Meet Our Herd

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Tag 125: Our sweet Cocoa, a senior Sorrel mare with one-eye, was bailed from the kill pen on her slaughter date. Bruised, battered and starving with patches of hair missing from stress and starvation, our heart fell as she walked toward us exiting the kill pen. Fresh cuts and old wounds sprinkled her flank, a yellow discharge oozed from her eye, her frail body stood lifeless; her spirit broken. I knew she would be a hard case. Would she make it through transport? Would she even make it through the night? Could we handle endless vet bills and feedings with no teeth to bring her back to health? But as our youngest son, Harrison, approached her, she turned her head, lowering her neck to come closer as if to say, ‘I choose you’. Without hesitation, she was ours. We were all in….starting today and every day forward she would feel love. We call her Cocoa. 

Tag 2023:  A discarded 21-year old thoroughbred bay mare, once a beloved racehorse, was now a senior with only her back molars struggling to pull grass from the pasture. Skinny and malnourished with her head hung low, she would barely make eye contact. We saw beyond this— we saw her for the majestic creature she once was and believed would reappear again!  Now timid and confused as to how she got here, her eyes felt dull and sad, but when you looked closer, even if just for a moment, there was a glimpse of who she once was.  We weren’t giving up hope. Her ship date was the next day. We drove two and half hours to save this girl, because we believed she would find a zest for life again!  It will take time to trust us, even more time to fill her belly and make her whole. This day we made a promise….. September 22, 2023, we are in for the long haul. We are prepared to give her all the time she needs for she is deserving of unconditional love. We call her Whiskey.

Tag 1522, Goose, joined our herd after being rescued from the kill pen, with no known history. A 12-year-old flea-bitten grey Quarter Horse, he arrived bruised and broken, standing lifeless by the fence. His ribs were visible through his skin, and his once beautiful mane was tattered and thin. Exhausted from weeks of chaos, cramped in a pen with hundreds of other sick and neglected horses, Goose had given up. Yet, even in his weakened state, there was a quiet kindness in him.

The moment we offered him food, he ate—and ate some more, filling his belly with  slowly and carefully not to overwhelm his digestion . It was as if hope had sparked with each mouthful. This sweet boy warmed up quickly, soon becoming all smiles and affection. His goofy personality soon shone through—always with a green nose full of hay, and always ready to steal the spotlight for a photo! Whether among the herd or with humans, Goose has quickly become a favorite to all who meet him.

Welcome home, Goose.

The auction yard was a cacophony of chaos—shouting bidders, the clatter of hooves, and the desperate cries of horses crammed into small pens. Among them stood Bear, a senior gelding whose best years were far behind him. His coat, once a glossy chestnut, was dull and matted, stretched over a frame that seemed to be held together by sheer will. His head hung low, his cloudy eyes resigned to whatever fate awaited him.

He had likely worked hard for most of his life, serving as a mount for someone who had long since forgotten him. When his usefulness waned, so too did the care he received. Now, he was just another horse shuffled through the auction pipeline, headed toward an unthinkable end.

We had been scanning the pens at the back of the auction, heart heavy as we assessed the condition of the horses destined for slaughter. That’s when we saw him.

Bear didn’t move as we approached. His body trembled with malnutrition, his overgrown hooves awkwardly splayed beneath him. We could tell his journey to the auction had been cruel—long hours without food, water, or rest.

“He’s no good to anyone,” a worker scoffed as Ashleigh ran her hand gently along Bear’s bony neck.

Bear was coming home to Winsome Acres.

We know Bear’s recovery will be slow, if he recovers at all. Malnourished senior horses were among the hardest to rehabilitate, their bodies often too worn down to respond. But if Bear has any fight left in him, Winsome Acres will give him every chance to prove it.

The first few weeks were touch and go. Bear’s meals were small but frequent, a delicate balance of nutrients to rebuild his strength without overwhelming his fragile system. His hooves were trimmed slowly, a process that took several sessions to avoid causing further pain. His teeth have been done with two pulled to allow him to chew grain again. He was dewormed and on a special diet to begin gaining weight a nourishment. We are only weeks into his journey but hopeful for another horse saved!

Our black beauty, Thunder—tag 802—was rescued from the kill pen on December 7th. At just 8 years old, we learned that he had spent most of his life working hard for the Amish community. Though still young at heart, his body was worn down, his spirit hobbled by arthritis and a severe limp. Thunder arrived utterly exhausted, his physical body broken. He was also very ill, battling a serious upper respiratory infection, his nose thick with green discharge. Every sound startled him, and every touch made him flinch. He was lost, unsure of who to trust, how he had ended up in such a place, or what awaited him next. You could feel his overwhelming fear.

We took our time with Thunder, moving slowly, gaining his trust one day at a time, and showing him the healing power of kindness. After months of dedicated care, his health gradually returned, and with it, his vibrant personality blossomed. Thunder is truly remarkable—when he looks into your eyes, it feels as though he sees straight into your soul. He loves deeply, with every fiber of his being, and when he moves, it’s as though he carries the rhythm of a song.

When people say, “he’s just a horse,” they don’t understand. Thunder is the kind of horse who teaches you who you really are.

Gracie was our worst case yet. She came to us from an Arabian rescue group who bailed her from the kill pen to give her second chance at life, one filled with love, care, and the freedom every horse deserves.

When we learned about Gracie’s situation, our heart sank. The thought of such a majestic creature facing an uncertain and tragic fate was unbearable. We felt she needed a soft place to land, and urgent intervention not only saved a life but also brought immense joy and relief her crippled soul.   

The trailer rattled as it pulled into Winsome Acres. Inside, a shadow of a horse trembled. Her ribs jutted through dull, patchy fur, her head hung low, and her hooves were cracked and overgrown. Her eyes, dull and sunken, told a story of suffering no words could capture.

We stood at the gate, her heart breaking at the sight. She had seen neglected horses before, but this mare was worse than most.  

Gracie had a body score of 1, covered in black dust her skin was rotting, she suffered the worst UTI and her pelvic area and hind were inverted due to malnutrition and neglect. She walked with a limp suffering from some kind of hip condition, and clearly was in pain. Her face was covered in open wounds and flea and mites riddled her entire frail body. She also suffered from a horrible cough and upper respiratory infection. We honestly weren’t sure if she was going to survive. 

Gracie now has a future filled with hope, thanks to your compassion and determination of the rescue group and now her time at the ranch. She still making progress, putting on weight and learning to be a horse again. Seeing her thrive in a safe environment is a testament to the profound impact your actions have had when a community comes together. 

We aren’t sure what’s in store for Gracie, if she’ll ever be healthy enough to ride or just a friendly face in the pasture. All we want for her is to be feel safe, loved and learn that not all humans are bad. Our dedication to rescuing and protecting vulnerable animals, and Gracie’s remarkable progress, is what keeps us going, forever committed to being her forever home. 

Prince arrived at the ranch in April 2024. He came with Gracie, bonded at the kill pen. We knew when we accepted Gracie that Prince would have to come too! His coat was matted with mud and he was underweight but even in his distressed state, his natural beauty was undeniable. We approached slowly, speaking in soothing tones to calm the frightened creature. Prince sensing a gentle touch and kind intentions, remained surprisingly calm.

We developed a deep bond immediately. The day he arrived the rain was pouring, we spent hours standing with him in the shelter relieving him of fear, brushing his coat, feeding him fresh hay, and talking to him about our dreams and his beautiful future to come. Prince, in turn, seemed to understand every word, nuzzling his shoulder and releasing deep breaths.

And so, under the watchful eyes of the stars, and a kind hand, Prince started a new journey reminding everyone, the most unexpected friendships can change our lives forever.