Rescued mustangs join herd at Texas sanctuary after being passed over for adoption

As the first wild mustangs from the Bureau of Land Management were released from the quarantine paddocks at Black Beauty Ranch late last year, they hesitated by the gate to the 800-acre pasture that would be their new home at the Humane World for Animals sanctuary. Then the 15 horses set out toward Black Beauty’s “Grand Pasture” to move among more than 200 horses who receive veterinary checks and treatment as needed but are otherwise not handled. The mustangs dispersed across the gentle hills.

“It’s a huge space where horses can choose their band of friends to hang out with,” says Sue Tygielski, senior director of the sanctuary.

Fifteen Bureau of Land Management horses arrived last November, 14 more in January and another 16 in March, for a total of 45 accepted by the sanctuary. The agency removed the “third-strike” mustangs from the range in Oklahoma to prevent the wild horse population from growing too large. The horses spent months in small pastures at a short-term holding facility. They were offered up for adoption but landed at Black Beauty because they were passed over three times.

The sanctuary is not exactly like being back on the range, says Cindy Gendron, senior director of sanctuary management, but it’s close. “We want them to have as much freedom as possible, to live like wild horses.”