Successful Adoptions

UPDATE:  TINO HAS BEEN ADOPTED !!!

Tino is a 5 yr old quarter horse gelding who absolutely loves to kiss and cuddle. From what we can gather of his story, he’d begun training and was somehow injured in the left shoulder area. The trauma of the injury caused his leg to rotate out severely. This injury is only visibly apparent when he stands or walks – when he trots or runs he appears normal. He shows no signs of pain, but the person who owned him at the time decided that it was easier to just take him to the feedlot, than to try and help him. Sadly, when Tino walked through the auction with his very visible gimp, he had no bidders, except the meat buyer.

This is when the story gets interesting….

Two ladies who’d attended the auction and seen that he’d received no bids, decided to walk by the pen where all the slaughter-bound horses were put. When they walked by, Tino came up to the panels and started nickering at them. He stuck his head through the panel for kisses, having no idea what his future held, he just saw humans and assumed that meant good things were going to happen. Lucky boy… they did.  The ladies melted, and bought him from the meat buyer.

Tino is now receiving physical therapy and deep tissue body work. We are hoping to get this sweet boy back to as “normal” as possible. He is responding well, absolutely loves the attention, so much that he doesn’t even require tieing when treated. Barbara, who is treating him, says he is already showing signs of improvement.  Tino is the first of our horses to go this special therapy program. Stay tuned ~

UPDATE: PENNY HAS BEEN ADOPTED !!!

Penny was voluntarily surrendered to AAM in February 2017. She had foundered over the summer and fall of 2016, so was pulled off the pasture and put into a dry field with approximately 40 other horses.  Penny then developed abscesses in both front feet.  In too much pain to walk far, she could not compete with the other horses for food. She slowly began to starve. As her strength diminished and winter set in, she was unable to move out of the hock-high mud and feces she was left standing in, and infection moved into the open abscesses.  With her immune system compromised she began to develop skin rot on both hind legs.

The home where we found her in this condition had apparently “rescued” Penny.  She’d been abandoned along with her pony companion when her human family moved away.  They simply left them at the property completely alone.

Penny is slowly beginning to show improvement. Turns out she is only eight years old. She has a very sweet nature, and even with all that she has endured at the hands of humans, she is still loving and willing to trust again. Penny will not be available for adoption for several months, as she is still recovering from the skin rot and abscesses. She has required regular hoof soaking with Epsom salts, as well as antibiotics and lots of hay and supplements.  She’s moving a little easier now and putting on weight.  Penny is in need of a sponsor to help her return to health.

Apache

UPDATE: APACHE HAS BEEN ADOPTED !!!!

When she arrived: Apache is a Sheldon Mustang mare, approximately thirteen years old. When she first arrived at AAM we had our doubts that we would be able to halter her for several months – she was so stand-offish.  But once the halter went on, she quickly accepted being touched and her training literally took off!! 

Progress.  Apache has now been on many off-property rides, dealing with dogs, tractors, garbage trucks and scariest of all…cows! She stands for farrier and trailer loads easily.

UPDATE: Brynna, now named Kat, is living the life every wild horse dreams of at Skydog Sanctuary. After months of discussion, Skydog agreed to give life long sanctuary to this very special mare. She is thriving, and even has a boyfriend!

After a year of trying, and working with several trainers, we realized that she was never going to accept fully being domesticated.  Can’t say that we blame her. Not having the land necessary for a wild horse to live out its life on, with the primary concern being able to keep their hooves at a healthy length, we’re very grateful to Skydog for giving her a chance. After being captured at 8 months old, kept in a metal pen for FIVE YEARS, she is now doing what she should have been allowed to do the whole time…..being a horse.

When she arrived: Brynna is a BLM Mustang. She was captured when she was under a year old and is now 6. She has been living in a government holding facility this entire time. Brynna is very wary of humans, and has been the most challenging Mustang so far. We are hopeful that we can work successfully with her and help to create a rewarding life for her. Brynna is not available for adoption at this time.

After a lifetime of abuse and repeated starvation, FaithIn resided at AAM for many years. We had a lot of issues to work through. Though malnourished and prone to ulcers and colic, this beautiful leopard appaloosa’s physical health was much easier to address than his mental and spiritual health.  Shortly before AAM was contacted about him, he had been in 5 homes in 2 months. The last home had traded him for a lawn mower. He was named FaithIn because of all the horses we’d taken in, this horse truly needed to have Faith In something…  Intelligent, gentle and very sensitive, FaithIn is a horse that does not like his surroundings to change. Though he was secure here at AAM, he was often distressed by other horses coming in to the Rescue and then being adopted. He didn’t understand that this was a good thing, he only knew that his new friend had been led away and never seen again. We realized that he need to be in a home where all the animals lived there permanently, so he wouldn’t have to worry so much. He is now living on a large property with several other horses and miniature donkeys. He has gained weight and is keeping it on. We visit him at his new home every month. He is happy, secure and stress-free.

This mother and son pair arrived at AAM never having been handled by humans. They were underweight and loaded with parasites. The colt, Dakota, accepted human contact within a couple of weeks.  His mother Denali who is approximately 15, was more wary.  After focusing on their nutrition, and gelding Dakota, they were haltered and taught to lead.  Denali was offered for adoption as a companion animal, and the pair were adopted by “V” in northern Oregon. “V” was not an experienced horse woman, but she’d dreamed of adopting a wild mustang and adding that experience to her life’s goals.  After much communication, we decided that “V” was the right human for this pair. Her generous spirit and enthusiasm was exactly what they needed.  This new family is doing very well, and learning from each other daily.  We always look forward to updates, which “V” generously supplies for us.

Romeo earned his name in the first week he arrived at AAM.  We estimated his aged to be nearing 2 years old. He’d never been touched by a human, and when he finally was he absolutely loved it! Romeo was adopted by Patty, and now lives in the Portland, OR area. The pair bonded instantly, truly a case of love at firt sight.