Beyond equine-guided healing, here at Wild Willow we have also helped others rescue horses. From helping them find the perfect home, to finding perfect matches for our own personal rescues, what matters most to us is that these horses find the perfect match to live out their lives and have a sense of purpose. The most important thing to us is that these horses each get the second chances they deserve. We believe the perfect home is out there for all animal companions - sometimes it just takes time to find each other. Below are some of our other rescues we have been involved in and their stories.
rescue stories
Woody
Mud Sock
Mud Sock
Rescued December 2021, Woody joined our herd. Born sometime April 2017, his soft brown eyes seemed to beg for us to take him home with us and we couldn't leave him behind. We spent a lot of time teaching him what love was again, and he got to enjoy over 90 days of professional training. He loved the camera and was often the star in all my
Rescued December 2021, Woody joined our herd. Born sometime April 2017, his soft brown eyes seemed to beg for us to take him home with us and we couldn't leave him behind. We spent a lot of time teaching him what love was again, and he got to enjoy over 90 days of professional training. He loved the camera and was often the star in all my photos. Observing him we quickly discovered he had a need for speed and a mind eager to please. We felt that if the right person came along for him, he would be available for adoption so that he could chase his potential and dreams. July 13th, 2024, the right person came, and he left to join his new herd in South Texas, where he will learn barrels and participate in rodeos. We knew this was the right person as we saw Woody bond with his new mom immediately, and he had other horses waiting for him named "Rex" and "Buzz." It was as if Toy Story was coming to life, and we knew it was time to let him graduate on. He will be very missed here at the ranch. He touched many lives and his goofy spirit helped with many sessions, meditation and so much more. We are thankful for the love we have poured into him to be passed on and we look forward to seeing him in rodeos soon with his new mom. Rescue horses do recover, and they go on to do great things!
Mud Sock
Mud Sock
Mud Sock
Formerly tag 4605, Mud Sock AKA Socks was rescued by Toni and Robert March 22nd, 2025. This tall, dark and handsome gelding hit the jackpot of all loving homes, and has a new friend, Bonk, as a herd mate! Toni shared with me that her heart connected with Socks at the local kill pen, and she just knew she had to save him. If you are in res
Formerly tag 4605, Mud Sock AKA Socks was rescued by Toni and Robert March 22nd, 2025. This tall, dark and handsome gelding hit the jackpot of all loving homes, and has a new friend, Bonk, as a herd mate! Toni shared with me that her heart connected with Socks at the local kill pen, and she just knew she had to save him. If you are in rescue or have ever owned horses before, you know that feeling! The only problem was, she couldn't get him! This is where Wild Willow Ranch stepped in to help with transport and getting him safely to his new forever home. Said to have been broke to drive, Toni is very excited to be driving him soon with a new cart she also acquired. We are excited to hear of Socks progress and adventures as he gets all the loving at Toni and Roberts house! Welcome home, Socks, and congratulations!
Lucky
Mud Sock
Lucky
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 l
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. 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. Offered temporary sanctuary at the ranch May 2023, Lucky stayed with us until a more permanent sanctuary home became available for him. While we miss him, we are so thankful he is at a home where he can be a true companion horse to his new buddy, Concho. Lucky now offers Concho freedom and movement, as he helps him to be able to move around still since Concho has lost one eye and is slowly losing his other eye. We know he is very loved at Fonzy's Farm and Sanctuary, where he is helping his buddy Concho out and living the most spoiled life!
Raven
Whiskey
Lucky
Rescued January 2023, Raven's rescue mom immediately bonded with her. With a glowing black coat and sassy attitude, Raven left with her best friend, Whiskey, to the most perfect home. It was later discovered that she is partially blind in one eye, but that didn't stop Raven from being the princess that she is. A lean and tall Saddlebred,
Rescued January 2023, Raven's rescue mom immediately bonded with her. With a glowing black coat and sassy attitude, Raven left with her best friend, Whiskey, to the most perfect home. It was later discovered that she is partially blind in one eye, but that didn't stop Raven from being the princess that she is. A lean and tall Saddlebred, she now spends her days with the most loving rescue mom who spends every morning and night with them. They have lush acres to run and the greenest grass to enjoy. We love happy endings!
Whiskey
Whiskey
Whiskey
Rescued January 2023 alongside Raven, Whiskey is a calm, cool and collected gentleman. We could tell he was very attached to Raven and was her helper due to her partial blindness. Whiskey loves to eat and loves the ladies. His rescue mom immediately bonded with him and spends every day and night with the pair. He runs with Raven in the ac
Rescued January 2023 alongside Raven, Whiskey is a calm, cool and collected gentleman. We could tell he was very attached to Raven and was her helper due to her partial blindness. Whiskey loves to eat and loves the ladies. His rescue mom immediately bonded with him and spends every day and night with the pair. He runs with Raven in the acres they now have to enjoy, along with some donkeys and cows.
Phoenix
Whiskey
Whiskey
Rescued February 2023, and named after a dear friend that passed away that was very passionate about horse rescue, Phoenix is lucky to have her rescue mom. She now spends her best days with 8 other rescues among 30 acres, where she can eat all the grass and enjoy bonding with her rescue mom while she gets groomed and treats daily. Once sh
Rescued February 2023, and named after a dear friend that passed away that was very passionate about horse rescue, Phoenix is lucky to have her rescue mom. She now spends her best days with 8 other rescues among 30 acres, where she can eat all the grass and enjoy bonding with her rescue mom while she gets groomed and treats daily. Once shy and reserved, she has since warmed up and is learning what love is again, one day at a time.
Sparrow
Sparrow
Sparrow
Rescued September 2023, alongside Judge the donkey, Sparrow was an orphaned filly at just 3 months old. Her rescue mom immediately connected with her. Sparrow spent some time at the ranch with our herd as she got more energy and her first vet check-ups. Judge enjoyed babysitting her in our quarantine paddock. Over a couple of days, she sl
Rescued September 2023, alongside Judge the donkey, Sparrow was an orphaned filly at just 3 months old. Her rescue mom immediately connected with her. Sparrow spent some time at the ranch with our herd as she got more energy and her first vet check-ups. Judge enjoyed babysitting her in our quarantine paddock. Over a couple of days, she slowly came out of her lethargy and started to show her personality. After quarantine and vet checks, Sparrow was lucky to have had only a mild cough with no other issues. Today, she is now at her new home with another grown paint horse where she is very loved.
Duchess
Sparrow
Sparrow
Rescued September 2022, and one of our first rescues outside of our main herd, Duchess stood like a queen at 18 hands high. Her rescue mom fell in love with her and her spirit. She had a lot of life in her, and it was decided to try and give our all to see if she could bounce back from extreme neglect and emaciation. Unfortunately, strang
Rescued September 2022, and one of our first rescues outside of our main herd, Duchess stood like a queen at 18 hands high. Her rescue mom fell in love with her and her spirit. She had a lot of life in her, and it was decided to try and give our all to see if she could bounce back from extreme neglect and emaciation. Unfortunately, strangles and other internal issues were past the point of no return. 8 days after rescue, strangles ruptured internally and she collapsed. Our gift to Duchess was her final week being nothing but love and kindness in her final days so she could go in peace. She will always remain the Queen of Percherons.
Sally
Sparrow
Sally
Rescued January 2023, Sally was a 2 year old Buckskin that needed immediate help. I remember seeing her spinning in circles in the kill pen. I walked in to see if we could connect... and I could tell she immediately smelt me and was looking out for me, but couldn't see me. Her rescue mom and dad who were with me, alongside other rescues,
Rescued January 2023, Sally was a 2 year old Buckskin that needed immediate help. I remember seeing her spinning in circles in the kill pen. I walked in to see if we could connect... and I could tell she immediately smelt me and was looking out for me, but couldn't see me. Her rescue mom and dad who were with me, alongside other rescues, all worked together to race her to our local veterinarian to see if there was a chance. Her rescue mom and dad stayed with her in the veterinarian hospital every day while we waited for results. Unfortunately, the diagnosis was THO - Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy - which had already caused Sally to be double blind and half deaf along with some neurological issues. It was unanimously decided that the best for young Sally would be to go to sleep, which is better than meeting an awful end in a kill pen or on a meat truck where she would have been trampled to death. Sometimes the best kindness we can give to animals that are suffering is peace.