We received a call on our hotline about a horse on the wrong side of the metal fence, yesterday afternoon. We have been working hard to save this filly’s life ever since. It is Raven, Ladybird’s filly!

It makes total sense now why Ladybird was stuck in the cattle guard: she was trying to get to Raven.

The cattle guard is the only connection point and she risked her life on purpose to try and reach her filly. Again proving the point we make often; wild horse bonds are amazing and they will risk their lives for each other.

Most of our supporters will recall that we opposed the metal fence line along the river, but the fence is here, and it is our job to save horse lives.

Raven’s predicament was deadly because she had been stuck on the wrong side of the fence this whole time without access to water. She did not have much time left, so thank you DeeDee Purcell and Kim Mason for knowing and calling our hotline number! (480 868 9301)

What we needed to do to save Raven’s life, is get her to find a water trough immediately. So our teams brought 5 water stations out yesterday, and filled and hand carried 5 gallon water jugs, all along the fence line. We added a trough close to the cattle guard also, where we knew she would come back to. We then had teams all throughout the night watching the cattle guard and the road, to prevent her getting hit or getting stuck.

At sunrise we gathered and spread out across the vast area and located her. She had drank out of one of the water troughs, so that bought us time, she was not about to die anymore.

We transported panels from our property and built a trap site to bait trap her. We planned a horse trailer ride back to her family. However smart Raven chose the only other option. She ended up heading to Coon Bluff, were we were able to cut the barbed wire fence and move her through it..

Yeay! She immediately ran to the river which was the sweetest sight! She drank for a good 15 minutes and played with river eel grass.

She then saw a band of horses and immediately started following them. It is not her own band, but she seems very happy after all these days alone. Raven is a year and a half old, which is a normal time to be ok without her own band. She can now can either stay with them, or try to find her own band back, which would be very sweet. We will keep you updated for sure.

We want to thank MCSO deputy Bradshaw for helping yesterday and AZDA Makenzie and Logan for helping today, and too many to mention of our hardworking volunteers. We also want to thank all of you for your support, because after all, where would the Salt River wild horses be without that?

For the public and by the public,SRWHMG.