Red Heart Horse ™
Retirement, Rehab, & Rescue
Photo Credits www.saginorstudios.com
River
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Meet River
All life is precious. Even a blind horse’s life is sacred.
A sweet person saved River from slaughter by purchasing him at auction. She could tell he was the sweetest horse that would take care of her children as they learned to ride. At auction she learned that he was going blind, had been used as a lesson horse, and that his foot went through the trailer on his way to the auction. He still wears the scar on his foot from that day.
We cannot know for sure the age of our beloved River, who is fully blind based on a medical condition that causes blindness over time, but we approximate that River is 17 years old. River has no papers, so we are unsure of his breed, but we guess he is possibly a Tennessee Walker/Quarter cross. River takes daily medication to help with all of his special needs and with the vestiges of his past injuries, as well as for all of his acquired and congenital medical issues. Recently the vet noted that he has four teeth missing on one side, two on the other side, and that his teeth had been neglected over the years and were in very rough shape. With love and ongoing treatment and medication, River lives a very peaceful, productive, and simple life serving our community.
River is quite definitely one of the gentlest horses I have ever been around, and he would never hesitate to carry a baby on his back as if they were porcelain. He will stand patiently for hours to be groomed and loved. River’s best friend is our slaughter Rescue donkey from Jack of Trades Donkey Rescue.
River’s story must be told. But we can only surmise some of the events and happenings and situations and humans that chose to take him to auction that then led him to slaughter. I often wonder how many humans were in River’s life over the years? Did he experience the love of a child in his lifetime? Was he a show horse? Did he have friends? Was he well-loved and cared for? Did he go hungry or lonely? How did his humans feel when they knew his outcome would be grim and final? Did they consider the suffering he must have gone through being blind and going from auction to slaughter? Did he fall down and get trampled on transport when his foot went through the trailer floor? How many places did he live before this horrible final destination? These are the questions that haunt us all when we decide to work in horse retirement, rehab, and rescue and when we decide to take on “that one” horse.
I met River and the family who rescued him serendipitously while at another stable where I had started a full boarding business. When I was told that he was almost fully blind at the time, I turned down the opportunity initially. Then I spoke with his owner and met him and fell in love with him and took him in at a different stable. I could tell he was a safe, loving horse. This is now his forever home. Horses with special needs often get put down or sent to auction. Red Heart Horse at Sunny Brook Stables is a sanctuary where they can continue to live out their natural lives.
I had rehabbed numerous horses through the years and had plenty of senior horses and special needs horses that I had experience caring for, but never a blind horse. The vets had recommended that River’s owner euthanize him based on past experiences with blind horses and the possible danger that he may impose on humans and on himself. When she was unable to care for him when she became pregnant and with a special needs baby, she asked me to help find him a sanctuary. I knew that perfect place would never exist in this world, and I vowed to keep him, whatever that meant, and to provide River with his final and ever-so-loving last stop. To this day, I know more than anything that our beloved River is meant to be with us. He has miraculously lived through so much and continues to provide so much joy and such a difference in lives and shows such a fierce will to live and to be loved and to do good. River is literally an angel on earth.
With great risk comes great reward. While we know the struggle can be difficult, it can also provide us with life’s most irreplaceable rewards. With every relationship we have and form, the possibility of love and loss and separation is a very real possibility. But we have hope. And we can all make a difference one horse at a time.
All life is precious. Even a blind horse’s life is sacred.
A sweet person saved River from slaughter by purchasing him at auction. She could tell he was the sweetest horse that would take care of her children as they learned to ride. At auction she learned that he was going blind, had been used as a lesson horse, and that his foot went through the trailer on his way to the auction. He still wears the scar on his foot from that day.
We cannot know for sure the age of our beloved River, who is fully blind based on a medical condition that causes blindness over time, but we approximate that River is 17 years old. River has no papers, so we are unsure of his breed, but we guess he is possibly a Tennessee Walker/Quarter cross. River takes daily medication to help with all of his special needs and with the vestiges of his past injuries, as well as for all of his acquired and congenital medical issues. Recently the vet noted that he has four teeth missing on one side, two on the other side, and that his teeth had been neglected over the years and were in very rough shape. With love and ongoing treatment and medication, River lives a very peaceful, productive, and simple life serving our community.
River is quite definitely one of the gentlest horses I have ever been around, and he would never hesitate to carry a baby on his back as if they were porcelain. He will stand patiently for hours to be groomed and loved. River’s best friend is our slaughter Rescue donkey from Jack of Trades Donkey Rescue.
River’s story must be told. But we can only surmise some of the events and happenings and situations and humans that chose to take him to auction that then led him to slaughter. I often wonder how many humans were in River’s life over the years? Did he experience the love of a child in his lifetime? Was he a show horse? Did he have friends? Was he well-loved and cared for? Did he go hungry or lonely? How did his humans feel when they knew his outcome would be grim and final? Did they consider the suffering he must have gone through being blind and going from auction to slaughter? Did he fall down and get trampled on transport when his foot went through the trailer floor? How many places did he live before this horrible final destination? These are the questions that haunt us all when we decide to work in horse retirement, rehab, and rescue and when we decide to take on “that one” horse.
I met River and the family who rescued him serendipitously while at another stable where I had started a full boarding business. When I was told that he was almost fully blind at the time, I turned down the opportunity initially. Then I spoke with his owner and met him and fell in love with him and took him in at a different stable. I could tell he was a safe, loving horse. This is now his forever home. Horses with special needs often get put down or sent to auction. Red Heart Horse at Sunny Brook Stables is a sanctuary where they can continue to live out their natural lives.
I had rehabbed numerous horses through the years and had plenty of senior horses and special needs horses that I had experience caring for, but never a blind horse. The vets had recommended that River’s owner euthanize him based on past experiences with blind horses and the possible danger that he may impose on humans and on himself. When she was unable to care for him when she became pregnant and with a special needs baby, she asked me to help find him a sanctuary. I knew that perfect place would never exist in this world, and I vowed to keep him, whatever that meant, and to provide River with his final and ever-so-loving last stop. To this day, I know more than anything that our beloved River is meant to be with us. He has miraculously lived through so much and continues to provide so much joy and such a difference in lives and shows such a fierce will to live and to be loved and to do good. River is literally an angel on earth.
With great risk comes great reward. While we know the struggle can be difficult, it can also provide us with life’s most irreplaceable rewards. With every relationship we have and form, the possibility of love and loss and separation is a very real possibility. But we have hope. And we can all make a difference one horse at a time.
Cactus
Meet Cactus
Cactus is one of the many miracle slaughter rescues from Jack of Trades Donkey Rescue, and one of approximately 60 donkeys rescued the year we adopted him into his forever home with Red Heart Horse. Cactus is a standard-sized guardian donkey and is 13 years old. Not much is known about Cactus' history because he was rescued, but he is one of the most affectionate donkeys that has ever lived, and he absolutely craves human interaction and love. Cactus faithfully serves as "seeing eye" donkey and best friend to our blind horse, River.
Cactus is one of the many miracle slaughter rescues from Jack of Trades Donkey Rescue, and one of approximately 60 donkeys rescued the year we adopted him into his forever home with Red Heart Horse. Cactus is a standard-sized guardian donkey and is 13 years old. Not much is known about Cactus' history because he was rescued, but he is one of the most affectionate donkeys that has ever lived, and he absolutely craves human interaction and love. Cactus faithfully serves as "seeing eye" donkey and best friend to our blind horse, River.
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Kitty Two Socks
Meet Kitty Two Socks "Kitty"
Kitty’s story is amazing and miraculous. Kitty is one of the main reasons that Sunny Brook Stables and Red Heart Horse were founded. Kitty is a 14-year-old retired racehorse out of Ready’s Image. Kitty was retired off-the-track and was trained as a jumper and then a hunter. Kitty was bought to serve as my daughter’s show horse, but shortly after, Kitty injured herself, causing a months-long rehab process. Shortly after that incident, Kitty suffered a venomous spider bite with subsequent infections and an abscess that nearly cost her her life. The rehab process was grueling and required several surgeries, as proud flesh and necrosis ensued. Kitty’s medical journey is ongoing, as she has a condition which causes her to eat strange things, including sand, and thus required sand colic surgery. Kitty was diagnosed with navicular syndrome, narcolepsy, lymphangitis, and requires special shoeing. The University of Georgia Vet School used Kitty in a study, and we are so grateful to UGA for saving her life. Nevertheless, Kitty serves as head-mare to our herd and is best friends to Holly. Kitty is the most dignified horse I have ever known, and her scars are her battle wounds and badges of honor. While my daughter never got to show Kitty, she has served as a school master to our intermediate and advanced students and will live her retired and rehabbed life in our little refuge with Red Heart Horse at Sunny Brook Stables.
Kitty’s story is amazing and miraculous. Kitty is one of the main reasons that Sunny Brook Stables and Red Heart Horse were founded. Kitty is a 14-year-old retired racehorse out of Ready’s Image. Kitty was retired off-the-track and was trained as a jumper and then a hunter. Kitty was bought to serve as my daughter’s show horse, but shortly after, Kitty injured herself, causing a months-long rehab process. Shortly after that incident, Kitty suffered a venomous spider bite with subsequent infections and an abscess that nearly cost her her life. The rehab process was grueling and required several surgeries, as proud flesh and necrosis ensued. Kitty’s medical journey is ongoing, as she has a condition which causes her to eat strange things, including sand, and thus required sand colic surgery. Kitty was diagnosed with navicular syndrome, narcolepsy, lymphangitis, and requires special shoeing. The University of Georgia Vet School used Kitty in a study, and we are so grateful to UGA for saving her life. Nevertheless, Kitty serves as head-mare to our herd and is best friends to Holly. Kitty is the most dignified horse I have ever known, and her scars are her battle wounds and badges of honor. While my daughter never got to show Kitty, she has served as a school master to our intermediate and advanced students and will live her retired and rehabbed life in our little refuge with Red Heart Horse at Sunny Brook Stables.
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Holly
Meet Holly
Holly is a semi-retired 23 year-old American Paint Horse, and one of the original “red horses” for whom Red Heart Horse was founded. Holly worked as a lesson and show horse in her career. Holly suffers from multiple gastric issues and after many consultations with our vets, she continues to be on a very limited hay and special feed diet. Holly has Cushing’s disease and had surgery at the University of Georgia for a displaced colon. Holly was involved in special research with the university involving the use of manuka honey at suture sites. Holly is a true heart horse to so many and serves as an essential part of our lesson program, camps, and birthday parties, teaching so many students how to ride through the years.
Holly is a semi-retired 23 year-old American Paint Horse, and one of the original “red horses” for whom Red Heart Horse was founded. Holly worked as a lesson and show horse in her career. Holly suffers from multiple gastric issues and after many consultations with our vets, she continues to be on a very limited hay and special feed diet. Holly has Cushing’s disease and had surgery at the University of Georgia for a displaced colon. Holly was involved in special research with the university involving the use of manuka honey at suture sites. Holly is a true heart horse to so many and serves as an essential part of our lesson program, camps, and birthday parties, teaching so many students how to ride through the years.
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Manhattan's Pippi Longstocking
Meet Pippi
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Skip's True Doc
Meet Doc
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Joy
Meet Joy
Manhattan Project "Eddie"
Meet Eddie
