Mustangs MEND

Mustangs MEND Nonprofit equine assisted learning program & rescue/sanctuary that works with wild and/or neglected or abused mustangs & other equines and humans in need.
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We are Darkness to Light trained in protecting children in equestrian sports. Mustangs MEND is a registered 501c3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in 2017. We are located in the Santa Clarita Valley in CA. We facilitate the healing of both mustangs and humans through the principles of Mindfulness, Empathy, Nurturing, and Dignity. Participants in our programs learn basic horse handling ski

lls and then move through a process of gentling a wild mustang so that it will be best equipped to adapt to its new life in a human world. Survivors work closely with a mentor-trainer and process successes and difficulties throughout the gentling process. Both humans and mustangs learn how to heal and create connection to the world around them as a way of coping with previous trauma. Mustangs MEND believes that both horse and human will come out on the other side of this process with positive coping mechanisms and a new sense of self love.

‼️URGENT‼️Tragic barn fire at one of our adopters farms...Several years ago, the incredible Laura Martin and her family ...
02/23/2026

‼️URGENT‼️

Tragic barn fire at one of our adopters farms...

Several years ago, the incredible Laura Martin and her family opened their home — and their whole hearts — to Teddy and Timo. Teddy and Timo came to them after we (our rescue and COER) rescued them from the Warm Springs reservation, and from the very beginning, they were cherished members of the family. Teddy was part of the group of babies that we saved from the terrible snowstorm in 2019. And Timo was orphaned and Stella, our Mustang nurse mare, took him on later that year in July.

If you know this family, you know this is a family that loves fiercely. They are the kind of people who keep horses for life — even the ones who can no longer be ridden. They believe every horse deserves safety, dignity, and a forever home, no matter what season of life they’re in. That’s the kind of heart they have.

A few years ago, during the devastating wildfires near Estacada, they evacuated their entire farm and got every single animal to safety. It was extraordinary.

This week, tragedy struck in a different way. Their barn caught fire, and four of their beloved horses perished — including sweet Teddy and Timo.

The grief is unimaginable.

A family member has set up a GoFundMe (link below) to help them begin rebuilding. If you’re able to give, it would mean so much. If you are local to the Estacada area, they have immediate needs — including local grass hay and practical hands-on support.

They will also need assistance from someone with a backhoe or tractor who can help them lay these precious horses to rest on their property. This is an incredibly tender and urgent need. If this is you, please reach out and we can coordinate.

Please keep Laura and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Teddy and Timo (and Rogue and Callie) were deeply loved. They were home. And they will never be forgotten.

GoFundme:
https://gofund.me/a733910be

You can also donate to us directly and write "Martin Family" in the note. We will use any funds to buy what they need or grant funds directly to them.

Venmo:
Zelle: [email protected]
Dontion Link for Credit/Debit: https://square.link/u/eyQEZFt

Courtesy Post: This lovely mare needs a new home ASAP! Name: KamiRegistered Name: TR Kameo KidBreed: Half ArabianColor...
02/17/2026

Courtesy Post: This lovely mare needs a new home ASAP!

Name: Kami
Registered Name: TR Kameo Kid
Breed: Half Arabian
Color: Buckskin
DOB: April 29, 2003

Riding: She is trained under saddle and will likely need a tune up with an experienced person or trainer. Vet can evaluate soundness.

Medical Needs: She is a senior mare with Cushings and currently on medication. This mediation costs approximately $150-$250/month depending on dosage. She likely needs a special diet and regular vet care.

Temperament: Very sweet, but sensitive and can be cautious with strangers. She loves kids.

This mare is located in Southern California, closer to San Diego. Please contact us if you think you could give her an amazing home.

Kittenpalooza!We recently took in two young cats who, unfortunately, had already bred before coming into rescue. Both of...
02/10/2026

Kittenpalooza!

We recently took in two young cats who, unfortunately, had already bred before coming into rescue. Both of these sweet youngsters will be looking for loving homes in the near future once everyone is healthy and ready.

Shortly after they arrived, we realized the female was pregnant. We weren’t sure exactly how far along she was… but we knew it would be soon.

On Friday evening, when I went out to feed the horses, I found her in active labor — and she already had three tiny babies beside her.

She ultimately delivered six kittens total. 💛

She has been an absolutely amazing mama — attentive, gentle, and doing everything right.

But one of the babies was significantly smaller than the rest. This little one did manage to nurse and received colostrum, and she was doing all the normal newborn kitten things at first… but she simply couldn’t keep up. As the stronger siblings grew more active, she started getting pushed off mom and wasn’t able to compete for milk.

Last night, when I went out to feed again, I tried supplemental feeding, but her suckle was extremely weak. She was fading quickly, and it didn’t feel right to just let her struggle without help.

I’ll be honest — neonatal kitten care at that level is not in my wheelhouse. They are so unbelievably tiny, and I don’t know how to tube feed safely.

So I reached out to a local kitten and cat rescue group on Facebook… and the most incredible person stepped forward.

She is a veterinarian who runs a neonatal kitten rescue called Kitten Clutter https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573103361954&mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr down near Irvine, and she drove all the way up to Santa Clarita at 10:30 at night to pick up this baby and give her a fighting chance.

This kitten weighs only 42 grams — when the average newborn kitten is closer to 90 grams. She has a very steep uphill battle, and we don’t yet know if there may be something congenital going on that we can’t see.

But… she’s still here today. She’s active. And she even suckled a little on her own. 🥹

We are cautiously optimistic and so grateful beyond words.

This is what rescue looks like — people showing up in the darkest moments, giving everything they have for the smallest lives.

🙏 If anyone has a few dollars to spare, this neonatal rescue could truly use the support. The work they do is lifesaving, exhausting, and completely driven by compassion.

And one more thing… this sweet little fighter needs a name.
If you make a donation, please leave a name suggestion — we would love to name her with the help of the community cheering her on. 💛

Thank you to everyone who continues to care, share, and support these babies and the village it takes to save them.

More updates soon. 💛🐾
-Tami

Donate here: https://www.kittenclutter.org/donate

🩶🐐In Loving Memory of Clementine 🐐 🤍Clementine was the most amazing little goat there ever was. She lived just shy of 9 ...
01/19/2026

🩶🐐In Loving Memory of Clementine 🐐 🤍

Clementine was the most amazing little goat there ever was. She lived just shy of 9 months and every single one of those months was such a gift to anyone who was lucky enough to know her.

She came into this world already a fighter, weighing an entire pound less than her twin brother. Those first days were touch and go, but she fought and she made it. She was stronger than any of us ever imagined. She became the most pampered house goat bottle baby ever. She spent 24/7 being coparented by Daisy and I between our houses. She had surrogate chihuahua moms and a two big dog dads. She also ended up with Cosmo (her twin) and Paco the Taco as bottle baby mates.

We weren’t sure she would ever catch up in her growth, and despite supplemental feed, vitamins, a snuggly warm jacket on cold nights, a princess platform bed, and all the things… she never really did. As she grew, it became clear that something wasn’t quite right. She struggled to grow, to maintain muscle, to thrive the way other goats did.

But what she lacked in size, she made up for in heart.

Clem was the happiest little snugglebug you could ever meet. She would cry to be held, demand cuddles, and melt completely when you picked her up. Last night, I was a little late to feeding because I’d attended an event. She greeted me with the rest of the goats, singing their usual chorus of baahs and she twirled around my feet while I put on her jacket and put down her feed.

I picked her up because how could I not? She tucked herself into the crook of my neck and let out that little sigh she’d given me hundreds of times before. Then I put her down, and she went right back to her hay, perfectly content.

This morning, my volunteers found her nearly lifeless at morning feeding. They did everything they could, including CPR, and we rushed her to the emergency vet. But her little heart stopped just as we got there. She left this world surrounded by her “moms,” loved to the very end and beyond.

Clementine likely had a form of dwarfism. We knew she was never quite right. There was a real possibility that her organs would outgrow her tiny little frame or that she had other internal complications we could not see. But as long as she was happy, eating, and doing proper goat things, we chose love. We chose to give her the very best life we could, for however long she was meant to be here.

That life was 9 months. Honestly, 9 months longer than I ever imagined we’d have with her.

This is the hardest part of loving animals. And the part I was most unprepared for is how many hearts break when one is lost. I knew what I signed up for when I started rescuing animals, but I never realized how much I’d be asking of others who come along on the journey with me. These folks are amazing, selfless, and probably also don't really know what they are signing up for when they sign the release form and start learning about the animals and ultimately falling in love with them. And yet, they keep coming back. I really couldn't do this without them. ❤️

To Clem, Clemmy, Clemson, Clem Chowder—
you were the very best little pagoaty anyone could ever have. If only love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.

Go baah and jump around in that big pasture in the sky, sweet girl.
You were so very loved. 🐐✨
-Tami

Today Candy and Quick both had much-needed dental work. Horses require routine dental floats to file down sharp points a...
01/14/2026

Today Candy and Quick both had much-needed dental work. Horses require routine dental floats to file down sharp points and correct chewing inefficiencies. Their teeth don’t stop growing like ours—they continue to erupt for decades, which means without regular care, eating becomes painful, inefficient, and can lead to weight loss and bigger health issues.

There’s no skipping this. No delaying it.
It’s part of giving them a comfortable, dignified life.

🦷 Today’s vet bill: $800
🐴 Plus farrier care for little Mia: $60
💉 And approximately $400 more coming up for routine vaccines that are due

We’re stepping into 2026 with very depleted funds after an incredibly hard 2025, but our horses don’t get to wait until things feel easier. Their care has to come first—always.

💌 To help raise these critical funds, we’re offering something very special to our community:
✨ Baah My Valentine Goat Grams ✨

Each very exclusive goatie gram includes a picture and/or video with the unofficial (but soon to be official hopefully) World’s Smallest Goat, Clementine—who is truly the snuggliest little creature ever. 🐐🤍
We’ll even come to you within Santa Clarita to spread the love.

If you’re able to donate, share, or snag a goat gram, you are directly helping us keep our animals healthy, comfortable, and cared for.

👉 Stay tuned for sign-up details!
Thank you for standing with us when it matters most. We truly couldn’t do this without you. 🤍🐎🐐

PayPal.me/mustangsmend
Zelle: [email protected]
Venmo: mustangsmend

We can take credit or debit cards as well! Just contact us.

Mustangs MEND is a 501c3 nonprofit equine rescue and sanctuary. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Courtesy post: Indoor Cat Homes needed! We currently have 3 lovely older kittens that need homes. (We are helping to pla...
01/07/2026

Courtesy post: Indoor Cat Homes needed!

We currently have 3 lovely older kittens that need homes. (We are helping to place them in good homes.)

Mochi is a beautiful black and white 10 month old long hair 10-12 lbs INDOOR cat. He has never been outside and was raised indoors as a kitten so he has zero street sense. He is extremely friendly and social. He is good in the litter box and may do well in a multi-cat home. He is up to date on all core vaccines and also neutered.

Kelly and Budd are two adorable siblings that are 6-8 months old. Both have spay/neuter certificates and just need the appointments scheduled (working on it). This is a very urgent placement as the owner cannot keep them any longer. These two are also indoor cats. These two should go together, if at all possible.

Please share this post from my page. Good homes only. Reasonable rehoming fee applies.

Please contact Tami at 541-602-8415.

(These are not our cats but we are working with owners to find the good homes as it is no fault of these cats that they need new homes.)

CALLING ALL HANDS ON DECK— STORM CLEAN-UP AT MUSTANGS MEND 🚨The storm hit hard and we need help NOW. Anyone can help — n...
01/05/2026

CALLING ALL HANDS ON DECK— STORM CLEAN-UP AT MUSTANGS MEND 🚨

The storm hit hard and we need help NOW. Anyone can help — no horse experience required. If you can show up, you’re needed.

📅 Saturday, January 10th
🕛 12:00–4:00 PM

We urgently need support with:
🐴 Horse & animal care (grooming, basic care)
🧹 Mucking out storm-damaged areas
🪣 Mud removal & cleanup
🌱 Weeding & general manual labor

👢 Rubber boots or waterproof boots are a MUST.
Wear clothes you don’t mind getting muddy and bring gloves if you can.

These moments are when community shows up for animals who depend on us. Even an hour makes a real difference.

📍 Mustangs MEND
📩 DM us to let us know you’re coming or text at 541-602-8415.

Please share and help us rally for the herd. 🐎

01/01/2026

This year was not easy. It asked more of us than we ever expected. There were moments of deep exhaustion, uncertainty, and real challenge—storms both literal and figurative. From emergency barn repairs and weather chaos, to ongoing stress caused by frivolous complaints and navigating systems that don’t always understand who we are or what we do, there were days it felt like we were simply trying to keep our heads above water.

And yet—here we are.

Because of community.
Because of resilience.
Because of the animals who depend on us, and the people who believe in this work.

This year, Mustangs MEND continued to provide safe refuge, consistent care, and dignity to animals who need it most. We taught young people how to read equine body language, how to lead with patience instead of force, and how true horsemanship begins long before anyone ever climbs into a saddle. We watched junior volunteers grow into confident leaders. We supported healing—both human and animal—through connection, education, and presence.

Most importantly, through every storm, every setback, and every long night, no matter what, we showed up for the animals. They were fed, sheltered, protected, and loved—because that is non-negotiable for us.

This year reminded us why Mustangs MEND exists:
To educate.
To protect.
To advocate.
To stand steady when things get hard.

As we step into the new year, we do so tired—but hopeful. Worn—but determined. Grateful beyond words for every single person who donated, volunteered, shared a post, sent a message of encouragement, or stood up for us when it mattered.

Thank you for being part of this herd.
We couldn’t do this without you.

Here’s to a new year, new strength, and continuing this work—together. 💙🐴

With so much love,
Tami
Founder/Executive Director

12/30/2025

Just a lil bit of comic relief because if I don't laugh about this stuff I will cry! 😹

Here is my last week in a nutshell...(for anyone ever wanting to "open a horse rescue", please read and then come hang out with me in the winter for a week and then let me know if you still want to lol!)

✨ Just a casual update from my absolutely feral life ✨
I swear… someone somewhere is testing me.

1️⃣ We got slammed with a wild rain + wind storm — barn damage and 8 inches of rain in 72 hours.
2️⃣ I’m sick with the full-blown winter plague, because obviously.
3️⃣ Manure barrels didn’t get picked up because of the holiday. Fine.
Then trash says they won’t come the next day or Saturday due to “mud” on our easement.
THE EASEMENT IS PAVED.
Literal pavement.
I am standing on the easement while talking to the trash company manager.

Trash only finally agrees to come after I email the manager, because he’s arguing with me about whether or not the easement is paved.
He’s sure it isn’t because he “was just there two weeks ago.”
Sir.
I am standing on it.
Please stop trying to mansplain my own freakin’ easement to me.

Meanwhile, we haven’t been able to dump muck tubs since Friday, so everything is now… extra.

4️⃣ TODAY trash finally says they’re coming 🎉
BUT — there’s a fallen tree blocking the road.
ALSO today, the porta potty truck finally shows up after skipping us for 5 WEEKS because they previously sank their truck in our property and ruined my gate.
They keep insisting we have a padlock on the gate.
We do not.
We never have.

And OF COURSE they arrive right when the completely full manure barrels are blocking all access… because those haven’t been picked up yet because see #3! 🫠

✨ AND just to keep things spicy ✨
A brand new storm is already brewing, with another ridiculous amount of rain starting New Year’s Eve.
Which is why we really, really need these trash bins picked up before the next round of chaos hits.

So yes, enjoy this video of us pulling a fallen tree out of the road with an SUV (because I didnt have my truck today lol) so life can continue.

Horse girls git ’er done. 💪🐎🌧️🌳

(If you’re wondering how I’m doing mentally: 🤪)

Signing off,
Tami
Captain Chaos Coordinator

THIS is what community looks like. 💙In the middle of storms, high winds, and a failing barn roof, people showed up — and...
12/29/2025

THIS is what community looks like. 💙

In the middle of storms, high winds, and a failing barn roof, people showed up — and because of them, our animals stayed safe.

Terry gave up his Saturday to weld the barn cross bar back together, making sure the structure was solid and safe. Then Nate, on his Sunday day off, came in and repaired the corrugated panels and shored the roof up so it could withstand the wind event we’re currently facing. Their skill and generosity quite literally saved our barn.

Behind the scenes, an incredible volunteer crew jumped into action. Daisy, Dina, Erika, Debbie, and Debbie’s amazing family (husband Brian, and daughters Addy and Morgan) spent hours mucking and clearing storm debris, helping us reset and prepare for whatever weather comes next. This work is hard, messy, and absolutely essential.

And we can’t forget Katrina, who stood in the pouring rain for hours, securing the broken roof and protecting the animals when things were at their worst.

We’ll be honest — this work is messy. It takes grit, flexibility, and a lot of really passionate people who care deeply. Things aren’t always perfect, but we show up, we problem-solve, and we make it work. Through it all, there is always one common goal:
keeping these amazing horses happy, healthy, and safe.

Because of support from our community, we were also able to purchase additional rubber mats and bedding pellets, helping keep everyone dry, comfortable, and calm through the storm. That support truly mattered.

As we head into another round of storms, we still need help to stay ahead:
• 2–3 rubber mats at $60 each
• Our final hay delivery of the year — $400, which will last about one week

If you’re able to make an end-of-the-year donation, now is a powerful time to do it. Every share, every dollar, every act of support helps us protect this herd through winter.

Thank you for standing with Mustangs MEND — we truly couldn’t do this without you. 💙

PayPal.me/mustangsmend
Venmo: mustangsmend
Zelle: [email protected]

Mustangs MEND is a 501c3 nonprofit. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

This is not quite how we hoped to spend Christmas Eve but this is the reality of taking care of animals. Last night, a p...
12/24/2025

This is not quite how we hoped to spend Christmas Eve but this is the reality of taking care of animals.

Last night, a powerful storm hit with extreme winds and several inches of rain in just a few hours. Our barn usually holds up, but this storm was different. The wind was so strong it broke the weld on a 3-inch steel cross post in the roof. When that failed, sections of corrugated metal roofing ripped off and bent.

Most importantly, no animals were hurt in the chaos of the roof failing. That makes this situation at least a little better.

We spent the entire morning in the rain and wind doing damage control — tying down twisted metal, making temporary roof repairs, and moving horses around so everyone had at least a dry-ish place to stand. One stall is unusable, and with rain expected to continue for days, we are constantly adjusting just to keep everyone safe and comfortable.

We are exhausted. We are worried. And we don’t yet know what it will take — or cost — to properly fix the damage.

What we do know is what we need right now:
• Bedding pellets to keep stalls dry
• A few more rubber mats (they’re on sale for $40 and make a huge difference)
• Help absorbing the unexpected repair costs this storm brought with it

Asking for help like this is hard, especially during the holidays. But if you’re able to make a year-end donation — even a small one — it would make an immediate and meaningful difference.

If Mustangs MEND has ever mattered to you…
If you believe in rescue, education, and showing up for animals when it’s hard…

We need you right now.

With tired hearts and deep gratitude,
Mustangs MEND 🤍

To donate:
Venmo: mustangsmend
Zelle: [email protected]
PayPal.me/mustangsmend

Mustangs MEND is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Address

Ravenhill Road
Santa Clarita, CA
91321

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 9pm
Tuesday 9am - 9pm
Wednesday 9am - 9pm
Thursday 9am - 9pm
Friday 9am - 9pm
Saturday 9am - 9pm
Sunday 9am - 9pm

Telephone

(541) 602-8415

Website

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