On Colorado Gives Day: A Tribute & Updates from the Freedom Family
On this Colorado Gives Day, we wanted to take a moment to share an update from close to home — the Freedom Family.
These Pryor mustangs, adopted by The Cloud Foundation after the 2009 roundup, have become an enduring part of Cloud’s legacy and a daily reminder of why our work matters.
💛 A Tribute to Mystery
At 31 years old, we had to say goodbye to Mystery, the only blue roan and a most cherished member of the Freedom Family.
Ginger first saw Mystery as a yearling on the mountain—introduced to her by Rev. Steve Schweiger, who explained that she was named “Mystery” because no one knew who her parents were.
Mystery was adopted with the rest of the Freedom Family (not including our newest members, Kestrel and Malayna) after the 2009 roundup and went on to live a long life - the last several years, here in Colorado. Losing her is so incredibly hard, but we’re grateful that though she was removed from her home, she spent her days wild and surrounded by companionship of her Pyror bandmates.
*Pictured above L to R: Mystery in her winter coat; Summer coat - isn’t it amazing how roans change color from season to season?'; Mystery with her good friend, Cavalita (black) , and Cavalita’s filly Josie. Cavalita died in early 2023. Josie remains with the Freedom Family herd.
🌟 Training Updates: Calamity Jane, Diamond Lil & Lily
Among the bright spots this year has been the progress of the younger horses — Calamity Jane, Diamond Lil, and Lily.
These three girls, born and raised within the Freedom Family, are now coming into their own. Their unique personalities are shining as they develop confidence and connection through careful, compassionate training.
Working with Trainer Bobby Ashley
We are incredibly fortunate to work with trainer Bobby Ashley, whose patient and thoughtful approach aligns beautifully with TCF’s values.
Late this summer, Bobby began:
helping each mare build trust
developing foundational skills
ensuring their training progresses at a pace that feels safe and empowering to each individual mare
honoring their natural sensitivity and unique backgrounds
Stay tuned! We will be adding a separate Freedom Family blog to our website so you may easily find updates and on the FF herd and watch the handling of these three mustang ambassadors.
The first real snow for the Freedom Family just recently arrived on Dec. 2 & 3!
❄️ Preparing for Winter Care
Winter always brings new challenges for the volunteers who monitor the Freedom Family and maintain/manage the resources provided.
The Freedom Family’s land has:
no electricity
a small barn for small bale storage
a large two-stall run-in with a small tack and equipment room, and...
water buckets that freeze in the icy-cold weather
This means our volunteers must break ice daily to ensure the horses can drink — a task that’s strenuous, slippery, and sometimes dangerous. Last year, our dear friend, volunteer, and Board member, Susan Sutherland, broke her wrist during one of those icy mornings! She fought the ice but the ice won. 😞
To make these wintery days safer, we’ve been researching a solar-powered propane heater system for the water tanks. This would keep the water from freezing and greatly reduce the risk for the people who care for them while keeping fresh water accessible for the horses.
We also recently purchased the Freedom Family’s winter hay and are putting up fencing around the round bales to prevent waste and keep the herd safe — yet well-fed — throughout the season. 😀
🐴 A Family Rooted in Love & Legacy
As winter settles in, the Freedom Family continues to embody why we fight for wild horses — their strength, their social bonds, and the unmistakable spark that Cloud carried across the mountains.
They remind us daily that though their removal from their Pryor home was an ending, we were able to provide a new beginning that honored their wild natures
Mystery’s memory, the challenges of winter care, and the growth of the younger mares are all woven into a story of hope, resilience, and commitment.
Thank you for standing with the Freedom Family — and with all the wild horses who depend on us.
Colorado Gives Day is a significant charitable event in Colorado, occurring on December 9 this year, with early giving starting on November 1. It was created by the Colorado Gives Foundation and has become the state's largest giving movement, raising over half a billion dollars since its inception in 2010. The event encourages donations to nonprofits based throughout the state, and every contribution is amplified by a $1 million incentive fund, enhancing the impact of each gift. All nonprofits receive a percentage of the fund equal to the percentage they raise for Colorado Gives Day. So, if they raise 10%, they get 10% of the Incentive Fund.
Though the incentives are present during the Gives Campaign period, donations may be made and independent fundraisers may be conducted through Colorado Gives 365 days a year!
Discover ways you can help raise money for TCF through Colorado Gives
Fundraise solutions | ColoradoGives.org
