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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.
Goose and Sprout
These sweet young boys became good citizens, going from stallions to geldings. They were saved from shipping for slaughter, a fate that their unhandled moms were not spared. We are heartbroken for what happened to them and the fear they must have felt. But we are grateful to Hopeful Hooves Equine Rescue Society for saving their boys, who are now ready for adoption.
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Tarzan and Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse and Tarzan were part of the group of ponies the The Heart of Horsemanship rescued late last year from a field in Alberta where they had been abandoned and left to fend for themselves for several years. Their gelding procedures had to be delayed because Mickey Mouse was too young and Tarzan was quite sick when he arrived. We are so pleased to share that they have both been successfully gelded and will now get to live their lives as good citizens.
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Benito
Benito was rescued at auction by Horse Heroes AB and later transferred to Bear Valley Rescue . Another amazing collaboration of rescues working together to save horses! He arrived as a young unhandled pony and has since learned about halters and having his feet done. We were so pleased to be able to provide Bear Valley Rescue with our gelding grant to make Benito a good citizen. He will have a chance at a much better life as a gelding.
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Gone too soon
Another heartbreaking story of a young horse gone too soon. This beautiful Thoroughbred had an accident in his pasture which resulted in a fractured wither. Despite surgery usually providing a good prognosis, he developed complications that severely compromised his quality of life. The only thing left was to give him the Last Act of Kindness. He was only 5 years old and had been rescued at an auction, given up as a yearling by the breeder, probably because he was not "up to t
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Tragedy and heartbreak
Some accidents with horses result in injuries that can, thankfully, be healed. It is devastating when the injuries from an accident are fatal. This beautiful much loved 9 year old Thoroughbred was happily enjoying life when his pasture mate kicked his leg, breaking it. The bone fractured into many pieces and was beyond repair. We are heartbroken for his owner but we are thankful they chose to humanely euthanize him instead of sending him to auction with such a painful injury.
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Nikey and Sheldon
These beautiful boys, Nikey and Sheldon, are in the loving care of Bear Valley Rescue. They were saved by Horse Heroes Alberta and transfered to them. It is amazing and wonderful to see horse rescues working together. It lifts our hearts with hope when that happens as more can be done for horses through collaboration. As a responsible rescue, Bear Valley Rescue gelds every stallion in their care. It means they won't be making babies and adding to the unwanted horse population
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Sterling
We are always happy when a young stallion becomes a gelding. It sets them up for a much better life. They are far less likely to develop undesirable behaviours and they can live freely with other horses with no worry about making more babies. Sweet Sterling was born at The Barefoot Ranch: Manitoba Horse Rescue & Sanctuary to a mum who arrived neglected, malnourished and, unknown to anyone, also pregnant. Sterling was a beautiful Easter surprise. Everyone was relieved he was
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Studley Wonder Muffin
We are so grateful to Freedom's Gate Equine Rescue Society Gate for taking in this little guy and seven other minis from Alberta back in February. They also took in two pregnant mares and three yearlings at the same time. They will all have a chance now at good life. We were very happy to provide them with a grant to have this little guy gelded. There is an abundance of unwanted horses and certainly no need to breed more minis. Minis are also often not given the training the
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Backyard breeding gone awry
Just look at these sweet faces ❤️🐴❤️ These boys were part of a backyard breeding program. The situation got out of hand and they became unwanted and were neglected. Thankfully an individual took them in and has been giving them good care. We are very grateful they were rescued. We were pleased to support them with our gelding grant so these boys can find loving homes as good citizens
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Time to become a good citzen
We are always so grateful and in awe of rescuers, whether they be private individuals or organizations. Saving horses is a team effort and we all have a role to play. This stunning boy was with an older gelding who he was picking on and trying to mount. It was causing everyone a lot of stress and the older gelding was losing weight. The owner was also ill and not able to properly care for them. Thankfully an individual took them both in and we were very happy to assist with t
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Brecken
This stunning yearling came to Freedom's Gate Equine Rescue in February from Alberta, along with two other yearlings, two pregnant mares and eight minis. He arrived feral and with gentle handling is now is halter trained, can be brushed, can have his feet picked up, and loads onto a trailer amazingly well. He has already been adopted and gone to his new home in Lumby, BC We are so grateful to Freedom's Gate Equine Rescue for taking him and the other 12 horses in and giving th
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
A tragic accident
We are always so grateful for owners who do right by their horses in their greatest time of need. This beautiful and much loved girl suffered an accident in a drainage ditch. Her owner thought she had recovered but her front knee grew a mass which affected her ability to stand or lay down. Her hind end was too weak to compensate and she was suffering. She was lovingly given the Last Act of Kindness. We were thankful to assist with our humane euthanasia grant. Too often horses
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Magic
Horses don't fear death, they fear suffering, and when they are suffering immense pain that is untreatable, we must do right by them, even if that means giving them the Last Act of Kindness. This gorgeous boy suffered a catastrophic injury when he was kicked by his mother as a foal. While the breeder had wanted to put him down at the time, someone else took him in and nursed his injuries. He changed hands a few times before eventually coming to New Start Standardbred Adoption
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 112 min read
Mathers Marilyn
This beautiful, healthy and beloved mare was stricken with colic, every horse owners worst nightmare. Her owner had recently lost her job and was unable to provide the care she need so they reached out to New Start Standardbreds for help. Even though they don't normally step up in situations like these, the owner had been a long time supporter of theirs and she was understandably frantic. They arranged for their vet to tend to her but unfortunately by the time they arrived h
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Stella
In her short 12 or so years, this beautiful, kind, gentle mare experienced terrible neglect. Based on what we know about where she came from, she was likely used as a work horse. When she became lame due to laminitis, instead of giving her the care she needed, she was neglected, suffered tremendously, and was eventually sold to a kill buyer. Thankfully she was saved by 5 Freedom's Ranch Rescue and Rehab. But despite months of care and rehab, the damage to her hooves was too s
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 112 min read
Even babies are at risk of slaughter
Every one of these 8 of these beautiful baby stallions were saved from the slaughter pipeline thanks to the group Horse Heroes Alberta. It is hard enough for young ones to be separated from their mothers. It is unimaginable the terror they would have experienced in the slaughter pipeline. We were so pleased to provide Horse Heroes Alberta with our Gelding Grant to help make these boys good citizens.
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
He almost wasn't even born
This sweet little guy is one lucky boy. His mom was rescued at auction in January 2024. She gave birth to him later that spring in the safety of her new home. We are very happy to have assisted with his procedure to become a good citizen with our gelding grant. It is almost unimaginable but pregnant mares are sold into the slaughter pipeline. Their pregnancy means they weigh more which means a higher meat price. Sometimes mares end up giving birth while still in a holding pen
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Better a day early than a day late
Horse people know that grey horses are highly susceptible to developing melanomas, compared to horses with other coat colours, with an estimated 80% developing them by old age. Even if these skin cancers are benign, they can cause significant health risks due to their size and location as they spread internally. Horses are masters at disguising pain so by the time they show symptoms of suffering it is often too late. This beautiful boy was lovingly given the Last Act of Kindn
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
A lifetime of devotion
Every grant application touches us deeply but this one was especially moving. A daughter reached out asking for help for her 79 year old father and his 36 year old horse. Besides being very senior, the horse had become unsteady on her feet and same with her father. It was a very unsafe situation for both of them and time to let her go. What was so incredible was he had this horse for the last 26 years. Amazing! Very few horses get to share most of their life with one person.
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
Colic, a horse owners worst nightmare
The word "colic" strikes fear in the heart of every horse owner. Though it isn't always life threatening, when it is, an owner can feel so helpless. Even if surgery is an option, it is incredibly expensive and survival is not guaranteed. Horses can experience complications both during surgery and after, making for a poor long term outcome. Colic has many causes and therefore there are many types of colic, making it especially hard to treat if is has become serious. This beaut
Horse Aid Canada
Mar 111 min read
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