CROW
In February 2025, Crow—a nine-year-old black mustang from Nevada’s Silver King HMA—was sitting in a kill pen with a looming ship-to-slaughter date. Erin drove all the way from Utah to intercept him just before he could be loaded onto a truck bound for Mexico. While this petite gelding was incredibly intelligent and naturally forward-moving, he struggled with a hidden, unpredictable bucking issue that made him unsafe under saddle. It took time, but once we matched him with the perfect trainer, everything clicked. Today, the bucking is gone, and his friendly, charming, and tireless personality has taken over. Whether he becomes an endurance mount, a ranch horse for a confident kid, or a three-day eventing pony, Crow just wants to go. Big things truly come in petite packages, and this bold little gelding is officially ready to take an adventurous rider to the next level.
DUNLIN
In August 2025, we spotted Dunlin on the Bowie Livestock Auction page just days before a major shipment bound for Mexico. Originally from the Confusion HMA in Utah, this young mustang had found himself dangerously close to the end of the line. We acted quickly to intercept him and bring him to the safety of Rescue Ranchito. Despite the trauma of the slaughter pipeline, Dunlin quickly revealed a remarkably kind, goofy, and "in-your-pocket" personality—he even tries to help us with ranch chores! Today, after months of professional gentling, this inquisitive boy is mastering the under-saddle skills he needs to become a dependable, fun trail partner for his future family.
WILLET
We crossed paths with Willet, an eight-year-old black mustang from the Snowstorm Mountains, at the Bowie, Texas auction in July 2024. Though he was being flipped to the highest bidder as a "broke" riding horse, his sheer terror at the slightest human movement told a different story. We quickly realized this deeply anxious gelding needed a massive reset, not a rider. After nearly a year of dedicated decompression at Rescue Ranchito, Willet’s true, incredibly sweet personality blossomed. Following specialized, confidence-building training to help him learn emotional self-regulation, he has transformed into a calm, bright-eyed partner. Available for adoption in early summer 2026, this affectionate boy is destined to be a wonderful, safe family horse for mellow trails and arena work.
MANTIS
A striking gelding from the Adobe Town HMA in Wyoming, Mantis was captured as a foal in late 2021. After several years with his original adopter, he found his way to us to begin his next chapter. Mantis has transitioned into domestic life with incredible ease, proving himself to be a fast learner with a bright mind. Now well-started under saddle, he is showing us every day that he is destined for an exceptional future as a versatile partner.
IbIS
In January 2026, we pulled a four-year-old BLM burro named Ibis from a kill pen in Stroud, Oklahoma. Originally adopted from the BLM in September 2024, Ibis had been severely starved to the point of near death before landing in the slaughter pipeline. He arrived to us so weak that he immediately collapsed, spending two critical days fighting for his life in the hospital. But Ibis is a fighter. Once he was strong enough to transition to Rescue Ranchito, we began the delicate refeeding process. Despite being truly skin and bones and initially wary of humans, he blossomed the moment he realized he was finally being seen and spoken to with kindness.
Today, this sweet, intelligent, and adventurous boy loves giving kisses and has formed an unbreakable bond with our two other rescue donkeys. Defying all odds, Ibis and his two best friends will be heading to their forever home together this April at Happy Burro Ranch!
Colter
In August 2025, we outbid a kill buyer at a Colorado auction to save a six-year-old mustang named Colter. When we traced his brand, we uncovered a shocking reality: Colter was never wild. He was born inside a privately owned holding facility to a pregnant mare who had been rounded up from the Antelope Valley. His early life was the product of a broken, closed-loop system that removes mustangs to make way for corporate cattle, only to pay those same corporations millions in taxpayer dollars to warehouse the displaced horses. Despite being tossed aside by this system—likely due to a fear-based bucking problem—Colter proved to be incredibly bright, energetic, and willing. After three months of professional training to help him relax under saddle, this resilient gelding caught the eye of his perfect match. Today, Colter is living his best life in Ogden, Utah, with his adopter, Michele.
SISKIN + Tern
Deemed "Three Strike" mustangs by age three, Siskin and Tern were sitting in BLM holding corrals—untouched and unsure of the human world—with a price tag of just $25. We refused to let their story end there. We stepped in, brought them home, and matched them with skilled trainers who helped them transform into curious, willing partners. Today, the "Bird Boys" have found their ultimate calling at At Ease, serving as intuitive healers for veterans and first responders battling PTSD. Their journey proves the incredible potential waiting within every forgotten wild horse.
FENNEC
An 18-year-old gelding from the Salt Wells Creek HMA in Wyoming, Fennec was intercepted from a kill pen in Eaton, CO, in January 2025. Originally believed to be much younger, a BLM freezemark check revealed he was actually a senior horse who had been out of the wild since 2014. After nearly a year of decompression, we decided that a career under saddle was an unfair expectation for a horse of his age. In October 2025, he joined Coyote in permanent sanctuary, where he is now living his best wild life.
Coyote
Rounded up as a mere foal from the Fox Hog HMA in Nevada, Coyote spent 14 years in the domestic world before we intercepted him just days away from being sold at a notorious Montana auction. While a deeply kind soul, he carried trauma that made a traditional riding career impossible. After four years of rehabilitation at our ranch, we honored his need for peace and transitioned him to a large-scale sanctuary, where he is successfully rewilding and is living his best life alongside other deserving rescued mustangs.
I had such a great experience with Rescue Ranchito. Erin and Casey are incredibly genuine, and I’m so grateful for the work they do. I adopted Colter, a mustang they rescued in summer 2025, and he’s truly special.
From my first message through to meeting Colter, the whole process felt seamless, supportive and transparent. They took the time to guide me through every step, making sure I felt confident and comfortable, both virtually and in person.
It’s clear how deeply they care about each animal and the level of thought and attention they put into every placement. I feel so lucky to have Colter and can’t wait for all the adventures ahead.
If you’re considering adopting, I couldn’t recommend Rescue Ranchito more.
[Testimonial quote goes here]
rescue ranchito hall of fame
While our mission begins in the dirt of the frontline, it finds its purpose in the success of our graduates. The Rescue Ranchito Hall of Fame honors the equines who have successfully transitioned from at risk to a life of partnership. These horses and donkeys are more than just adopted - they are ambassadors, proving that with the right foundation and a patient hand, even previously unwanted equines can become partners of a lifetime. From trail companions to equine-assisted healers, these are the resilient souls now thriving in their forever homes.
Crow
In February 2025, Crow - a nine-year-old black mustang from Nevada’s Silver King HMA - was sitting in a kill pen with a looming ship-to-slaughter date. Erin drove all the way from Utah to intercept him just before he could be loaded onto a truck bound for Mexico. While this petite gelding was incredibly intelligent and naturally forward-moving, he struggled with a hidden, unpredictable bucking issue that made him unsafe under saddle. It took time, but once we matched him with the perfect trainer, everything clicked. Today, the bucking is gone, and his friendly, charming, and tireless personality has taken over. Whether he becomes an endurance mount, a ranch horse for a confident kid, or a three-day eventing pony, Crow just wants to go. Big things truly come in petite packages, and this bold little gelding is officially ready to take an adventurous rider to the next level.
Dunlin
In August 2025, we spotted Dunlin on the Bowie Livestock Auction page just days before a major shipment bound for Mexico. Originally from the Confusion HMA in Utah, this young mustang had found himself dangerously close to the end of the line. We acted quickly to intercept him and bring him to the safety of Rescue Ranchito. Despite the trauma of the slaughter pipeline, Dunlin quickly revealed a remarkably kind, goofy, and "in-your-pocket" personality—he even tries to help us with ranch chores! Today, after months of professional gentling, this inquisitive boy is mastering the under-saddle skills he needs to become a dependable, fun trail partner for his future family.
Willet
We crossed paths with Willet, an eight-year-old black mustang from the Snowstorm Mountains, at the Bowie, Texas auction in July 2024. Though he was being flipped to the highest bidder as a "broke" riding horse, his sheer terror at the slightest human movement told a different story. We quickly realized this deeply anxious gelding needed a massive reset, not a rider. After nearly a year of dedicated decompression at Rescue Ranchito, Willet’s true, incredibly sweet personality blossomed. Following specialized, confidence-building training to help him learn emotional self-regulation, he has transformed into a calm, bright-eyed partner. Available for adoption in early summer 2026, this affectionate boy is destined to be a wonderful, safe family horse for mellow trails and arena work.
Mantis
A striking gelding from the Adobe Town HMA in Wyoming, Mantis was captured as a foal in late 2021. After several years with his original adopter, he found his way to us to begin his next chapter. Mantis has transitioned into domestic life with incredible ease, proving himself to be a fast learner with a bright mind. Now well-started under saddle, he is showing us every day that he is destined for an exceptional future as a versatile partner.
Ibis
In January 2026, we pulled a four-year-old BLM burro named Ibis from a kill pen in Stroud, Oklahoma. Originally adopted from the BLM in September 2024, Ibis had been severely starved to the point of near death before landing in the slaughter pipeline. He arrived to us so weak that he immediately collapsed, spending two critical days fighting for his life in the hospital. But Ibis is a fighter. Once he was strong enough to transition to Rescue Ranchito, we began the delicate refeeding process. Despite being truly skin and bones and initially wary of humans, he blossomed the moment he realized he was finally being seen and spoken to with kindness.
Today, this sweet, intelligent, and adventurous boy loves giving kisses and has formed an unbreakable bond with our two other rescue donkeys. Defying all odds, Ibis and his two best friends will be heading to their forever home together this April at Happy Burro Ranch!
Colter
In August 2025, we outbid a kill buyer at a Colorado auction to save a six-year-old mustang named Colter. When we traced his brand, we uncovered a shocking reality: Colter was never wild. He was born inside a privately owned holding facility to a pregnant mare who had been rounded up from the Antelope Valley. His early life was the product of a broken, closed-loop system that removes mustangs to make way for corporate cattle, only to pay those same corporations millions in taxpayer dollars to warehouse the displaced horses. Despite being tossed aside by this system—likely due to a fear-based bucking problem—Colter proved to be incredibly bright, energetic, and willing. After three months of professional training to help him relax under saddle, this resilient gelding caught the eye of his perfect match. Today, Colter is living his best life in Ogden, Utah, with his adopter, Michele.
Siskin + Tern
Deemed "Three Strike" mustangs by age three, Siskin and Tern were sitting in BLM holding corrals—untouched and unsure of the human world—with a price tag of just $25. We refused to let their story end there. We stepped in, brought them home, and matched them with skilled trainers who helped them transform into curious, willing partners. Today, the "Bird Boys" have found their ultimate calling at At Ease, serving as intuitive healers for veterans and first responders battling PTSD. Their journey proves the incredible potential waiting within every forgotten wild horse.
Fennec
An 18-year-old gelding from the Salt Wells Creek HMA in Wyoming, Fennec was intercepted from a kill pen in Eaton, CO, in January 2025. Originally believed to be much younger, a BLM freezemark check revealed he was actually a senior horse who had been out of the wild since 2014. After nearly a year of decompression, we decided that a career under saddle was an unfair expectation for a horse of his age. In October 2025, he joined Coyote in permanent sanctuary, where he is now living his best wild life.
coyote
Rounded up as a mere foal from the Fox Hog HMA in Nevada, Coyote spent 14 years in the domestic world before we intercepted him just days away from being sold at a notorious Montana auction. While a deeply kind soul, he carried trauma that made a traditional riding career impossible. After four years of rehabilitation at our ranch, we honored his need for peace and transitioned him to a large-scale sanctuary, where he is successfully rewilding and is living his best life alongside other deserving rescued mustangs.
"I have had such a great experience with Rescue Ranchito! Erin and Casey are wonderful human beings, and I feel so grateful for them and the work they do. I adopted Colter, one of the mustangs they rescued in the Summer of 2025, and am in love! He is such a special guy. I have always dreamt of adopting a mustang since I was a little girl, and Ranchito helped me make that dream possible.
Erin and Casey have been helpful, responsive, and transparent throughout the whole adoption process. From me reaching out through Instagram messages inquiriging about the adoption process initally, to then asking about Colter specifically, meeting virtually with them, and eventually setting up an in person meet and greet, the whole process has been seamless and amazing. The first in-person meeting with Colter went really well and I felt comfortable about it all - his trainer went through all the steps with me from letting me groom him, work with him on the ground in the round pen, to tacking up and talking me through what he's been working on with him, and riding both inside the round pen and out on a trail ride. I am over the moon about Colter and so excited about our next chapter together. We've already been out working cattle together and leading part of a trail!
Rescue Ranchito truly cares about these amazing horses (and donkeys!) and you see how passionate they are and want the best for them. They take the time to give them the TLC they need and give them the second chances they deserve. I can't wait to continue building my bond with Colter and having him by my side for adventures.
If you've been considering adopting a mustang or a donkey, you should stop considering and just reach out to Rescue Ranchito! Thank you guys so much"
Rescue Ranchito Hall of Fame
Celebrating forever
While our mission begins in the dirt of the frontline, it finds its purpose in the success of our graduates. The Rescue Ranchito Hall of Fame honors the equines who have successfully transitioned from at risk to a life of partnership. These horses and donkeys are more than just adopted - they are ambassadors, proving that with the right foundation and a patient hand, even previously unwanted equines can become partners of a lifetime. From trail companions to equine-assisted healers, these are the resilient souls now thriving in their forever homes.
