These two beautiful mares have been together their entire lives and need to be adopted together. They have mostly enjoyed the pastured life with occasional trail riding. Both mares have lots of energy and do best when they have a routine and ridden at least a few days a week. Both are fun trail horses, and have wonderful gaits. Heather is pretty fancy and versatile.

Both mares are best suited for intermediate riders with good ground skills. Both mares have wonderful gaits and have been trained by Hector Uribe.

Heather and Chloe also spent a year at The Carolyn Resnick Method Liberty Academy in Escondito, Calif., where they helped teach liberty work through The Carolyn Resnick Method. Heather and Chloe have since returned to the sanctuary and are looking for a forever home to give them lot’s of attention and get them back out on the trails!

Galaxy
Gelding. DOB May 2020
14.2 hh
Origins in the BLM’s Red Dessert Complex, Wyoming.

Stunning, Smart, Friendly, Big floaty mover.
This striking youngster has such a unique and stunning presence about him. His two blue eyes, strong stature and bold coloring really set him apart. Galaxy has a very quiet, sensible mind, is super curious and friendly and wants to please. He has great focus and relaxes into his work nicely. His uphill build, big stride and floaty movement shows lots of strength and balance.

Galaxy is a gorgeous horse with a friendly, sensible mind. He tries hard and learns quickly so it’s super fun working with him. He loves attention, comes willingly to be haltered, leads and stands quietly for grooming, bathing and hoof care. He is full of personality and try and is going to make someone a super fun, willing partner.

Galaxy is gentle and kind and has a very sweet personality. He is moving through his groundwork with ease and will soon be under saddle.

Currently in training with Nicolette Birnie at Wild to Willing Horsemanship, Santa Ynez CA

If you are interested in Galaxy, please view our Terms and Conditions and if they are acceptable to you proceed to fill out our adoption application!

Santiago

Santiago (Horse of the Americas#2262 RTF Santiago Guapo) is a 2017 bay Spanish mustang gelding from the Cayuse Ranch in Oshoto, WY. He is about 14.0 hands, and has lovely, floaty movement. He is friendly, very intelligent, loves to be groomed, and has been in training with Nicolette Birnie in Santa Ynez California for a few months. Santiago halters, leads, stands for trims and lunges and is ready to move forward.

Bandit

Bandit is a 2017 dun Gila gelding. He is about 14.2 hands, and has lovely, floaty movement. He has three socks and a narrow star/strip/snip, leg barring and a dorsal stripe. He has been in training with Thomas Smittle/Native Horsemanship and is coming along. Bandit stands for trims, loads and is green under saddle. Experienced horse person needed for this handsome guy.

Seven

Seven is a 2017 dark dun Gila gelding. He is very sturdy at about 14.2 hands, and has lovely, floaty movement. He has a blaze, two hind socks, leg barring and a dorsal stripe. He has recently been in training with Thomas Smittle/Native Horsemanship and is proving to be a very smart and curious boy. Seven is sensitive and for an experienced horse person at this time. He stands for trims, loads and is green under saddle. He loves his herd brother Bandit, and like all Gila horses he loves to play with his brothers!

Jaden

Jaden is a 2017 lighter dun Gila gelding. He is barely 14.2 hands, and has lovely, floaty movement. He has a narrow blaze, leg barring and a dorsal stripe. He has had some handling, leads and loads and can be trimmed and is ready for more! He is playful and will do well with someone who likes explore and enjoy life. Jaden is always willing to try new things and will walk on the teeter toter by himself and sometimes just hang out there for 10 minutes or longer. He will be a fun horse on trails and with obstacles. He has a great mind, curious and kind. This is a very special guy! He is missing his left ear tip from all the playing around with his brothers!

Casey

Casey is a 2017 dun Gila gelding. He is about 14.2 hands, and has lovely, floaty movement. He has two socks and a narrow star/strip/snip, leg barring and a dorsal stripe. He has had some handling and ready to move forward. Like all Gilas, Casey is playful and likes to be with his friends romping around!

Natahni

Natahni is a 2017 dun Gila gelding. He is very strong and sturdy at about 14.2 hands, and has lovely, floaty movement. He has a blaze, two hind socks and a front right pastern, leg barring and a dorsal stripe. He has had some handling and is ready to move forward. Nathan is a sensitive but sensible horse and with the right handling will develop nicely.

Camellia

Camellia (Horse of the Americas #2268) is a 2016 slate grulla Spanish mustang mare from the Cayuse Ranch in Oshoto, WY. She is curious but shy and not yet haltered. She is sturdy and will likely mature about 14.2 hands. Camellia would make an awesome endurance horse, cow pony, or any other job you have in mind for her! Her bloodlines are 79.7% Brislawn Foundation (WY), 15.62% Bookcliffs (UT), and 4.69% Choctaw (OK).

Olivia

Olivia (Horse of the Americas #2258 RTF Olivia Sofia) is a 2016 grulla Spanish mustang mare from the Cayuse Ranch in Oshoto, WY. She has a star, strip, snip, and a dorsal stripe with leg barring. Oliva is curious but shy and not yet haltered. She is sturdy and stands about 14.1 hands. Oliva would make an awesome endurance horse, cow pony, or any other job you have in mind for her! Olivia is 100% Brislawn Foundation (WY).

Mocha

Mocha (Horse of the Americas #2256 RTF Mocha de la Noche) is a 2017 black Spanish mustang mare from the Cayuse Ranch in Oshoto, WY. Her bloodlines are 100% Brislawn Foundation (WY). Mocha is curious but shy and not yet haltered. She has a small star, snip, and stands under 14 hands. Mocha would make an awesome endurance pony, cow pony, or any other job you have in mind for her!

Opal

Opal (Horse of the Americas #2273 RTF Opal Real) is a 2016 black Spanish mustang mare from the Cayuse Ranch in Oshoto, WY. Opal is 56.25% Brislawn Foundation (WY), 25% Bookcliffs (UT) and 18.75% Choctaw (OK). Opal is curious but shy and not yet haltered, and stands about 14.1 hands. Opal would make an awesome endurance horse, cow pony, or any other job you have in mind for her!

Orchid

Orchid (Horse of the Americas #2270 RTF Wyld Orchid) is a 2017 brown grulla Spanish mustang mare from the Cayuse Ranch in Oshoto, WY. Orchid is 100% Brislawn Foundation (WY). Orchid is curious but shy and not yet haltered, and stands about 14 hands. Orchid would make an awesome endurance horse, cow pony, or any other job you have in mind for her!

Sage

Sage (Horse of the Americas #2272 RTF Sage) is a 2017 grulla Spanish mustang mare from the Cayuse Ranch in Oshoto, WY. Sage is 100% Brislawn Foundation (WY). She is curious but shy and not yet haltered, and stands about 14 hands. Sage would make an awesome endurance horse, cow pony, or any other job you have in mind for her!

Sarah

Sarah (Horse of the Americas #2263 RTF Sarah Rose) is a 2017 grulla Spanish mustang mare from the Cayuse Ranch in Oshoto, WY. Sarah is 100% Brislawn Foundation (WY). She is curious and friendly and is not yet haltered but wants to DO STUFF! She stands just abit under 14 hands. Sarah is a sweetheart, and would make an awesome endurance horse, cow pony, or any other job you have in mind for her!

Mikie is a three year old gelding born May 2020. His origins are the BLM’s Red Desert Complex, Wyoming. He is a Leopard Appaloosa standing at 11.2 hh

What a package! This little luv bug is overly cute and friendly with a beautiful leopard coat and a fantastic personality. Mikey is an extreme athlete in full command of his nearly perfectly proportioned body. If you’re looking for a prospect to develop into an outstanding performance pony in either western or English disciplines he won’t disappoint.

Quick footed and perfectly balanced Mikey can stop and turn on a dime. He “drags his ass” and puts 11’s in the dirt just for fun. His maneuverability is uncanny and he jumps with ease.

Mikey’s disposition is curious, playful, affectionate and spirited; his confirmation is outstanding and he has great feet. (He’s so we’ll balanced his feet wear nearly perfectly on their own.) He’ll stand quietly and enjoy your attention and grooming and then go blast around the corral just for fun.

Mikey is full of controlled energy, he’s cooperative, smart and quick to learn. He has such an adorable look and personality you can’t help but enjoy just being around him. Everybody loves Mikey.

Mikey has already shown that he will be an exceptionally trusting partner and physically he has the potential to become a high level competitor, either as a western performance horse (cutting, cowhorse) or as a jumper.

As for ranch riding, trail or endurance, undoubtedly, this little powerhouse is as handy as they come, nimble and sure footed as a mountain goat with the endurance, intuition and hardiness of the mustang.

If you’re looking for an EXCEPTIONAL pony, you’ve found one. Mikey is pure love and joy. We welcome you to come visit and see for yourself.

Currently in training with Nicolette Birnie
at Wild to Willing Horsemanship, Santa Ynez, CA. Mikey willingly comes to be haltered, leads, stands tied for grooming, hoof care & bathing. He is in beginning ground work and soon will be ready to saddle.

If you are interested in Mikie, please view our Terms and Conditions and if they are acceptable to you proceed to fill out our adoption application!

Nikai (Honey)

Nikai (Horse of the Americas #2253 RTF Honey Queen) is a 2017 bay dun Spanish mustang mare from the Cayuse Ranch in Oshoto, WY. She has a dorsal stripe, leg barring, left rear pastern with ermine spots, and right rear white heel. She is 100% Brislawn Foundation (WY). Nikai is curious, bold and confident, and has gorgeous gaits. She is not yet haltered, but wants to be! This young mare is special, and would do best in a competitive discipline, such as endurance or dressage, but will do best with a smaller rider, as she will likely mature about 14 hands. She will need a good leader and meaningful work to keep her brain occupied!

Hidalgo

Registered name is Brislawn (Horse of the Americas #2245, RTF Mr. Brislawn Dun) is a 2017 bay dun/roan Spanish mustang gelding from the Cayuse Ranch in Oshoto, WY. He is curious but shy. He has recently begun training with Nicolette Bernie in Santa Ynez California. He is intelligent, sturdy and will likely mature about 14.2 hands. Hidalgo Brislawn would make an awesome endurance horse, cow pony, or any other job you have in mind for him! Hidalgo is definitely a horse for an experienced and patient horse person. With the right person we think he would be a fantastic liberty horse and have a lot of fun learning with you.

Jackson found his forever humans!

In Late December Jackson packed his saddle bags and traveled to his new forever home in Taos New Mexico!

He fell in love with Jennifer Rice and her daughter Azure. When Azure saw him on our website she called her mom and told her that she thought Jackson was her mom’s soul horse. They came out to visit for a few days and as soon as Jennifer gave him a massage …Jackson melted!

Soon after Jackson arrived, Azure found a lovely mare named Lulu. Jackson loves Lulu and they are a pair! Jackson will enjoy a diverse lifestyle filled with trails to explore, carrots and pasture!

Thank you Jennifer and Azure for loving Jackson!

El Dorado

Dorado (Horse of the Americas #2248 RTF El Dorado de Oro) is a 2019 light dun (buckskin dun) Spanish mustang gelding. He is 59.375% Brislawn Foundation (WY), 25% Feral (NV), 6.25% Sulphur Mountains (UT), 3.125% Bookcliffs (UT), 3.125% Cheyenne, 3.125% Crow. He has both rear stockings, with a dorsal stripe and leg barring. Dorado is a gorgeous mover, and we’re not really sure how tall he will get. He is curious and is coming around, but is not yet haltered. Dorado would make an awesome endurance horse, cow pony, or any other job you have in mind for him!

Willamina — DOB-May 4, 2014, 14 Hands Tall

Willamina is a well-mannered bay mare. She was born in a herd of wild Calico mares, but was found alone and abandoned shortly after birth. She may have been rejected by her mother or stolen by another mare who did not have the milk to feed her. This sometimes happens in herds. For her survival she was bottle fed at Miracle Mustang for 4 months until arriving at Return to Freedom. She was paired with another orphan foal named “Blue” and they have remained an inseparable pair. Her feisty spirit has made her a survivor and she loves to be around people.

Although she has not been trained to ride and has spent most all of her life living with a band of Choctaw ponies and her best friend, Blue, Willamina loves attention from humans and would probably enjoy learning things. She leads well and stands for vet and farrier.

Both Blue and Willamina need to be in capable hands to develop them further. We are looking for the right environment and a human that will be kind, safe, enriching & educational !

Blue — DOB 2014, 14 Hands Tall
Blue is a well mannered blue roan/gray gelding. As an orphan foal, little Blue was underweight, weak and exhausted. Miracle Mustang took him in; however due to his lack of strength, he spent most of his first few weeks lying down. Eventually, a 2 inch deep infected puncture wound on his chest was discovered as the culprit for his poor health. He had a tough start in life, but persevered and made a full recovery, at which point it became time for him to find a new home. Rather than separate him from his first and closest companion, Willamina, Return to Freedom took in both foals. Blue is a playful, willful, curious and affectionate horse.

Like Willamina, Blue has not been trained to ride and has enjoyed the pasture life. He is catchable, halters, leads, trims and loads. In the right hands this sweet boy could come along nicely!

Maya

** Update: Maya and her lovely daughter, Summer, were adopted by a lovely home not too far from the Sanctuary and they are deeply loved by their new family, Yves Morong and her lovely husband.

Maya (Horse of the Americas #2257 RTF Kimimila Sa, Lakota for “red butterfly”) is a 2019 bay Spanish mustang mare from the Cayuse Ranch in Oshoto, WY. She has a faint star and strip, a large snip and a right rear sock. Her bloodlines are 78.125% Brislawn Foundation (WY), 12.5% Bookcliffs (UT) and 9.375% Choctaw (OK). Maya is very friendly, halters and leads well, stands for the farrier, and ties. She is very young, but did have a foal on 6-22-2021, a lovely bay filly named Solstice. It would be ideal if they could be adopted as a pair! Kimimila will probably not top 14 hands, but with her quiet temperament and lovely movement, would make an idea child’s dressage mount. Being a Spanish mustang, she could also excel in many other disciplines.

Summer

** Update: Summer and her lovely mother, Maya, were adopted by a lovely home not too far from the Sanctuary and they are deeply loved by their new family, Yves Morong and her lovely husband.

Summer (Horse of the Americas #2264 RTF Summer Solstice) was born to Maya on 6/22/2021. We suspect her sire may be Santiago. She is a bay Spanish mustang filly with a left rear sock, and she is 100% Brislawn Foundation (WY). Summer is very friendly and opinionated, halters and leads well, and stands for the farrier. It would be ideal if she and her dam could be adopted as a pair! Like her mother, Summer will probably not top 14 hands, but with her quiet temperament and lovely movement, would make an idea child’s dressage mount. Being a Spanish mustang, she could also excel in many other disciplines.

This absolutely beautiful strawberry roan mare has finally found her person! Cecilia was born in 2012 at the sanctuary in the Hart Mountain herd. The Hart Mountain Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Oregon removed all wild horses in 1998. Horses from that total removal were the first to arrive to Return to Freedom as we opened our sanctuary gates in December 1998. We DNA tested some of the horses and found strong Spanish influence which is strongly displayed in some of the horses, like the stallion Freedom. Because the PZP contraception does not work on all mares, Cecelia was born to Adeer and sired by Freedom.

From adopter Elena Rose: “In November 2020, I got my first horse. Before adopting her, I spent as much time at RTF as I could, watching Cecilia’s herd and learning from them. I was lucky enough to spend a couple of days with Nan Zintsmaster, who gave me all the tools I needed to start working with Cecilia on my own. With tidbits from Liberty Training under my belt, I felt confident working with mustangs on the ground. After adopting Cecilia, my mother and I followed my horse to Angi Murray’s ranch in Leona Valley, where Cecilia had been started under saddle years ago. We spent 3 months there learning from Angi. In between sessions in the round pen, I would spend as much time with her as possible. At the end of those 3 months, Cecilia and I were ready to take on the world! And by world, I mean trails. After that, Cecilia moved to Calabasas with a family friend who specializes in Parelli style work. Cecilia loved her new pasture mate and the open space. I spent every moment with my horse as possible. We reviewed the Liberty work we learned from Nan and the lessons that Angi taught us. We learned drill team patterns in Calabasas and went on many trail rides. Going out on the trails is Cecilia’s favorite thing. She loves to run and run without a care in the world! In March 2021, we moved to a 1.5 acre ranch in Acton where we could have all our animals with us, and we wouldn’t have to travel very far to see Cecilia. All I have to do is walk 30 seconds and I’m with my horse. I’m so happy I’m here! And with help from Angi, we now have a mini herd of horses! One older gelding, who already lives with us, and a mare and a two-year-old gelding who are training at Angi’s. From here on out, my mother and I are full-time ranchers and Cecilia will never be bored. But beyond that, my relationship with Cecilia has deepened even more than I could’ve hoped. Whenever I work with her, it takes no time at all to become reconnected. I’ll hear Cecilia neighing for me when I start walking down to feed her breakfast. She does get a little bit jealous when I work with other horses, but I always make time to give her the attention she deserves. Cecilia is my baby and I love her to death, and I wouldn’t trade her or our relationship for anything in the world.”

We are delighted to announce that Choco and his best friend Midnight were adopted in 2017 to the Midland School in Los Olivos, California. At Midland, these two have become the student’s favourites. When not receiving their daily dose of love and attention from the kids, they are to be found meandering in the school’s ample, grassy pasture.
Find out more about Midland School

In the spring of 2017, Jessica and Skip Jankowski gave mother and daughter burros Rosie and Lola a forever home on their new 20-acre ranch in Buellton CA! Rosie and Lola will now receive the daily affection and attention they desire from this loving family!

Skip also adopted one of our very special Sheldon colts, Jack! Jack now has a new name and he is Skip’s best friend.

Wendie Malick, her niece Gwen and husband Richard, adopted two social and noble steeds from our Challis herd. Stuart and Bo were born in captivity after their mothers endured the Challis Idaho roundup in 2009.

Bo and Stuart now live with three other horses, a burro, and two dogs in California!

Yvonne and Mike Rockwood were ready to open their hearts to a new addition to their small herd…of Arabs! One of their endurance trail horses needed to be retired and Yvonne needed a calm horse with stamina who would enjoy long scenic trail rides!

I introduced them to Tess, a beautiful strawberry roan mare from Freedom’s band in our Hart Mountain herd. As Tess got older she sometimes had a hard time finding her place in the herd.

The Rockwoods adopted Tess last year and brought their gelding Rocky up to live with her at our trainers ranch in Santa Ynez for three months while Hector slowly and systematically brought Tess along under saddle! The devoted Rockwoods came up every weekend for three months and joined in.

Here is an update:

August 22, 2015
Neda:
Hi. We are doing so great. We just moved to Colorado and Tess and Rocky have great new space — lots and lots of room — 1/2 acre to themselves. The farm (Kenlyn Arabians) grows the hay both for a business and for the farm. So they have tons of good food all the time. Tess has been very healthy. Tess has been the most incredible, smart, loyal horse ever. We have not had one negative experience with her at all. The trainer you directed us to to start her was a godsend. We go on day trips into the mountains every weekend now, and have had several camping trips. Today, we are practicing crossing water. We are used to people raving about our beautiful Arab, but no more. All heads turn to Tess. Her beautiful full mane and majestic look. She remains dominant and no horse dare come near her if food is around! Thank you for checking in with us. A short video of Tess is viewable below.
—Yvonne