Journey with Equus

06/07/2026

🚨 MACHO ROCKET WAS IN A HERD DISPERSAL ON MAY 26. DAYS LATER HE WAS IN A KILL PEN.

Read that again.

On May 26, 2026, Macho Rocket was publicly listed in the “Dispersal of Thoroughbreds for Dan Rogers” at North Platte Stockyards.

Days later, he was standing in the Stroud kill pen.

Not retired.

Not in sanctuary.

Not protected by a documented aftercare program.

In a kill pen.

And somehow Journey with Equus became the target of criticism for stepping in to save him.

As more information has surfaced, we believe the public deserves to see the timeline, the documented facts, and the actual statements that were made.

🐴 FACT #1: MACHO ROCKET WAS NOT AN UNKNOWN HORSE

Macho Rocket sold for $825,000.

He trained under Bob Baffert.

He won his only career start.

He entered a breeding career.

He spent years standing at Arkansas State University’s breeding program.

He was still breeding mares as recently as last year.

This was not an anonymous horse.

This was a horse with a documented history and known connections.

🐴 FACT #2: LINDA ROBBINS PUBLICLY CONNECTED MACHO ROCKET TO DAVE AND DAN ROGERS

In a public post from 2018, Linda Robbins wrote:

“Congratulations to Macho Rocket’s new owners, Dave and Dan Rogers. The Rogers brothers have been big supporters of this stallion and will leave him here at Starfish Stallions, Hot Springs, Arkansas for the 2018 breeding season.”

That statement publicly connects Macho Rocket to Dave and Dan Rogers.

It also establishes that Linda Robbins had knowledge of Macho Rocket’s ownership and breeding history.

🐴 FACT #3: MACHO ROCKET AND ROCKETS PHENOM WERE BOTH LISTED IN THE DAN ROGERS HERD DISPERSAL

On May 26, 2026, North Platte Stockyards advertised:

“Dispersal of Thoroughbreds for Dan Rogers.”

Included in that dispersal were:

• Macho Rocket

• Rockets Phenom

Both horses were publicly listed as part of that dispersal.

The listing described Macho Rocket as:

“Macho Rocket Stallion-excellent breeder. Would be a great cross for speed on Quarter horse mares.”

Think about that.

A 17-year-old stallion.

A horse who had already raced.

A horse who had already spent years breeding.

A horse who had already produced offspring.

Was still being marketed as a breeding stallion.

At a time when rescues are full.

Sanctuaries are full.

Kill pens are full.

Yet somehow the answer was still to produce more horses.

🐴 FACT #4: ROCKETS PHENOM ALSO ENDED UP IN THE PIPELINE

Rockets Phenom was listed in the same dispersal.

She later appeared in the pipeline as well.

Thankfully she is reportedly safe.

But she still ended up there.

That means two horses connected to this story, both listed in the dispersal, both ended up needing intervention.

🐴 FACT #5: WE WERE TOLD THEY THOUGHT MACHO WAS STILL AT THE UNIVERSITY

During the rescue effort, a person communicating with Linda Robbins relayed the following statement:

“That horse has had a very nice life and we all thought he was still at the University.”

That statement raises significant questions.

Because by May 26, 2026, Macho Rocket was publicly listed in the Dan Rogers dispersal sale.

Those facts are difficult to reconcile.

If Macho Rocket was publicly listed in the Dan Rogers dispersal, then he was clearly no longer standing at the university.

So when did he leave?

Who took possession of him?

Who was responsible for his future after that?

And if former connections were advocating on his behalf, how was it believed he was still at the university?

🐴 FACT #6: THE GOAL APPEARED TO BE GETTING HIM BACK

The same communication included the following statements:

“A past owner got wind of this and called Linda to find out how to get him out.”

and

“If they pay they want him back.”

Read that carefully.

Not:

“How can we help with his future care?”

Not:

“How can we help support the rescue?”

Not:

“How can we ensure he never ends up in this situation again?”

The statement relayed was:

“If they pay they want him back.”

By that point, Macho Rocket had already been through a dispersal sale and had already entered the pipeline.

Journey with Equus had to ask a simple question:

What protections existed to ensure history would not repeat itself?

That question was never answered.

🐴 FACT #7: THE RESCUE WAS PUBLICLY ATTACKED

While supporters were donating to save Macho Rocket, Linda Robbins publicly commented on and shared our fundraising posts.

Among the statements made:

“No need for ransom.”

“Is this another ransom scam?”

“His first owner is trying to save him if we can ever get a call back from Stroud. No ransom add ons necessary.”

“Pitiful way to profit off good hearted folk.”

Chelsea Dyer added:

“Sadly a rescue begging online for money to secure a horse will fight anyone for a horse…even the first owner. Sorry to see that the rescue is not working with the original owner.”

These comments were made publicly while supporters were actively donating to save a horse standing in a kill pen.

🐴 FACT #8: WHAT DID NOT HAPPEN

No private phone call.

No email.

No professional outreach.

No questions about our facility.

No questions about our plans for Macho Rocket.

No questions about his future.

No questions about the life he would have.

No offer to partner in his long-term care.

No financial support from the former connections publicly criticizing the rescue effort.

Instead, our fundraising posts became a public forum for criticism.

🐴 FACT #9: THIS IS THE PROBLEM RESCUES FACE EVERY DAY

For those who say the industry doesn’t dump horses, let’s have an honest conversation.

When horses are sold through open auctions without enforceable lifetime protections, without documented accountability, without follow-up, and without a guaranteed safety net, they are being placed at risk.

That is how horses enter the pipeline.

That is how rescues find them.

That is how horses with names, pedigrees, racing careers, breeding careers, former owners, and known histories end up standing in kill pens.

The pipeline doesn’t start at the kill pen.

It starts long before that.

🐴 FACT #10: THE “SECONDARY OWNER” EXCUSE IS GETTING OLD

One of the most common responses we hear whenever a racehorse, breeding horse, or former industry horse ends up in the slaughter pipeline is:

“It wasn’t the original owner’s fault.”

“It wasn’t the breeder’s fault.”

“It wasn’t the racing industry’s fault.”

“It was a secondary owner.”

But let’s look at what happened here.

Macho Rocket was publicly listed in a dispersal sale.

Rockets Phenom was publicly listed in that same dispersal sale.

Days later, both horses appeared in the pipeline.

At some point, we have to stop pretending that sending horses through open auctions is a meaningful aftercare plan.

Because rescues know what happens.

Kill buyers know what happens.

Traders know what happens.

The horse industry knows what happens.

Open auction dispersals are one of the primary entry points into the slaughter pipeline.

Not every horse will end up there.

But everyone involved understands the risk.

That is why true lifetime responsibility requires more than good intentions.

It requires accountability.

It requires contracts.

It requires follow-up.

It requires buyback provisions.

It requires a system that protects the horse long after the money has changed hands.

The industry often tells us the problem is the “secondary owner.”

But when horses are repeatedly moved through systems that provide little to no long-term protection, that explanation becomes harder and harder to accept.

Because the pipeline doesn’t start at the kill pen.

It starts with the decisions made long before a horse ever gets there.

📍 THE QUESTIONS

If Macho Rocket was important enough to own, breed, market, and publicly fight over, why did he end up in a kill pen?

If former connections cared so deeply, why did the conversation begin with public attacks on the rescue rather than a professional conversation about the horse?

If people thought he was still at the university, how did he appear in a public dispersal sale?

If there was a safety net, why didn’t it protect him?

If there wasn’t one, why not?

📍 WHY WE ACTED

One of our supporters stepped forward and put up half the funds necessary to stop Macho Rocket from shipping.

Journey with Equus stepped up.

Our supporters stepped up.

We secured his safety.

And based on every fact that has surfaced since, we remain convinced we made the right decision.

Because our responsibility was never to social media.

It was never to public pressure.

It was never to the loudest voices in the room.

It was to the horse.

📍 TO LINDA ROBBINS, THE ROGERS FAMILY, OR ANYONE ELSE WITH ADDITIONAL FACTUAL INFORMATION

If there are facts we do not have, we welcome them.

If there are contracts, timelines, documents, transfer records, or information that add clarity to this story, we would genuinely like to see them.

If there is information that helps explain how Macho Rocket went from a university breeding program, to a Dan Rogers herd dispersal, to a kill pen, we are open to hearing it.

But this time, we ask that it be done differently.

During the rescue effort, there was no professional outreach to Journey with Equus.

There was no phone call.

There was no effort to sit down and discuss the horse.

Instead, conversations happened through third parties, public comments, social media posts, accusations, and criticism directed at the rescue actively securing his safety.

At the time, much of the information was being shared indirectly, behind the scenes, and without the transparency needed to understand the full story.

As more facts continue to surface, some of the concerns and questions we had at the time are beginning to make a lot more sense.

So if there is more to this story, we welcome it.

Not through rumors.

Not through attacks.

Not through public accusations.

Through facts.

Through documentation.

Through transparency.

Because if the goal is truly the welfare of the horse, then everyone should want the full story told.

And if we’ve learned anything through this process, it’s that the full story is often very different from the story people are initially told.

The horse’s welfare came first.

It still does.

And it always will.

❤️🐴

06/06/2026

🐴 MACHO ROCKET UPDATE: THE NEXT CHAPTER BEGINS 🐴

Just a few days ago, Macho Rocket’s future was uncertain.

Today, because of all of you, he is safe.

We wanted to share an update on where things stand, answer some of the questions we know will continue to come up, and invite you to continue this journey with us and Macho.

Macho Rocket is currently being cared for in Oklahoma while we finalize transportation to Colorado. He has a stall of his own, is receiving alfalfa and grain twice daily, and appears to be settling in well. We recently received updated photos and were encouraged to see him looking bright, comfortable, and much happier than we expected.

If all goes according to plan, Macho Rocket will arrive in Colorado on the evening of June 11th, where he will begin quarantine with our longtime quarantine provider. We are incredibly grateful to have someone we know and trust ready to welcome him, monitor him closely, and give him the attention, care, and love he deserves.

Once he arrives, we’ll be visiting him, sharing photos and videos, and bringing all of you along on his journey.

Many of you know pieces of Macho Rocket’s history already, but every day new people are learning his story for the first time, and we believe it is important to keep telling it.

In 2011, Macho Rocket sold as a two-year-old for $825,000.

He went into training with Bob Baffert, raced once, won, and earned more than $27,000.

In 2013, he was donated to the University of Arkansas breeding program, where he spent years serving as a breeding stallion.

After that, the trail becomes unclear.

What we do know is that at 17 years old, Macho Rocket eventually found himself at auction and was later purchased by a kill buyer.

That is where we found him.

A horse who once sold for $825,000, trained with one of the most recognized names in racing, won his only race, and spent years serving as a breeding stallion was now facing a future that could have ended in the slaughter pipeline for human consumption.

Somewhere along the way, a horse who had spent his life serving people became a horse at risk of being forgotten.

Sadly, Macho Rocket is not the only horse connected to this story.

We are aware of at least two mares that produced foals sired by Macho Rocket that have also entered the slaughter pipeline.

One was reportedly at the same facility where Macho Rocket was located and, according to information we have received, is now safe.

We have not yet been able to locate or confirm the fate of the second mare.

That reality serves as a sobering reminder that this issue extends far beyond a single horse. While Macho Rocket’s story captured people’s attention because of his remarkable past, countless horses—regardless of pedigree, accomplishments, or the lives they touched—can find themselves vulnerable when there is no long-term safety net in place.

We also want people to understand that securing Macho Rocket’s safety was not a decision we made lightly.

We watched and waited for several days, hoping someone from his past or someone else in a position to help might step forward on his behalf.

But with every passing day, the risk grew.

We did not have a clear answer regarding how much time he had before shipping.

We knew he was a 17-year-old stallion sitting in a high-stress kill pen environment.

We also knew that intact stallions face additional risks in the slaughter-export pipeline because they may not be accepted for export as stallions.

As an older breeding stallion, Macho Rocket is not a horse we were willing to risk having subjected to a rushed or unknown castration situation without proper veterinary oversight. At 17 years old, decisions like that need to be made carefully, with a veterinarian, in the right setting, and only if he is healthy enough.

So we stopped waiting.

We said yes.

Not because it was easy.

Not because we had extra resources sitting around.

But because Macho Rocket deserved a safety net, and at that moment, he did not have one.

We also want to address another question directly.

Many people have asked whether anyone from Macho Rocket’s past stepped forward to help.

Journey with Equus has received no financial support from individuals or organizations connected to Macho Rocket’s racing, breeding, or ownership history.

After Macho Rocket’s safety had already been secured through the generosity of this community, individuals connected to his past became aware of the situation and publicly expressed opinions about where he should go.

Some people believe that because someone owned a horse years ago, that horse should automatically be returned to them.

We respectfully disagree.

At Journey with Equus, our responsibility is to evaluate what is in the horse’s best interest—not what is easiest, most convenient, or most popular.

Being a former owner does not automatically answer important questions about long-term safety, accountability, and future protection.

As a nonprofit, we have a responsibility to ask difficult questions.

How did a horse who sold for $825,000, trained under Bob Baffert, won his only race, stood at stud, and spent years in a university breeding program ultimately end up in the hands of a kill buyer?

Were protections in place for his future?

Was there a written safety net to ensure this could never happen?

If not, why not?

Those are fair questions.

This is not about assigning blame.

It is about transparency.

It is about accountability.

And most importantly, it is about Macho Rocket’s future.

When Journey with Equus committed to Macho Rocket, we committed to giving him something he clearly did not have at that moment:

A safety net.

That commitment remains unchanged.

Today we are launching Macho Rocket’s Second Chance Fund.

While his rescue is behind him, his journey is just beginning. This fund will help provide transportation, feed, hay, farrier care, dental care, veterinary care, rehabilitation, emergency medical needs, and potential hospital-based gelding surgery if our veterinary team determines he is a candidate.

Why a $15,000 Goal?

🚛 Transportation to Colorado — $1,480

🌾 Hay, alfalfa, and feed — approximately $4,800

🐴 Farrier care every 8 weeks — approximately $500

🦷 Annual dental care — approximately $250

🩺 Veterinary evaluations, diagnostics, and routine care — approximately $1,500

❤️ Potential hospital-based gelding surgery and related veterinary care — estimated at $3,500+

🏥 Emergency medical reserve — approximately $2,000

🌟 Rehabilitation, sanctuary care, and contingency funding for unforeseen needs during his first year

Important Note: All amounts are estimates based on the information available today. Actual costs may vary depending on Macho Rocket’s health, veterinary recommendations, and unforeseen needs that arise along the way.

Any funds remaining after his first year of care will remain designated for Macho Rocket and roll forward into his second year of care. Our goal is simple: to ensure that decisions about his future are based on what is best for him—not on whether funds are available.

❤️ To ensure that Macho Rocket never again finds himself without a safety net.

If you would like to follow his journey, become one of his sponsors, or help us build a secure future for this remarkable horse, you can learn more here:

👉 https://donorbox.org/machorocket

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Thank you for donating.

Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for believing that this horse’s life still matters.

Together, we changed the ending.

Now let’s help Macho Rocket write a beautiful new beginning. ❤️🐴

Macho Rocket’s Second Chance FundFrom $825,000 Stallion to an Uncertain FutureIn 2011, Macho Rocket sold as a two-year-old for an astounding $825,000.In 2013, he was donated to the University of Arkansas breeding program, where he spent years serv...

06/05/2026

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Over the past month, an individual using the Facebook profile "Rhonda Dunn" has repeatedly posted allegations about Journey with Equus, our horses, our facilities, our fundraising efforts, and our organization.

Normally, we would not give this type of behavior public attention. In fact, we recently blocked this individual because our time and energy are better spent caring for horses than engaging in social media drama.

However, this has now gone beyond someone simply sharing an opinion.

This post is not intended to silence criticism or discourage questions.

We welcome questions.

We welcome accountability.

We welcome transparency.

The purpose of this post is to document a pattern of behavior that has now extended beyond social media comments and into communications involving horses we are actively trying to help.

This individual has publicly claimed to board horses across from our ranch.

She has publicly claimed to have recently visited our facility.

She has publicly claimed knowledge of our animals, veterinary care, finances, operations, and daily management.

She has publicly discouraged people from donating to Journey with Equus.

She has repeatedly referred to our organization as a hoarding situation.

Most recently, we became aware that she was involving herself in conversations connected to horses we were actively trying to help.

Because these statements continue to be made publicly, we feel it is important to address them publicly.

One thing we find particularly telling is that these comments consistently refer to Journey with Equus as "her place," "her horses," "her operation," or "don't donate to her."

Journey with Equus is not "her place."

Journey with Equus is not the Candice Ensign Show.

Journey with Equus is a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that exists to serve animals and people.

The donations made to this organization do not belong to any one individual.

They belong to the mission.

They provide hay, veterinary care, hoof care, fencing, shelter, feed, and support for the horses entrusted to our care.

When someone publicly discourages donations to a nonprofit organization, spreads misinformation about that organization, or attempts to undermine public trust in that organization, the impact extends far beyond any one individual.

The people affected are the horses.

The people affected are the volunteers.

The people affected are the foster homes.

The people affected are the program participants.

The people affected are the supporters who believe in this mission.

This organization has existed for more than a decade and will continue to exist long after any one individual.

The mission is bigger than any one person.

The horses are bigger than any one person.

And that is exactly why protecting the integrity of this organization matters.

Journey with Equus is a private, gated facility. We are not open to the public, and visits occur by appointment only.

That policy is not about secrecy. It is about safety.

We care for nearly 100 equines, including senior horses, special-needs horses, horses in rehabilitation, and animals with unique medical and behavioral challenges. We also host equine-partnered wellness programs that serve people seeking healing, growth, and connection.

For the safety of our guests, volunteers, staff, and animals, all visits must be scheduled and approved in advance.

Because of that, we were particularly concerned by public statements claiming recent visits to our property.

For those who may not know us, Journey with Equus is not a show barn.

We are not a boarding facility.

We are not a high-end equestrian operation.

We are a sanctuary and equine-partnered wellness organization.

Our mission is to raise awareness of the gifts horses have to offer beyond the saddle and beyond being ridden while creating opportunities for healing through the wisdom of these incredible animals.

That mission looks different than many people expect.

Many of our horses are seniors.

Many have medical challenges.

Many have special needs.

Some arrive underweight.

Some arrive neglected.

Some arrive fearful or traumatized.

Some require lifelong sanctuary because they have nowhere else to go.

That is the reality of sanctuary work.

We are also a working ranch caring for a large number of animals while constantly fundraising to provide feed, veterinary care, hoof care, shelter, fencing, equipment, and everything else required to keep these animals safe and healthy.

One topic that is often criticized is hoof care.

What many people fail to understand is that not every horse or mule arrives handling-ready.

Some animals have years of trauma, neglect, fear, or inconsistent care behind them.

Some require extensive trust-building.

Some require sedation.

Some require months of patient work before routine procedures can be performed safely.

Our farriers are on the ranch a minimum of twice every month, and despite that, we still have a handful of horses and mules that present significant handling challenges.

The reality is that some animals cannot simply be walked up to and trimmed safely without additional training, veterinary support, sedation, specialized handling equipment, or a carefully developed plan.

We are not willing to risk a horse, mule, veterinarian, farrier, volunteer, or staff member getting injured simply to satisfy someone's timeline or perception of how quickly something should happen.

Responsible care is not always the fastest care.

Sometimes it requires patience.

Sometimes it requires training.

Sometimes it requires sedation.

Sometimes it requires specialized equipment.

One of our future fundraising goals is a dedicated round pen and chute system that will allow us to safely provide veterinary and hoof care for some of our most challenging animals while reducing risk and stress for everyone involved.

That is not neglect.

That is the reality of caring for animals that many others would not take on.

We also want to be clear that many of the horses we are currently fundraising to help are not even coming to our ranch. They are being placed into approved foster homes within our network while we continue building sustainable solutions for their future.

Over the years, anonymous complaints have been made to various agencies and authorities. Each time, we have fully cooperated.

We maintain copies of anonymous complaints, agency correspondence, inspections, reports, and investigative findings.

Most importantly, we maintain documentation showing no findings of neglect, abuse, or wrongdoing by our organization.

We welcome legitimate questions.

We welcome transparency.

We welcome accountability.

What we do not welcome are repeated attempts to undermine rescue efforts, discourage donations, interfere with helping horses, or spread misinformation about the work we do.

Because every time someone publicly attempts to create doubt about this organization, fundraising becomes harder.

Volunteer recruitment becomes harder.

Partnerships become harder.

And ultimately, the animals people claim to be protecting are the ones most affected.

There is another reality that deserves to be addressed.

We will never apologize for fundraising for the animals in our care.

Every bale of hay costs money.

Every veterinary visit costs money.

Every hoof trim costs money.

Every shelter, fence repair, water tank, feed bill, rescue effort, and special-needs animal costs money.

Our responsibility is not to protect people from seeing fundraising posts.

Our responsibility is to protect the animals entrusted to us.

The horses do not benefit from pride.

They do not benefit from silence.

They do not benefit from organizations pretending everything is fine when it isn't.

They benefit from feed.

They benefit from veterinary care.

They benefit from safe shelter.

They benefit from responsible planning.

And they benefit from a community willing to come together and help when help is needed.

And let's be very clear about something else.

Journey with Equus is not unusual because we fundraise.

We are unusual because we are willing to be public and transparent about the real cost of this work.

Across the country, grassroots rescues, sanctuaries, shelters, and animal welfare nonprofits are facing the same realities: rising hay costs, rising veterinary costs, rising feed costs, limited reserves, donor fatigue, emergency expenses, and animals who still need care every single day.

Many nonprofits operate with only a small financial cushion.

Many have less than three months of operating reserves.

Many are one major emergency, one hay crisis, one large veterinary bill, or one difficult fundraising season away from serious financial challenges.

That is not unique to Journey with Equus.

That is the reality of grassroots animal rescue and sanctuary work.

The organizations bringing in millions of dollars every year are the minority.

The majority of grassroots rescues are built by founders, volunteers, small donors, personal sacrifice, and communities that care enough to keep showing up.

So no, we will not be shamed for fundraising.

We will not be bullied into silence.

We will not pretend this work is cheap.

We will not wait until animals are suffering before asking for help.

We raise money publicly because that is what responsible nonprofits do when animals are depending on them.

One of the most responsible things a nonprofit can do is ask for help before there is a crisis.

We refuse to wait until animals are suffering before speaking up.

We refuse to hide the realities of what it costs to care for nearly 100 equines.

We refuse to risk the welfare of our animals because someone might criticize us for asking for support.

If that means fundraising every day, then we will fundraise every day.

Because at the end of the day, our loyalty is to the horses—not to public opinion.

We are not a perfect organization.

We are a grassroots organization doing difficult work with limited resources while caring for animals that many others would never take on.

Every day we make the best decisions we can for the horses entrusted to us, and we will continue to do so regardless of the noise.

If you are contacted by this individual regarding Journey with Equus, our horses, our rescue efforts, our donors, our fosters, our volunteers, or our fundraising campaigns, we ask that you please notify our Founder directly at 303-517-5856 and, if possible, provide screenshots of the communication.

We believe our supporters deserve to know when outside parties are attempting to influence rescue efforts, fundraising campaigns, or public perception of the organization.

We are actively documenting communications, allegations, and interactions related to this ongoing situation and appreciate the support of our community in helping us maintain an accurate record.

If you have questions about Journey with Equus, ask us.

If you have concerns, ask us.

If you would like to learn more about our mission, ask us.

If you would like to see our work firsthand, reach out. Visits are by appointment only.

What is not helpful is discouraging support for horses and rescue efforts through repeated allegations that are unsupported by agency findings or documentation.

For more than a decade, we have shown up every day for the horses.

We will continue doing exactly that.

And if you would like to help rather than hurt, if you would like to be part of the solution rather than the noise, please consider making a donation today.

Every dollar goes toward providing hay, feed, veterinary care, hoof care, shelter, and the daily support our animals depend on.

Horses like Macho Rocket, the seniors in our sanctuary, and so many others who have nowhere else to turn are counting on people willing to step forward and be part of their story.

If our mission speaks to your heart, we invite you to stand with us.

Because at the end of the day, the horses don't need more rumors.

They need hay.

They need care.

They need a lifeline.

Journey with Equus
Liberty's Legacy Inc. DBA Journey with Equus
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Tax ID 47-4878985