08/21/2026
Today, our hearts are broken as we share that we said goodbye to our sweet Dakota. 💔
Dakota came to Happiness Through Horses in the fall of 2019, and over the years he became one of the horses we trusted most.
A beautiful Paint/draft cross, Dakota was quite possibly the most stoic horse we have ever known. Around the ranch, his nickname was Eeyore, after the Winnie the Pooh character, because we always joked that Dakota had two speeds: “stop” and “I might go.” 😂
But that was Dakota. Slow, steady, unflappable and incredibly safe. That personality trait was exactly what made him so special.
For so many children, teens and adults, Dakota was our go-to horse when someone was nervous, inexperienced, or simply needed a horse they could trust. He carried people gently, stood quietly for countless hugs and pictures, and gave people the confidence to discover that maybe horses weren’t quite as scary as they once thought.
Around 2022, Dakota was diagnosed with ringbone, and later with Cushing’s disease. As his body began asking more of him, we asked less. We retired him from regular riding and allowed him to enjoy a quieter role at the ranch—working from the ground, loving on people, and occasionally carrying a little one for a special picture or moment.
Recently, his pain became harder to manage. The hard days began outnumbering the good ones, and even standing comfortably for our incredibly patient farrier became difficult.
So today, on a beautiful good day, we kept one of the most important promises we make to every animal entrusted to us.
We let him go before his life became only about pain.
He was ready.
We were not.
As Dakota took his last breath, there was a sense of relief and peace about him that told us we had made the right decision—even though it absolutely shattered our hearts.
At HTH, we talk often about doing what is best for the horse. Sometimes that means rehabilitation. Sometimes it means retirement. Sometimes it means changing our expectations and allowing them to simply be horses.
And sometimes, loving them means making the decision we desperately wish we didn’t have to make.
Dakota gave so much to this ranch and to the people who came through its gates. He helped children find courage. He gave nervous riders confidence. He stood beside people who needed steadiness and somehow seemed to understand exactly what was being asked of him.
He was our steady guy.
Our safe guy.
Our sweet Eeyore.
Our Dakota.
Thank you, sweet boy, for every person you carried, every child you took care of, every lesson you taught, every quiet moment you gave us—and every time we laughed while patiently waiting to see if you were actually going to take that next step. 🤍
You did your job beautifully.
Now you can rest.
We will miss you more than words can say. 🐴🤍
We would love to see any photos of sweet Dakota you have to share in comments 🤳🏻📸
