Meet the herd
Every horse here has a story. Many came to us through rescue, and every one of them helps someone heal.
The horses used in the therapy process include rescue horses, from mustangs who have recently been living wild in the mountains and deserts of the United States, to horses and ponies that have been raised in domestic situations and have interacted with humans for many years. Horses with different backgrounds are able to uniquely bond with the clients we serve because of their similar backgrounds. The benefit of the horse/human interaction is to heal both human and equine clients. Of primary focus in this combined therapy are military veterans who have psychotherapy needs.
Beau’s registered name is Dollys Bold Jangle. She is the fourth generation to be registered in the American Paint Horse Association, 18 years old, and a gorgeous horse. Beau is an anxious horse who requires gentle persistence to be successful as one works with her. This makes her an excellent therapy horse.
Luna was an abused horse who was abandoned in a yard in Kearns, Utah. A family woke up to find her tied to their tree. She was given to us to work with and rehabilitate. We want to thank Deb Harper, the Esparza team, the McGowens, our donors, and all our sponsors and volunteers for making it possible to rescue and rehabilitate these horses, enabling us to train them and use them for therapy.
We rescued Gallo from a holding facility. Gallo was taken from the same owner as Gracie, who passed away just before we rescued Gallo. Gallo had been stabbed with a samurai sword at the back of his flank and was very skittish, fearful, and untrusting. Gallo has become a wonderful therapy pony, but we continue to battle hoof problems secondary to the lack of care he received.
Ollie is one of our rescue ponies. When we picked him up he was 100 pounds underweight, had a skin condition, and seemed mentally beaten down and sad. Now, after a short time in his new home, he has a beautiful coat, he is the perfect weight, and he thinks he’s Fabio. With some love, care, and training, he has become an expert hippotherapy horse.
Sassy, our baby girl of the pasture, was born in 2015. We rescued her a few years ago while she was experiencing starvation and other ailments. Sassy was named after her free spirit and playful attitude, which blends in perfectly with the rest of our horses.
Silver once could jump a five-foot fence with an adult rider. Due to overuse he is now somewhat fragile, restricted to small rides, no jumping, and no long rides. He still has great purpose because he takes really good care of young and inexperienced riders. He also loves his mud baths, turning a white horse into something unrecognizable.
China was Mac’s second horse, the one he rides in the mountains. She has taken him hundreds of miles over the years. She is now a mature horse who used to be the lead mare in our herd but, due to age, has fallen to number four. She is not happy about that. She is black and beautiful, and subsequently the favorite horse of our teenage female clients.
The first thing you need to know about Sugar is that she is Robby’s one true love. Sugar has been the benevolent dictator of our herd, but she is aging and about to lose her status. When irritated she sometimes grinds her teeth. We’ve never known another horse to do this.
Feed, farrier visits, veterinary care, and rehabilitation for rescued horses are our largest ongoing costs. Donations go directly to the care of the herd and to keeping our services free.
Every service we provide is free to the veterans, children, couples, and families who need it. Your gift, and your time, make that possible.
