Meet your equine guides
Willow
Sassafras "Sassy"
Willow
Birthday: April 18th, 2016
Rescued December, 2021.
Willow is the heart horse of the ranch. No one knew she was pregnant at the time she was rescued from the kill pen. Had we known, we would have also known she was very underweight for pregnancy. I remember walking into the pen and Willow coming over to me and hugging me and circling me, a
Birthday: April 18th, 2016
Rescued December, 2021.
Willow is the heart horse of the ranch. No one knew she was pregnant at the time she was rescued from the kill pen. Had we known, we would have also known she was very underweight for pregnancy. I remember walking into the pen and Willow coming over to me and hugging me and circling me, almost as if to say I choose you, please pick me, and please get me out of here. I truly believe she picked me because she knew she would have a safe space to have her baby and also be loved. Willow has since enjoyed her life whether she is working with me on riding or giving love and affection to anyone in the pasture. To me, she embodies the energy of an inner loving parent. She is a soft and loving yet a protective and guiding mother horse.
Big Bo
Sassafras "Sassy"
Willow
Birthday: April 2006
Rescued December 2021.
Standing over 16 hands high, Big Bo or Bois D'Arc is our gentle giant. He arrived a few days after Woody and Willow. I remember being in the kill pen and noticing him standing there in the center of the pen amongst the other horses, slowly eating and slowly moving around. He looked as if he was s
Birthday: April 2006
Rescued December 2021.
Standing over 16 hands high, Big Bo or Bois D'Arc is our gentle giant. He arrived a few days after Woody and Willow. I remember being in the kill pen and noticing him standing there in the center of the pen amongst the other horses, slowly eating and slowly moving around. He looked as if he was so centered in the present moment that even being in the kill pen, starving and neglected didn't bother him. He had the longest road to recovery for his health as when he arrived, you could see every rib and his hooves were neglected and they needed a lot of cleaning and work. Big Bo remained present through his healing and recovery and reminds us constantly the power of presence. He continues to gain weight and muscle here at the ranch. To me, he embodies the energy of a giant oak tree, something that is always sturdy and reliable. To some, he is also affectionately called grandpa.
Sassafras "Sassy"
Sassafras "Sassy"
Sassafras "Sassy"
Born at the ranch April 16, 2022.
We had no idea what wonderful surprise Willow was carrying when she arrived here. It took another 4 months to even discover she was pregnant, because her stomach kept getting rounder and we knew she wasn't eating that much! But the day before Easter, Willow gave birth to a healthy and curious filly in our
Born at the ranch April 16, 2022.
We had no idea what wonderful surprise Willow was carrying when she arrived here. It took another 4 months to even discover she was pregnant, because her stomach kept getting rounder and we knew she wasn't eating that much! But the day before Easter, Willow gave birth to a healthy and curious filly in our barn. Since then, Sassy has brought so much joy and exploration to the ranch. Her loving and trusting personality comes from her mother, and she enjoys playing around. To me, she embodies the energy of the inner loving child in us all - the part of us that is curious, playful, silly and spontaneous. We are so thankful for her, and thankful to her mother, Willow, for sharing the beautiful gift of life with us.
Lucky
Judge Roy Beans
Sassafras "Sassy"
Birthday: April 4th, 2015
Offered sanctuary at the ranch May 2023.
Lucky, or "Lucky Marino" has surely lived up to his name. He comes from California where he was bred and trained to win races. With lineage like Secretariat, Waquoit, Northern Dancer and other famous thoroughbreds, he was expected to win. Unfortunately, on the training track
Birthday: April 4th, 2015
Offered sanctuary at the ranch May 2023.
Lucky, or "Lucky Marino" has surely lived up to his name. He comes from California where he was bred and trained to win races. With lineage like Secretariat, Waquoit, Northern Dancer and other famous thoroughbreds, he was expected to win. Unfortunately, on the training track right before his first race, he was ran too hard and broke his leg. Unable to race and "win" for the breeder, he was thrown away and scheduled to be euthanized. Lucky got lucky when our friends niece stepped in and saved him from his holding cell. She ensured lucky got help and he went through two surgeries to put plates and screws in his broken leg. She then transferred him to Texas. Lucky was offered sanctuary at our ranch when we heard that our friends niece was running out of options on where to keep him. Lucky got lucky again, and is now here to stay as a therapy horse. Unable to be ridden, he still has a lot to offer. If it weren't for the love and dedication from our friends niece, he wouldn't be here. We are so thankful for her giving Lucky a true chance at life. To me, Lucky embodies the energy of a goofy pre-teen, who likes to crack jokes and demand attention.
Judge Roy Beans
Judge Roy Beans
Judge Roy Beans
Birthday: April 2021
Rescued September 2023.
Judge Roy Beans or "Judge" is our miniature john donkey that is the boss of the herd and is not afraid to show it! Small enough to walk under all the horses, his size doesn't stop him from expressing himself or his opinions. He loves to wear hats, go on walks, and eat treats. We are so surprised
Birthday: April 2021
Rescued September 2023.
Judge Roy Beans or "Judge" is our miniature john donkey that is the boss of the herd and is not afraid to show it! Small enough to walk under all the horses, his size doesn't stop him from expressing himself or his opinions. He loves to wear hats, go on walks, and eat treats. We are so surprised that such a loving and loud personality ended up at another local kill pen. We are so thankful to our friends at a horse rescue that stepped in to pull him out before he got sick and kept him safe for us before reaching out to us to see if we wanted him. I remember meeting him for the first time and feeling like he was giving me the "side eye" in a playful way. He was begging for attention and at the same time his face seemed so "judgey" with his side-eye look! Before we even left the quarantine lot, he was named Judge. He is the fairest and kindest judge here at the ranch! He is our first donkey here at the ranch, and we are so blessed by him. He fits right in, almost as if he never came from anywhere else.