Mellie.

Thank you for all the wonderful tributes to One Knee, on our Advocates page. We have some news to share next, but hope you’ll enjoy some awesome posts from many amazing photographers and visitors, until then. To join the “Salt River Wild Horses -Advocates” page, please answer some simple questions so that we can avoid spam. Thank you!