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.
blUE
Blue was surrendered to BHS on March 11, 2025. He is a 25-year-old TW mix who was owned for 15 years by a woman in California. Needing to relocate to Texas for medical reasons, Blue was hauled first to Oklahoma where he stayed a few weeks, then brought here to live out his life at the Sanctuary.
Blue was used as a family riding horse in California but has not been consistently worked with on the ground. He was always with a companion horse and was a little nervous initially on his own. Blue was first put in the Hollow with the stronger herd, but he was not assimilating well. Two days later he was moved to the Hill Pasture and has been befriended by Jazzy and Skipper.
In California, Blue was an easy keeper and has had no issues with his health. We expect Blue to be a happy camper now, in the big Hill pasture with his new friends and good grazing. Welcome Home Blue!
texas
I was born in 2015 at a famous breeding stable in California called Checkmate Thoroughbreds. I am a tall Bay gelding, bred to be a racehorse and have an impressive lineage. Like most racehorses, though, after my time on the track was over, I was sold and ended up in a kill pen in Kaufman, Texas. Fortunately, a kind gal bought me just from seeing photos of me.
When I was delivered to her in Louisiana, I had been severely hurt, having broken my withers from a fall. I also had a deep gash on my nose. No one knows what happened to me. My new person made the decision not to put me down, but to try to rehab me instead. I couldn’t stand comfortably, so I had to be fed lying down. Slowly I healed and put on weight. Due to financial reasons, my person had to retire me at a stable in Mississippi, and after a year she found Blue Horse Sanctuary where I got my forever home.
Mel whispered, “Welcome Home”, in my ear the day I arrived, and I began to graze the sweet coastal grass. The other horses were curious, and I liked them right away. My new herd is made up of other hearty equines who get to live on 130 acres of natural land and graze a field of Bermuda grass.
little man
Our latest resident was surrendered to us at the beginning of September, 2024. He is a red roan gelding, born in 2016 and is a registered quarter horse. He was raised by the person who surrendered him and is a very well-mannered and loving boy.
Little Man sustained an injury to his right rear hoof due to an accident in which it is believed he got caught in some barbed wire. Having had his vet check out the tendon, which was torn in the accident, the horse was given no chance of a full recovery, and it was deemed the best decision to have him put down.
The owner came to us to meet with Kent to see if he thought the horse could be rehabilitated. Kent felt it was too soon to make such a dire decision about Little Man’s fate.
So, once again we have a young, beautiful, otherwise healthy horse here who is being rehabbed with a hoof injury. Kent is a magician when it comes to healing injuries that otherwise seem to have doomed horses, and we are sure we will have another good outcome.
Welcome to Blue Horse, Little Man. We love your kind, gentle spirit.
jazzy
Jazzy came to us from the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter, where she had been in rehab since being seized by the Parker County Sheriff’s Office. She was taken-in, in November ‘23 and remained in rehabilitation until we picked her up mid-May ’24. Jazzy had been severely malnourished and although she has put weight back on and is sound, she will never be as healthy as she could have been, however, so we will need to watch her weight and overall health.
Jazzy was born in November of 1998, and is a Bay Grade Quarter Horse. She is very affectionate in spite of having been mistreated by her owners. Jazzy loves to be groomed and loved on. She and Skipper are bonded, since both were in the custody of the Animal Shelter being rehabilitated together.
skipper
Skipper is a handsome sorrel gelding, born in May 1998. Skipper was seized by the Parker County Sheriff’s Office in January ’24 and we adopted him along with Jazzy from the Parker County Animal Shelter in May ’24.
Skipper was malnourished and rehabilitated at the Animal Shelter where he shared a corral with Jazzy. They became very bonded during their time at the shelter, and therefore we intend to keep them together so that they are relaxed and can bond together with the herd at the sanctuary.
Skipper is a very sweet and gentle boy. He loves to be talked to and petted. We are very happy to give both Skipper and Jazzy the retirement they deserve.
batman
Born in 2019, Batman is a sorrel gelding who has a winning pedigree. He was bred for the Futurity as a barrel racer, but during training developed some lameness in his left shoulder and foot. Owned by our vet, Dr. Eric Moore, whose wife trains and competes in Futurity, Eric asked that Batman be allowed to retire at the Sanctuary.
What a sweet boy he is! Batman loves people and is a close talker who will stand very quietly while you talk, pet, and love on him. As I do with all the horses that come here to live, I whispered “Welcome home” in his ear, and he looked at me in the eyes for a very long time. He understood.
Welcome home Batman!!!! And, to your new human – Xeba --we wish you both a long, healing, loving relationship.
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.
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.
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!
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!!!
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.
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.
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.
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
