10/02/2026
āNo hoof, no horseā itās a saying that a lot of us who live with horses know. Unfortunately, itās so easy to neglect a horses feet to the point of permanent damage and thatās when they find their way to us. When a horse has painful feet, they canāt be ridden and people stop caring for them. Typically this is when horses start getting bounced around. From performance horse, to trail horse, next is walk/trot only, little kids onlyā¦until they just disappear somewhere. Itās wash, rinse, repeat in the horse world.
Pen came to us emaciated, with painful feet, and malignant tumors on her neck and belly. Her previous owners asked how to put weight on her and when we said feed more hay, they said they would put her down themselves instead. We got her that day. She had the opportunity to retire with dignity, medical care, friends, and a pain free end. She was a beautiful kind soul who deserved more from this life.
Clover you all rallied to save. We went to the kill pen to save someone else but she and Summer caught your hearts. Summer we let rest months ago. Clover had a significant injury to her hind leg that affected her whole body, including her feet. Her feet poured blood when we first met her. Time spent neglected led to irreversible damage. We managed her pain the best we could but when the boots stop providing comfort, the icing no longer helps, and the medication is at maximum dosages, thatās when we give them one last kindness and let them go.
So much of our time with these girls was spent providing supportive care. Soaking feet. Extra grooming. Medicating. Adjusting bedding for comfort.
These girls had already been given up on. They had hit their āexpiration dateā as riding horses but we took them and gave them borrowed time. Sometimes we can steal years for them and sometimes only days but if it means their last moments are pain free, calm, and with a kind hand then itās always worth it. It still feels so heavy. One day maybe letting them go wonāt feel so terrible. Sometimes I wish I didnāt care.
Rest easy Pen and Clover. I hope you have pain free feet and green grass forever and always.
