A Devastating Loss

In the early morning hours of August 5th, Laura Baker lost her beloved mare, Magica, after a sudden and severe bout of colic.

Magica, a 2017 North Dakota Badlands Horse born wild in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, was Laura’s heart horse, her partner, and her inspiration.

Laura did everything she could to save her — hauling her to UW Madison and saying yes to surgery despite the risk and expense. Unfortunately Magica didn’t make it out of recovery. She was just eight years old.

Why We’re Raising Funds

The emergency vet bill from Magica’s care is expected to total $9,000–$10,000. Laura took on this cost without hesitation, driven by love and hope.

Now, she’s facing the aftermath — grieving the unimaginable while carrying a heavy financial burden.

We’re asking for your help to ease that burden — especially as Laura has already invested significantly in Untamed Legacy and has made the difficult, courageous decision to move forward with the show, even in the midst of her insurmountable grief.

Magica’s Legacy Lives On

Magica wasn’t just Laura’s horse — she was the star of Untamed Legacy, a live equestrian performance Laura created to honor the wild horses of the North Dakota Badlands — the very place where Magica was born.

Even in grief, Laura plans to carry on with the show this September. But without Magica by her side, it will never be the same.

In addition to her personal loss, Laura is also the primary financial sponsor of Untamed Legacy — investing thousands out of pocket to bring the vision to life.

Any funds raised beyond the vet bill will help support the continued production of Untamed Legacy, a free, volunteer-run performance that Magica helped inspire.

The Horse Who Shaped Her

Magica wasn’t just the beginning of Laura’s liberty journey — she was the reason for it.

She was the heart and soul of Laura’s nationally recognized liberty team, and the mare who stood front and center for every performance. The one who reared, laid down, and danced with joy — who made crowds fall in love with the bond between horse and human.

Laura credits Magica with igniting her passion for liberty work and shaping her entire career as a horsewoman.

She made Laura the trainer she is today. She was her why.

To quote Laura:

“Magica shaped and molded me while I was working with her and thought I was shaping and molding her.”

Their kind of bond doesn’t come around often, and it never really leaves.

How You Can Help

Donate if you’re able — every little bit helps

Share this campaign with your horse-loving and wild-hearted friends

Help us honor Magica by supporting the woman who gave her a stage and a story.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.