Rescue Stories & Updates
Follow our journey as we change their trajectory from tragic to triumphant
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Doc
Doc is the sweetest old gentleman you could ever hope to meet. He greets you at the gate with gentle whinnies and soft nickers, absolutely loving every moment he’s brushed. He even wraps his neck around your waist like a warm hug, all while nuzzling your leg affectionately. Doc is calm and laid-back—the kind of pony that feels like a dream come true.
However, Doc does have a fear of men. He’s easily startled by them and will often turn and head back to his barn if given the chance. We believe this fear stems from past negative experiences with men, and we are patiently working to rebuild his trust and help him overcome this anxiety.
Doc’s Story
Once a show pony, Doc's life took a tragic turn when his owner passed away suddenly, leaving him alone to fend for himself. He was then bought by a horse trader who hoped to fatten him up and resell him. At that time, Doc was severely underweight and suffering from full curl hooves. Tragically, his hooves were crudely trimmed with a sawsall, removing nearly half of them.
Realizing Doc wasn't a quick fix, the trader tried to sell him—and that’s where our paths crossed. My first thought was, “This pony is barely alive. He can hardly walk and barely has any teeth. And she wants a fortune for him?” Despite my doubts, I couldn’t leave him there. So, I paid what was asked and brought him home.
Since September, Doc has received dedicated veterinary care and regular hoof trims. When he first arrived, he spent most of his time lying down and walking in slow, careful steps. Honestly, I wasn’t sure he would make it. But now, he’s taking confident, long strides—and even gets a little sprightly sometimes with a trot here and there!
Doc still has a long road ahead. His severe weight loss is complicated by PPID, also known as Cushing’s Disease, and his poor nutrition habits, including eating his own feces due to malnourishment. Missing most of his molars, he can’t chew hay or grass, so he’s on a special mash diet, which he’s not a big fan of. Adding to the challenge, his medication suppresses his appetite, making it tough to get enough food into him. Muscle wasting from Cushing’s means weight gain is painfully slow, but with ongoing care and patience, we are hopeful.
What I’ve learned about Doc is that he has an incredible will to survive. The veterinarian has aged Doc at "well over 25 years" and he absolutely deserves to spend his days surrounded by love, peace, and comfort.
Miss Petunia
Miss Petunia isn’t particularly fond of typical adult attention. While she behaves well and tolerates us, it’s clear she’d prefer to be left alone. However, she has a wonderful way with children—patient, kind, and attentive to their every move. She eagerly does whatever is asked, whether it’s riding, pulling a cart, or just being a reliable all-around pony.
Curious by nature, Petunia often greets visitors at the gate to check them out, but if she’s not impressed, she’ll quietly walk away.
Petunia’s story is a testament to resilience. Once a hardworking ranch pony, she was traded for firewood in a drunken bar deal after the children outgrew her. That unfortunate turn nearly led her to slaughter. Thankfully, fate intervened, and Petunia found her way to us.
When she arrived, she was severely overweight with laminitis caused by Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), and her cresty neck was so pronounced it had flopped over. With consistent hoof care, a carefully managed low-sugar diet, and regular exercise, her laminitis is now under control, and she is steadily reaching her ideal weight. Although her cresty neck has diminished somewhat, it’s likely something she’ll carry for life.
Breezy and Windy
Windy and Breezy are a bonded pair of miniature horses who have spent most of their lives together. At 23 and 25 years old, these inseparable girls do everything side by side. They are endlessly curious, love attention and children, and seem unbothered by just about anything. Sadly, they were victims of domestic abuse and had to be removed from their previous home. When they arrived here, both were overweight, and Windy was diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and laminitis as a result. Thanks to a carefully managed low-sugar diet, regular hoof trims, and gentle exercise, we have successfully brought Windy’s EMS and laminitis under control. Today, these two wonderful girls are thriving and enjoying their best life together.