Sonoma County CHANGE Program

10/02/2026

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Buck and June are looking for a family of their own.

Buck is a beautiful paint gelding, 15.2 hands and believed to be around 21 years old. He is a happy guy and loves to have his luxuriously long and thick mane and tail groomed.

June is an Andalusian-cross mare, 14.2 hands and believed to be around 20 years old. She hasn’t had the easiest life, but while she’s learning to trust again, she has always been quiet and gentle.

Even though Buck and June are needing non-riding homes due to the physical tolls on their bodies due to past neglect, they are comfortably sound and neither are on any medication.

If you are able to provide a lifelong home to either Buck or June, they would gladly give you their hearts.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

They are also happy to help with any problems arising from an overabundance of carrots!🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕

For more information on Buck and June you can find their stories on our website:

https://www.sonomachangeprogram.com



09/24/2026

Another amazing write up from an adopter telling the story of how she and CHANGE horse Sugar found each other. It is so joyful for us to hear how horses adopted from the CHANGE program are doing and how much they’re loved! This is one of many stories involving kismet for a CHANGE horse whose story has a fairy tale ending.

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Sugar’s story 🤎🐴

Sometimes the animals meant for us have a funny way of finding their way back to us.
The first time I saw Sugar’s adoption post, I immediately fell in love with her. There was just something about her sweet face and her story that pulled at my heart. Before I had the chance to make her mine, I found out she had been adopted. I was disappointed, but I told myself that maybe it simply wasn’t meant to be.
Then, sometime later, there she was again.
I was scrolling through Facebook when Sugar’s beautiful face showed up on my feed. She had been returned to the CHANGE program through absolutely no fault of her own. I couldn’t believe it. The horse I had fallen in love with from a picture was looking for her home again.
This time, I told myself, I’m going to put in an application. If they reach out to me, then it’s destiny.
And sure enough… they did. 🤎
Sugar’s life before finding her way to me hadn’t always been easy. In 2015, she entered CHANGE foster care after a terrifying accident. She had been tethered to a large birdcage to graze when something spooked her. She took off, galloping more than a mile down busy Stony Point Road in Santa Rosa while dragging the cage behind her. Somehow, this incredible girl survived, although she was badly beaten up from the ordeal. Animal Control ultimately seized Sugar and two other neglected horses from the property.
Sugar was later adopted, but in 2021 she was returned to CHANGE. After returning, she struggled with ulcers and other signs of pain and needed months of medication, patience, and TLC before she was ready to find her person again.
And somehow, that journey brought her to me.
I was finally able to bring that beautiful girl home! The same horse I had once looked at through a Facebook post thinking I had missed my chance.
Today, Sugar doesn’t have to wonder where she belongs. She is home. She has a big loving herd, more love than she could ever ask for, and her two donkey best friends who are never far from her side. We lovingly call them Sugar’s Cubes.🫏🫏🤎
Looking back, I think Sugar showing up on my Facebook feed for a second time was more than coincidence. Sometimes what’s meant for you doesn’t happen the first time around.
Sometimes it finds its way back to you. 🐴🤎

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Check our website for horses available for adoption, stories of present and past horses and ways to donate to help CHANGE continue with our work.

https://www.sonomachangeprogram.com

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03/06/2026

🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴One of the really happy things about rescue is checking in with adopted horses and their families. We are grateful for the loving homes provided for our horses, and are pleased to share stories and pictures.

This is the story of Lady (one of the Cloverdale 12, previously called “Gabby), as written by her adoptive mom:

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I got my horse a horse, and it became one of the most meaningful decisions of my life. In June 2021, my beloved mare Lily suffered an unresolvable eye trauma. After weeks at UC Davis, it became clear there was no path forward that would preserve the quality of life she deserved. Losing her was devastating. In the stillness that followed, my gelding Jackson was left alone on my small ranch, disoriented, and grieving. We mourned together, but I knew he needed more than companionship from me alone.

Lady, then known as Gabby, appeared unexpectedly on my Facebook feed, and from the first moment, I knew she chose me. Jenny Watson, on the board of CHANGE, knew me from years past and trusted that Lady would have a permanent, loving home with me. Lady had been rescued from an abuse case in Cloverdale, and her first adopter was stepping away from horses due to personal circumstances. Once again, a chestnut mare found her way into my life.

When I turned down my dirt road with Lady in the trailer, she and Jackson called out to each other immediately. Conventional wisdom says new horses should be kept separated for a period of time...yeah right! Soul mates, without question.

Lady quickly revealed herself as a force of personality: always first for meals and treats, blissfully content during grooming, and endlessly patient when standing quietly by my side. She has a precise internal clock and insists I rise at first light during winter mornings (she is in at night during inclement weather); turning on a lamp is a mistake I only make once. These small routines have become the rhythm of our days.

Most importantly, Lady healed my boy. Jackson has neurological challenges, and on his difficult days she stands beside him, steady and calm, or gently places herself in his path to interrupt his anxious pacing. She offers him a sense of safety and balance that no human intervention could replicate. In caring for him, she has also helped mend something in me. After losing Lily, a part of my horse spirit dimmed. Lady reminds me daily to keep going, to get up, to show up, to tend to the simple, sacred work of feeding horses, untangling manes, cleaning stalls, and offering treats to waiting, hopeful muzzles.

Sometimes, healing arrives quietly, on four legs, and changes everything.

03/02/2026

Thank you Sky High Ranch and Caryn Reade Hoeflein for helping little “Junebug” open her heart to humans after being treated so cruelly. We are always amazed at how abused horses are often incredibly forgiving and trusting.

02/11/2026

Buck is still waiting for a forever home. While he's safe in CHANGE foster care, it's just not the same as having your very own person. Please SHARE and help us find Buck the forever home he deserves.

Buck came to the CHANGE Program back in 2022, a beat up old stallion with a terrible injury. He underwent major surgery and spent several months in the hospital and rehab, and was gelded. Ultimately, he was adopted by a senior lady who loved him hard for three years. Sadly, health issues forced her to return Buck to CHANGE.

Buck is sweet, mellow and easy to handle. He is a dream for the farrier and vet, loves to be groomed, and walks politely alongside you. Buck is about 25 years old. His only limitation is that he can't be turned out with mares, as he still remembers his stallion days. Although Buck has a long history of being ridden in parades, we have not ridden Buck. Between his age and a little creakiness from an old hind leg injury, we feel it's best to place Buck as a non-riding companion horse.

Buck has no special needs and keeps weight on nicely with just hay. He does not currently take any medication.

Please SHARE this post and help us find Buck his final home. Adoption application can be found here:

https://sonomachangeprogram.com/documents/CHANGE-ADOPTION-QUESTIONNAIRE-2025.pdf

More about Buck:
https://sonomachangeprogram.com/content/buck.asp

01/22/2026

Sonoma CART is looking for volunteers. Great way to help out!

01/19/2026

AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!Buck is looking for his forever home ❤️

Buck came to the CHANGE Program back in 2022, a beat up senior stallion who was dumped with a severe injury in the hills of Cloverdale. Over time, thanks to alert community members, law enforcement learned that Buck had originally lived at a property in Mendocino County.

Buck’s injury was an unusual one. At some point many months prior to his abandonment, his p***s had been injured and had become paralyzed. He was unable to retract it. Buck was admitted to the hospital and underwent a procedure called a phallopexy. This successfully tacked the p***s back where it (mostly) belonged. Buck was also gelded. Finally, after weeks in the hospital, sweet Buck was able to come home to CHANGE foster care. Life was looking up!

While in foster care in 2022, Buck met a lovely senior lady who adopted him. He has lived three amazing years with her. Unfortunately, due to declining health, she made the difficult decision to return Buck to CHANGE.

Buck is sweet, mellow and easy to handle. He is a dream for the farrier, loves to be groomed, and walks politely alongside you. Buck is about 25 years old. His only limitation is that he can't be turned out with mares, as he still remembers his stallion days. We are placing Buck as a non-riding companion horse. Buck has no special needs and keeps weight on nicely with just hay. He does not take any medication.

Please SHARE this post and help us find Buck his final home. Adoption application can be found here:

https://sonomachangeprogram.com/documents/CHANGE-ADOPTION-QUESTIONNAIRE-2025.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawN3HidleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHrQMstlNEnQCQ35VdIZ_jld4d2c9sRksXIKJLh97P73Rnb3IGB8LZzTPXJ_S_aem_LwBUerCC7MFy_i3b7XlDlQ

More about Buck:
https://sonomachangeprogram.com/content/buck.asp

01/10/2026

🐴🐴🐴 Available for Adoption 🐴🐴🐴

Arnie came into the CHANGE program in 2023, removed from his owners due to neglect. Due to a very lengthy legal battle, Arnie was not able to begin his education with a local trainer until just a few months ago. 

Arnie is a 10 year old, 15 hand gelding. He is still quite green under saddle, but has a gentle and incredibly kind personality and always tries his best. An ideal adopter would be an experienced rider/trainer who can help Arnie gently continue with his education, or be willing to place him with a trusted trainer.

Arnie is available for a nominal adoption fee. If you’d like to be considered for adopting Arnie please fill out our Adoption application here:

https://sonomachangeprogram.com/documents/CHANGE-ADOPTION-QUESTIONNAIRE-2025.pdf

We are so very grateful to Sky High Ranch and Caryn Reade Hoeflein for so kindly and competently helping Arnie with his training.

Read more about Arnie on our website:

https://sonomachangeprogram.com

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01/04/2026

Happy New Year from Buck! Our sweet Buckie Boy is still looking for his forever home. Read more about him at the link below. Please SHARE if you can. There has to be someone out there who has room in their barn and heart for Buck. 🙏❤️🐎

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1255502919945449&id=100064572584435&mibextid=Nif5oz

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas from the Sonoma County CHANGE Program!🎄🎄🎄

This is "Argus," CHANGE's very first foster horse. Argus was seized in 2007 from a sadistic hoarding situation where he had lived in a 12 x 24 pen for 15 years straight. He was just a weanling when he was locked in, as 'punishment' for existing. At 15, he was finally set free. It's one of the most tragic abuse cases CHANGE has ever handled. And one of our most unusual rehabs.

Argus' foster (and later adoptive) home kept a blog (savingargus.blogspot.com) chronicling his rehabilitation and new life. Here is a poem from the Christmas 2008 blog.

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TWAS the night before Christmas
And all through the barn
Not a creature was stirring
Anywhere on the farm

The stockings were hung
On the stall doors with care
In hopes that Saint Nicholas
Soon would be there

The horses were all snuggled
Into straw-banked beds
While visions of sweet feed
Danced in their heads

And Argus was in his blanket
Chubby Half Pint going bare
Both hoping and wishing
Santa soon would be there

When out in the arena
There arose such a clatter!
They leapt into their paddocks
To see what was the matter!

The moon on the puddles
In the wet winter pasture
Made the night light so blinding
They breathed faster and faster!

When what to their
Brown horsey eyes should appear
But a jolly red sleigh
And eight hungry reindeer

In the driver's seat sat Santa
All dressed up in red
And he winked at the horses
As they spied from their beds

Then something odd happened
The horses grew brave
And Santa addressed them
Which made them quite grave:

"Now Argus! Now Half Pint!
Now Odie and Angel!
Now Ginger and Caleb!
And Ridge in the stable!"

"To your herd mates be kind
And don't waste your hay!
Take care of your riders
And love each new day!"

As dry shavings that before
The wild hurricane fly
When they meet with the winds
Mount to the sky

And suddenly the horses
Who before felt quite shy
Felt themselves flying around
With Santa in the sky!

So around the farm
The horses they flew
They looked down on the home
They loved and they knew

And then, on the house top
They thumped on the roof
And the family inside
Heard the pounding of hooves

"What's that?" they shouted
As they woke from their beds
"We thought we heard horses
Loose overhead!"

So out to the stables
The family they ran
Where they found it quite empty
'cept for the goat, Ann

They peered at the sky
For a sign of the equines
And for a moment, saw Santa
Riding Argus just fine

Then suddenly, and quietly
The horses were there
Munching hay and looking sleepy
As if they had no cares

So the lights were extinguished
The excitement went "p**f"
And the family missed Santa
Spying down from the roof

To each horse, he gave a gift
And when he got to the last
It was Argus, the white one
He'd seen on many a Christmas past

"You're a good horse, dear Argus"
Santa said with a tear,
You have suffered so long
So many a year"

"I promise you will always
Have a loving, peaceful life
With pastures and buddies
An end of all strife"

Argus thought quietly
About all the nights
And the bleak Christmases of waiting
For the arrival of light

This, his second Christmas
Of freedom and cheer
He'd been a real horse, a free horse
For more than a year

Santa sprang to his sleigh
To his team gave a whistle
And winking once more at Argus
He flew away like a missile

The horses heard him exclaim
As he drove out of sight
"Merry Christmas, dear Argus!
And to all --- a good night!"

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THANK YOU to our community for supporting CHANGE so that we can help horses like Argus. Making a difference, one horse at a time, for 18 years now. ❤️🐎