Horses We've Rescued

Manny and Britta were the first two horses that Eagle Ridge took on quite a number of years ago. They both arrived with little to no training of any kind. We were told by multiple people that Britta would never work out for a kids program and today she is our go to leadline pony for the littles. Britta still happily lives out her days at Eagle Ridge being semi retired with the occasional pony ride. Manny has since been retired and currently lives out his days as a pasture pal to another older gelding. 

Spring 2019 we were messaged regarding two horses from western NY that were in need of a new home and were great kids horses. The owner had passed away and there was no one reliable around to care for them. We agreed to take them sight unseen and hoped for the best. When Judah and Hope arrived we could not believe our eyes. Both horses hadn't received proper nutrition or care for quite some time. Judah, the aged bay Arabian, took the longest to rehab with our vet uncertain at first if he would make it. He spent a number of months gaining weight all while we found out how sweet he was even after the neglect he had been through. Early Spring 2020, after much evaluation we decided that finding a home where he could live out his days being pampered and trail ridden would be in his best interest. He was not thrilled with working in the arena but with his sweet personality we knew he would make someone very happy. He was adopted by a wonderful family, who loves him dearly and he is enjoying his days on the trails. (Photo: Two above photos is the day they walked off the trailer. Bottom two photos are of Judah in his adopted home.)

Hope was Judah's pasture mate that came to us neglected. She was a 14hh, black grade QH pony. She was not as emaciated as Judah was, being that she was the dominant one. Whatever food they were given, she probably took. Getting her to gain weight was not as long as a process for Hope. However, we did deal with some medical issues that arose. She had developed ulcers (common in neglected horses), hormonal imbalances and she was dealing with a painful front knee from an old injury. After treating everything that we could with both medicine and natural remedies we decided she needed an easier life. Lessons, camps and therapy sessions would be too hard on her knee long term. She was adopted out Fall of 2019 to a family who was looking for a horse to join their herd of cows and to occasionally walk around on. 

Penny ran through an auction house early June 2020. After a few weeks in quarantine she came to join us. We took her on sight unseen but we could tell she was a safe little mare that aimed to please. She was not underweight upon arrival but we did find out she had fibrotic myopathy in one of her back legs. After sessions with the chiropractor, massage therapist and body worker, we were able to help her move a little more comfortably. She would take care of any rider you put on her but with her not being 100% comfortable we felt it would be unfair to ask her to continue to work in our program. In August 2020 we found her a home with a teenage girl to walk leisurely around their fields and trails with. She is very happy with this semi retired life. 

We received Tinkerbell in October of 2020 from a wonderful family who could see the potential she had but they were not using her. This family had taken her on from another lady who had rescued her initially. (We did not do the initial rescuing for Tink but we wanted to add her here since being a rescue horse is part of her story.) Tinkerbell is extremely sweet and a great horse for the kids in our program. We are very excited to have her here with us going into our 2021 season. 

She has yet to have a name - so we need your help with voting on a new name! She is a 17 year old, Friesian/Draft cross. She ran through the auction under weight with some proof of years of hard work physically. We hope with some TLC she will be able to be used in our therapy program. We've been told she is incredibly sweet and is easy to work around. If you would like to help with her expenses we would greatly appreciate any donations made!