WE NEED YOUR HELP – Still here in South Dakota saving horses!
The following is an update from Chilly Pepper-Miracle Mustang Rescue.
The wind is blowing the frozen snow and the roads are covered in ice. The temperature has been -18 degrees wind chill factor and conditions are brutal. However, the good news is that more horses are going out today, and even more are scheduled to leave in the next week or so.
Your donations have purchased another $1100 in milk products for the 6 babies back at Chilly Pepper. Another $1000 to pull 4 more horses (transport, vetting etc.) this last week and yesterday it was over $550 for medical supplies. This was for medicine used for the babies and for horses in need of meds at this time.
We purchased over $5000 worth of panels and had previously purchased $4200 worth. The $4200 was specifically donated by a wonderful woman named Sara, thanks to Elaine Nash and Fleet of Angels.
It sounds like a lot of panels, but unfortunately even with the additional panels purchased by Fleet of Angels, we are still substantially short. A great number of the panels purchased for this rescue are being used to cover up very dangerous fencing so we can safely sort without horses being torn up.
South Dakota update on Court Case on remaining 540 horses from Chilly Pepper!
The following is an update from Chilly Pepper-Miracle Mustang Rescue.
After days of driving very slowly on solid ice and snow, we arrived safely after delivering the horses to their new homes. Matt and I have never seen so many wrecks. It was truly terrifying with our precious cargo on board. But our prayers were answered and we had Angels all around us.
We delivered Copper, Delilah, Precious and Abilene (shown above) safely to their new homes and headed back towards ISPMB. As you can see, by the photo below, the snow is once again a hindering factor in our work.
This photo was taken just before we arrived at ISPMB. Snow has actually drifted so high over some of the fencing that horses can simply walk out.
As we were driving, I received a message from the Sheriff that the court hearing had been cancelled. A deal had been reached between Karen Sussman and the Counties. Karen gets to keep 20 of her favorite Gila horses and the rest have been turned over to Fleet of Angels.
So the work begins. While I would much rather be back home taking care of our critters, there are 520 horses needing homes immediately!!
URGENT HELP NEEDED NOW – ON OUR WAY TO SOUTH DAKOTA
The following is an update from Chilly Pepper-Miracle Mustang Rescue.
As I steal a few moments to send out a quick update, Matt and I are on our way back to South Dakota. The good news is that we are delivering 4 horses to their new homes before we go back. We placed 2 last week and are so happy as we cannot afford to “rescue & not rehome”. lol However, we need help badly with the ongoing expenses involved in this operation and for the special needs kids who are landing at Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang.
We are spending about $300 per month for milk powder per baby, and we currently have six on “liquid gold”. So that is roughly $1800 just for milk, and then we are going through about 4 bags? of milk pellets at roughly $100 each bag. These kids were a bit behind so they are taking extra. Add to that the enormous amounts of hay they are consuming and their bedding and their Mare and Foal Pellets, we are easily spending thousands on just the 6 babies alone. The good news is that they are doing better and better every day.
We spent $1100+ on the last kids that came home to get them vetted and their lil hoofers done. This does not include Coggins or Health Certs etc. or to even get them home. As we are taking on several blind horses that have no where else to go, (including Frosty – the blind black stallion), we need to add additional shelter and make the pen for Shadow and the new blind kids larger than originally planned.
540 ISPMB HORSES STILL NEED US!
The following is an update from Chilly Pepper-Miracle Mustang Rescue.
Happy New Year!
I am sorry it has taken so long for an update. We had no internet for 11 days, and Matt and I have been working 12 hour+ days to “prep for winter”. As we were never supposed to be in South Dakota even up until Thanksgiving, staying until two days before Christmas really put us extremely far behind.
The babies are improving greatly and enjoying the nursery! We do want to send out a special “Thank You” to Dee Gregory, who was (hopefully still is LOL) our “go to” guy who made it possible for Matt and I to safely leave our rescue. Without him, we would never have been able to “git ‘er done.”
Update on ISPMB Horses
The following is an update from Chilly Pepper-Miracle Mustang on the ISPMB horses.
First, THANK YOU so much for helping us save these horses. As you can clearly see, they were desperately in need of immediate veterinary and farrier care. Thanks to everyone who has been so loving and generous, these 9 horses from ISPMB are looking at wonderful lives with loving folks.
Matt and I are packing up and we will be delivering the last 5 to their new homes today. Unfortunately we have to drive about 1,000 miles one way to do this. As usual, we need serious help to get these kids to their new homes. Folks often ask why the “adopters” are not paying for transport. These are simply wonderful folks who are willing to take on the huge expenses of rehabbing these beautiful souls and making sure they are cared for the next 30 years. So we are thankful they will take on that huge mission and are praying that y’all will continue your wonderful support so we can get them there.
Update on ISPMB from Chilly Pepper-Miracle Mustang Rescue
The following is an update and support request from Chilly Pepper-Miracle Mustang Rescue.
Last week Matt and I went to ISPMB and brought home a 3 year old and 2 yearlings. The situation is pretty complicated at this point and Karen is trying to adopt out approximately 100 horses.
Four State Vets went out and one horse was scheduled to be euthanized, and approximately 30 need to be sorted for special care.. The count was 810 horses on site, and as of now the Sheriff’s office and Counties are feeding the horses. The horses have been gaining weight steadily with all the good food.
Karen is providing a detailed plan to care for, feed and provide necessary care for the horses. Per the Court order she has until the 21st of October to provide her plan and until I believe the 11th of November to follow through. IF the county does not accept her plan, the horses could be seized and if not adopted out by December 1st they would go to “auction”, and we all know what that means. Karen feels confident that she will retain her horses but does want to make sure she downsizes.
At this time there are many horses available for adoption. Matt and I were asked to return next week to pick up more horses to be adopted out. We are working with Karen to get some good homes for some of these beautiful horses.
It is definitely not an inexpensive endeavor, but circumstances dictate helping to move as many horses as we possibly can before the bad weather hits.
Below are pictures of the horses we brought home. They also need hoof care badly.
ISPBM Horses and Burros
A heartbreaking series of photos were posted of the starving horses at the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros property. These horses and burros need your help in ways more than sending money. Contact the Dewey County Sheriff’s department for ways you can help.
This is a repost of an article by Ashley Parker at ratemyhorsepro.com
Claims of more than 30 wild horses dying horrific starvation deaths fall upon a South Dakota charity tasked with preservation.
“It’s heartbreaking and devastating. There aren’t words when you’re here,” says Colleen Burns, the former senior project manager for the International Society for the Protection of Mustang and Burros (ISPMB).
Burns was fired Thursday after going public regarding the horses’ plight in Lantry. The 501(c)3 organization is home to approximately 650 horses.
Video shows horses suffering from what Burns says are various forms of neglect including untrimmed hooves so bad they can barely walk. The horses are not supplied with the necessary farrier care. Others are unable to rise due to their weakened state from a lack of nutrition as the land is barren. Their bones protrude from their slight bodies. A stallion’s penis is unable to retract after injury and is left without care along with a mare’s visibly broken ankle.
Action Alert: Starving Horses In South Dakota!
This post is from Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang Rescue
Horses dying of starvation, in pain and in critical condition. I spoke with the Sheriff this morning and he said the horses will be seized from ISPMB and a walk through made by the vet, and the horses that need to be humanely euthanized to end their suffering will be taken care of. As we can provide CRITICAL CARE, he said we need to be there on Thursday.
We have no idea who we will be bringing home, but we desperately need funds to accomplish this rescue. If no one can provide the critical care, the horses will have to be euthanized. So right now we are getting ready for the long drive out there.
Please help us give them a chance. They deserve so much more than they have been given.
The Sheriff agreed that the solution is to find safe loving homes for these horses. But for the ones who need critical care, we have to be thereThursday.
It feels like such a lost cause, because there are so many, but God is telling me to help the ones we can. BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP to HELP THEM! Please share this far and wide and donate if you can. We were hoping for a breather, but cannot in good conscience not try to step up and help.
Heber Wild Horses Saved
Future AZ Generations Will Enjoy Historic Wild Herd
Lantry, SD -A settlement of appeals was agreed upon between the Forest Service of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (ASNF) and the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros (ISPMB) and the TerraWind Ranch Eco-Action Group (TREAC) assuring the future protection of these unique wild horses.
Represented by attorneys Anthony Merrill and Tiffany Andersen of Polsinelli Law Firm in Phoenix, the groups met with the Forest Service in Albuquerque on May 6th to hammer out the resolution of the appeals filed against the Forest Service on December 23, 2015 pertaining to the Land Management Plan for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
The resolution harmonizes the plan with the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971. It removes certain inflammatory language pertaining to the horses and finally it requires the FS to show how the plan will impact the wild horses.
ISPMB’s president, Karen Sussman, said, “This was a well deserved achievement that required the persistence of our wonderful attorneys and the cooperation of the Forest Service with Cal Joyner, Regional Forester, at its helm.” Sussman further added, “This was the right thing to do – it is the law.”
Jill Irvin, Executive Director of TerraWind Ranch Eco-Action Group stated, “These wild horses have a long and rich history and are an integral part of Arizona culture. Their presence in the ASNF adds aesthetic value and contributes tourism dollars to our economy, and they deserve to be recognized and valued as wild life species.”
In 2005, ISPMB and their attorney, Anthony Merrill, successfully obtained an injunction in United States Federal Court for the District of Arizona stopping the Forest Service from “rounding up, removing, or awarding a bid for capture and removal of horses from the ASNF.” The Forest Service was to complete a Territory Management Plan for the Heber Wild Horses.
Attorney Merrill said, “I am pleased that the Forest Service will work with the affected and interested groups and our clients to develop the much needed Wild Horse Territory Plan.”


We hope you will support our efforts as ISPMB continues to WIN for our wild horses.