Topaz

Topaz is a dun mare (foaled in approximately 2018) who was signed over to MHARF after she was purchased at a Long Prairie, MN, auction in September 2020 (thank you to Kym Garvey of Save the Brays Donkey Rescue and to everyone who donated towards her purchase). She spent several days at Anoka Equine Veterinary Services being closely monitored and receiving her intake care. Bloodwork showed that she was anemic and had been starved to the point that her body had begun to utilize protein from muscle tissue to survive. Topaz required careful feeding, hydration monitoring, antibiotics, treatment for rain rot, ringworm, and intestinal parasites.  As of summer 2021, Topaz had made a full recovery. She went into training with Sarah Lemke of Step Up Horsemanship and was later started under saddle. Topaz was adopted, but was returned (fall 2024) because her adopter could sadly no longer keep her.  Topaz then went into training with HH Stables and was adopted and returned again in 2026 (through no fault of her own). She has now (as of June 2026) gone to Renne Walker at GRG Ranch Horse Rescue and Sanctuary for refresher training. She has a wonderful temperament but still needs an intermediate to advanced rider who can continue her training.  Renne says she is smart and athletic and will make someone a wonderful partner. She does tend to be an “easy keeper”, so will need to be kept off of lush pasture.

 

Sochi

Sochi is a 2006 POA (Shetland Pony x Appaloosa) mare who stands approximately 13hh. She originally came to MHARF from a February 2014 Wadena County humane case during an extremely cold stretch of weather. Sochi was pregnant at intake and her colt Ivan was born in May of 2014. She was adopted the following year but her adopter regretfully had to return her because she was still too green under saddle. In the spring of 2019, Sochi had some refresher training with Kari Cedergren, including a clinic w/Sarona Bruder and some road/trail riding and she did very well. Sochi then went to a foster home while waiting to be adopted. In early 2022, she had another short training assessment with Sarah Helms of Step Up Horsemanship (See Video Here ). Sochi is blind in one eye due to an old injury and this causes her to still be a little skittish around new things, both under saddle and on the ground. Sochi could have potential as a riding pony, but she needs more work with a trainer or experienced rider (and because she is only 13hh, this needs to be someone smaller). We wouldn’t recommend her for anything less than a confident intermediate to experienced rider at this time. She would also be very happy just being a companion pony.

Since 2022, Sochi has been in a great foster home where she’s kept with a gelding and a mare during the day and goes into a stall at night. At night she has a slow feeder with hay in her stall, during the day she is turned out and fed on a dry lot with the other horses.  She loves her food, but doesn’t food guard at all. Sochi gets very limited access to grass because she tends to gain weigh very quickly. She can be pushy when she wants to do something, especially when she wants to be around her friends.  She has been ridden only a handful of times times in her foster home and tends to be on the lazy side.  She is great for the vet and farrier, and Britt says she is the easiest horse she has ever bathed and clipped. She also does well with fly spray and her fly mask. She doesn’t lunge on her blind side, but will on the other side. She loves attention and is getting more used to children every day, but still does better with adults.

 

Katya

Katya originally came to us from the February 2014 Wadena County humane case. She was foaled in 2013 and she stands approximately 13 hands. Katya is in need of a home as a companion pony. Please contact us if you would like to learn more about Katya and her needs.