Hello MHARF! I thought you’d like an update on Gemini (now Buddy). He has been a great horse.

My family adopted Buddy in December 2008 as a companion (or “buddy”) horse for my other horse. I never thought that I would enjoy riding him so much! I was unable to start working with him in the summer of 2009 due to a wrist surgery, but this April, I was determined to get him ready to show in the Isanti County Fair. I had a lady help me by coming to my house for lessons, and we progressed great. I found out that Buddy has great turns and stops.

The fair was his first show with me (and the first time in a trailer and off our property since getting him). We weren’t quite ready; we did games but mostly trotted, and he was quite stubborn about bringing his head down, opening his mouth from the bit, and other small things. However, for his first time away from home, it was a lot of fun. My friend rode my other horse at the fair, and they were stalled by each other (Buddy also has “separation issues”..but getting better!) He was not scared from anything, and if you remember, he is blind in his right eye, but it hasn’t bothered him at all. I also showed him in the Sunday WSCA open show of the fair in the 17 & Under walk/trot games—we got reserve high point! I also put a poster on his stall at the fair about MHARF and many people stopped to read it and comment. They were very interested in his story and his blind eye.

I have taken it quite slow, but I want to make sure I get things right. I am a freshman in college now, so I don’t get to ride as much, but when I come home I ride him and he keeps progressing. I attached some pictures from the fair, and as you can see, he is wearing a tie-down and a cavesson, but doesn’t need either now. He gives his head nicely when I ask and doesn’t open his mouth much. I always have ridden him in a simple eggbutt snaffle with a copper middle piece, which he goes great in.

When I come home from college, I know I can just go and get on him without really any problems. He has never bucked or reared. We are still working on the separation—he always needs to know where my other horse is, so that is the “problem” now (not a bad one). I hope to ride even more next summer, and perhaps try some new riding styles with him for fun (maybe dressage!). I also enjoy riding him bareback. He and my other horse are in a wonderful pasture (about 2 ½ acres?) and they get it all to themselves, along with hay and a bit of grain. He is a lot of fun, and I always get comments on how “cute” he is! Thanks again for a great horse.

– Anna Smegal

Horses have always been the central passion in my life, from the time I could crawl (the neighbors made my parent buy the rocking horse that I was always crawling over to ride on their porch at age two) until now at age 50 – pursuing a PhD in Veterinary Medicine on muscle diseases in horses. After a 10 year hiatus from Three-day eventing, I had found my “perfect” horse, a half-starved racehorse named Tricky. At seven, he was ready to take on Training level when an unfortunate accident ended his life. I was devastated. Thanks to Dr. Julie Wilson, I learned about the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue, Drew Fitzpatrick, and ultimately, Fred.

Fred is also a racetrack washout, and was brought to MHARF at two as a severely underweight cryptorchid stallion with three other Thoroughbreds. I had been watching the racehorses coming into the rescue for over a year when I spotted Fred on the website. Drew prepared me for what to expect, but it was still shocking how truly neglected these horses were. Fred is not a “garden variety” racehorse – he has impeccable breeding, and is a half-brother to Bellamy Road, a Derby winner. The other horses in his group were equally well-bred. On my first visit, Fred was standing only by leaning against the stall wall for support. I was afraid to lead him out of the stall or even pick up his feet, but I could see the fire in his eyes and the fighting spirit that was still in him, even in this horribly abused condition. I told Drew I was interested in adopting him when he was out of rehabilitative care.

Fred came to me in a few months, when he was strong enough to undergo the relatively complicated surgery needed to geld cryptorchid stallions. He spend a leisurely summer recovering and then settling into his current kingdom at Savehaven Stable, where he is the uncontested leader of the herd. In 2007, Fred started on his career as an event horse by attending a few clinics at places like Pine Meadow and Freedom Farms, training with hometown Olympic hopeful Becky Holder and Eric Dierks, for example.

Fred is now competing at Beginner Novice levels, and scored a respectable 37.4 on his first dressage test and went clean cross country at the formidable Otter Creek course in May of 2008.

This photograph was taken June 21, 2009 at the Fargo Alpha Equus English Riders Eventing Show, where they have a special competition for retired racehorses. Fred won the Novice division, finishing on his dressage score of 23 points. Last year, Fred won the Beginner Novice Horse division at Trott Brook Horse Trials, and finished third in the Area IV Beginner Novice Championship.

I am so thankful to Drew and MHARF for helping Fred and all the other horses in their darkest hours. I hope that everyone who reads this feels the same and helps in whatever way they can to give these horses a second chance.

– Lisa Borgia

Just wanted to send an letter regarding Ali Bayzar (Ali B. as he is called now) He is now pretty well adjusted to his new home. I still wake up everymorning and can’t believe how lucky I am to have this special guy. I’m so thankful everyday the persistance and interest my mother took in this horse.

I had an Arabian gelding growing up as a child and he was my everything. A very sad accident took him away from me and even though I shared other horses with my mother over the years I felt no horse could take the place of my Taz. I would ride my sisters and mother’s horses but it was hard to create a bond with a horse who you already knew had bonded with another. I remember the day my mom and I were looking at videos of Arabian horses on the internet and I just broke down and started crying. I needed to have my own we decided that day.

She said she thought she found one who needed me too. We drove to meet Ali and I was so nervous to meet him I barely slept the night before. When I finally saw him it was all I could do to refrain from throwing my arms around him and just holding him tight. I was shaking in my boots when I rode him for the first time but it was like he knew exactly what to do to ease my nervousness. We went to see a few other horses but my mom knew my mind was made up.

As we drove home to make our decision, I remember feeling sad leaving him behind and that he needed to be with me. We called to confirm we would be back to get him before we even got home. I read a story one time that said it is not us that rescues an animal but them who rescue us and bring us love and happiness beyond no other. I believe that because he has filled an empty hole in my heart that only my mother and Ali knew how to fill. Thank you so much for your rescue center.

Ali is cared for daily and (spoiled) at my mothers farm along with five other horses that are now his family too. When we go for walks together or I brush him sometimes he’ll turn and look me right in the eyes. At first I thought he was aggitated with me, but my mom says if you look closely its a look of happiness and content. He has his forever home now. In the spring when the cold weather subsides he will have some more training spent on him and together we will hit the trails. I couldn’t be more excited!! This photo is Ali with his new mom, dad, and step brothers (lol!) for our Christmas pictures.

Again thanks for providing care and rescue for horses like Ali B.
– Teresa D.

Hello everyone,

It has been quite a while since we adopted Otto from the Rescue in October and I wanted to take a minute to update everyone on the unofficial mascot of the Rescue. Otto is doing WONDERFUL at his new home. He is in the pasture with our other geldings and is doing great. He is not the high man on the totem pole, but he sure does try! He is now loping under saddle and is very sensitive to his rider. We still have not overcome the “Pine County pull”, but he LOVES baths (as long as there is only one person touching him). He has been clipped, bathed, trailered, and hauled all over to horse shows as an observer and mascot for the farm. Everyone loves him (including us of course!). Otto is often front and center for equine therapy sessions at True Balance for individuals with mental health disorders. It is not a riding program, so he does great with children and adults alike. His personality lends a great hand to the therapy process.

Thank you for this wonderful animal. He is very original and special.

Dr. Leslie Russell-Martin LMFT