SATYA

Satya is a wild burro who was conceived in the wild and captured in utero, as her mother was rounded up from the Twin Peaks HMA (Herd Management Area) on the California side of the California-Nevada border in 2020. Born in the Bureau of Land Management Litchfield Corrals, she was taken by a TIP (Trainer Incentive Program) trainer at 3 years old with dozens of other wild horses and burros to a facility in coastal Oregon. She arrived at Wild Peace Sanctuary with several injuries including a permanent injury to the crest of her neck, an open and infected wound, and damaged nose cartilage.

 

The heavy, oversized halter that Satya arrived with had been *left on her head and face for almost three months with the lead rope attached. When questioned about the open wound underneath her jaw, the trainer remarked that Satya had "got caught up on the halter", an experience that would have been terrifying. The wound was infected and had layers of scar tissue from trying to heal over and over again while being continually re-opened. Satya also had damage to her nose cartilage which had created an indent on the top of her nose. Some of the hair had rubbed off the sides of her face from the constant friction from the oversized halter, and she had a 2" deep notch in the crest of her neck from the halter pulling into her still developing (softer than a mature donkey) crest every time she stepped forward onto the rope. Satya has to wear a special halter fitted with a brow band so that it doesn't slip down into this permanent indent in her neck.

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Satya was extremely shut down, fearful, and untrusting when she arrived. It was also clear that the TIP trainer had failed to meet any of the gentling requirements that the Mustang Heritage Foundation, who manage the Trainer Incentive Program in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, set in their list of Rules and Regulations. These *requirements include; ensuring the animals they adopt out are leading well and loading in a trailer (either through leading on or “sending”, not running an animal up the alley into the trailer), allowing human contact for grooming, and picking up and cleaning out all four feet in preparation of standing for a farrier. 

 

Our founder was able to gentle Satya so that she could manage all these tasks and more, and she slowly gained confidence and trust. Three years on, she is the most sociable, communicative, and sassy member of our resident herd, the first to run up and greet visitors and the last to leave. Satya entertains everyone with her antics, which include putting her head on your shoulder and snuffling in your ear (if you'll let her), asking for ear rubs and butt scratches, and offering her soft velvety nose for kisses. 

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Satya means Truth in Sanskrit.

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*Halters should never be left on any animal where you cannot supervise their activities. Halters left on for any length of time can become a serious hazard. Along with injury they can also become a source of pain and cause sores, infections, and damage to the animal. Never turn a haltered animal out into open pasture or woodlands where they might get caught or entangled. Halters should also be regularly cleaned, readjusted, and inspected. Further, if a trainer leaves a halter on a wild horse or burro for any length of time and/or fails to gentle them prior to adoption, and/or causes injury to an animal in their care (as was the case with Satya), you are obliged to report them to the BLM.

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**Wild horses and burros who are not adequately gentled prior to adoption are far more likely to suffer from mistreatment or neglect or end up in the slaughter pipeline. It is not a simple task to gentle one of these animals. It takes knowledge, patience, experience, and dedication, and the average person will likely give up leaving the animal to fend for itself. An ungentled animal will not be willing to stand still for hoof trimming or be amenable to being groomed or even be able to be handled for veterinary care. If you choose to adopt an ungentled wild horse or burro and are not familiar with the gentling process, it is always recommended that you have a trainer help you to gentle them.