$1,970 raised by 6 donors
10% complete
$20,000 Goal
Mustangs are part of the history and landscape of the American West. Thousands of horses are removed from their natural habitat annually and are offered for adoption through various programs developed by the Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service, but few people are in positions to adopt a wild mustang. We are a grass-roots organization that fosters and trains these mustangs to make them adoptable. Every mustang deserves the best chance at a forever home and we need YOUR help to make this vision a reality.
Phoebe:
Phoebe has adjusted well to life as a domestic horse. She infact, seems to prefer to be domestic and have her food served daily with treats in a platter! She is very much a baby as she is likely around 3 years of age now. She is roughly 15 hands tall and very drafty. Her DNA test says she contains: Belgian Draft, Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, criollo, and Morgan.
From a training aspect she has mastered all care routines. She is easy to groom, stands for the farrier (if a little impatient), has had her blood drawn and received her vaccinations and deworming like a champ. Earlier this fall she was started lightly under saddle at the walk. She is very steadfast and calm. Lots more “Woah than Go” which is great for her primary caregiver/trainer’s confidence as they both learn together. They are looking forward to learning and growing together and expanding what she can do in the ring!
Geo:
Geo was previously called Twix. He is the silliest little/big guy. His tongue has a mind of its own and frequently demands attention.
His DNA test says he contains: Galician, Quarter Horse, criollo, Rocky Mountain horse and Morgan.
He has been working very hard to relearn how to trust people and that their movements have no ill intent. With the help of several veterinarians, trainers, and one very dedicated farrier we are now able to care for all of his basic husbandry needs while he remains calm and relaxed. This has freed up our training time for more exciting ventures.
Every time I go out to train with Geo he wickers a greeting and chooses to learn whatever is in the lesson plan despite being offered free access to an adjoining paddock. He free lunges around a reverse round pen at the walk and trot and will go over ground poles happily. He is easy to saddle though he is not currently being ridden yet. Geo is still working through trusting things that are above his head but he is constantly showing improvement with more time and patience.
Geo’s favorite activity is to load into the trailer to go on a field trip to a friend’s field where he and Phoebe get to run through the grass and trees for a few hours. He even wickers when he sees us hooking up the trailer!
My hopes for Geo are that in time we can enjoy frequent trail rides together and after that activities are up to him!
“Diamond is gentle and has a heart of gold, and has taught me more about horsemanship than any other horse I have owned. He is the constant in my life I never knew I needed!” - Sally Reiker
"It was love at first sight! He not only was physically stunning, earning him the title "Rolando the Sexy Beast", but his disposition was calm, steady and just plain loveable. Within a year, Roland had come from the Devil's Garden Wild Horse Territory, completed training with the incredible Cayla Stone, and is now a local celebrity in Barrington Hills, Ill. Please support this advocacy group. They do such worthy work. It is not easy nor inexpensive to do what they do. They do it with such passion and love for the mustangs and help spread awareness of their situation" - Yvonne Costa
"I adopted "Rosie", Amora in January of this year. I hadn't begun to "shop" for another horse after I lost my best friend in 2017. My vet sent me a video of Amora, I immediately cried. Something in my heart told me I needed to go meet her. Upon meeting Cayla and Amora, I fell instantly in love with the way she was trained, the trust she had and the personality shinning thru. Cayla started her training and the foundation she instilled in Amora is so solid, it was the easiest decision to make to adopt her. Since then, we have been dodging weather, acclimating to the new home, building an indestructible bond, and learning each others personalities, she is everything I ever needed to bring me back to life. My decision to adopt a mustang will forever be my favorite in this life. I am so excited to see where our partnership takes us, what our future holds and the many memories and adventures to come!"- Alyssa Kern
Our mission is to foster, train and re-home American mustangs to showcase their innate talents and versatility.
Wild Rose Mustang Advocacy Group
Founded in 2018 by two respected members of the Fort Collins, Colorado, community—a highly regarded horse trainer and a board-certified veterinary surgeon—Wild Rose Mustang Advocacy Group has quickly established a national reputation for its work in mustang advocacy.
Our mission is to change the story of America’s wild mustangs by providing essential training, increasing adoptions, and expanding demand for these remarkable horses. An estimated 80,000 wild horses and burros roam public lands across the United States, with a nearly equivalent number living in holding facilities after being removed from the range. The cost of caring for these animals is borne primarily by American taxpayers, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable, long-term solutions.
Building Trust Through Training
Wild Rose’s gentling process provides a safe, supportive environment for mustangs transitioning from life on the open range to domestic settings. Having been removed from their natural habitat, these horses must learn to navigate an entirely unfamiliar world. Through patience, consistency, and compassionate handling, our professional trainers and dedicated volunteers help each horse develop trust and confidence. Horses typically spend two to six months in our program, and witnessing a naturally cautious prey animal transform into a trusting companion is one of the most rewarding experiences our work has to offer.
Preparing Mustangs for Successful Adoption
Our core training program provides mustangs with foster care, including boarding, farrier services, and veterinary care, while professional trainers and advanced volunteers establish trust and develop each horse’s skills in preparation for adoption.
Although several programs support mustang gentling, a significant gap remains between a horse that has learned to trust people and one that is fully trained and ready for a new home. Wild Rose works to bridge that gap. By advancing each horse’s training, we make mustangs more accessible and adoptable, opening the door to individuals and families who may not have the experience or resources to take on an untrained horse. In doing so, we help create lasting partnerships between mustangs and the people who welcome them into their lives.
Empowering Youth Through Horsemanship
In addition to our primary training program, Wild Rose offers a youth training initiative that pairs young horses with young people. Through hands-on horsemanship, participants develop confidence, self-esteem, responsibility, and discipline while building meaningful relationships with their horses.
We hope to expand this program in the coming year, matching more mustangs with youth trainers and creating additional opportunities for young people to grow through the experience of working with these extraordinary animals.
Making a Lasting Impact
Wild Rose has worked with mustangs across every stage of life, from foals and yearlings to adult and senior horses aged 10 and older. To date, we have successfully rehomed more than 90 horses, with 7 currently enrolled in training.
Our impact is made possible by a dedicated community of supporters. Every member of our Board of Directors serves on a volunteer basis, alongside additional volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to horse care, administration, fundraising, and social media.
Through training, education, and community engagement, Wild Rose Mustang Advocacy Group is working to create a brighter future for America’s mustangs—one horse, one adoption, and one lasting connection at a time.
Organization name
Wild Rose Mustang Advocacy Group, Inc.
2018
Tax id (EIN)
82-5351944
Category
Animal-Related
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
3512 Swan LaneLarimer County, CO, US
Boulder County, CO, US
Weld County, CO, US