Whispering Winds Animal Sanctuary

It's been quite some time since we updated this page and hope to be able to make it a routine since so much happens here at the Sanctuary. In the meantime we want everyone to know that we are no longer taking in animals. We are maintaining the herd we have as they live their lives out in the peace and safety at our ranch. We will, however, be fostering wild horses that have been gathered and gone through auction in order to quarantine them, and geld if necessary, while we wait for their forever homes to come available. This is our contribution to helping with the outrageous number of wild horses being gathered currently. We can at least offer a safe place on their journey.
Thank you

A few new faces over the past couple of years.

Meet Jack (aka Curly)

Pop Tart

Jack

Jack was found wandering alone in a local ranchers field and brought to the rescue after attempts to locate his owner was unsuccessful. However, we have located his previous owner who has visited Jack/Curly and is excited to see that he is safe and doing well. We estimate him to be between 12 and 15 years old, super sweet, and loves to be loved on. He gets along with the horses great, and since she is unable to take him back, he has become our coyote controller. We have lost several cats prior to Jack's arrival, and none since. Jack is a welcome addition to the Whispering Winds family

Cheyenne

Cheyenne, an approx 7 year old mustang mare, is a Bowie feed lot rescue we got a year or so ago. She's come along way since arriving. When I go out to the field and she sees me, she will come up and turn sideways, waiting for me to pet her.

Chaco

Gus

The hardest goodbye yet...

On Saturday evening (December 3rd, 2016) I had to say goodbye to a man that meant the world to me, my daddy. He was the pillar of our family. He taught me how to ride, instilled the passion of horses in my life, taught me to be strong and stand up for myself. He believed in everything I did, and when I strayed he was stern but loving in guiding me back on the right path. He shared all my joys and sorrows with me, and encouraged me to be the best I could be. He was proud of his family and made us his priority. There were days he’d have us all saddle up and go for a long ride to a hole in the wall some two hours away on horseback. We’d tether the horses, have lunch, and then ride back home. If I got bucked off breaking one of the new horses he’d make me get up and right back on. There was no giving up. This is how he lived his life to the very end. There aren’t enough words to describe how wonderful a father he was. He loved the ranch and the horses here, and said when he died, this was where he wanted to be. It was a privilege and honor to have been his daughter, and my honor and blessing to have been his nurse in his final months. I’m grateful to still have my wonderful mother with us, and an unbelievable husband God blessed me with who walked through this chapter right by my side, loving and taking care of my father with me every step of the way. But, the bond between a father and daughter is immeasurable and the void and emptiness too real. I know this is only a temporary separation and we will all celebrate together in Heaven one day. So, for now, I have to be excited for my dad as he reunited with my sister, my son, my daughter, my brother, his parents & all those who have gone before. What a party they must be having. Party on, dad. It’s your celebration time. Thank you for all you gave…

DINNERTIME!!!

We are so happy to have been able to relocate our rescue horses to a better climate that is more suitable for our Seniors and disabled horses. Jenkins, our completely blind mustang gelding that was saved at the 11th hour from going to slaughter, has quickly adapted and can maneuver the 63 acres confidently. The herds still break down into their own bands, but all stick to grazing in the same areas together.

With enough stalls and run in's to care for all the horses, new routines have been easy to adapt to. But, my favorite time is evening feeding. All we have to do is holler "dinner" and it's a race. We have been blessed beyond all expectation to be able to give our precious souls a better life.

The Fight for Freedom

Our American Mustangs

In 2002, we were introduced to our first mustangs through an adoption center sponsored by BLM. The love for them was immediate. The raw, fearless love of life that they displayed was unlike any domestic horse I had ever had.

Over the next few years we worked as volunteers with BLM to help find homes for the horses they were gathering, provided transportation of adopted horses, and mentored new adopters. Little did I know the reality of what I was doing, and how, as I grew in experience, I would come to detest BLM/FWS, and the DOI specifically for what they were doing to our heritage; to the horses that should be allowed to roam free and them taking that away.

I soon found that not only was BLM sliding gathered horses they considered "3 Strikes' out the back door and down the slaughter pipeline, but so was the US Fish & Wild Service (FWS), and the Nevada Dept of Agriculture (NDA). Only the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was to be held accountable by the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971

FWS and NDA were not. They were gathering our wild ones as fast as they could and shipping them to the most horrific death an animal can suffer.

Some advocates may disagree with my observations and statements, and that's alright because it takes all of our perspectives, experiences, and hard work to come together for the same main objective - saving our wild ones.

In 2006, a team of us began an investigation into the Sheldon Horses that were granted freedom on the Sheldon Wildlife Refuge. But, management disagreed and continued to gather these majestic animals that came from Remount Stock that carried our military into battle. We found that hundreds were being shipped out, and the last would be gathered and sent to slaughter had we not gotten a stay. (read article) Nonetheless, when we refocused on saving the wild horses who were being rounded up and taken off protected land managed by BLM, FWS gathered the last of the Sheldon horses and sent them to slaughter. Only a handful remain today. We are fortunate to have at least one of them here at the ranch.

The Fight for Freedom is a daily, ongoing battle for many of us who are trying to save our heritage.

There are many great organizations out there on the front lines who work tirelessly to end this devastation, and I will add links to each and every one of them for recognition. But, it is you, the American people, that need to make your voices heard. The Trump Administration released its budget request to Congress for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and it literally places the lives of over 90,000 wild horses and burros in jeopardy. We can't let that happen.

We are proud to say that we have 17 beautiful wild horses that roam our property without fear of being gathered and murdered, as well as 7 domestics, and Pop Tart & Jack - our wonderful longears addition. Unfortunately, we only have 63 acres which limits how many equine we can give refuge to or our lives would be blessed with a lot more.

Visit these sites, stay up with news releases, sign petitions, and make your voice heard. Let's not let the government wipe out what is ours - our wild horses and burros!!

STAY INFORMED

WILD HORSE EDUCATION
(1) Facebook

SALT RIVER WILD HORSE MANAGEMENT (2) Facebook

AMERICAN WILD HORSE CAMPAIGN
(3) Facebook

THE CLOUD FOUNDATION
The Cloud Foundation

Proud Member of

Mission

We are a long term retirement sanctuary for both wild and domestic horses. Many of our equine residents are senior citizens that range from early 20's to nearly 35 years of age. Others have disabilities that prevent them from being ridden and deemed unplaceable. Quite a few are mustangs that have been turned out and are allowed to roam in as natural a setting as possible. These horses have come from abused, neglected, abandoned, seized, slaughter-bound, and owner surrendered situations. It is our mission to allow them to live their lives out in a safe and peaceful environment, euthanizing only when quality of life no longer exists.

Philosophy

We believe that every animal has a right to life so we do not euthanize to control but allow these horses to roam freely and live out their lives in a safe and peaceful environment. It is our mission to help as many as we can, and although we may not have room at the ranch, we continue to network and work with several other organizations in rescuing, placing, fostering, and transporting both dogs & horses. We believe that working together with other rescues and rescue organizations opens up more possibilities to assure animals are given a better chance to that wonderful life.

Additionally, we believe that America’s wild horses have a right to remain wild and free. However, each year thousands of wild horses continue to be removed from their indigenous environment and relocated off public lands with nowhere to go in the private sector. Whispering Winds Animal Sanctuary maintains that, whenever possible, bonded horses will be allowed to stay together. We believe this will allow them the ability to live out their lives roaming free on the sanctuary and allow them to carry on their heritage.

We rely solely on donations to run this sanctuary and are not government funded in any way. We have no administration or board member fees or costs as volunteers supply this help. All donations go directly to the horses!

Funding - We are ever so grateful for one time donations, scheduled monthly donations or the sponsorship of a specific horse. Donations may be made on our "Make A Donation!" page through Pay Pal or a credit card. You may also mail checks to our address:

Whispering Winds Animal Sanctuary
PO Box 187, Roby, TX 79543.

- Volunteering - We need people (skilled and unskilled in horse care) who can assist in the care of horses and the upkeep of their facilities.

- Donating supplies - We have an ongoing need for good quality hay, supplements, Equine Senior, medical supplies, etc

OTHER WAYS TO HELP