Mustang Mission

*Mustang Mission Wild Equine Rescue is currently obtaining 501(c)3 nonprofit status, but at this time your donations ARE NOT tax-deductible .  However, an incredibly generous donor will match your donations if we reach our goal of $1,500! Each year, the Bureau of Land Management rounds up thousands of wild horses and burros from their western rangelands.  While mustangs are the more popular wild equine, burros are equally as important.  After capture, these mustangs and burros are housed in tiny holding facilities for months or years before being offered for adoption or sale via online auction or in-person adoption events. On the Bureau of Land Management's upcoming online auction is a group of older burros available as sales eligible.  That means they can be sold without limitation and the purchaser is not held accountable for what they do with the burros once they leave the government holding facilities.  Although not proven, many of these sales eligible burro...

I’m so excited to share this interview with you!  Recently, I was nominated for and received Dr. Karen Becker’s Game Changer Award.  As a recipient of the award, Dr. Becker interviewed me about America's Wild Horses and Burros and the work I'm doing to save them.  The video was just released last week! You can read the article and watch the video on Dr. Becker’s website .  Please take some time to look through her articles, as well.  She’s a fantastic veterinarian with a holistic approach to veterinary care.  My family and I have learned so much from her!

  I am so excited to share the story of how I got into rescuing mustangs!  I loved writing this story, reliving memories, and finding pictures from my younger years.  God has blessed me so much and I’m grateful for all He has done.  Please take a second to read my horse story - I hope you enjoy it! *Thank you so much to Rachel Brown (The Narrow Trail) for publishing it!

There’s a new face around here! Rocket, a mustang from the Sand Wash Basin Herd in Colorado, has made his way to Mustang Mission after being in the holding pens for a year and a half. Rocket is twelve years old and was a very successful band stallion when he lived in the wild. Sadly, he was separated from his entire band when he was captured. A few months ago, one of Mustang Mission’s board members, Mary Ellen MacDonald, approached me with the idea of rescuing Rocket and bringing him to Mustang Mission for gentling and training. He had been one of the first wild horses she had seen when visiting Colorado, and she felt a strong connection to him. I agreed to take Rocket in, and she won his bid during the auction at the end of January. Rocket was a Sales Authority mustang (like Alamo), meaning he was offered for sale without limitations. Horses like him frequently end up in bad situations. On March 24, Rocket arrived safe and sound! He has settled in very well and is proving to be one of...

Throughout the past year, I often asked myself questions to help me reexamine this mustang rescue purpose and how I can continue in this work successfully. Often, I have to remind myself why I began Mustang Mission. I’ll be honest, at times I’ve doubted my decision to start a mustang rescue. It hasn’t been easy, but as I continue pressing on, I realize more and more how blessed and honored I am that rescuing animals is a main part of my life. I want to share with you the questions I’ve asked myself and the answers to those questions. Why do I think that rescuing mustangs and burros is important ? Mustangs and burros are amazing animals. They are incredibly smart and talented. None of them should be wasting away in holding pens since the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) won’t consider releasing them back into the wild.  Most mustangs removed will become willing partners if given the chance.  Some mustangs aren’t great candidates for being gentled and should be released onto a s...

As you know, there are a lot of sad and horrible situations that come to light when rescuing horses. In this email, I wanted to give you a peek into something I recently saw on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) online auction coming up. I believe it’s important that you know what is happening to our mustangs and burros. The grim reality. This gelding is extremely thin - noticeable ribs, a thin neck, and protruding hips. This sorrel mustang is the face of mustangs that suffer in holding due to lack of care. Sadly, our tax dollars are paying the BLM to “care” for this mustang. I can’t know all the details, but it is very likely that this mustang is at the bottom of the pecking order in his holding pen and is being chased away from food. The holding pens are so crowded there is likely nowhere for this gelding to go where he can eat in peace. Honestly, he is so thin that he’s a horse I would’ve expected to see in a kill pen, not in the care of a government organization that receives bi...

Happy New Year!  I’m really looking forward to this year.  There are so many exciting things brewing under the surface, and I have to admit that we are keeping a few secrets…😉 Last year was a fabulous year, and there were many changes, experiences, additions, and growth.  Click on the video below to get a review of 2022 and watch some special moments!

Dear Friends, I can hardly believe that 2022 is almost over!  As I was looking back over this past year of so much growth, several “firsts” came to mind, but one particularly stood out: I had to say “no” for the first time to mustangs in need .  That was one of the most difficult moments for me.  Knowing that I couldn’t save these mustangs, who needed so much help, made me reconsider my decision to start a mustang rescue. Both times I had to say “no” was because we didn’t have room to take another mustang.  Even though fundraising for fencing may be a “boring” aspect of a horse rescue, it’s so important.  It means more mustangs saved - a difference made in their lives.  The proper facilities are the reason why we CAN save mustangs.  Otherwise, it would be impossible to rescue them. I know that this is only the beginning. I will have to say “no” many more times - even though it hurts - and I know it hurts you, too.  That’s why we’re in this togethe...

Ember: Before (June 2022) Ember: After (September 2022) Ember’s rehabilitation is complete ! Yes, she will still be with me until Summer 2023 (due to a requirement) for training, but her recovery process is over. She has filled out so much since she arrived in June, and she has fully healed from her past trauma caused by humans. She loves people and loves to be cuddled (see photo below), and she is extremely talkative when she sees her favorite people. Ember loves to be trained, and I look forward to starting her under saddle in a few months. I can’t get over how much different Ember’s expression is in the second photo - she’s so much happier. I wonder if the people who sold Ember to the kill buyer would’ve ever guessed what a gem this horse was under that wild appearance. We must stop the stigma that says equines in kill pens aren’t worth anything. This little mustang has certainly been worth everything. ❤️ Ember loved when this girl came to visit!

I created a page with all the different mustang and burro rescues and sanctuaries across America.  I hope it's helpful to you and that you find one near you that you can visit or volunteer at!  Please share! Visit the page>>

  Pickup + Week One with Ember!   Follow along in this video to experience the first week with this little mustang mare. She’s doing so well with her training!

Thanks to all of you, this little mare is safe! She arrived at our rescue yesterday and is doing so well. Her expression gets brighter and more alive every time I go out to check on her! She is very thin, but I can already notice her gaining weight. She gets all of the hay she wants and is enjoying Alfalfa Pellets. I can’t wait to get her on the feed I give my other mustang, Alamo, as it has done wonders for him. As Rune has just stepped into a new life, she needs a new name, too. I’d like to introduce her to you as Ember! Ember represents all the mustangs in kill pens, and she is a wonderful reminder to me that there is hope for those horses. Thank you again for your support and prayers! It means so much to me, and I thank God for all of you. ~Erin P.S. There’s a big story behind our drive home with Ember… stay tuned for a blog post about her rescue story!

Thank you so much for your donations, kind words, prayers, and support! Rune is safe and in the care of a wonderful mustang trainer, who is keeping her for a few days. I am so grateful to God for working everything out. It is a comfort to know that He loves and cares for each of these animals. Four days ago, Rune was the typical mustang in the horse slaughter trade - her future looked grim. Now, her future is filled with hope because of your generosity and prayers! However, we are still raising funds for round pen panels and Rune’s care. Again, thank you so very much! I pray that God blesses each one of you abundantly! ~Erin Phillips

Hello Everyone! Thank you all for your incredible support, prayers, and kindness! It is such a blessing to see so many people come together for a little mustang. Tomorrow morning is when I have to decide whether I can take Rune or not. Please take a moment to pray and share Rune’s fundraiser with your friends and family - it will save a life!   We want to say “yes” and defy the odds against Rune instead of saying “no” and allowing her to be slaughtered within a week. She is the face of so many mustangs in kill pens, and it is my hope that her story will inspire others to pass the SAFE Act and end horse slaughter. Please share our fundraiser for Rune! Thank you again for your incredible kindness shown to this beautiful wild horse. ~Erin Phillips

  This little mustang, Rune, needs your help!  We have until Friday to get her out from a kill pen in Kentucky, before she ships to be slaughtered.  Rune was gathered from Nevada a of couple years ago, and has been let down by humans ever since.  She is a mustang with so much potential and doesn't deserve such a horrific ending.  As a "nationally protected icon" Rune shouldn't even be in this terrible situation.  She should still be living wild and free with her family band in Nevada. It is our goal to rescue this little mustang, defy what her grim future looks like now, and give her the best home she's ever known out of the wild.  Giving her a happy ending requires community effort - please donate if you can and please share this fundraiser with others.  It will cost $600 just to bail her out.  We will be quarantining her on our property, but we need funds for vet care, transport, feed, and hay.  Please consider helping Rune - it would ...

Alamo may still be wild at heart, but his gentling process has come a long way.  I am so blessed to have this mustang, and thank God for him every day. ❤️

Click on the video below to watch!  

From a number to a name... His name is Alamo . ❤️

My mustang arrived safe and sound today!  He is settling in well and is very calm.  He and my miniature horse, Cloud, were best friends from the beginning and are staying right by each other. Stay tuned for updates and to learn his name!

Can't wait to meet this beautiful mustang in just one week!  I'm looking forward to starting him on a new, happy life after all of the horrors at the holding pens.  He will be given back his freedom of choice throughout his entire training. ❤️ If you would like to help rescue more mustangs like this one, you can still donate . "Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?" (Job 39:19)