12/25/2025
In 1999, a c**t was born, sired by the great Life Sign. He was full of promise like the thousands born every year, and so his name became Promising Sign.
After a short racing career and passing through seven different owners before he was truly three years old, he disappeared. For fifteen long years, his story was unknown.
In 2017, SRF found him worn down, hungry, and stripped of his dignity and will to live. He was tagged for slaughter.
Because special people chose to help him, he had a chance to be whole again. Promise was part of a large rescue group SRF brought to safety. He was especially fortunate to nuzzle into the heart and home of Norma Pray Smith. She opened her door to this beautiful soul straight from the kill pen and provided the safety, care, and love he had long been denied.
In October of this year, Promising Sign developed a liver disorder. At the age of 26, he was peacefully laid to rest. Norma reached out to us last week to share this past holiday photo and, it touched us profoundly: her expression full of love and grief, his eyes gentle and kind. She wrote, “My heart is broken. He touched me so deeply. He was my pet, my partner, my best friend.” We were reminded just how powerful that bond can be and felt compelled to share with our donors how meaningful their support is to these horses, and how impactful it is in the lives of our special adopters.
Promising Sign was ridden only once during all the years he was fortunate to have such a loving home. He lived not as a working horse, a horse to serve, but as a beloved companion. Every weekend, he greeted visitors at the upper gate, and Promise quickly became especially fond of children. Norma’s granddaughter formed a bond that was something truly special, pure, and full of trust.
We share this story to make you smile. Stories like this remind us why we do this work. Your compassion, generosity, and dedication inspire us every day, and we are honored to carry out this mission with you.
We wish all our supporters beautiful holidays and a New Year filled with health and happiness.
