Swan the Alpine Mare
Swan the Alpine Wild Mare's Story:
Separated from her baby far too soon, Swan went through a public auction and her future was gravely uncertain!! We learned that this mare's baby, Birdie, was also in this auction, and that the pair were members of the beautiful but lost stallion, Bear's family from the wild before their round up in August 2023. We decided to act fast to reunite the two, so both were saved from the auction and reunited in December 2023!
We quickly realized that we already have this mare's yearling filly, Flamingo, at our sanctuary! She was one of the five displaced Alpines we took in back in October. We were able to reunite them all, which is an amazing feat for a family who has been torn apart for months and months!
But their story doesn't end there, and we were determined to pull off a Christmas Miracle....so we found Bear and reunited him with Swan and Birdie just before Christmas 2023!!!
Swan is a great mama, and she is a very curious type of horse. She enjoys nibbling on my jacket sleeves and snacking on feed!!! Swan has the most beautiful pristine white facial markings and the way they wrap down over her lips is just so adorable!!!
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The beloved Alpine Wild Horses of the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona are under attack. After the Forest Service announced a complete removal of the entire herd of 400 horses from the hundred thousand acre forest area in 2022 there have been multiple shooters running rampant around the forest and shooting any horse they can find. In the latest shooting in October 2022, 40 horses were found dead and an additional 15 horses were missing and presumed dead. There were also multiple horses injured with gunshots and still alive, wondering why they fell victim to such a madman in their typically peaceful forest home.
So far over 200 Alpine Wild Horses have been rounded up. In the latest round ups in the summer of 2023, members of the Alpine Wild Horse Herd have been found with broken legs, dumped off the sides of the road near the "trapsite" that the contractor Rail Lazy H is using the round up this historic herd. The contractor dumped their bodies after stressing them so much inside of the trap they break their legs by crashing into the panels trying to escape. Once injured, the horses are then shot. In one case, a mare with a broken leg was shot in the lungs and left to die an agonizing death hours later at a site where her body was found far from where she was shot.
The Alpine Wild Horses have called the high altitude forests of Alpine, Arizona home for many years. The Arizona state historian even verified that these majestic horses are remnants of Spanish horses left behind from Fransisco Vasquez de Coronado's expedition through the area in the 1540's! They are quite literally living history, and deserve to be honored and preserved as such! Unfortunately, the interests and sway of the local welfare ranchers who pay under $2 per month to graze one cow on public land far outweigh the locals admiration of the Alpine Wild Horses and ultimately the horses will be removed to allow more grass for the ranchers cattle.
By sponsoring an Alpine Wild Horse, you ensure that the legacy of these graceful animals will live on, even when there are zero Alpine Wild Horses left in the wild. Nirvana Mustang Sanctuary is permanently home to 50 Alpine Wild Horses!
Sponsorship Tiers:
Bronze Sponsorship: $15/mo
For the Horse: Some Monthly Hay Cost Covered
For the Sponsor: Mustang's Full Known History, Mailed Photos of Your Mustang (one time), and a Monthly Mustang Update
Silver Sponsorship: $30/mo
For the Horse: Some Monthly Hay Cost Covered
For the Sponsor: Mustang's Full Known History, Mailed Photos of Your Mustang (one time), and a Monthly Mustang Update
Gold Sponsorship: $75/mo
For the Horse: Half of the Monthly Hay Cost Covered
For the Sponsor: Official Certificate of Sponsorship, Mustang's Full Known History, Mailed Photos of Your Mustang (one time), a Monthly Mustang Update, a t-shirt (one time), Invites to Sponsor Only Events at the sanctuary to meet your mustang!
Platinum Sponsorship: $125/mo
For the Horse: Partial Monthly Hay Cost Covered
For the Sponsor: Official Certificate of Sponsorship, Mustang's Full Known History, Mailed Photos of Your Mustang (one time), a Monthly Mustang Update, a t-shirt (one time), a Mug with your Mustang on it (one time), invites to Sponsor Only Events at the sanctuary to meet your mustang!
Diamond Sponsorship: $200/mo
For the Horse: FULL Monthly Hay Cost Covered, Deworming, any Hoof Trims or Dental Work Needed
For the Sponsor: Official Certificate of Sponsorship, Mustang's Full Known History, Mailed Photos of Your Mustang (one time), a Monthly Mustang Update, a t-shirt (one time), a Mug with your Mustang on it (one time), Wall Canvas featuring your Mustang, Invites to Sponsor Only Events at the sanctuary to meet your mustang!