Freedom Given Back: Renegade's Story

Freedom Given Back

-----------

In south Oregon, lives one of the most magnificent wild horse herds - an opinion held by many wild horse lovers. The South Steens Wild Horse Herd is home to some of the most intricately-colored pinto horses - pintos that you never knew could exist. The mustangs’ home is a spectacular location mainly composed of canyons, but with a harsh climate. For centuries, only the strongest mustangs have survived.

This wild horse herd is followed closely, and in 2006, an adorable blue roan pinto was born. People all over the country fell in love with this colt and began following his life. Excitement grew as he became a bachelor, then a band stallion and father. Renegade thrived in his wild home and lived for his freedom and family.

Renegade running wild and free. Photo Credit: Mustang Meg

Even though South Steens encompases 130,000 acres, the Appropriate Management Level (AML) is 159-304 horses. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducts roundups regularly to decrease the population. On one sad day in early 2018, Renegade was removed in a horrific helicopter roundup. He and his family were stampeded in the cold and snows of winter to a treacherous trap. On that day, Renegade was separated from the only family and life that he had ever known. In a few months, he would be offered on the BLM’s internet adoption. This next chapter of his life’s story would be decided by the highest bidder.

Renegade waiting in holding.

Renegade’s story had a chance of taking many different directions - good or bad. Thankfully, Stacie Thomas, a mustang trainer and advocate who had followed him in the wild, decided to bid on him - and she won! “I thought, ‘Wow - I just won my dream horse!’,” she says. Many generous individuals across the country had donated items to an auction that had been organized to help rescue him.

One of the items donated to the auction.

Stacie Thomas soon went to get Renegade and stayed at Skydog Sanctuary, so she could be near the corrals where Renegade was located. “When I got to the holding facility to pick him up the next day, the wranglers ran him into the chute. He was so beautiful - way more in person than on film. I couldn’t believe he was mine,” Thomas reflected. Since Renegade couldn’t be free, she wanted to give him the best life possible and help him adjust to life with humans.

Stacie Thomas & Renegade

Driving from Oregon to Arizona took two days, but Renegade traveled well. When they arrived home, Stacie Thomas decided to wait a couple of days before she began working towards developing a trust with him. Within the next few weeks, Renegade progressed in his training. “He was willing, but reserved,” she remembers. “I took him to a big arena so he could run around a bit with some of my other mustangs, and he enjoyed it - but you can see that it wasn’t the same. I took him to a few clinics to see if I could get him to start to expect human touch, but he never did. He stayed with Jeff Cook, a professional mustang trainer, for six months and, although he was able to saddle and ride him, Renegade still didn't want human contact.”

Renegade in training with Jeff Cook. Photo Credit: Anouschka Rokebrand

While Renegade was still in training, Stacie Thomas was notified that Renegade’s lead mare, Lupine, was available in the holding facility. Wanting to bring some happiness into Renegade’s life, she adopted Lupine. When Renegade came home after a few months of training, she put Lupine and Renegade together, and Lupine was so happy to see him and wouldn’t leave his side. Once Thomas released them into a larger pen, she could tell that Renegade was thrilled about Lupine’s arrival. “You could see his spirit and the sparkle in his eyes starting to shine again,” she remembers.

Renegade and Lupine

After over two years of questioning if Renegade was suited to a domesticated life, Stacie Thomas realized that he just wanted to be wild. On March 16, 2021, she contacted Skydog Sanctuary, who gladly agreed to take him and his lead mare.

Remembering that time, Thomas says, “The day he left was so sad, but I knew that I was doing the very best thing I could for them. Renegade loved liberty more than being haltered, so when the horse transport got here, I led him onto the trailer with just a rope around his neck. He walked in normally, but then realized that something was happening and ran right out.” She then haltered him and walked him into the trailer. After she loaded Lupine, she went to spend some extra time with Renegade before he moved on. Then, she took off his halter for the last time. “It was so bittersweet,” she says.

Renegade and Lupine traveled back to Oregon, which was to be their forever home. Soon after their arrival, Clare Staples, the owner and director of Skydog Sanctuary, said, “What a special, loving thing for Stacie Thomas to do [reuniting Lupine and Renegade] and then to follow it by giving them back their freedom together!”

Renegade and Lupine at Skydog with Stacie Thomas.

Renegade and Lupine had been given back the life they loved - thanks to Stacie Thomas. In a few weeks, with a mission to reunite Renegade and Lupine with other members of their band, the Skydog team visited the holding corrals and found four more of Renegade and Lupine’s family members. They brought the four home, plus a mare that was bonded to Lupine’s daughter, on April 22. In just a few weeks, they would reunite them!

Completely unexpected, on May 6, Skydog Sanctuary sent out this message, “Our hearts are shattered into a million pieces. This morning, Renegade passed away. There is no way to describe the grief and sorrow we are all feeling. Somehow he injured himself, most likely by rolling onto something sharp which severed an artery.* This is without a doubt the most terrible, tragic, and traumatic thing that we have ever been through.

“There aren’t words to describe our devastation especially for Stacie who loved Renegade so much and did everything she could to make him happy. In the end, she sent him and Lupine to Skydog to live out their days free and wild.” Later the post said, “Renegade died wild and free and he was the happiest horse ever to get that gift back.”

Lupine was immediately introduced to her extended family, so she would still have companionship. They bonded immediately, and Lupine is now the proud lead mare of this beautiful little group. They are bringing comfort to everyone who knew and followed Renegade and his family.

Reflecting on Renegade’s life with her, Thomas says, “I had a deep love and connection to Renegade. Many people could feel his intense spirit through pictures and social media posts, but very few people were able to form a strong bond with him,” she says. “I am grateful he allowed me to be one of the few he came to trust.”

Renegade - may the memory of him live on in our hearts.

Renegade’s story is one of many that inspires us to work towards a time when all wild horses and burros will be allowed to stay wild and free, forever. That is where they thrive. Yet, for those who sadly were removed, we are grateful for the many caring people over the years that have stepped up and rescued the mustangs that they could. However, we will never forget the ones left behind or sent to the slaughter after adoption. We are so grateful for Stacie Thomas and her dedication to giving Renegade and Lupine a wonderful life - a new, happy beginning.

Renegade’s owner, Stacie Thomas, is starting an organization, Renegade’s Legacy Project, in honor of him. It is focused on helping younger mustangs be adopted and giving older mustangs a safe place for the rest of their lives. Please consider supporting their mission.

Thank you to Stacie Thomas, Skydog Sanctuary, and all of the wild horse and burro advocates who fight for our wildlife every day. You are so appreciated.

*Note: Later, Skydog discovered that Renegade's death actually seems to have been caused by him sand colicking and rolling, cutting himself on a branch. However, they do not believe the wound to have been the cause of his death.

_______________________

About the Author: As a life-long lover of God's beautiful creation, Erin Phillips became a wild horse and burro advocate after learning about their plight through The Cloud Foundation and Cloud documentaries. In the beginning of 2018, Erin began volunteering for The Cloud Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving our wild horses and burros. She lives on a small farm on 40 acres in rural south-eastern Georgia with her family and horse, Cloud—named after Cloud, Wild Stallion of the Rockies. Currently, Erin is in the process of starting a mustang and burro rescue, Mustang Mission. She will take in at-risk mustangs and burros, train them and offer them for adoption to loving homes. Erin's very first mustang will join the herd on February 25.

Renegade's Picture Gallery

________________