Our Horses
Horses and humans share an ancient bond – a history of work, war and companionship. Domesticated in 4000 B.C., these spectacular creatures helped us develop cities, agriculture, transportation and communication. Since the Industrial Revolution, horses have been marginalized – used for sport – and often have been neglected or abused.
At Blue Horse Sanctuary, we honor our shared bond, developed over thousands of years, which exists in the hearts and souls of each and every equine. Our history is their history and they are owed our protection. With patience, love and care, it is our honor to give back to them what they have given us. They have carried us on their backs across time and continents. Letting them live out their lives in dignity is the very least we can do in return.
smokey (AKA dixie cash)
Smokey arrived at the Sanctuary on March 1st from his home near Eastland, where he had been in a small acreage with one pal (donkey.). Although he had a very loving family, they could no longer keep him due to various health reasons. Smokey (we gave him a new name to free him of his pedigreed moniker - Dixie) is a dappled grey Tennessee Walking Horse. He is about 10 years old, gelded, and is a bit anxious and excitable, although he still trusts humans.
Bred for the “Big Lick” circuit, Smokey did not perform well in the show ring and was sold at auction and has been shuffled around most of his life. He has scars on his front ankles from chains that are used to produce the high stepping that is part of the TWH gait. It is a not a pleasant training process, which also includes putting shoes on their front feet that have spikes or broken glass in them so that they lift their legs to relieve the pain.
Smokey has periodic lameness in his back legs, but upon arrival here at the Sanctuary, he has been shoeless and is enjoying his freedom and socializing with the other horses. We are so happy to have our new resident and to give him a good, loving home here at BHS.
BLACKIE
Blackie was delivered to the Sanctuary on January 18, 2024, from his owners who were using him as a roping horse. Blackie was purchased by them from an owner in Houston, but upon arrival showed an injury that flared up and seemed to be an old one. Sonograms confirmed an injured flexor tendon and much scar tissue. Blackie was rehabbed only a short amount of time before he was exercised and the injury flared again, leaving him unable to show.
Blackie is a beautiful, athletic gelding born in 2015. With proper management his soreness should subside, and he will be able to live a long and happy life. He is calm and seems to get along well with other horses.
What a gorgeous and sweet natured boy that otherwise would have been euthanized! Welcome, Blackie, to your forever home...
lightning
Lightning is a Wild Mustang who was rounded up by the BLM in the Pancake range of northern Nevada on January 15, 2022. He was a year old then, and his birthday is given as January 1, 2021. Lightning was put into the adoption program as part of the TIP mustang training challenge and was adopted by Landii Brewer and her mom Stenelle. We got him after the challenge, as they could not keep him, and it was discovered that he had a hereditary hock disorder which makes him unrideable. So Lightning is here with us for life and has become the sweet mascot of the herd. He is curious, playful and very gentle - quite amazing considering his first encounters with humans. We welcome our Young Mustang into the fold!
jolly
Jolly was named by the rescue that bought him from the kill pen in Bowie, TX. TIER (True Innocents Equine Rescue) is located in California, and the head of that organization was made aware of Jolly’s state - very emaciated - and inhumane treatment that he was suffering under. She purchased him on Christmas of ’22 and had him transported to a quarantine facility where he was in rehabilitation for 7 months. After contacting us to find his forever home, we realized he needed to come to us to live out his life.
Jolly was introduced to the herd after a couple of days in the corral where he could acquaint himself with the other horses over the fence. He and Logan buddied up right away, and with Skeeter and GiGi he had a group of friends to settle in with.
The old gent doesn’t have much in the way of teeth! But he gets daily, big buckets of soft pellets and is enjoying the tall coastal Bermuda grass as well. We are so very happy to have this big, beautiful, calm, old gentleman here at the sanctuary.
lucky
Lucky is a 12-year-old Paint Gelding who was surrendered to BHS this spring (’23). His former owner trained and rode him in mounted archery competitions but found that he always resisted gentling down as an easy riding horse. He can be haltered and will stand for a Ferrier and is easy with veterinarian care as well.
Lucky settled into retirement with the herd very easily. Curious, sometimes agitated, but never aggressive, Lucky has a strong, dominant presence, but does not feel the need to press his dominance on the other geldings or mares.
With a long life ahead of him, we are very happy to have this beautiful, robust Paint in the fields here at BHS.
amir
Amir arrived at the Sanctuary late on the evening of December 4th. He had been living as a foster for 2 years, since being seized due to negligence. Born in 2000, Amir is an Arabian trained for riding, but has now approached the time for his retirement. He had a bit of a quirk which ultimately led to his being dangerous to ride - an over-attachment to a particular mare. When separated from her, he would scream and break through fences.
When Amir arrived, he immediately became attached to Freckles, so much so, that when separated he made a trail from one end of the corral to the other. He was losing weight and in distress, so the decision was made to put him in the back acreage with the herd, where he could learn to relax. He was accepted by the herd and began learning to be independent and still rely on his herd mates for safety.
Amir has the beautiful build of an Arabian - is a flaxen chestnut - and loves attention. He can finally settle down to a long and happy life with the herd here at Blue Horse Sanctuary.
teddy
Teddy was captured by the BLM as a foal. He was born into the Stone Cabin herd in Nevada on September 10, 2021, and given the birthday of Jan. 1, 2021. Teddy was brought to Oklahoma where he was chosen to be in a mustang challenge in Texas. He is a small bay gelding, curious, sweet and willing to please.
He was not purchased at the challenge and we took him into the Sanctuary hoping to keep him until he is 4 years old and have trainer Michael Battenfield work with him in the interim years to make him a good companion riding horse for someone. We do not adopt out our retirees, but in this case, we hope to find Teddy a wonderful home where he can be loved.
Teddy was given his name by a young visitor who spent a weekend with Therapist Jenny Herring at the Sanctuary. She took one look at his sweet, cuddly face and said “Teddy!” And so it is! We are happy to keep a mustang that has been rounded up and removed from his home environment. One day we hope the round ups will end and the sale of these beautiful, wild horses at auction.
belle
We have a new Belle! She arrived in late February from a ranch where she was used as a cutting horse. Belle was born
in March of 2001, so she is 21 years old now and is ready for retirement. She is a registered Quarter Horse with a very
impressive lineage and has been shown throughout her life and has won many competitions.
Belle arrived on a beautiful day at the Sanctuary and was given a big corral to herself so that she could meet the other horses from afar. After a few days she was introduced to the herd and has folded in nicely with the 10 retirees that roam the 130-acre field.
A beautiful grey quarter horse mare, Belle is somewhat petite, very white, and has big, dark eyes and very long lashes. She has never been in a big, wild area before. Horses that have been kept in a small enclosure or stalled have to adapt to freedom - but so far so good. Lucky girl!!!
picasso
Picasso arrived in October 2022. A big warmblood (16.2 hands) he is about 30 years old, but is still healthy and regal. He comes to us from a farm near Greenville, TX, where he has been part of a close family that included a mustang and a donkey companion. His owner had to find a new home to retire her dear friends to when she learned she has breast cancer and will need surgery and a long convalescence. Picasso was a hunter jumper in his youth - in Connecticut - and came to Texas and his loving family twelve years ago where he was a riding horse and used as a guide in therapeutic and meditative retreats.
Picasso arrived on a hot summer day in an extra large trailer and stayed two days in a corral alone where he could sniff the other horses across a fence, and they could get to know him. When he was introduced to the herd, he already had a pal - GiGi - and several other horses that had accepted him into the tribe.
LOGAN
A 13-year-old Paint, Logan was surrendered by a rescue near Georgetown, Texas, which could no longer use him due to the fact that he had bucked during his training there.
Logan is a big boy – 16 hands – and a beautiful chestnut color. He has settled in nicely with the herd here at Blue Horse, and has a new best amiga – GiGi! They like to hang out together, eat the Bermuda, drink from the ponds and generally enjoy their freedom here at the Sanctuary.
daisy
Daisy is a 22-year-old Paint mare who was surrendered to the Sanctuary in April. Unfortunately, as is often the case, she had not been taken good care of, having been turned out for most of her life in a pasture with cattle. She is very fearful of humans, is aggressive and cannot be trusted yet not to revert to her instincts, which are to bite and kick. However, with the help of our Master Trainer Michael Battenfield, Daisy is learning to settle enough to begin learning a few manners.
Daisy’s knees have old injuries which has caused laminitis in her hooves, but she gets around fine and otherwise seems healthy.
For now we will allow Daisy to settle into the herd and make sure she finds her place within it. It will take some time for her to learn horse behaviors, but when she does, we will make sure she has enough training to be haltered in order to help her with her legs and try to ease some of her pain.
FRECKLES
Freckles is a 12 year old grey mare who was rescued from the Kaufman feedlot in 2015. She was among the first rescues to find a home at WildWood Ranch.
Freckles is a tall beauty who is a very gentle soul. Communing with Freckles can sometimes transform into a very symbiotic experience. She is prone to feeling her oats when there is a nip in the air - suddenly neighing and running across the field at full gallop, encouraging the other horses to join in. Having been with the herd for many years, she has discovered her niche and is both thoroughly involved in herd activity, as well as very happy to have human interaction. Her snowy white coat, dappled in grey, makes Freckles the prettiest gal in the pasture and we are so happy to have her here with us at the sanctuary.
river
River is a gorgeous Paint mare, about 5 years old, who was in training with Michael Battenfield for a lady who had trouble riding her. She is feisty! It was decided that it would take a very long time to work the kinks out of River as a comfortable riding horse, so her owner decided to give her up. We don’t mind a bit because watching River fly across the fields here at the Sanctuary is like poetry in motion. She is finding her new home to be big enough for even her!
TIPPY
Tippy was born January ‘99 and is a lovely bay mare who stands a bit over 14 hands. She came to us from a foster home - originally having been seized from a neglect case in Arkansas in 2007. Tippy had been adopted 3 times and returned for no fault of her own to Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society. She has been through some rough times, has some scarring on her back to show for it, but she still has a trusting soul.
Tippy loves attention - can be caught and lead - loves to be brushed and cared for. She arrived on a beautiful fall day and has adapted well to her new home, where she grazes on Coastal Bermuda, gets treats and carrots, grooming, and an abundance of love.
Skeeter
Skeeter is an Arabian Cross bay gelding born in 2012.
Skeeter's owners surrendered him to Bluebonnet when they were investigated for neglect. They said they had not owned him long, and they could not catch him (they tried to rope him when Bluebonnet arrived to pick him up and then chased him with ropes). He did allow a quiet volunteer to approach him, catch him, lead him and load him.
Skeeter is a smart horse who catches on to things quickly (he opened the latch on his corral gate the second day at the sanctuary!) He is also very sensitive, a bit skittish, but ultimately very loving. We are so happy he has joined us to keep us on our toes here at BHS.
ANNA
Anna is a Grade Quarter Horse dun mare born in 2005.
Anna is a sweet, friendly girl. She was surrendered to BEHS when her owner passed away. She has never been ridden, but loves to be haltered and lead, brushed and loved on. She is lovable and a real people person.
Anna stepped out at the sanctuary to a new life - with lots of people to give her attention, lots of companion horses and lots of space to roam and be a real horse again.
MEADOW
Meadow is a 21 year old grey thoroughbred mare. She was removed from negligent owners by law enforcement and placed with BEHS. Meadow has periodic lameness - and a unique willy-nilly gate that is comical to watch. However, she is sound and although shy, she has found her niche within the newly formed family of orphaned horses who needed a place to live out their lives. We are very happy to have Meadow with us at the sanctuary.
PEACHES
Peaches was in the group of feed lot horses and donkeys that were destined for Mexico, and rescued by Melissa in 2015. She is a beautiful Chestnut Mare who is now about 10 years old.
Feisty, dominant, inquisitive, loving - Peaches has learned to trust humans again and with her companion and herd leader Bucky - they rule the sanctuary herd with firmness and leadership. Having been there since the boys were small, Bucky is the old timer, but still the head honcho, and Peaches is always at his side.
REBA
Reba was born in January 2004. She is a very pretty chestnut sorrel who stands at 15.1 hands. Reba was with a herd that was placed with BEHS when the herd’s owners could not care for them. She has been worked by trainers who felt she had some lameness due to arthritis, so she became a companion horse only.
Reba is very smart and tries hard to please humans. A shy girl at heart, she has begun to settle into her new life at the sanctuary, stepping up for pets and treats. Mostly, she loves her new freedom - she loves to roam, graze and just hang with her newfound friends.
MISS PEBBLES
Miss Pebbles is a Sabino Paint Mare. She stands tall at 15 hands and has a unique chestnut/sorrel pinto coloration. Pebbles was placed with BEHS after a neglect investigation in February 2018, where she remained in foster care until we adopted her in November 2020. Having extremely dropped, low patterns on her back legs, she could not be ridden, but she is not lame and gets around just fine.
Miss Pebbles is shy and has such pink skin that she gets sunburned - but she does love to have sunscreen applied to her face and nose. She is sweet and loves to be treated with patience and kindness. Finding her forever home at the sanctuary after having had a hard life, she is very happy to be a part of the equine menagerie at Blue Horse Sanctuary.
GIGI
Gigi was surrendered to Blue Horse in 2018. She is a 14 year old Chestnut Quarter-horse who had not been worked with and who mistrusted everyone and everything. Gigi would become so nervous when presented with anything new - hoof trimming, vet visits, or even petting - that she would literally shake with fear. She was unpredictable due to her nervousness, and had to be worked with carefully in order to teach her that she was in good hands.
After lots of work with our horse whispering farrier and trainer, lots of love and patience, Gigi now has much more courage and trust. She is a beauty who has found open fields, friends and love at her forever home.
The Burrito
At Blue Horse Sanctuary. we love and respect the long history of the American donkey, brought in large numbers to the western US during the gold rushes of the 19th century as pack animals. Later, they were set free to roam the west and are now being herded for removal from national parks and many western lands. Affectionate, durable, courageous, protective and intellectual, these hardy, sweet companions are due our respect and protection.
The “Burrito”- our donkey sanctuary - is located on the south side of the ranch. The donkeys have their own coastal Bermuda field, a lake where they love to hang out, and 200 acres to roam. Our future plans are to adopt more needy donkeys, and, we hope, be able to receive and home some of the Wild Burros from the National Park Lands Project.
DONKEY TALES
For as long as WildWood has existed - since the early 70s - we have had donkeys. In June of 2015, Buford was surrendered by his owner who lived near Houston and could no longer keep him. Our handsome gelding is now the Patriarch of the Burrito. Later that same summer, Melissa adopted 4 young Jennys who were in the Kaufman feedlot destined for slaughter in Mexico. Alice, Margarita, Pickles and Ava arrived in a huge transport truck along with 5 horses and a mule - all stepped out to freedom at WildWood.
Although very young, two of the burros were pregnant and soon Rose was born to Ava and later Bud, our little boy, was born to Pickles. Bud has since been gelded (we do not allow breeding as there are so many donkeys needing homes already) and all the gang roams the Burrito, getting lots of attention and love - and most importantly! Carrots!!!
INTO THE WILD BLUE
Here we honor the lives of our beautiful, courageous rescues that have left this life to run in greener pastures. We are comforted in the knowledge that while their lives may have begun in situations that were harsh, or that they came to us due to owners not having the resources to continue supporting them, they had years of happiness and freedom here at Blue Horse Sanctuary.
"Horses lend us the wings we lack." - Pam Brown
