Stampeded by deafening helicopters, Silver King and his herd were chased relentlessly over dangerous terrain in 2010 from Nevada’s Silver King HMA and into an inescapable trap. Silver King and his mares’ heart-wrenching screams echoed as they saw their world and each other disappear through the cold metal bars of the holding pens.

What Silver King did not know as he fought, defended himself, and was loaded onto a crammed trailer to be hauled from his home range, his freedom and his world, was that there were still caring people determined to protect him and his family. Return to Freedom — and our loyal supporters — will always to do what we can to ”save the pieces”. We are proud and happy to tell you that we eventually reunited Silver King with his mare, Grace — and a few others from his band.

Thanks to the generous support given to our work by caring people all over the world, we found a way yet again to undo another terrible wrong: The total shattering of Silver King’s precious family. Silver King’s colt, Haiku, and Galahad’s colt, Sterling, also joined their fathers at RTF’s sanctuary.

Baring witness to these reunions is exactly like watching a family find each other after frantically and forcefully being separated by battle. I wish you could have been here to witness the way each of these horses recognized and reunited with their loved ones. Hope stood by Galahad for hours, first their noses recognizing each other’s breath, then her nose traveling very slowly up and down each side of his face. The mare has had a calming affect on Galahad who still, after six years, snorted and ran when staff came into the pasture to feed hay. Now together, you can see that they feel strong, protected, and balanced.