Gaited Advocate Intervention Team, Inc. 501c3

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Boyds, MD
Gaited Advocate Intervention Team, Inc. 501c3

Our Mission Statement: GAIT, Inc. facilitates the rescue of gaited horses and other at risk equines www.gaitrrr.org Gaited Advocate Intervention Team, Inc.
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is a MD registered Tax Exempt, Non-Stock Corporation. 501c3 approved. WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO:

Who is GAIT RRR - Gaited Advocate Intervention Team, Inc. - Rehab, Retrain, Ride... ?? We are a team of gaited horse enthusiasts who have been working for the last several years as individuals working with various rehabs on at-risk gaited horses in addition to training gaited horses in traditional an

d non-traditional gaited disciplines. All of our members are SOUND horse advocates and only train flat-shod horses. The majority of our team met through our work as sound horse advocates trying to stop soring in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. Those of us active in that facet of the industry found that we needed to do more than work on the humane issues facing the TWH and soring. We decided to expand that work and focus on gaited horses that are at risk of going to slaughter or suffering in the hands of uneducated owners or unhealthy environments. Along the way, the team has expanded to include many other individuals that have a similar mindset - helping the gaited horse. We are a 501c3 non profit Corporation and not a traditional rescue. We are fully volunteer run, all of us also work full time jobs, so please be patient. We do not have a central location where we house horses for rehab and rehoming like some traditional rescues. Gaited Advocate Intervention Team, Inc. IS a registered corporation in the state of Maryland and have a federal EIN number 81-3550579. Our officers of record are Denise Parsons, of Boyds, Maryland and Lyn Montgomery of Fallbrook, California. Articles of Incorporation for a Tax-Exempt Nonstock Corporation have been filed in the state of Maryland. We would be happy to send copies of those Articles as well as our Bi-Laws to anyone that requests to see them - please message us for those files. We are NOT interested in debate about the pros and cons of how these at-risk horses are purchased. We ARE about the HORSE not an agenda - a SAVE is a SAVE regardless of where that horse is acquired from. If you do not agree with this philosophy, we understand your opinion and welcome you here, however, we are not interested in debating this issue. We are here to help HORSES not debate politics or the rights and wrongs of purchasing from various sources. With that said, we will not perpetuate the current trend of brokers and fake kill pens by advertising for these lots. On occasion, GAIT, Inc. will decide to purchase a horse from a broker or dealer, but when we do, we do so from those that are local to our area so that we don't incur exorbitant transport costs. We prefer to get horses before they end up at these lots and will not advertise for the lots by sharing posts about their horses. Only horses that are coming to our rescue will be shared as fundraisers so that people know where their donations are going. WHAT WE DO:
Since our team is a diverse group of people from around the country, we can DO a lot! Each member of our team is a very experienced horse owner and all of them contribute in different ways. We have team members with skills in graphic arts, legal issues, business professionals, trainers and more. All with a common background in horses. With this background, we are able to help the HORSE in many different ways.

1. We work with other RESCUES... Many of our team members work directly with with established non-profit rescues throughout the country that may not have a network for the gaited horse and help them to network for horses they have in their program or have found at-risk. This work includes offering evaluation rides and videos for horses that they have in their programs as well as networking these horses to try and match riders looking for a horse with horses already in rescue programs. We also accept rescue-to-rescue transfers when we are able.

2. We are a REHAB/RETRAIN/RIDE team... Each horse that is brought into the rescue receives a thorough evaluation of their health needs. We take the time needed to get them healthy and sound if possible. When no longer pasture sound or when their quality of life is diminished, we follow AAEP guidelines for humane end of life by a licensed veterinarian. But in most cases, our horses, once healthy, are then able to move to the next step, and that's evaluation under saddle. If training issues are identified, they receive training before being offered for adoption. If a horse is pasture sound but not rideable, we offer safe sanctuary until we either find a suitable companion home or until they are no longer pasture sound. Those horses that are brought into our programs for rehab and retrain that are riding sound are adopted into to private homes (well below the cost of the actual purchase/rehab) with contracts to protect the horses in the future. Each horse is carefully evaluated for their skill and training level, those needing retraining are then worked with that they will have the skills to be a great riding partner and homes are then carefully screened to make sure each horse is a match for their new owner. We stand behind any horse that we place so that they are not at risk of ending back into an unsafe situation. Funds obtained from placing any of these at-risk horses are then put back into helping future horses.

3. We are happy to SHARE ADVICE... Because of the vast collective knowledge that this group has both in the training and in rehabbing horses, many of us actively post in sites giving advice to those who have or would like to save an at-risk horse. This helps many transition the new horse from being at-risk to being a healthy, happy and productive member of the equine family.

4. We are MATCH MAKERS... Many of our team members have become a go-to source for folks looking for that special horse. We maintain a list of "find me a horse" folks. People that want something specific and are good homes for horses. Many don't know where to start looking - we keep an eye out for quality horses from reliable sources and become match-makers for the rider looking for a horse and the horse looking for their new home. WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Like and visit this page. Watch for our SOS stories - horses in immediate need and SHARE, SHARE, SHARE. Be INSPIRED, if you have the skills to take on an at-risk horse, please contact us and we can help you make those steps towards making your first save. Let us HELP you - if you are looking for the perfect new riding partner, message us and let us know where you are and what you're looking for. A rescue horse is NOT a cheap horse, but they are a worthy horse. Let us help you find your perfect riding companion. GAIT, Inc. adopts to within a reasonable driving distance of Maryland or So. California (for those horses that are on the west coast already). CONTRIBUTE FUNDS to help horses in need. You can direct funds to help a specific horse, or you can send funds for a general pool. Every week we see horses that are in need. As a 501c3, your donations are tax deductible under the limits of the law. OFFER HELP - can you offer inexpensive hauling, offer short-term quality quarantine care, or have other skills that you can offer to the team. We would love to hear from you. Please message us with your ideas. IN CLOSING
Our team looks forward to working with you. As we begin to work together, you will be introduced to individual team members who will help guide you through any processes in which you would like to become involved. You will get to know that team member so that you can build trust with us and we can, together, give another great horse the HAPPY ENDING that they deserve.

*** Denise Parsons, President, Gaited Advocate Intervention Team, Inc.

Operating as usual

04/28/2023

Sponsors and donors needed https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=USVVUENT7GL5E. Update on Zelda. We did an auction intercept for her about a month ago, the owner was about to dump her at the New Holland auction. We were told that she was a coming 2yo (1.5yo) Paso Fino. She seemed very petite even for a Paso Fino. Well the vet looked at her today and she's actually a weanling, not even a year old yet. She was a good girl for her vaccines today but is still very nervous and will be getting lots of groundwork and desensitization. The previous owner bought her for his beginner daughter to "learn and grow up with". After all, what could go wrong with that idea?...

It's going to be at least 2 more years before she'll be put under saddle. Zelda's costs are going to top $300/mo until she is adopted. Please consider a donation towards her care or even better, how about a sponsorship!

This is Denise Parsons, President of GAIT, Inc. Last night my personal account on Facebook was hacked. I have removed ad...

04/24/2023

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This is Denise Parsons, President of GAIT, Inc. Last night my personal account on Facebook was hacked. I have removed admin access to our GAIT page from that account. At this time I don't expect there to be an impact on the GAIT page here, however, please make a note of our website address, www.gaitrrr.org. Our website is not tied to Facebook and if anything every happens to our page, we will put a notice on our website. This is a pre-emptive note that I am hoping will not be ever necessary. But this page was originally built using my personal page, so I'm posting this just in case... Losing our followers would be devastating to the rescue. Anyone needing to reach me can email [email protected] or send a message here.

This site is for awareness to save at-risk Tennessee Walking Horses and other gaited breeds around the country through education, social media campaigns and direct purchase/rehab/retrain.

04/14/2023

We are still trying to meet our $2000 goal for Laurel, the feral TWH mare from the WV mine lands and Neo, a handsome young TWH gelding that found himself in poor condition after being swapped from dealer to dealer and auction to auction. We've currently raised $1050 towards our goal.

We got a couple nice update photos from quarantine of Neo today, sweet enough that they let their little girl help out (she's been raised around horses). Neo has a congenital condition often called "roach back" that should not effect his ability to be a great riding partner, it is just really accentuated by his poor body condition.

Please consider a tax deductible donation to help with our first costs or Laurel and Neo. Don't do Facebook or PayPal? We're always happy to receive checks made payable to GAIT, Inc. mailed to 14515 Chrisman Hill Dr, Boyds, MD 20841, click the donate button on our website at www.gaitrrr.org or use the link here on Facebook. We also accept Venmo donations -Parsons-GAITInc

04/11/2023

Update! Wow! Were getting so much closer to goal. We've currently raised $1050. That will cover their dentals, Neo's quarantine, vaccines for both and a farrier visit for each of them.

We really need the help of our supporters to continue the work we do. Grants have dried up and we can't maintain the rescue on adoption fees alone. Please consider a tax dedication donation.

04/10/2023

FUNDRAISER started. Total funds needed $950 amount to meet goal $2000. paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2417873 This fundraiser is for BOTH Neo and Laurel, we're asking for help with first 30-day costs, quarantine for Neo, 30-days training for Laurel. Funds will also be used for vaccines, dentals, farrier, specialized feed and ulcer treatment for Neo. These two horses come to GAIT Inc. as joint rescue efforts, check out their stories.

First, Neo - he is said to be an 8yo Tennessee Walking Horse. He's been in the auction pipeline for quite some time, being hauled from sale to sale and being ridden through (sound) even in his current condition. He was last sold at the New Holland auction last Monday where he was purchased by a PA dealer whose intent was to contact Rory Ridge Rescue Inc to get him the help he needs, than goodness, his days of auctions are over. Rory Ridge was unable to take him, but contacted us and we just couldn't say no. Neo had a congenital spinal issue most commonly referred to as "roach back". This condition is usually not painful and often these horses can be ridden pain free for many years with proper saddle fit. His conformation issue is accentuated by the fact that he's several 100 pounds under weight which means he has no muscle on his topline or haunches. He also has a nasty scar on one back foot - presumably caused by an accident at some point in his life. He's worn out from his time in the hands of multiple dealers, but he's eating well and not showing any signs of illness at this time. Once he's out of quarantine and gains the weight he needs, he'll be evaluated by a vet for soundness and we'll go from there.

Next up, Mountain Laurel. This beautiful early-teens red-headed TN Walking Horse mare has quite a story to tell as well. Laurel comes to us in cooperation with Appalachian Legacy Initiative, Inc. She was originally an owned horse who's person rode her. But as her person aged, he allowed her to roam feral on the mine lands of West Virginia. Along with a herd stallion, Laurel became a matriarch and the foundation mare of her feral herd. She's been on the mountain, having babies for several years, possibly even mating with her own offspring. Laurel is not a wild horse and is not equipped to live as a wild horse and her life on the mountains has not been easy. But thanks to the efforts off ALI, Laurel is now resting comfortably with us in Frederick, MD. Our filly, Buffy, is keeping her company while she adjusts back into a domestic life. We are very excited to see how she does in the coming months. She did accept a halter while still loose and feral and was walked down the mountain, we're sure she'll quickly remember her life of comfort - no more cold nights, no more struggling for good nutrition, fear from predators, just a wonderful life going forward.

Laurel and Neo will need extensive rehab/training and we are up for the challenge - but we need you to help us accomplish our goals of a happy life for Laurel and Neo.

Please consider a tax deductible donation to help with our first costs or Laurel and Neo.

Don't do Facebook or PayPal? We're always happy to receive checks made payable to GAIT, Inc. mailed to 14515 Chrisman Hill Dr, Boyds, MD 20841, click the donate button on our website at www.gaitrrr.org or use the link here on Facebook. We also accept Venmo donations -Parsons-GAITInc

04/07/2023

This has been a rescue cooperation week. We are thrilled to be able to help this Walking Horse mare that was formerly owned, then released to the mine lands off West Virginia where she's been breeding feral babies for several years. She's still young and will do great in training. We're very excited to work with Appalachian Legacy Initiative, Inc on this lovely red gaited mare. We are also working on a second emergency intake of a thin young Walking Horse gelding that has been in the auction pipeline for way too long. Watch for more information on this handsome gentleman tomorrow.

03/21/2023

We try to keep things upbeat and positive here on our page, but sometimes the reality of rescue is, the best we can do for them is to let them go, being loved and at peace. Sadly we are currently facing the loss of two wonderful GAIT, Inc. horses.

Taylor was injured in a riding accident over a year ago where he flipped over and his adopter of several years, was sent to shock trauma. Several vertebrae in Taylor's neck were damaged in the accident and it is causing constant and chronic pain. We have treated with pain relief, body work, PEMF, Isoxsuprine, rest and sadly, nothing is helping Taylor. He's in pain all the time now and it continues to worsen, he does not have good quality of life and the decision has been made to let him cross the rainbow bridge.

The harder decision has been for the yearling, Jemma, that we brought in after she had been purchased from Sugar Creek Auction back a couple months ago. She arrived and appeared highly neurologic. We tested for every known issue (please don't suggest things, trust me, our vets are good and diligent), again, we've tried body work, supplements to improve nerve connectivity and tons of tests. Sadly she appears to have sustained a spinal cord injury at some point before arriving to us. She is unable to feel her backend and has fallen no less than 5 times in the past few weeks just being a "normal" horse. There is no chance of meaningful recovery. As she grows and her body becomes heavier, the risk of serious injury or injury to a handler grows along with it. We feel, along with our vet, that the kindest thing we can do for her is to let her pass on - if she falls and breaks a leg or her neck or falls on a handler it's something none of us want to witness and pain no one should have to go through.

Please keep everyone in your thoughts, as these decisions are very hard on everyone involved, but the decisions are made in the best interest of the horses regardless of how difficult it is to make them. We thank each and every one of you who supports GAIT, Inc. and we know these are not the outcomes everyone wants for our horses, but sadly, there are some that the only comfort we can give them is a release from pain.

03/15/2023

Companion Horse spotlight. Amigo would love to have a family to call his own. His dream home will be somewhere quiet where he can graze away the days with a few equine friends. This low-key guy needs someone that will be patient with him, give him some love and brushing and let him live his days out knowing he's part of the "family". Amigo is a low-20s Paso Fino gelding, we don't know if he's sound to ride any more, he came in with 4 other senior Pasos after his owner passed away. Amigo is the last one to be looking for a home, he's on no medication and does not need any special care other than a patient, loving hand (that's a catch collar in the pictures, he is NOT a cribber). We're placing him as a companion and is available for adoption or long-term foster. Will you open your home and heart to this sweet boy. Horse experience is necessary, he is not a beginner's horse and your farrier needs to be patient with him. He comes up to date on all vaccines, coggins and dental. Visit www.gaitrrr.org for details and to complete an adoption Application. Currently located in Keymar, MD.

03/13/2023

FUNDRAISER started, goal $1000, amount to reach goal $860. This 1 1/2yo Paso Fino filly was about to be taken to the New Holland Auction when we were contacted. The owner had bought her with the thought that his beginner daughter could learn and grow with the filly - and you can guess how that ended. We were able to get him to sell her to us and have her safe in our hands now. We don't fundraise for horses like this ahead of time because there's too much chance the owner will change their mind. She didn't even come with a name so we've given her the "formal" name of Esmerelda de la Oscura and she'll be known around the barn as Zelda.

We'll be giving her some foundation and in-hand training but she will not be broke to saddle before she's 3. Zelda will be available for adoption to a Paso and baby experienced home with a Contract, but in the mean time she'll be receiving some basic training in hand so that she'll be prepared for what life will bring in her future.

We are asking for your help in covering her intercept purchase fee of $500, her vet fees for coggins and vaccines of $300, dental of $75 and a little extra to help cover some of her first 30days of costs.

Don't do Facebook or PayPal? We're always happy to receive checks made payable to GAIT, Inc. mailed to 14515 Chrisman Hill Dr, Boyds, MD 20841, click the donate button on our website at www.gaitrrr.org or use the link here on Facebook. We also accept Venmo donations -Parsons-GAITInc

03/08/2023

We had an absolutely amazing Expo this past weekend. The kids and their parents from Starry Night Stables under the direction of Jamie Dice did an amazing job running the booth at Horse World Expo alongside Clarity Riding. We raised $5013.73 - 100% going to GAIT, Inc. since all of the apparel, swag and gift baskets were donated. They also educated folks on the gaited horse and their versatility during daily demos and clinics and we even had Jamie making a great showing in the Trail Champions Challenge with one of the GAIT, Inc. alumnae horses, Luna. I can't begin to explain how proud I am of these youth riders and their dedication to our cause!

02/21/2023

Wow! just WOW!!! Horse World Expo is coming next weekend, March 2-5 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA and we'll be at our spot on Breed Row. The Expo is one of our largest fundraisers of the year and our GAIT, Inc. family of volunteers have outdone themselves this year. This year we will have TONS of "swag" for sale or as donation give-aways, we'll also be debuting our annual Freeform Saddle raffle, this year featuring the amazing Freeform Pathfinder PJ saddle donated by Paulita Neff at www.treelesssaddle.com Come out and meet the horses of GAIT, Inc., visit with our knowledgeable volunteers and support the rescue any way you can. Big thanks to the Starry Night Stables and Clarity Riding for organizing every thing!!!

Let's start with some thanks!

Clarity Riding is organizing the riding demos and the barn activities for us, hosting the volunteer hospitality area in the barn, their group raised $800 of directed funds to pay for our booth, electric and a tack stall this year, so no funds needed to come out of the GAIT, Inc. general fund for expo. I know they're doing even more than what I'm mentioning!

Starry Night Stables will be running the booth at the Expo. They have done an incredible job fundraising for donated items to do as raffles and sale items at the Expo. Everything you see in these pictures has been donated! That means GAIT, Inc. is going to benefit from 100% of the sales at Expo. There's raffle baskets, custom stuffed horses, beautiful blankets, new banners, a great slide show of Then/Now GAIT horses, buttons, key chains, soooo much more. We'll also be offering T-Shirts and sweat shirts in both purple and gray with our terrific design on it (created by Jamie Dice) Every dollar spent on raffles and merchandice will go directly to GAIT, Inc. thanks to the many people that donated the items for Expo.

Thanks to the amazing networking ability of Jamie Lynn Dice she secured a large donation from Tractor Supply for a deeply discounted round pen that will be jointly owned by GAIT (their portion fully donated) and Starry Night Stables. Why is this significant? We will be furnishing the round pen to the Expo for their use this year. This means our banners get to be front and center as sponsors of the Expo. We were also able to secure the remainder of the stalls for our Expo horses at no charge - a savings of over $500

Denise Parsons of The Homestead Team of Hagan Realty has donated all of the apparel being sold at the Expo for GAIT, Inc. as well as the custom plush ponies and the booth electric. Denise is the volunteer President of GAIT, Inc. and is also a full time Realtor specializing in Farm and Home transactions helping buyers and sellers in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia make their home move a dream come true.

We are kicking off this year's annual Freeform Saddle raffle, courtesy of Freeform Treeless Saddles at the Expo. This year's saddle is the absolutely incredible Freeform Pathfinder PJ. The lucky individual to get this saddle will have the choice of leather colors and they come in lots of options! Stop by the booth to get your tickets - once 250 have been sold we'll be raffling the saddle. Remaining tickets will be available after the Expo. Not going to make it to the show? message us and we'll help you get your tickets online. $25 each or five for $100

Come out, support the team, support the gaited horse and thank our volunteers and donors! This is going to be an Expo to be remembered.

02/14/2023

We wanted to update everyone on some recent exciting news. As we ready for Horse World Expo - our biggest fundraising event of the year, we've also been busy with matters of the horse and heart. We are very pleased to announce that Rudy and Tory have found there forever people. Rudy will be living in PA and having tons of adventures on the trails with his new family. Tory is heading to Southern Maryland where she will be loved and cared for by a very knowledgeable horsewoman. We are thrilled with the placements of both of these horses.

We are also very please to welcome Sunny. She is a 13yo spotted saddle horse mare that has insulin resistance. Her owner loved her VERY much and while it broke his heart to let her go, his family needed him for full time care for an unwell loved-one. We were happy to be able to help him when he needed someone to trust with his beloved mare. We will be looking for Sunny's new forever person that can keep up with her needs for correct diet and IR medications. Stay tuned for more information on Sunny.

02/11/2023

How about a Before/After founder foot xray. People that throw away horses because they believe that the damage can't be reversed are very WRONG. Future prevention and removal of the cause of the founder is critical and working over time with farriers that understand the foot alongside a vet using xrays to guide the process is key. This is the foot of Bandit, bought at auction by a private party and then surrendered to us because he wasn't sound in June of 2021. Our farriers worked with him for nearly a year and his adopter has done a great job continuing where we left off. Today we gave clearance to let him go barefoot.

02/05/2023

We've had some great news for Indie this weekend. He has found his people that will love him and care for him through his senior years. He is going to keep formerly adopted Bandit company and will be treasured by a family with kids. He's already making himself right at home.

01/31/2023

This is Denise Parsons, President of GAIT, Inc. I wanted to give an update on Jemma, the weanling filly we brought into the program on January 15. For those not familiar with her story, she was bought at Sugarcreek Livestock Auction on 1/13 by a good Samaritan who saw dealers/kill buyers bidding on her. She was purchased for around $350 and it was readily apparent at the auction house that she wasn't moving right. Due to ground conditions at the buyer's home, it was impossible to do any kind of soundness evaluation. The buyer hadn't planned to bring home a new horse, let alone a weanling with possible medical issues and reached out for help. We said yes...

She has definitive ataxia in all four limbs, she moves as if she doesn't know when her feet are going to actually hit the ground. This is NOT just uncoordinated baby movement, there is a clear interruption in signal between her feet and her body. As a gaited horse rescue we are VERY familiar with the loose movement of a gaited horse, especially the walking horse, at all stages of growth. Here's some interesting reading on ataxia in horses https://www.vetfolio.com/learn/article/approach-to-the-ataxic-horse

We have very competent vets working on her, and here's what we have ruled out...

Basically, every readily treatable cause for what's going on with her has been ruled out. Lyme negative, EPM negative, spinal fracture or Wobblers negative, Vitamin E levels normal (still waiting to pull more blood to check selenium levels). At this point, everything is looking like soft tissue injury to the spinal cord or brain damage of some sort. The brain damage could be from past injury, the result of a severe illness (she does have a shaved area where an IV would be applied that appears to be a couple months old).

Here's our current plan for her.
1. lots of quality food, nutrition will be vital to any possible recovery
2. VitaminE to help with Inflammation and we've started her on ImmuBiome Spine and Nerve
3. Lots of opportunity to self exercise. She's stabile on her feet and while she definitely moves "oddly" she is compensating well, she is currently capable of running around on the rolling hills and the stronger she gets the better.
4. We will begin doing body work and physical therapies on her once she's out of quarantine (another 2 weeks).

Prognosis - at this point, it's really impossible to say. Since we don't know what caused the ataxia, we can't begin to guess how her recovery will go. She's in great hands and has the best chance at a "normal" life, but we don't know how her body will handle her deficiencies as she grows. She could remain the same, she could get worse (especially if she trips and falls), she could get well enough to be pasture sound long term or she could even make a full recovery, it's just too soon to guess.

We want to keep everyone informed of what we have at least ruled out. Right now she's a bit of a medical mystery. If anyone would like to suggest and fund any further testing, we'd certainly be open to ideas, however all testing that our vet has suggested and we are aware of that is not invasive or completely cost prohibitive, have been done at this point. Even without further testing, her care is likely to be at least a year or more before we can decide if she can be placed in a foster home or stay with us until she's no longer comfortable. Monthly sponsors for Jemma's care would be a blessing for us.

She's very sweet, she eats well, she gets along with her pony companion, she's very easy to handle and has great ground manners, so with all of that, if she's never rideable, she still has the potential to make a wonderful companion horse.

01/25/2023

SUCCESS STORIES wanted! Adopters, we want your success stories and photos. Please send a photo in via messenger along with a little short "where are they now" type comment. We are doing a booklet for Horse World Expo and would love to include your success story. Please only post photos that you have permission to use.

Pictured is Buffy, arriving at GAIT, Inc as an emaciated 2yo, two years later she is ready for adoption. Here she is competing at Double C Ranch at her very first trail challenge. Photo Credit to https://www.facebook.com/TwilightPhotographymd

01/18/2023

We have an update on Jemma, the Walking Horse weanling filly that sold last Friday night at Sugarcreek Livestock Auction. paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2417873 She's been presenting with neurologic symptoms and we found out a previous dealer in KY was told by his vet that she "has that possum disease" however, we have no way to know if that vet in KY actually did any testing or if they just assumed by looking at her. We want to do our best by this filly, but we're going to need your help, vet bills are not going to be cheap, but we want to give this foal her best chance. Please consider a tax-deductible donation towards Jemma's care and vet bills.

The vet was out today but unable to give a diagnosis at this point. Here's what we know...

~ She is ataxic in all four limbs - she does not know where her feet are. Symmetrical ataxia is not typical of EPM
~ Whatever is going on, she seems to be plateaud (not changing for the worse or better)
~ She's VERY well behaved to the point that we were able to do Xrays without sedation.
~ She does not have Epiphysitis - a common problem in fast-growing horses and is inflammation of the growth plates
~ There is no immediately obvious issues in her neck xrays, but they are being sent to an expert for consultation
~ Blood has been drawn to do initial tests for EPM, Lyme and Selenium deficiency
~ She's a little under weight but babies do that quickly when they have a growth spurt

Things we can't rule out yet and are still investigating - EPM, EDM, injury related damage, lyme, residual effects of a no longer present illness, anaplasmosis and other tick-borne diseases, diet issues. This is NOT an easy case, we're working with a VERY good vet and consulting along with others.

Once we can confirm or rule out any particular thing we will then determine a prognosis and course of treatment with the vet. In the mean time she's receiving lots of love, exercise, we've still got grass here for her to graze on along with a great diet. We are also starting her on Vitamin E and magnesium while we await some of the test results.

We'll do our best for her but there are things that should could potentially have that are not treatable as well. For now she's happy, comfortable and enjoying life, even if she doesn't exactly know where her feet are.

Address

14515 Chrisman Hill Drive
Boyds, MD
20841

Telephone

(240) 720-4545

Website

http://www.gaitRRR.org/

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Meet Zee! GAIT, Inc. Adoptable Highlight of the week. Status: Available Name: High Country Freedom aka "Zee" Breed: Registered Spotted Saddle Horse Age: 2011 Gender: Gelding Size: 14h (est) Handler Appropriate: Confident novice Rider Appropriate: Confident intermediate Suitability: Trail, camping, pleasure riding Limitations: Rider under 140lbs Adoption Fee: $1800 Location: Frederick, MD Video Link: VIDEO Zee came to GAIT, Inc. as an auction intercept in June of 2021. He had an old groin injury and required some down time to heal. He has been in refresher training for the last several months and had some remembered pain issues to overcome. He still gets anxious with any riders over 140lbs so we are adopting him with a rider weight limit. Zee has a lovely gait and a nice canter to go along with it. He is beautiful to look at, is great in the herd and has a lot of "try" under saddle. He's well broke and has done well on trails. He will lead or follow. We have not tried him out alone. We are recommending him for intermediate riders, he is the type that does best with a rider he has bonded with and wants to know you've got his back. If he tests his rider, they need to have the experience to redirect him in a positive way not start an argument with him. Zee is ready to find his new trail partner, will that be you? https://youtu.be/U-nVIhoQJWY for his riding video.

Wait for it... 30yo Icelandic still has sass. Go get em Tori. Thanks to Tracy Kiefer at 2 Bears Farm. Testing to see if his gut can handle grass, fingers crossed.

Freeform saddle raffle 2021 Congratulations Robert Roesler, you are the winner of the Freeform Saddle Raffle this year!

We are still very shy of our $950 goal for Tesora, currently needed to meet goal $200. paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2417873 We received a call on Wednesday from Eyler's Sale Barn, that a Paso Fino mare had been purchased at their last sale and then the buyer backed out leaving her at the lot. The seller got paid, but the lot was now responsible for this horse. She was shutting down and had become lame. They had no information on her, but they were afraid she would not make it to the next auction. They offered her to GAIT, Inc. for $500 and we decided we would not be the next people in a long line to let her down. Tesora means "Treasure" and that's what she is, not someone's trash. She arrived into safe quarantine the Thursday morning. Her front feet have multiple deep splits, which is the most likely cause of her lameness. There's evidence that she's had very poor nutrition for a long time - pot bellied, loss of muscle including a flopped crest. But even with all that stacked against her she's being very sweet, taking treats, eating and drinking well. We have some hoof boots on the way for her and the farrier has been called so we can give her some relief from those painful feet. She's a good-sized Paso mare and was said to have been ridden through the auction, but we have no idea even how old she is at this point. Please consider a tax deductible donation to help cover her first 30-days of rehab. The $950 goal includes her $500 auction intercept purchase, $300 quarantine and $150 for vaccines and farrier. She will also need multiple doses of wormer, a dental and possibly a pregnancy check, but we haven't added those costs to our goal. Please consider a tax deductible donation for Tesora.

First evaluation ride on the trails for Willow. She is a Walking Horse mare that we rescued from Rotz Livestock back in September. We're still busy pushing all her buttons and shaking her out to make sure we can learn as much as possible, but the rider in this video is a beginner rider and she's going in a hackamore.

Quick update on the five senior Pasos. They came in as a group when their owner passes and the wife sold them at auction within a week. They range from ages 21 to 31. The oldest, who we've called Peeya is going to live her best life with a senior paso specialist that is fostering her for the rest of her life, she is currently enjoying the pastures in Virginia. We did the first evaluation ride on the 23yo mare we're calling Sonata. She still has a little weight to gain, but was more than happy to enjoy some saddle time. She'll be light riding sound and will probably need a little Previcox, but this mare is happy to be out and is currently on a short trail ride as I write this. The video here shows her with an intermediate youth rider. She's a little stiff in the back end, but she is very willing and very broke in the ring and on the trail. And she's a big girl for a Paso - standing almost 14.3h (est). The remaining three - Arrow, Amigo and Georgia still need to gain some weight. The stress of their ordeal was very difficult on all five of these horses. Their teeth were a mess when they came in (they have all had dentals), they were rattled by being ripped from their home, going through auction and landing in a dealer lot. They all went off their food when they arrived, they all got sick with an upper respiratory. Recovery is particularly difficult for seniors. But they'll get there.

Ashley Lauer is making great progress with Rana. We purchased her at auction in the spring, she's a 3yo gaited mare that was barely halter broke. This is a video of her very first "ride" - she looks so relaxed! Good work!!!

Skinny Sid got his teeth done today. Thank you Kelsey! She confirmed his teeth show him to be 17. He stood quietly without sedation, such a good boy. His teeth have been let go for so long that his lower teeth have ground down his uppers. But he'll be chewing much better tonight. If you're wondering I pulled his fly sheet up so the vet could assess body condition, he also got vaccines today

The five senior Pasos have arrived. They're sick and a bit dehydrated, but luckily they're together so they're less stressed than they would be if they were by themselves. Their manes look like they haven't seen a comb for quite a while, feet are long and the 31yo mare is thin. But they're safe now.

Sneak Preview - AVAILABLE - We started Smudge's under saddle evaluations last night. He's one of the most naturally 4-beat gaited horses we've had come in. Check out the video! He needs some help with his ground manners and the folks at StarryNight Stables is working on that, but this horse so far is solid under saddle! We still need to get him out on the trails and work on his ground manners, but he's close to being ready to roll. Smudge is a late-teens Walking Horse gelding that stands a solid 15h+. He arrived to GAIT, Inc. with long term low-grade laminitis, he is negative for cushings but will need his sugar intake managed in the future (ie. no lush pastures, no spring grass, low-carb feeding program - don't worry, we can help you with that). Adoption fee is $1300 He would require a confident intermediate handler and a confident novice under saddle. Located in Frederick, MD

2020 Freeform Pathfinder Raffle

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Gaited Advocate Intervention Team, Inc. is a MD registered Tax Exempt, Non-Stock Corporation. 501c3 approved. WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO: Who is GAIT RRR - Gaited Advocate Intervention Team, Inc. - Rehab, Retrain, Ride... ?? We are a team of gaited horse enthusiasts who have been working for years doing rehabilitation for at-risk gaited horses in addition to training, riding and showing gaited horses in traditional and non-traditional gaited disciplines. All of our team members are SOUND horse advocates and only train flat-shod horses. We have team members located across the country, however our focus area is the Mid-Atlantic and So. California. While we focus in these two regions, we have resources around the country as well. This national presence allows us to work with a HUGE network of folks. Our team originally met through our work as sound horse advocates trying to stop soring in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. A few of us active in that facet of the industry found that we needed to do more than work on the humane issues facing the TWH as it pertains to soring. We decided to expand that work and focus on gaited horses that are at risk of going to slaughter or suffering in the hands of uneducated owners or unhealthy environments. We are a 501c3 non profit Corporation but not a traditional rescue. We do not have a central location where we house large numbers of horses for rehab and rehoming like some traditional rescues. Gaited Advocate Intervention Team, Inc. is a registered corporation in the state of Maryland and have a federal EIN number 81-3550579. Our officers of record are Denise Parsons, of Boyds, Maryland and Lyn Montgomery of Fallbrook, California. Articles of Incorporation for a Tax-Exempt Nonstock Corporation were filed in the state of Maryland in 2016. We would be happy to send copies of those Articles as well as our Bi-Laws to anyone that requests to see them - please message us for those files. We are NOT interested in debate about the pros and cons of how these at-risk horses are purchased. We ARE about the HORSE not an agenda - a SAVE is a SAVE regardless of where that horse is acquired from. If you do not agree with this philosophy, we understand your opinion and welcome you here, however, we are not interested in debating this issue. We are here to help HORSES not debate politics or the rights and wrongs of purchasing from various sources. WHAT WE DO: Since our team is a diverse group of people from around the country, we can DO a lot! Each member of our team members is a very experienced horse owner and all of them contribute in different ways. We have team members with skills in graphic arts, legal issues, business professionals, trainers and more. All with a common background in horses. With this background, we are able to help the HORSE in many different ways. 1. First and foremost, we NETWORK. This is where we can make the biggest impact. No single person can ever save them all, but networking allows us to join together with thousands of people to save many more than any one person can. We watch national groups and lists, these include broker programs (kill buyers that offer resale), sale sites in areas of the country where many horses are at risk, many gaited and non-gaited social media sites, CraigsList, etc. We find horses that we feel we can help and we post these horses out to various social media sites and through personal networks that we have established via our sister page Gaited Rescue Team, Sharing and Caring here on Facebook. We then attempt to find good homes for these horses that are at risk. 2. We work with RESCUES... Many of our team members work directly with with established non-profit rescues throughout the country that may not have a network for the gaited horse and help them to network for horses they have in their program or have found at-risk. This work includes offering evaluation rides and videos for horses that they have in their programs as well as networking these horses to try and match riders looking for a horse with horses already in rescue programs. We have also taken several gaited horses from more traditional rescues as a “Rescue to Rescue” transfer as many traditional rescues simply don’t have the network or resources to home gaited horses in their rescue. 3. We are a REHAB/RETRAIN/RIDE team... We directly rescue at risk horses. These horses come from a variety of sources including from private owners that are in trouble and need to place horses, private owners that are selling below meat pricing, auction purchases and direct broker purchases. Those horses that are brought into our programs for rehab and retrain are then placed to private homes (well below the cost of the actual purchase/rehab) with contracts to protect the horses in the future. Each horse is carefully evaluated for their skill and training level, those needing retraining are then worked with that they will have the skills to be a great riding partner and homes are then carefully screened to make sure each horse is a match for their new owner. Each of us stand behind any horse that we place so that they are not at risk of ending back into an unsafe situation. Funds obtained from placing any of these at-risk horses are then put back into helping future horses. 4. We are happy to SHARE ADVICE... Because of the vast collective knowledge that this group has both in the training and in rehabbing horses, many of us actively post in sites giving advice to those who have or would like to save an at-risk horse. This helps many transition the new horse from being at-risk to being a healthy, happy and productive member of the equine family. 5. We are a COLLECTIVE RESOURCE... We advise folks on how they might be able to be involved in helping an At-Risk horse. There are many that would like to be involved but have no idea where to start. We help folks by offering suggestions for resources like quarantine and transport. We help by offering advice on the risks and rewards involved in helping at-risk horses. We help to facilitate the purchase or adoption of an at risk horse. 6. We are MATCH MAKERS... Many of our team members have become a go-to source for folks looking for that special horse. We maintain a list of "find me a horse" folks. People that want something specific and are good homes for horses. Many don't know where to start looking - we keep an eye out for quality horses from reliable sources and become match-makers for the rider looking for a horse and the horse looking for their new home. WHAT YOU CAN DO: Like and visit this page. Watch for our SOS stories - horses in immediate need and SHARE, SHARE, SHARE. Be INSPIRED, if you have the skills to take on an at-risk horse, please contact us and we can help you make those steps towards making your first save. Let us HELP you - if you are looking for the perfect new riding partner, message us and let us know where you are and what you're looking for. A rescue horse is NOT a cheap horse, but they are a worthy horse. Let us help you find your perfect riding companion. CONTRIBUTE FUNDS to help horses in need. You can direct funds to help a specific horse, or you can send funds for a general pool. Every week we see horses that are in need. Funds can be made available to our team members for private rescues, or sent on to non-profit rescues to help them pull at-risk horses. OFFER HELP - can you offer inexpensive hauling, offer short-term quality quarantine care, or have other skills that you can offer to the team. We would love to hear from you. Please message us with your ideas. IN CLOSING Our team looks forward to working with you. As we begin to work together, you will be introduced to individual team members who will help guide you through any processes in which you would like to become involved. You will get to know that team member so that you can build trust with us and we can, together, give another great horse the HAPPY ENDING that they deserve. *** Denise Parsons, President, Gaited Advocate Intervention Team, Inc.

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To add more great news to this weekend, we are very proud to once again be chosen by Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue for a grant towards the training work we do with the horses of GAIT, Inc. This rescue has been incredibly supportive of GAIT, Inc. since day 1. They were there for us as a sounding board as we developed in the early stages, and as we've grown, they've contacted us several times to help gaited horses that have come into their care and in return, we've always said yes! This is what a rescue community can achieve when we work together. If more rescues could do that, we could help so many more horses.

From GAIT, Inc. President, Denise Parsons: I need to give a HUGE shout out to two incredible groups of folks, the teams at Clarity Riding and Starry Night Stables These folks have worked tirelessly over the past few weeks to get ready for Horse World Expo. In 2020 it was one of our largest fundraisers and it was sadly missed in 2021. 2022 ended up being a record breaking year for us at Horse World Expo, these girls and guys raised over $4500 in just four days at Expo.!!!!

Besides their amazing hard work, the folks at Clarity Riding with the help of Starry Night Stables put together horses to bring as booth ambassadors and for demonstrations. They manned the booth faithfully, they took care of the horses back in the barns all as volunteers, they hauled horses up to the show at their own expense. Before the event Jamie Lynn Dice and Emily Ballenger came up with an awesome new design for t-shirts, they put those designs on stickers, beautiful blankets and more - all to offer for donations. They did a fun raffle prize (that's what the video is below). They sold other items like some great saddle pads and a beautiful oil painting done by one of our adopters, Stephanie Torres.

Everything you see in the booth was put together by these two groups. They organized the decorations, the slide show, information on current and past horses in the program. They bought halters out of their own pockets for our horses to wear on the show floor. They did this all for the love of our horses!!!

In addition to the the fundraising opportunity, Expo is important to raise awareness. It allows us to show the public how amazing gaited horses are, educate them on natural horsemanship applied to the gaited horses instead of harsh equipment and training short cuts. It also allows us to highlight currently available and past adopted horses showing the public that these horses in our rescue are as great as any horse they can get privately (or better!).

I can not think the folks that pulled this off this weekend enough!!!

BTW, if you're interested in one of the newly designed shirts, shoot us an email at [email protected]. We'd love to ship you one, but the girls did such an amazing job, we're sold out. But we're about to order more. You'll see Jamie and the crew in the video sporting the new design. I can notify you when the new shirts come in so you can get one ordered.

We would like to take a moment to thank Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) for the rescue highlight in this month's news letter!

Calling all GAIT, Inc. Adopters. We will be attending Horse World Expo in a few weeks and we would love to highlight our success stories at the event. If you've adopted a horse from GAIT, please message a photo and your story to Jamie Lynn Dice and then comment in this post to let Jamie know you've sent a message. Please send your adopted horse's name while he/she was at GAIT, Inc. and feel free to share your story about your horse as well. Please be sure you have permission to use the photo you are submitting. We will be producing a slide show at the Expo that will feature our "Happy Ever After" horses. We'd love to hear from you! Photos need to be sent via messenger directly to https://www.facebook.com/jme.holden.

And now a message from our President, Denise Parsons...
Good morning all GAIT, Inc. fans and follower. You may notice it's been a bit quiet here lately. Well we're all still here and going strong. I thought I'd take a quick moment to give everyone a quick updated.

First, it's going to be a bit quiet for a the next month or so. The reason I am able to donate 100% of my work effort to GAIT, Inc. is because I also run one of the largest equestrian events in the country, www.horseworldexpo.com. The event is March 3-6 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA and yes, GAIT, Inc. will have a booth there - so be sure to stop out and say hello to our volunteers. It's unlikely you'll see me at the booth however, I'll be busy running the entire event. Thank goodness to the wonderful folks at Clarity Riding and Starry Night Stables who are all working hard to get everything ready for GAIT, Inc's booth. We're also hoping to have Squirrel, our unhandled gelding save from back in the fall, be at Horse World Expo at Rescued to Stardom. Ashley Lauer has been diligently working with him, but we have to let Squirrel tell us what he's ready for, and we won't participate if he's not ready to do it.

Time for the link - yes, the donation link - we continue to need your support through this winter! Please keep us in mind paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2417873 you can also use the "donate" button here on Facebook or message us, we have lots of ways you can donate if you don't use PayPal or Facebook Pay.

Next let's talk about the weather - it's HORRENDOUS!!! Between the multiple storms that coated us in snow, then the warming, and drastic cold swings, everything that still had snow on it became a solid sheet of ice. Record setting cold has not be our friend. Anyone that has horses knows the work load and the food consumption doubles in weather like this. Every single person working with our horses had their hands full keeping them safe, warm, fed and watered. There's not a lot of time left in the day for evaluations and training rides right now. We would love to get some horses adopted, but refuse to let horses go to new homes if we haven't fully evaluated them. And if that's not enough, there's no way to get horses out on trails for evaluations right now - the trails are a solid sheet of ice. We will not put horses, riders or trainers in jeopardy to speed the process along. What does this mean for GAIT, Inc.? Well - extra holding costs and additional feed bills - so don't be afraid to send a little extra our way if you feel it in your heart to do so.

Now, let's talk about the horses, updates and progress... We'll just go alphabetically here.

Amigo and Arrow - these are the two geldings from our Paso 5 save over the summer. They've been a tough pair. Anyone that's worked with Pasos knows how sensitive these horses are, they don't trust well and when they're uptight, they don't eat. Both of the boys are finally starting to relax but they are not ready for new people in their lives yet and are not ready mentally or physically to be tested under saddle. We're hoping with the spring thaw we will be able to transition them to the evaluation phase of their rehabilitation, but they set their own scheduled, all we can do is try to influence them to move forward.

Barney is ready for adoption, but it's been impossible to get updated photos or video. He will need a patient and confident rider, but he's sound, broke and ready to roll. visit www.gaitrrr.org for more details.

Bubba is ready for adoption once we can finally get him out on the trails for final evaluations. He's a "good ole boy" kinda guy, he's a senior with an opinion and while he will do nothing bad, he does like to express his opinion and will do best with a rider that won't let him take advantage of his years of experience with human manipulation. He likes to walk out and enjoys his rides.

Buffy is our 3yo who was rescued last year so malnourished that we believed this 2yo was actually a yearling. She's been worked in hand regularly, her weight is perfect, she's grown and is nearly 14h now, and she's starting to learn to carry a saddle. Next step will be ponying out for experience - again, once this terrible weather finally settles.

Cassie is ready for adoption. She is on our website as well. She does have navicular changes, so her new person needs to be an experienced rider that enjoys a young and energetic horse that has an excellent farrier use to working with horses that have navicular changes. She is currently sound with correct shoeing and angles, but riding on hard, frozen ground is not a good idea. She working regularly in a youth lesson program, enjoys a job, but her navicular needs to be kept in mind - this is NOT a mare that can do long, hard rides and her hoof care will need careful attention to keep her sound

Ceres is currently fostered and as long as her riding continues to progress as it has, her foster is planning to adopt. She is finally blooming, but it took time. Thank goodness to her foster who has covered most of her expenses during her rehab and down time!

DaisyMay is eating, well, like a horse! Daisy was purchased from an auction in Maryland on New Year's Eve, she's an "aged" - ie. over 25 most likely, mare that was emaciated. She's managed to not get sick despite the trauma of going through auction in her state (the 2nd horse that was brought to the auction with her died on site). Her weight gain has been slow but steady and she's a willing participant in her rehab. Daisy is who's pictured here.

Echo and Macie both crossed the rainbow bridge last week. Macie was suffering from end stage heart damage, aged around 24, she came to us through another rescue that had saved her from a kill buyer in PA. There was just too much damage done to her body (she arrived with a BCS of a 1) and she was never able to fully recover despite our rehabber's best efforts. Echo arrived in the fall, a strapping young man of around 12 that was "off" in the front. His xrays showed severe arthritis and boney growths and chips in his fetlock. We knew that he would not stay pasture sound for long and the damage was not operable. When he was no longer comfortable at a walk, the decision to let him pass was made. Both horses were euthanized by our veterinarian.

Georgia and Sonata two of the three mares from the Paso 5 save, were fully evaluated under saddle but found to only be pasture sound with Previcox. They have been moved to a long-term foster in Virginia that does a great job with our seniors. They will get to stay together until they are no longer comfortable and happy with lots of pasture to roam and will enjoy their retirement.

Flash had been hanging out with the foster in Virginia but since they only have room for two, we brought him home. He's going to go back to work as soon as this weather breaks and should be available for adoption or foster this spring depending on what we find during his refresh.

Indie is one of the seniors that came in a little over a month ago as an owner surrender who is in hospice. Indie is fighting an upper respiratory infection, but doing well - the stress of the move and these 30-degree weather swings are not a horse's friend. But he's on the mend and we hope to do evals on him once the weather breaks.

Jackson is a gorgeous low-20s Mountain Horse gelding who is ready for a companion home. He is not sound for riding due to injuries he suffered to his back at some point. He can appear sound, but if he moves just the right way, something pinches and it sends him into a violent bucking fit. But he's zero maintenance, easy to get along with on the ground and is listed on our website as a long-term foster or companion home adoption.

Mattie Girl has begun under saddle evaluations. So far, so good. She seems steady, well gaited and we just need to get her out on the trails. She has aural plaques and is VERY sensitive to touch on her ears. She needs a bridle with no brow band and then crown piece needs to set back far enough not to touch the ears, once that's done, she's a very willing girl.

Oakley is a favorite around the barn. Smart and curious. She is actually in her low-teens and very green. So we're doing some refresher training on her. She will make a great riding horse with some training.

Piper is ready for adoption, she's listed on our website. Piper will need a rider who is very confident and will take the time to bond with her. She gets very herd bound if she doesn't trust her rider, but once you make that breakthrough and connection, she'll do whatever you ask. She's very well bred and very well gaited, so the person that is willing to put the time in, will be rewarded with a fantastic horse.

Rana has a bit of a set back with her training when she came up lame. She needed about 60 days off to recover - likely a slip in the mud, but she's on the mend and going back into training now.

Rudy, our little Christmas save gelding with his fuzzy little ears (frostbite took his ear tips at some point in his life and he's got cute teddy bear ears now). Well Rudy is super sweet, super curious and ready to start his training. He is getting some ground work for right now.

Squirrel - well, we talked a little about him above. He is currently entered in Rescued to Stardom at Horse World Expo and his trainer, Ashley has been hard at work trying to get him ready. He's a tough one though, he's got some fear issues, he was an unhandled 6yo and horses like that don't turn around overnight. But he has a lot of "try" and we'll see what he's ready for.

Stetson is doing great, he needs some more work with our farrier and needs to gain a bit more weight so we can start conditioning him. He's a big, lanky horse. We want to address his hoof angles in hopes of helping him break over better so he's less "trippy" and need to get him conditioned, which is super hard to do in this weather. But we feel like he'll be ready for a new home come spring.

Tesora is a Peruvian Paso that was left behind at an auction and offered to GAIT, Inc for $500 by the auction barn. She was not sound, her feet were horrendous and her nutrition was so poor that her ligaments were not healthy. She seems to be thriving, she's perked up and we are hoping we can do a riding evaluation on her in the spring. It remains to be seen if she will be riding sound however.

Topper is available as a companion and light riding horse. His adopter will need to have a good farrier, he does have degenerative ring bone, so angles and regular trims are the only thing keeping him sound right now. He has good days and bad days, but he's still up for an occasional energetic stroll around the pasture.

Zane is in long-term foster care and will not be made available for adoption. He has so much ingrained and unreasonable fear of humans that he will never be safe to ride, he is simply too reactive to be safe. He is very happy in a herd and being a horse however, so he will remain in long-term foster.

Zee, last but not least, is being evaluated under saddle. He seems to be fine with a light rider (under 120lbs) but gets very uncomfortable with a rider larger than 120lbs. His previous owner was a big man, and he's a small horse and fine b***d, add to that he was being ridden hollow which means his spine was carrying the weight instead of his loin muscles. There's definitely some "issues" in the spine that are irritated by a larger rider. We're hoping with conditioning and proper riding that allows him to build that top line will help. But right now he's been doing well with a lighter rider. His biggest issue is that his response to fear is to stop and pop-rear. And that needs to be addressed before he will go out on adoption.

Well, that pretty much summarizes where things are with everyone currently in our care. Please be patient over the next month or so as we all work hard to do our best, don't forget about us out here, we still need your support, especially since it's going to be very hard to get horses into homes during the rest of this winter and they are going through hay bales like a fat kid at an ice cream bar. Thank you to each and every one of our supporters, it takes a village and you all are a big part of that!