Their Stories...

Kokopelli is a direct descendant of the wild Spanish Mustangs. Many years ago he was roundup in Nevada and then was inhumanely broken for the entertainment of rodeo goers. He suffered many injuries from the grueling abuse inflicted from just under four years of aggressive training and rodeo competitions. Kokopelli was finally rescued at a slaughter auction by the compassionate owner of a pony club. We were told that when he got out of the trailer, he slowly walked into the barn and collapsed from the anguish and pain that he had endured at the hands of previous owners. A veterinarian was called and declared that Kokopelli would not likely make it through the night. A few of the pony club girls lay by his side to comfort him in his final hours, petting him and telling him how much they loved him. By morning, he was miraculously stronger from the power of little girls' love and their healing comfort. He soon integrated into the pasture with the other horses, and later, he was gifted to Wild Heart Sanctuary, a place he now knows is his forever home. What a miracle and honor to have Kokopelli as our lead Stallion.    Today, Kokopelli is still healing from the traumas inflicted after he was rounded up— he is a true survivor. He is our confident leader and champion at Wild Heart Sanctuary.

Today we honor Wild Heart Sanctuary’s lead mare, Wind Walker. She carries the energy of motherly love and protection that grounds her adopted herd and offers them guidance and strength.  Wind Walker was once the lead mare of the Sinbad herd in Price, Utah. She had only recently given birth to a new baby filly when the BLM helicopters came in and round up the entire herd, capturing them and taking them to holding pens. Sonya was at the holding pens when they arrived; it was a traumatic and heartbreaking experience for her to witness, a memory she will never forget. When Wind Walker was being brutally struck with long sticks by the BLM she ran around the corner and slammed her jaw. The BLM was going to send her to slaughter due to her injury. A brand new mother, lead mare of the Sinbad herd, still trying to protect them and save her four-month-old baby while she was destined for slaughter. Sonya asked, “What about the baby filly”. The BLM answered, “She will figure it out”. Which would be fatal for a baby to not be able to be with her mother and nurse. Sonya could not believe this was happening. At the time Sonya didn’t have the sanctuary property but she wasn’t willing to stand by and let this mother be ripped from her child and be destroyed. Sonya bought both of them to save their lives. That was twelve years ago. Wind Walker and her baby, Noble Moon were the first two of the Wild Heart Sanctuary herd which now consists of nine. Through the inspiration of Wind Walker's determination and the heart-felt connection between her and Sonya the start of a dream began ….Wild Heart Sanctuary.

Noble Moon was born in the wild and lived peacefully with her mother, Wind Walker until they were rounded up by the BLM. The experience was traumatic; they were separated and removed from their natural habitat, their home, a place where they ran free. Through divine intervention and Sonya's kindness, they were rescued and given a second chance at the closest thing to the freedom they could have at Wild Heart Sanctuary. Initially, Noble Moon was fearful and unsure of the unfamiliar surroundings. But with time and patience, she adapted and thrived in her new home. She grew up to be a magnificent and ethereal Wild Mustang, consistently expressive and authentic to herself and her gifts. Her mother, Wind Walker, was always by her side, guiding and protecting her. The other members of the Wild Heart herd noticed Noble Moon's spirit and leadership qualities. She quickly became the "Queen Bee," respected and loved by all. Her reign is marked by fairness, kindness, and strength. She is indeed a remarkable Mustang, a symbol of freedom and resilience. Today, Noble Moon and her mother are still together and thriving, surrounded by the beauty and vastness of nature that encompasses Wild Heart Sanctuary. They have inspired many and brought hope to those who fight to protect wild horses. We love our Noble Moon and are grateful for her presence in our lives. May she continue to shine and thrive, free at Wild Heart Sanctuary.

Durango was a wild lead stallion up above the Lake Tahoe area that could never be captured. Eventually, the BLM succeeded in their attempt to capture our majestic Durango, forcing him and his herd into captivity. He did everything to escape the BLM trapping methods, and even in his exhaustion, he fought until the end to defend and protect his family. During his fight for freedom, he was significantly beaten by the BLM and sold to some cowboys whose goal was to break this famous wild Stallion in any way possible. However, Durango refused to brake. In his determination, the ropes he was lassoed with almost killed him, and to this day, he has scar tissue in his windpipe from the horrific treatment. They eventually gave up since he would rather die than lose his freedom. Poor Durango was left in a horrible condition, starving and beaten, and then left to be forgotten in a small mud pen. He was on the brink of death when a kind soul discovered him and thankfully rescued our champion. After he was rescued, he ended up at two other places. Durango was deemed "untamable" and useless by his previous owner. Fortunately, Wild Heart Sanctuary adopted him and welcomed him with open arms, where he would never be broken and would always be loved. With his stunning black coat and wild spirit, Durango has become Kokopelli's Lieutenant stallion and the herd's protector. We admire Durango's refusal to be broken and are thrilled to provide him with his forever home where he can live his life as freely as possible.

We would like you to Meet Vashti, a Kiger Wild Mustang, rounded up by the BLM and passed around until she was destined for slaughter. She was rescued from a feedlot right before she was loaded onto a truck on its way to a kill pen. A lady driving by saw her "Mustang brand" run over to the feedlot and asked if she could rescue/buy her and her companion, Cinder, another wild Mustang. She brought them to Ching Farm Rescue, and then Sonya, the founder of Wild Heart Sanctuary, received a call from Ching asking if she could take care of the two Mustangs. She asked the universe to show her a sign if Wild Heart Sanctuary would be the perfect home for them and if they would be supported by donations to feed and care for both Vashti and Cinder. A kind neighbor texted Sonya the following day, saying she wanted to donate a big load of grass hay to the sanctuary. This was a sign that the universe had answered Sonya's call. Vashti and Cinder were then delivered to Wild Heart Sanctuary, where they will be safe and cared for forever. Vashti is a grounded and intelligent Mustang with a beautiful, thick, strawberry red/blonde coat. She loves to eat and has an endless appetite that gives her a lovely, voluptuous figure. She is a survivor and proud to be a wild Mustang, hailing from the same Kiger herd that inspired the animated film "Spirit." Vashti may even be related to Donnor, the real-life Spirit, as his great-granddaughter. We are unsure how Vashti got the large scar on her forehead, but she is skittish if you try petting her there. She now lives fearlessly and as wild as she can be. At Wild Heart Sanctuary, we love and cherish Vashti and are honored to be her caretakers.

It is heartwarming to learn about Giraffe, the legendary Onaqui wild horse mare and an essential member of the Wild Heart Herd. It's unfortunate that she had to experience the trauma of being captured twice by the BLM, losing her freedom twice. After her first capture, Giraffe returned to the wild with a band of horses, taking on the role of caretaker to all the foals in her group, showing her kind and nurturing nature. However, fate dealt her an unfortunate hand as she was taken away from her band again, this time by a famous Onaqui stallion named ONE EAR, but unfortunately, he lost her back to her previous stallion just before the second round-up. During her second capture, Giraffe was kept in the BLM holding pens for over six months, where she lost her wild Mustang spirit and will to live. She was bullied by other horses and struggled to get enough food. It's heartbreaking to imagine the trauma she must have gone through, away from her natural habitat. Wild Heart Sanctuary is so grateful they were able to rescue Giraffe by bidding on and purchasing her during an online auction in January 2022. Giraffe's presence in the Wild Heart Herd is now permanent, and she plays a unique and vital role as the auntie and caretaker of the fillies. Despite her traumatic past, Giraffe is a wise and grounding presence in the herd, sharing her wisdom, love, and compassion with those around her. We are happy to know that she is now living her life wild and free as she deserves. Giraffe, we admire your strength and resilience, and we are honored to have you as a member of the Wild Heart Herd family.

Meet Princess Grace, a young Onaqui Momma, who exudes a stunning presence like that of royalty. We named her so because of her elegance and beauty. Princess Grace is the mother of Miss Bliss, and we cannot even begin to fathom what she went through during and after the BLM round-up. She was a new mother, and the helicopters took away her and her baby's freedom. They were put in cramped holding pens with mud and gunk up to their stomachs, and other mustangs surrounded them, making it difficult for her to survive and ensure Miss Bliss's safety. Our hearts ache when we think of the terror and pain she must have experienced. We knew we had to rescue Princess Grace and Miss Bliss so that they could experience the freedom they deserved and be taken care of for life. We cherish Princess Grace's feminine mother energy, and we are thrilled that she is starting to feel comfortable around humans on her own terms. Her maternal love for Miss Bliss is a sight to behold. We are incredibly grateful that we could bring both mother and daughter together forever. Let's all bow to your majestic and resilient Princess Grace of Wild Heart Sanctuary.

Hey there! I wanted to share a heartwarming story about Miss Bliss, a beautiful wild horse who was born and raised in the wild. Sadly, after only three months of freedom, she was rounded up by BLM helicopters along with her mother, Grace. They were chased for miles, and it's amazing that Miss Bliss survived the ordeal as she was very young at the time. Thankfully, Grace was also adopted so that the mother-daughter duo could stay together forever. While they were in the BLM holding pens for months, Grace fought tirelessly to keep her baby girl alive. Miss Bliss is an incredibly lively and joyful filly. She has a natural intuition and can connect energetically with people, almost like a four-legged shaman. Everyone in the Wild Heart herd absolutely adores her, and watching her play with her friend Leilani brings a smile to our faces and joy to our hearts. Miss Bliss, we all love you so much!

Let me introduce you to Leilani, our adorable Onaqui filly. She was born in the wild and when she was just a few months old, BLM helicopters rounded her up. Sadly, her mother and freedom were taken away from her forever. In the BLM holding pens, she was separated from her mother and left all alone. But despite all the hardships, Leilani is a fighter and survivor. She had to learn to fend for herself and eat whatever she could to make it through. Leilani is such a sweet little filly, full of energy, confidence, and speed. She loves playing with her aunties Giraffe and Grace, and Miss Bliss is her best friend for life. Leilani is also very smart, fun, and trusting. She loves cuddles and naps in the sun, and we think her name – "Heavenly Flower & Royal Child of Heaven" – is just perfect for her! We love Leilani so much and are thrilled to see her having a great time and being part of a loving herd. She now runs wild and free, happy as can be. She is so smart, frisky and confident. At first, we thought she was an orphan, but we recently learned that her mother is alive and has been adopted. We couldn't be happier that Leilani is here bringing us so much joy and laughter.