Poker Joe "Ace"
Breed: Thoroughbred (pedigreed)
Noteworthy horses in pedigree: A.P. Indy, Seattle Slew, Secretariat, Damascus, Dr. Fager, Native Dancer, Northern Dancer, War Admiral, Man o'War Color: Dark bay Unique markings: Unicorn? Personality: The perfect gentleman Experience level: Intermediate Gender: Gelding Age: 2016 model Height: 16.1 HH Rescued: January 28, 2021 Adopted: October 28, 2022 One of my trail riding friends who worked with owners at the racetrack to find their horses secondary careers when their racing days are over reached out to me because she knew I was looking for one. She warned me that Ace had a huge lump on his head and was going to be heading to Sugarcreek that week if I didn't take him because his owner couldn't rehome him and she had too many horses herself at the time. This boy won my heart despite his flaw, and was very affectionate towards me from the get go. It was in the dead of winter that we brought him home, and he pulled the zipper down on my coat with his lips, then pulled it back up when he noticed I was cold. I couldn't say no. A veteran of 21 races at only 4 years old, he deserved a good home. I later found out after my vet checked out the bump that it was actually being caused by extra teeth growing in his skull due to too much inbreeding. Ace transitioned into a riding horse very nicely. He was my primary riding horse for the year I had him. Adoption fee $900 |
Lima Java "Zelda"
Breed: Standardbred (pedigreed)
Noteworthy horses in pedigree: Albatross, Abercrombie, Adios, Hambletonian, Western Hanover, Bret Hanover, Most Happy Fella Color: Seal bay Unique markings: Dapples and a small white dot on shoulder from old injury Personality: "Where my girls at?" says the most buddy sour mare ever. Experience level: Experienced Gender: Mare Age: 2007 model Height: 15.3 HH Rescued: April 10, 2021 Adopted: December 2021 Zelda was one of our first rescued horses, and probably the best success story we've had so far. Zelda was an off track Standardbred who was also an ex-broodmare that came to us with a bad leg injury. Her previous owners stated that it was from an electric fence, but our vet wasn't so sure. Whatever really happened to her leg, Miss Zelda came with an attitude. She was bull headed and stubborn. Whatever treatment she was given previously, we'll never know, but we think she was an abuse case, as she had a horrible leg injury when she came to us from a couple that you could tell were way in over their heads with her. She was very spooky and had this nervous tick that made her lips when she was experiencing boredom or anxiety. She had horrible ground manners as if she hadn't been handled in years to the point where she would literally drag her handler and was horribly buddy sour. We worked on her ground manners and broke her to saddle. While she calmed down a lot, she was still testy with new people, especially if she thought she could get her way, and had been turned down so many times, but she no longer kicked at the farrier or screamed for the other horses out in the field. Adoption fee $1,000 |
Red Night Lights "Red"
Breed: Thoroughbred
Color: Chestnut Unique markings: Lots of "chrome" Personality: Queen bee Experience level: Intermediate Gender: Mare Age upon rescue: 12 years old Height: 16.1 HH Rescued: April 5, 2021 Adopted: April 29, 2021 Red was an owner surrender. She was a war horse of a Thoroughbred that ran in 100+ races when she retired from the track at age 12. She came from European racing stock so she has nice, strong legs. She never took a bad step in her life while she was racing, according to her previous owners, and they just wanted her to have a good retirement home. We didn't have her long. A horse this sound (other than being a bit underweight due to racing so much) is what a lot of eventers are looking for, so she quickly found a home. Adoption fee $1,200 |
The Three Amigos "Harry, Curly & Moe"
Harry, Curly and Moe were owner surrendered miniature horses. They were previously owned by an elderly woman with failing health who just wanted them to have a good home. Harry was a rescue who was poisoned as a baby and recovered but still has a heart mumur. Moe is the silver palomino and was the only stud in the group, the others were geldings. He was used for breeding and has EPM in his old age, which he is currently being treated for, and his new owners must continue his treatment for a full recovery. Curly was his son and was a cute black roan that their previous owner had his entire life, as she bred him. She thought of them all as her children and cried for them when she brought them to us. Adoption fee $150 each
Jesse
Breed: Standard donkey
Color: Roan Unique markings: Bald face Personality: If a donkey could be a lap dog, Jesse would be it. Experience level: Experienced Gender: Male Age upon rescue: 4 years old Height: 13.3 HH Rescued: July 28, 2022 Adopted: October 11, 2022 Jesse was saved from a cattle auction in Campbellsville, KY in early June 2022. He was only 4 years old upon the time of his rescue and had lived his young life as a herd protector at a feedlot full of cows that were being fattened up for slaughter so he had very little to no handling in his young life. He also never knew what it was like to experience grass and pasture until he came to our rescue. We gentled him (it was actually rather easy) and were at the beginning of halter breaking him when he found his forever home September 2022. Adoption fee $250 |
Roberto "Robbie"
Breed: Paso Fino
Color: Red bay Unique markings: Heart shaped star (my Breyer friends think Cupid) Personality: Nervous, shy and hard to catch but very well handled Experience level: Experienced Gender: Gelding Age upon rescue: ~15 years Height: 14.2 HH Rescued: January 4, 2022 Adopted: April 22, 2023 There was a local auction going on shortly after we moved to Kentucky and a little Paso Fino gelding showed up with an EID because of his age, of 15 years old. He caught my eye, as he was doing his crab walk in his pen at the auction, but most importantly when I went up to him, he laid his head on my shoulder and cuddled with me. When choosing my horses, I kind of let them choose me, and I felt this was my sign. I had to pull this guy and give him the retirement home he deserved after dutifully pulling a buggy his whole life for Amish children. He was skin and bones with a body score of 3 out of 10 and had a lightning scar going down the length of his foreleg from an old injury. After having him for over a year, he made a complete recovery and is ready for his new home. He is well trained for riding but is not for a beginner, as he is very quick footed. He is also extremely buddy sour and hard to catch in an open pasture. His adoption fee reflects these issues that will need to be worked on. Adoption fee $550 |
Bella
Breed: Spotted Saddle Horse
Color: Chestnut tobiano Unique markings: Cat tracks, mapping and a blue eye; has a goiter Personality: Shy and forward Experience level: Intermediate Gender: Mare Age: 13 years old Height: 14.3 HH Rescued: October 26, 2022 Adopted: October 13, 2023 Bella came from a situation of neglect. She was pastured with cattle and raised as a half wild horse, never played with or rode for at least a year, was covered in burrs and ribby. Bella's mane was trimmed and her tail removed of all the matted burs shortly after she arrived here. Her legs were treated for rain rot that is now completely healed. She is UTD on deworming and hoof trimming. She is currently barefoot. She has started on riding and is doing well, just needs more miles. She isn't for beginners, as she does have a motor, but should be fine with an intermediate rider. She responds to verbal cues during ground work and is good for grooming, as well as picking up her feet. Adoption fee $1,400 |
Royal "Roy"
Breed: Saddlebred
Color: Liver chestnut Unique markings: Star that looks like Cleopatra's head Personality: Smart, playful, in your pocket type Experience level: Experienced Gender: Gelding Age: 8 years old Height: 15.2 HH Rescued: September 17, 2023 Adopted: November 25, 2023 Roy is an ex-Amish buggy horse that was severely neglected at his last home and will need a refresher, at the very least, if not a complete restart due to being unhandled for the past year or so. He came to us with an injured front left leg and an open gash on his head that have been vet checked that are both healing nicely. He is sweet as pie, loves to search you for treats, and is easy to catch in the pasture. He will need quite a bit of rehab before we can try riding however. The trauma he has suffered has made him extremely spooky. He is claustrophobic, becoming frightened when he is contained in small areas like stalls or trailers. He is also incredibly buddy sour and can become pushy when taken away from his herd. His current adoption fee reflects the fact that he'll need some professional training, however I will continue working with him myself in the meantime. He is already making progress and is quick to learn. Adoption fee $500 |
Daisy
Breed: Tennessee Walker
Color: Palomino Unique markings: Mottled skin Personality: Easy to handle but shy Experience level: Gender: Mare Age: 8 years old Height: 15.2 HH Rescued: December 9, 2023 Adopted: January 10, 2024 Daisy is one of the few horses we've rescued who didn't need some kind of weight on her. However, the reason she went so cheap despite her beautiful color was because she had an injury on her back leg and was lame. She was not ridden through the auction. Thankfully our vet verified no broken bones, however she does have a slight tendon injury that should resolve itself in a few weeks. She is currently on Bute while it heals but should make a complete recovery. She seems to have been a bit neglected, as her hooves are overgrown and she kicks out when having her back legs touched. She is sweet in personality but shy and takes a while to come around. With some TLC she should make a good riding horse. Adoption fee $1500 |
Sham
Breed: Saddlebred
Color: Chestnut Unique markings: That long tail... Personality: Sweet but energetic Experience level: Advanced Gender: Gelding Age: 17 years Height: 17.1 HH Rescued: February 17, 2024 Crossed the rainbow bridge: March 3, 2024 Sham was named for "Shamrock" because he is super lucky that he ended up here. He had a sweet personality and was very people oriented. He was probably in the worst condition we've had a horse arrive in yet, bone thin from starvation and extremely food aggressive. He arrived with Beau from the Peabody, Kansas kill pen. Sham sadly crossed the rainbow bridge March 3, 2024 due to malnutrition suffered from long periods of time without food or water while at the kill pen. |