At Mustang Valley Sanctuary, Mikayla, a Salt Wells Creek Mustang from Wyoming, is known as a feisty and fierce warrior who will go to any lengths to protect her daughter Elena.

Mary DeBonis, the sanctuary’s founder and owner, suspects that Mikayla’s fear of being separated from her daughter stems from the trauma of losing her entire family when she was rounded up and adopted out under the adoption incentive program. Like many of the sanctuary’s mustangs, Makaya ended up in a kill pen. Luckily, she was rescued alongside Moon Star and Clara, and now calls the sanctuary home.

Mustangs like Mikayla have a more prominent amygdala, which results in higher cortisol levels and a heightened fight or flight response, making them more intelligent and sensitive to their surroundings. This can make it challenging for them to trust humans who are trying to domesticate them. Additionally, Mikayla’s limited vision in her right eye adds to her cautiousness. Mikayla has a fierce side that emerges when protecting her daughter, just like Shakira when she protects Rosita from barnyard bullies. Slowly, however, the protective mother is learning to trust Mary with her daughter, allowing Mary to work with Elena.

While Mikayla’s desire to remain wild and undomesticated can be a challenge for her caregivers, those same traits actually touch Mary’s heart. This small mustang with enormous courage has had to endure extreme stress and laminitis in her feet, but through proper nutrition and the freedom to run and play, her feet have slowly healed. Her slipper feet when she arrived at Mustang Valley Sanctuary are now a distant memory.

Today, her daughter Elena looks up to her as the alpha mare, and Mikayla’s warrior spirit and love for her daughter make her an excellent example of the resilience and strength of wild mustangs. If you’re looking for a feisty mustang with a heart of gold, Mikayla and her daughter Elena are in search of a forever home together. Come meet them at Mustang Valley Sanctuary and see their fierce spirits in action.