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Because Every Horse Matters
We share the story of every horse we’ve helped because every horse matters and their stories deserve to be told.
We celebrate every gelding procedure knowing they will have better lives and won’t be contributing to the unwanted horse population. We honour every horse who was given the Last Act of Kindness knowing they were given a peaceful dignified ending. It means they were spared the horrors of the slaughter pipeline, which no horse deserves.
Some of the stories may be hard to read but please know they all knew love, even if it was only in the last season of their life. Many stories are heartwarming, a testament to the love between a horse and their person.
Thank you to our donors for making a difference in the lives of horses across the country.
A mare with a serious reproductive health issue
Mares can sometimes unfairly be given a bad rap. Unlike geldings, who have had their testicles removed, mares are are rarely spayed so they retain their full hormonal system and everything that goes along with it. Too often such behaviours can be dismissed as being "mareish" and not taken as seriously as they should be. Mares can experience a range of health issues related to their reproductive system, from infections to cysts to more serious issues including endometriosis an
Horse Aid Canada
Apr 71 min read
A very lucky mare
This beauty was one lucky girl. When she was just a baby, both she and her dam had been purchased at auction and were going to be sent back when the owners were selling their property. Fortunately when the people who eventually bought the property came to see it, they decided to buy the horses too, saving them from the scary fate of ending up back at auction. She had a long life and spent it at the same place. Not many horses enjoy such a gift. Circumstances changed and her o
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 301 min read
Dominic
Dominic was taken to auction in February 2020. No one wanted him because he was skin and bones and his hooves were overgrown, long and curly. He was also very afraid of humans. He clearly had been neglected for quite some time. Thankfully 5 Freedoms Ranch Rescue saved him and brought him home. There he was able to heal, body and soul. Sadly, Dominic went into liver failure. He was immediately given intensive vet care. He spent a few days at the vet clinic and at first there w
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 251 min read
Petite
This beautiful girl was lent to Horse Sanctuary at Finn Farms from another rescue to be a buddy to another senior who was missing their friend. While those two didn't quite get on, she became best friends with two young donkeys. She was a wonderful replacement "mum" and loved the little ones. But she was quite senior herself at age 35. Suddenly she declined and went downhill quickly, losing cognitive function. She became ataxic and could not use her back legs. Her time had co
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 241 min read
Serenity and Solace
Shared from Hopeful Hooves Equine Rescue, because we couldn't tell their story any better than them. We don’t have a hopeful update tonight. We have heartbreak. And anger. And two empty spaces where lives should still be standing. Today we said goodbye to Solace and Serenity. We watched them all night. They barely moved. We already knew in our gut what morning would bring, but we still hoped. We always hope. Because giving up on them isn’t something we do lightly. For Serenit
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 162 min read
Gelded and safe in a new home
This little cutie pie was in need of some help! He was found wandering the highway several times. As a stallion he needed a secure place to keep him safe. He had a home but he wasn't getting regular feed and water and he did not have access to shelter. Thankfully he was finally taken in by neighbour after the RCMP got involved. It was time for him to become a good citizen, especially because his new home had mares. We were so pleased to have been able to provide them with our
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 161 min read
Abandoned, the boarding facility did right by her
Some stories are hard share because they weigh on our hearts in a different way. It is wonderful to see horses experience love in their lifetime. But it is then so hard to learn when they experience abandonment. This beautiful girl was well into her 20s and experiencing pain in her hock. Xrays revealed there was no longer any meniscus, which acts as a cushion and stabilizer for the joint. The result is bone-on-bone contact, causing significant pain. She needed pain management
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Frosty
Frosty, along with his friend Ginger, were taken in by The Barefoot Ranch: Manitoba Horse Rescue & Sanctuary when their elderly owners were no longer able to care for them. At 18 years old he was still a stallion. It was time for this cutie to become a good citizen! We were pleased to have been able to provide them with our Gelding Grant. It is so important to have stallions gelded and prevent even more unwanted horses from being born in the first place. The horrors that awa
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Autumn
We are always so grateful when a rescue steps up for a horse when they know full well the only thing they can do for them is give them the Last Act of Kindness. Freedom's Gate Equine Rescue Society helped a family with two horses when life circumstances meant they could no longer keep them. They were both much loved. Unfortunately, Autumn's health had deteriorated and it was important to end her suffering. We were so pleased to have been able to provide them with our Humane
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Jupiter
5 Freedoms Ranch Rescue & Rehab took Jupiter in as an owner surrender in the summer of 2024. He had been very loved and we are grateful to his former owner for reaching out for help when they could no longer care for him. In his past life Jupiter had been a therapy horse and he was known for always wanting to share his love with visitors. He would shower the donkeys with his love and protection too. Unfortunately he developed complications from PPID that had progressed quickl
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Selene
Blackbird Ranch Equine Rescue and Rehab rescued this beautiful mare at auction in September 2024 knowing her time with them would be brief. Her front right knee was so full of arthritis it would no longer even bend. They named her Selene and committed to loving and caring for her till the time came to give her the Last Act of Kindness. She was incredibly sweet, loved hugs and was always the first to greet people at the gate in hopes of a pet or a snack. We are so grateful to
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Diamond
Some stories are hard to write and we know are hard to read. Diamond was taken in by Integrity's Haven Equine Rescue Centre Society-IHERC-Non Profit . The owner did not disclose his behavioural issues. Soon it became clear he could be very aggressive, biting, kicking and chasing the woman at the rescue. Their vet refused to work on him and even with sedatives hidden in horse treats he still wasn't safe to be around. It was only later that they found out he had been beaten by
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Cowboy
Cowboy was a very loved pet who was taken in by Integrity's Haven Equine Rescue Centre Society-IHERC-Non Profit in 2018 when the family was no longer able to keep him. He had arthritis and DSLD but they managed to keep him comfortable for many years. This year the DSLD advanced quickly and severely and he was no longer able to lay down and get much needed REM sleep. That meant sometimes he would fall over when he was sleeping standing up. It was time to give him the Last Act
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Tippa
Tippa, a beautiful mustang, was rescued in June 2023. Unfortunately her rescuer was not able to keep her and made her available for adoption. With no one interested her rescuer was considering humanely euthanizing her, a responsible decision to prevent her from ending up in the slaughter pipeline. Thankfully, instead Integrity's Haven Equine Rescue Centre Society-IHERC-Non Profit took her in where she enjoyed a wonderful retirement. When pain medication no longer eased her s
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Saved at auction
This beautiful boy was put through the auction three times in one day with each buyer returning him because he was a cryptorchid. His fate would most certainly have been to been shipped to slaughter but instead someone stepped up to save him. We are so grateful for rescuers across the country who save precious lives every day. He has since been gelded which is so important with a cryptorchid horse because the condition is genetic. It is highly recommended that they not ever b
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Hera, Hope and Justice
In Canada, animal welfare laws are provincial jurisdiction. Some provinces are better than others but all are inadequate. Nothing makes this clearer than how they fail horses. Under those laws, horses are considered “livestock”, so they can be taken to a livestock auction. But unlike other livestock, there is almost no regulation regarding the care and condition of horses brought to auction. Some auction houses operate with better standards than others but rarely do any anima
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 143 min read
Bell
Sweet Bell was rescued at auction three years ago by 5 Freedoms Ranch and Rescue. Every horse has lessons to share and Bell's specialty was kindness. Tossed away probably just because she was old, it is sad to think what she would have suffered in the slaughter pipeline. We are so grateful to 5 Freedoms for appreciating the inherent value of every horse regardless of their age or condition. Recently Bell was experiencing a lot of discomfort in her crippled hips. They were con
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Penny and Princess
These two cuties were taken in by Dare to Dream Horse Rescue in Alberta. While Penny had had a good life, sadly Princess was very fearful of people and took a long time to build trust. We are just grateful they both found sanctuary at the rescue. Penny was 24 years old and had developed several health issues and though Princess was only 14 she had severe heaves and she was having significant trouble breathing. When it was time to say goodbye they were given the Last Act of Ki
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Harry Potter
Harry Potter was sent to auction with a note saying "useless hay burning lawn mower". He was a senior who no doubt had given his life to people and was probably no longer rideable. But that does not make a horse useless! He had so much love to give. We are so grateful he was rescued by 5 Freedoms Ranch and Rescue and was able to live another four wonderful years with them. He was very sweet and brought a lot of joy. He was never far from his closest friends, Ava and Sweetpea.
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Larry
You all know we have a soft spot for minis so we were thrilled to learn that Larry was rescued at auction and taken in by Tiny Tales Pony Rescue Society . At only 4 years old he has a lot of life ahead of him. He has already shown that he has a lot of personality. He is goofy, curious and fun loving. But to ensure he has the best chance in life he needed to become a good citizen. We were pleased to have been able to provide Tiny Tales with our Gelding Grant.
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
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