Horse Sanctuaries

Gimme A Dream

Gimme A Dream (Dream) is a 8-year-old Hanoverian/Thoroughbred gelding standing almost 17hh. Dream was bred with high hopes of creating a hunter/jumper but he was born with poor conformation. Dream's has straight back legs (post legs), making it impossible for him to tuck his legs up into a jump. His first sale came young on the expectations that he would outgrow his deformity. When this didn't happen he was once again sold on the pretense that his problem would eventually correct itself, but his third owner grew afraid of him. She traded Dream for a Morgan mare in hopes that she would have a more preferable horse. Dream was brought into the family to be used as a show horse but he never outgrew the straight legs. He was to be sold once again. This time I bought him. I had several reasons for buying the horse. One, I thought he was over-priced. Two, my niece was selling him. Three, she needed the money. Four, no less then three veterinarians thought that standing and working on the soft ground and sand of the Magdalen Islands would probably be the best from the horse. He came to the islands to become a trail horse, trekking through sand.

Sam's Pride

Sam's Pride (Sammy) is a purebred 2-year-old Standardbred filly standing 15.1.5hh and growing. Sammy was on the racetrack when, I first met her. Her owner had given up a lot of hopes of her ever doing well. He determined that she had no heart for racing. She was too calm and plodded away at her own speed. She clocked the 2:08 mile. But she was doomed because her owner was a man who didn't think Standardbreds made good pets. All of his other horse were sold for meat but I offered a substantially higher price than the meat buyers and I took her home. In truth though, Sammy was not so much a rescue at the time I bought her even though it didn't appear she would stay at the track. At two, Sammy is yet too young to ride but I don't foresee any difficulties in teaching this horse.

Woodmere Frilifili

Woodmere Frilifili (Frilly) is a purebred 3-year-old Standardbred filly standing 15.2hh and growing. Another Standardbred that didn't make the grade, except Frilly has exceptional breeding. However, at the 2:10 mile, her previous owner said, "she would go all funny and break stride". As a 4-year-old she would no longer be of any value to her investor/buyer, because she was bred, born and raised as a high stakes pacer and as such lost her value when she finished her second racing season as a 3-year-old. But she was pretty - her redeeming quality. Her owner heard that I was collecting horses for beach riding and he called, asking if I wanted her, that she would go for meat otherwise. I jumped at the chance of retraining this young horse and owned her three months before I had the chance to meet her. My sister and nieces kept her for those months and grew to dislike her intensely and told me that she was no good, no company would insure her and get rid of her. But I had fallen in love with Frilly, sight unseen. Frilly had never had a person on her back and she strongly mistrusted everyone. Since coming here, she has not only learned to trust but has accepted riders and does her best to understand what is expected of her.

Willow Breeze

Willow Breeze or Minority is an 8-year-old 'French' Canadian mare standing 14.3.75hh. She has been trained in western pleasure riding only. She had eight hours before going for meat. Her owner had been calling but I had been away. Finally he asked around and got my son's unlisted cellular number. The evening he called, I went to see the mare and bought her without any reservations. I had already decided I needed an older horse to aide Dream and Frilly, in the adjustments to beach riding. She put me through a rough time, and didn't like me very much, but after learning and understanding her problems, she has become an asset to my growing business. Willow is a moody mare and is subject to laying her ears flat. She is testy at best and is suffers from separation anxiety. All the tendons in her legs were damaged from fighting her riders but she has this innate ability to get under your skin and be loved.

Bonanza

Bonanza is a 24-year-old gelding with no pedigree to my knowledge, but he could be a halflinger. He is the favorite horse of the owner of a failed equestrian center. The center had approximately 30 horses several years ago when an accident sent the center into a financial downward spiral. The owner sold off all but four of his horses. Two of the four were sold finally last year leaving Bonanza and Shaman to fend for themselves on a large tract of hilly property. The owner and his family moved to France and only returned during the summers. Bonanza is very sound and extremely energetic. He takes flight at the drop of a feather, holding his head high and his tail higher. He is a stunning red with a white face and feet. His flaxen mane and tail flow like silk. His owner asked me to take him on when his pasture buddy, Shaman became stifled and was to be put to sleep. Bonanza is about 15hh and has te thickest stubbiest legs that I've ever saw on a horse.

Shaman

Shaman is a 26 year-old AQH gelding. He was to be put to sleep this past fall but was given a reprieve by his soft hearted owner and family. I was asked to board both Shaman and Bonanza, probably for the rest of their natural lives. I went to see the horses to see if I could help Shaman and decided that yes I would take them both. Shaman had damaged his stifle but the break had healed. The joint was inflamed and caused him to limp with pain. At his age it is serious enough but with a bit of TLC and potatoes in his diet, he is now as active and without pain as all the others. It won't last but he might have another couple years lease on life. Shaman is a wonderfully beautiful dark bay with a white star and white feet. He stands about 15hh.

Joli
(photo to come)
Joli is about a 15 year-old red roan mare who was a part of the equestrian center that failed because of the accident. She was sold off to another equestrian center for two years before that too failed. She then became the property of someone as an investment. She was thin last fall and is thinner this winter. She is not with the horses here but with an inexperienced new owner, not far away. She is to be added to the herd this coming spring. She has a few undesirable quirks, like acting mean and vicious around her people but she isn't a bad horse. She does put on a good act though. She stands about 14hh.

Butch
(photo to come)
Butch is old..., between 28 and 30 years. He has been a part of most of the failed equestrian centers here on the islands but he was here as a privately owned horse before that. He outlived his original island owner and no one seems to have much idea other then ask, "he is still alive?" He is now the pasture partner of Joli and is a very gentle old soul. But he has a lot of spark in those old bones and doesn't mind racing Joli with his people on his back. He is very sound and has put on much needed weight this winter. Butch is around 13hh and a red and white paint pony. His teeth are in terrible condition.

Copper

Copper, a 32 year-old, 14.2hh Pinto/Walker was the first in a long line of ill horses and he is my greatest success story. Way back in the mid 90's, he was off his feet and down for the count. The vet was down and recommended he be put down. His owners six kids cried and refused to let the vet do it. I was called in and asked what can be done? It was the middle of a hot July day and the horse was down and refused to get up. We wrapped him in wet sheets head to toe, to help cool him off. When evening came, with encouragement he stood up and followed me up the hill, on three legs. There he was paddocked under spruce and fir trees for the next three years. He recuperation wasn't very quick and he was very ill. The veterinarian came and gave him 2 months to live. Three years later, the vet gave him to maybe 15 years, if he was a lucky horse. I gave him until 20 years before having to put him down because his illnesses kept multiplying each year and there was always something new to fight. After many years of research into holistic medicinal care, Copper declared himself to be healthy and went on to become a fine jumping/dressage pony. He went into the Giddy Up Pony Camp to teach youngsters how to ride and from there he was finally retired at the age of 28 years. Now he shares his pastures with a number of other retired horses much younger than himself and canters and frolics with the others as a young horse might.