When you have been placing horses in adoptive homes for nearly 3 decades, you come to have certain repeat adopters whom you know you can trust in any situation. These are the people that, when you hear they are interested in a horse, you think, “Horse, you have just won the new home jackpot”. Catherine and Lynn are two such adopters. We were very sad to hear that they just recently lost two of their adopted MHARF horses, both senior mares. We want to thank Catherine and Lynn for the wonderful care they gave Perdita and Paloma over the years and for making the kindest decision for them when it came time. We wish every horse could be so lucky.
From Catherine: “Perdita was extraordinary. She was my first horse, I was a rookie and she was very particular and sensitive. We spent years building a relationship and a bond. I became a better horsewoman and she came to trust me. She became a wonderful trail partner. Brave and willing, walked over, through around anything I asked, never spooked, happy to ride with any horses. She responded to my legs and seat, so we never used a bit. (she hated bits!) I have many, many miles of happy trail memories.
I will always remember her nicker, which sounded like a truck jake braking, her whinny, which sounded like the best velociraptor impression worthy of Jurassic Park.
She made me a better human. I will miss and love her for the rest of my life.
Paloma was most adorable. She was cute as a button with a wavy, flaxen mane and tail. Always met me at the gate. She loved attention and would block my path for a scratch and a kiss. She loved to be groomed and would go into a head drooping trance as long as we were willing to stay.
Curious and playful, she would grab my zipper tab and zip my jacket up and down. She could open her own stall door and let herself out if we took too long. Follow me around trying to steal my phone out of my back pocket. She didn’t have much for molars left so she ate a lot of forage cube mash and delighted in goobing me with green mush. And my favorite, she would mush her muzzle into my neck and breathe on me.
Both of these girls brought so much joy and laughter into our lives, we enjoyed them every day. Despite the heartbreak of losing them, we would absolutely do it all over again. We will love, miss and remember them always. Our farm will never be the same.
Thank you to everyone who helped bring them to us. We are forever grateful.
We recently received this wonderful update on Harley from Charlotte and Braylan who adopted him in January 2021. (You may remember Harley from our 2020 Trainer’s Challenge. At that time he was know as Kristoff and he and his trainer Jadyn Mossengren were the reserve champs.)
He continues to learn new things under saddle and is progressing nicely. He surprises us with how quickly he catches on. With frequent desensitizing (mounds of patience required 
) he is also learning that not everything is going to eat him. He is intuitive, athletic, goofy, and way too smart for his own good. We love everything about this horse and feel very lucky he landed with us.”
