Born: 2016
Gathered: Antelope Valley, Nevada – September 20, 2018
Arrived at Mustang Valley: 2023
Special Marking: A white star in the shape of a Celtic cross
Age: 9 (as of October 2025)
Status: In Training
Sponsorship Status: 🧡 Looking for a sponsor

A Story of Quiet Strength and Deep Willingness

Sage is a beautifully built Nevada mustang with a quiet fire in her eyes and a Celtic cross gracing her forehead. That white star—so perfectly shaped it almost seems intentional—feels like a symbol. A sign of strength. Of endurance. Of grace through adversity.

She was born wild on the ranges of Antelope Valley, living free until her roundup by the BLM in 2018 at just two years old. Like many, she was pulled into the deeply flawed Adoption Incentive Program, which offered financial compensation to those willing to “adopt” wild mustangs. It was a program with good intentions—but devastating outcomes. Too often, horses like Sage were claimed for the cash and abandoned when they proved too much work.

That’s how Sage ended up dumped in a kill pen—unhandled, frightened, and confused. Mustang Valley Sanctuary doesn’t purchase horses from kill buyers, but when a kind-hearted soul raised bail and asked if we would offer her a safe landing, we said yes. Along with her companions Summer and Apollo, Sage arrived at the sanctuary as part of a trio of lost souls in need of time, patience, and love.

Healing Through Trust, Not Force

At first, Sage was reactive—a “wall” of energy. She was the kind of mustang that might have run straight through you out of sheer panic. But that’s not who she is. That’s just what trauma does to a horse that’s never been given a chance to understand what’s being asked of her.

With time, gentleness, and consistency, Sage has come a long way. These days, she walks herself into the round pen like it’s her favorite part of the day. No hesitation. No pressure. Just a quiet confidence.

🗣️ “Are we playing today?”
– Sage, as she strolls into the round pen, ready to learn

She’s inquisitive. She wants to connect. She wants to understand. And she really tries. There’s a lot of “try” in this horse. She listens. She learns. She wants to belong.

Why Sponsoring Sage Matters

When you sponsor Sage, you’re not just helping cover her hay or vet visits—you’re becoming part of her healing journey. You’re showing her that not all humans take. That some give. Some stay. Some care.

Your sponsorship provides:

• Nutritious feed and supplements

• Veterinary care and hoof trimming

• Ongoing training and enrichment

• A safe, loving home for life

From Wild to Willing: A Soul Worth Knowing

Sage isn’t just a rescue story—she’s a story of transformation.

She reminds us why we do what we do at Mustang Valley. Because when a mustang like Sage decides she wants to be part of your world—not because she has to, but because she chooses to—that’s sacred.

If you feel drawn to Sage’s story, consider becoming her sponsor. Or come meet her in person on a VIP tour or Mustang Immersion and feel the energy of a horse that carries both the wild and the willing inside her.