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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.
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
Navicular can be managed, until it no longer can
This beautiful mare was lucky enough to be reunited with the young girl she taught everything about horsemanship. Now all grown up, she bought her back and they spent the past two years together. Another story of love and devotion for ones horse. Sadly she had developed navicular and no amount of medications were easing her suffering. With winter coming her pain was becoming even more unmanageable. She was lovingly given the Last Act of Kindness. We were so pleased to have be
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Chancey
Chancey was at an auction in Arkansas where he was purchased by a kill buyer who then took him to a kill pen in Tennessee. The horrors that await horses in the slaughter pipeline are beyond what most of us can imagine. Thankfully he was rescued, along with his friend Ranchy, and brought to Canada where they enjoyed a good life together. Eventually, time caught up with Chancey, as it does with all of us. The vet estimated he was more than 30 years of age. With winter approachi
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
A cautionary tale
Many times the stories we learn about the horses who are helped by our grants are deeply touching. Stories of love, devotion and heartbreak when choosing the Last Act of Kindness. Other stories touch our hearts for different reasons. This beautiful boy, we'll call him "Darling", was taken to a boarding facility to be used as a lesson horse. The owner was a senior and had moved into a home. Such arrangements are not uncommon and are often referred to as a "free lease", where
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 142 min read
Jazz
Rescue is always about individuals stepping up for an animal in need. Sometimes those individuals take things a step further and set themselves up as an organization so they can help more animals and engage community support. Sometimes it is the efforts of a private individual just doing what they can. We salute and honour every person who rescues a horse in need and takes them into their home and their heart. Jazz is one such horse. Soft Landings of EVF was asked to take in
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Much loved bonded pair
While some stories are hard share, others are a joy. These beautiful girls were blessed to live their long lives together with the same owner, one since birth and the other since she was a yearling. It is hard to imagine anything better for a horse. It fills our hearts with so much gratitude, a joyous reminder of the deep love and commitment people have for their horses. When the time came that their aging bodies were catching up with them, they were lovingly given the Last A
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Handsome Jack
There are just some stories that are hard to write, but they need to be told, for so many reasons. The story of Handsome Jack is one of those, because his life mattered. In August, Freedom's Gate Equine Rescue Society was contacted by their local Stockyard about a horse who had been dumped there over the weekend. They told them that if they could come and get him he was free, but warned that he was a skeleton. They hooked up the trailer and headed out. He was in such poor sh
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 142 min read
Whiz
Whiz came into the care of The Parsons Animal Rescue Foundation as an owner surrender in 2021. Her owner could no longer afford to provide for her but she didn't want to send her to auction. We are so grateful she reached out for help instead and that Parsons Animal Rescue had room. Whiz had spent most of her life as a reining horse, competing at various competitions on a variety of levels. She had a lot of life experience to offer the younger ones at the rescue and she embr
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Buck
This poor little guy was recently rescued at auction. Just a yearling, he already suffered an eye injury and he was very skinny. No one was bidding on him, which never bodes well for a horse's future. Thankfully came to be with Horseheroesalberta and they have given him the care and feed he needs. When it came time for him to become a good citizen we were so pleased to provide them with our Gelding Grant.
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
A responsible breeder
A beautiful Tennessee Walker, this boy was sold by a breeder who they ended up taking back due to incompatibility. We recognize that there is a place for responsible horse breeding and we salute those who are committed to ensuring quality offspring. We are especially pleased when breeders take back their horses when things don't work out as planned. That is responsible breeding at its best. It was time for this guy to become a good citizen. We were so pleased to support his o
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Thatcher
It is a miracle this little guy is still with us. Pregnant, extremely skinny and weak, his dam was rescued at auction. It is so hard to imagine sending a very pregnant mare to auction. What is perhaps even harder to imagine is neglecting and starving a pregnant horse. Thankfully she was rescued by Horseheroesalberta and soon after gave birth to Thatcher in the safety of their farm. Sadly, despite good care, three weeks later she passed away due to an internal rupture. Poor T
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Skipper
Skipper is a stunning pony with great bloodlines. Sold as a yearling to someone as "a project", the match didn't quite work out. Skipper is highly sensitive, shy and very smart, a combination that takes a very skilled horse person to know how to properly start young colt. He was also forced to live alone due to being a stud and the behaviours that go along with that. Thankfully he was taken in by The Heart of Horsemanship , people who know all about ponies, gentle training an
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Petey
This beautiful little boy, Petey, was rescued at auction along with his dam, Portia. She was so scared she would lash out, striking at whoever got too close. With time, patience and gentle handling, Portia is now halter trained, comfortable with people and nice to be around. And her little colt? He is has been gelded and is available for adoption with his dam. Thanks to Horseheroesalberta for saving them and giving them a chance at a good life. We were so pleased to have bee
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Another very fortunate horse
This beautiful mare used to pack people around the mountains of Alberta. Then she found herself with a family who had hoped to be a good mount for them and their children. But soon after she arrived they realized she was struggling with her vision. She became quite spooky and difficult to catch. Thankfully, that did not put them off and she stayed with them for another 5 years, enjoying lush pasture, grooming and lots of love. When the time came that her ailing body caught up
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Violet
Every horse steals our hearts but there are always some that we have a special soft spot for. One of those is saved for seniors but another one is saved for minis. Both are often not rideable and in the horse world that sadly can often mean they are not valued. A horse that isn't valued is at high risk of neglect and being sold into the slaughter pipeline. We were especially saddened to learn about Violet. She arrived at Hopeful Hooves Equine Rescue Society in very poor cond
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 142 min read
A very good life, one blessed horse
Some horses are fortunate to be blessed with good lives. This beautiful mare spent the last fifteen years of her life at the same home with her human and animal family. She had been given to them by another family whose daughter had outgrown her and moved on to a more skilled horse. They chose to responsibly rehome her instead of taking her to auction. At her new home she taught another generation all about horses and riding. When the time came that it was clear her body was
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
Ellie
Rescue is really hard, and when the animal you have rescued is so traumatized by their experience with humans that they fear everyone, there is a whole other aspect to the emotional journey of rescue work. There is the rabbit hole of imagining what they had been through, which is never a good place to put one's mind to. But then with time, a safe, calm environment, they decompress, you begin to see them relax and the light come back into their eyes. The emotional high of bein
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 142 min read
Libby
Every horse is special but there is something extra special about the ones who are part of any therapeutic riding program. Libby was with Pony Pals Therapeutic Riding Association since its inception in 2002. Such a good pony, she helped hundreds of children gain mobility, freedom and a sense of true confidence and joy. She helped children to discover and experience independence as well as a place where they belong in this world. The children she helped were from 4-12 years o
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 141 min read
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