10/18/2026
Itâs actually happening. â¤ď¸đ
I think a little part of me believed that someone I knew would win the lottery, and somehow weâd find a way to keep the sanctuary at Muleshoe going forever.
I realize I probably have too much sentimental attachment to Muleshoe. But itâs not just about the horses. Itâs a lifetime of memories. Itâs where my dad was born and raised, where our family gathered, and a place that has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
When we sold Muleshoe in March 2025 and moved back to Madison, being able to leave the sanctuary horses there somehow made that transition a little easier. I hadnât really had to say goodbye to all of it.
But the reality is, I have to make decisions based on what we can and cannot afford as a rescue.
It was different when Bill and I owned the property and personally covered most of the operating expenses. Today, it costs an average of $2,000 a month just for the lease, feed, hay, farrier and veterinary care.
And thatâs only part of it.
The horses at Muleshoe are relatively easy keepers. They spend their summers grazing on beautiful pastures, but someone still has to oversee their care, feed and hay them through the winter, repair fences, maintain pastures and keep equipment running.
Caring for 20 horses is a lot of work, even when theyâre easy keepers.
And while these horses are easy keepers, most are anything but easy to handle. Thatâs why theyâre at Muleshoe.
Twice a year, we bring in a veterinarian to vaccinate and sedate them so the farrier can safely trim their hooves. Those visits alone can cost close to $4,000 each.
I know there are people who believe we should have euthanized these horses years ago.
But these arenât just horses on a spreadsheet. Theyâre Moxie, Gulliver, Twilight, Cinder and so many others weâve come to know and love.
Theyâre healthy. Theyâre not truly dangerous horses. They simply never learned to trust people enough to be safely handled by the average horse owner. And I cannot bring myself to euthanize a healthy horse simply because itâs difficult to handle.
Which brings me to Gabriel, Koda and Dixie.
If youâve followed us for a while, you probably remember Gabriel, our big, beautiful Friesian cross who is afraid of just about everything.
A few years ago, we sent Gabriel to a trainer for several months. She made progress with him, but he never really learned to trust anyone else.
At the time, Gabriel was also battling a recurring summer sore on his front hoof. It required daily treatment, and kneeling in front of a fearful horse wasnât exactly the safest situation for our volunteers.
Every winter it would clear up, only to return the following summer.
Eventually, we moved him to Muleshoe, where he had 60 acres of rolling hills, ponds and room to roam. I truly believe the increased movement, along with standing in the clay around the ponds, helped that sore finally heal. It was something we couldnât provide in the small two-acre pasture where weâd been keeping him.
And thatâs where Gabriel found his person.
A young volunteer who helped care for the sanctuary horses earned something that very few people ever had.
His trust.
Yesterday, Gabriel was officially adopted by that very person.
He still doesnât trust most people, but he trusts her. Enough to stand quietly for the veterinarian and farrier. And yesterday, when it was time to leave Muleshoe, he loaded right onto the trailer.
I canât tell you how much that means.
His new home is remarkably similar to Muleshoe, with rolling hills, ponds and plenty of room to roam.
And Gabriel isnât going alone!
Remember Koda, our feisty Appaloosa who had three different trainers give up on her?
Well, Koda found her person, too. And as luck would have it, heâs part of the same family!
They also adopted Dixie, giving the family two horses to ride. And their pony immediately took a liking to Dixie, so she wonât have to worry about being the third wheel. đ
Watching these three run off into the sunset at their new home is bittersweet, but itâs also everything we could have hoped for.
Three horses who werenât easy to place who needed just the right people. And somehow, they found them.
As for Muleshoe, weâre not finished yet.
We still have horses who need a safe place to land. Weâre hoping to find someone in our area with beautiful pastures who would be willing to provide a home for some of these horses while we continue to cover their care and find permanent placement.
And PLEASE, DO NOT TAG OTHER RESCUES. Weâre not looking to pass these horses along to another rescue. We know them better than anyone, understand their individual needs and limitations, and will make sure each one has a safe place to land.
I also want to be clear that Mississippi Horse Rescue isnât closing! Our main rescue at Twelve Oaks is still going strong, with lots of exciting things being planned. This decision is about the future of the Muleshoe sanctuary, not the future of our rescue.
Iâll be making another post soon introducing the remaining horses and explaining what weâre looking for.
And to everyone who signed up to make a monthly donation toward the Muleshoe sanctuary horses, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Your donations will continue to support the horses who havenât found their next home. Our commitment to them hasnât changed, even if the place they call home eventually does.
I suppose letting go of Muleshoe was always going to be hard. Maybe Iâve been holding on to it a little longer than I should have.
But watching Gabriel, Koda and Dixie running across those hills yesterday reminded me that sometimes a happy ending doesnât look quite like the one we imagined.
And sometimes, itâs even better. â¤ď¸
