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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 bonded pair

These two beautiful senior mares were very loved, though they were struggling with age related ailments. Their owner could no longer keep them and gave them to their farrier in the hopes that she would be able to rehabilitate them. Unfortunately, nothing could be done to relieve their suffering and they were given the Last Act of Kindness. We want to acknowledge the love and devotion their owner had for them. He truly wanted what was best for them and gave them to someone he

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 121 min read

Prince

Prince was rescued by The Little Red Barn Sanctuary two years ago when they saw an emaciated gelding listed for sale on kijiji. The owners purchased him thinking he was approximately 15 but he was actually much older. They wanted to sell him but eventually asked the Little Red Barn Sanctuary to take him or they would send him to auction. Prince was a quiet gentleman who brought a great sense of calm and wisdom. While they didn't know his history, his rescuers could imagine hi

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 121 min read

Daisy

Daisy was rescued by The Little Red Barn Sanctuary right off a slaughter truck that was bound for Quebec after having spent her life as a working horse for the Amish. Her scarred face told of the hard life she'd had, both mentally and physically. Her body was riddled with arthritis making everything painful for her. With good care and medications, Daisy was able to enjoy the last two years of her life in freedom with dignity and love. We are so grateful that Daisy was saved f

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 121 min read

Belle

Beautiful Belle was rescued by the The Little Red Barn Sanctuary when they saw that she was listed on kijiji for only $150. At that price, and especially because she is a draft horse, they were concerned she would be flipped and sold to a kill buyer. They knew she deserved better than that and brought her home to their place of refuge. Belle had given the first 24 years of her life as a working horse for the Amish and then sold to be used for wagon rides. But her body was too

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 121 min read

Panda

In late spring, Panda was brought to a local auction. She was dropped off in severe condition. Another local rescue reported her to the provincial authorities before the auction started. Despite her condition and severe lameness, she was assessed as able to be put through the auction. When the bidding started she sold to a private buyer. Soon after she was purchased, her new owner listed her on kijiji for 3 times her bidding price, along with five others that they had purchas

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 112 min read

Kaloni

Sweet Kaloni was surrendered to Tiny Tales Pony Rescue Society along with three others. Sadly they were all in very poor condition and had not received the care they needed in a long time. The owner became unwell which can unfortunately often lead to neglect. Their family was tasked with finding them new homes. Thankfully Tiny Tales Pony Rescue was able to take them in. Kaloni needed extensive care. She had the telltale sign of PPID and was started on the recommended medicat

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

A cryptorchid horse should not be bred

This beautiful boy was purchased by his new owner to be a breeding stallion so he could make some extra money. Thankfully his owner had a change of heart when he realized that he was a cryptorchid. Instead he has been gelded, giving him a much better life and not contributing to the unwanted horse population. We were very happy to provide his owner with our Gelding Grant. Sadly backyard breeding is done by people who are far less responsible that this boy's owner. Horse breed

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

Teddy

Teddy was rescued at auction by Blackbird Ranch Equine Rescue and Rehab . He was old, thin, tired and sore. Once he arrived at their facility, it was clear he was worse than they first realized. One of his stifles swung freely making him is unable to bear much weight on it, which meant they were not even able to trim his back hooves. The only thing the could do for him was give him the Last Act of Kindness. Teddy was dumped at auction in this condition. His owners likely knew

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

Sully

There are a lot of heartbreaking stories in the world of horse rescue. Not one can be compared to the other but what happens to foals born with deformities and not given proper treatment is one of the toughest ones. Sully was only a few months old when he was taken to auction. He was purchased sight unseen and when the buyer realized his leg deformities he was going to send him back to auction. Just a baby he was at very high risk of being sold for slaughter. Thankfully Horse

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

Solomon

Six months ago, Solomon was a very senior horse who was awaiting his fate at the kill buyer. He was supposedly a "pet" but that doesn't protect horses from ending up in the slaughter pipeline. Thankfully he was rescued by 5 Freedoms Ranch Rescue & Rehabilitation. Though his time with them was short, as he had invasive cancerous lesions, he enjoyed those months living life to the beat of his own drum. He didn't seem to know what carrots, apples and treats were but he learned.

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

Jerricho

Jerricho is a 5 year old who was largely unhandled. Thankfully Freedom's Gate Equine Rescue Society took him and and started working with him right away. Turns out he is sweet and really smart, taking to training well. We are pleased to have provided them with our Gelding Grant so he can live his life as a good citizen. He is now available for adoption and we wish him the best! Thanks to your support we are helping stallions like Jerricho. Geldings have much better lives and

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

Tully

Tully is a very lucky boy (left). His dam, Shae, was pregnant with him when she was rescued at auction in early 2023 by 5 Freedoms Ranch Rescue & Rehabilitation. As a draft she was at very high risk of being sold for slaughter and being pregnant would have only increased her risk. It is horrific but pregnant horses are slaughtered all the time. When Tully was born it soon became clear he was very sick and needed plasma and antibiotics. He had an infection in both hocks that h

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

Benito and Kirby

Benito and Kirby are two minis who were saved at auction by Horseheroesalberta . No one was bidding on them, meaning they were at serious risk of being taken by a kill buyer for free to be sold for slaughter. Even minis are at risk of being slaughtered. Thankfully they were rescued and we were pleased to be able to provide our gelding grant so both boys will no longer be stallions. Thanks to your support we are helping stallions like Benito and Kirby become good citizens. Gel

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

MPO

This sweet little guy was rescued by Freedom's Gate Equine Rescue Society when they purchased him from a kill buyer. He was sent to another organization but they couldn't handle him so ended up offering him "free to a good home". Thankfully Freedom's Gate took him back when they were alerted to the situation. He would have been at serious risk of ending up in the wrong hands again. Minis are horses and need the same training and handling as full size horses. When they aren't

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

Oliver

Sweet Oliver was given a second chance at life when his mom, Spice, was rescued at auction in September 2023 by The Parsons Animal Rescue Foundation . Except no one even knew at the time that Spice was pregnant. Oliver was born the following March at the rescue, strong and healthy. He has since learned about halters, ground work and having his hooves trimmed. When it was time for Oliver to be gelded we were very pleased to provide the Parson Animal Rescue Foundation with our

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

Clyde

Clyde was rescued at auction with his sister Bonnie. His body showed the scars of his life as a pack horse .... white hair that showed where the tack was ill-fitting, open sores everywhere, metal shoes that had only recently been removed as there were still holes in his hooves. He likely worked hard his whole life and was dumped at auction when he could no longer work. His body was broken but his soul was not. With care and love he learned to trust humans and enjoy belly scra

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

Sox

Sox was rescued at auction, malnourished, frail, under weight and well into his twenties. All he needed was to have his teeth done, which had to wait until he was strong enough to withstand sedation. He made a full recovery and was able to enjoy a proper retirement in safety, surrounded with love. Thank you to Horse Sanctuary at Finn Farms for rescuing him and giving him the care he needed. We are so grateful he was given the Last Act of Kindness with the dignity he deserved.

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

Cheyenne

Cheyenne was once much loved by a little girl who grew up and whose parents didn't want to keep her anymore. Incredibly sweet and gentle, it is terrifying that she ended up in the hands of a kill buyer. Thankfully she was saved by 5 Freedoms Ranch Rescue & Rehabilitation where she was able to spend the rest of her days safe, loved once again and well cared for. When her arthritic pain could no longer be managed she was given the Last Act of Kindness with her horse friend by h

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

Kokanee

We are so grateful to Bear Valley Rescue for taking Kokanee in almost 11 years ago and taking such good care of him for the rest of his days. Even though he was only about 16 years old at the time, he was already unsound for riding. He did very well for many years on medication and supplements, even managing to fight off a couple of bouts of colic. In the end, he was struck with another colic episode, one that he could not recover from. We are grateful to have been able to p

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

Waylon

Thanks to Bear Valley Rescue for taking in Waylon in his time of need. He was very loved but his owner sadly became ill and wasn't able to give this young boy the time and attention he needed. Sweet as he is he has had little handling. Plus he was a cryptorchid and the cost to have him properly gelded was beyond their means. Waylon has since gotten the surgery he needed, and his feet all trimmed up, and is spending time recovering in a foster home. We were very happy to be a

Horse Aid Canada

Mar 111 min read

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