05/17/2026
So let’s talk about our newest additions, and how these guys are a little different from many of the horses I usually bring in. ❤️
When I started looking for a “husband horse,” I knew exactly what I needed. Many of our horses have a little spice to them, and I wanted a tried-and-true, steady larger horse that my dad or husband could trail ride alongside Owen and me without worry. I needed a true trail master.
So I put out a search, and a wonderful woman reached out to me.
She had an 11-year-old “failed barrel horse” named Maverick who absolutely loves trails. He’s ring sour, but happiest just going slow and enjoying the woods. He’s thick-built, likely with some Quarter Horse and Belgian in him, around 16 hands — not intimidatingly tall, but sturdy enough to comfortably carry larger riders.
As we talked more, she shared that she’s done similar things to what we do here — taking in horses who need help, patience, and a loving home. She also had a young 4-year-old who was deeply attached to Maverick.
She got him at only 5 weeks old and bottle-fed him. Anyone who has raised a foal after losing or being rejected by their mama knows that connection runs incredibly deep. They truly become your baby.
“Baby Horse,” as she named him, is a beautiful cross with definite Canadian Horse in him. And I have a deep love for Canadians. ❤️
Sadly, they are becoming fewer and fewer for many reasons. They can have strong personalities and sometimes be a bit more challenging to train, but I absolutely adore the breed and the history behind them. Canadian Horses helped build this country — pulling logs from the bush, hauling heavy equipment during wars, and earning a reputation for their strength, fearlessness, hardiness, and thick powerful necks built for work. Our history would not be the same without them, and I have so much respect for generations of these horses giving everything they had to people.
And me being me… I LOVE taking in two at a time. 😂
If I can help it, I refuse to separate bonded pairs.
So of course I told her I would gladly take Baby Horse too.
Knowing where their mama was emotionally with these two boys made it feel like such an honour that she chose me to take them. We had actually been talking since September, but I didn’t have enough hay to support two extra horses through winter. Finally the time came — the paddock was ready, the hay was stacked, and I was ready for them.
Because they’re part draft, my trailer actually isn’t big enough for them (so apparently a bigger trailer has now been added to the fall purchase list 😂). Their mama was amazing and personally drove them the long 6-hour trip to us.
I am always deeply moved when a horse mama chooses me to take her babies. When I meet like-minded equestrians, I understand completely — it would absolutely break my heart if circumstances ever forced me to part with any of my own angels. So when these amazing women trust me with horses they love so deeply, it is truly an honour and a privilege that I never take lightly.
I also make a commitment to continue updating previous owners with photos and stories of their horses and the growth they make here. Previous mamas are always welcome to come visit their babies. ❤️
So Maverick and Baby Horse came to us from a mama who loved them deeply — and it shows.
Unlike Cooper, who had to first learn what “love” even was, these boys already know it and freely give it because they’ve deeply felt it throughout their lives.
That doesn’t mean I expect an instant connection. I respect them, I love them in ways they are comfortable receiving, and I give them time to grieve missing the person they saw every day. As hard as it is for humans to give away a horse, it is also incredibly hard on the horse.
So I don’t rush our relationship. I don’t overstep. I respect their space and allow trust and connection to grow naturally as they are ready.
Though these sweet boys don’t have trauma to overcome, they are still adjusting to a completely new setting away from the life and mama they knew daily. They still need time to understand they are safe here, and that they will continue receiving love, patience, and good care every single day.
So when you’re out, please feel free to go to the fence, introduce yourself, say hello, and welcome them to the herd. But also remember they may still be a little sad and overwhelmed by all the changes. Patience, kindness, and understanding are the best ways we can help them settle in. ❤️
