Southern Arizona Equine Rehabilitation - SAER

Southern Arizona Equine Rehabilitation - SAER Rehabilitating the less fortunate and providing a new lease on life or gently guiding them to their next.

One horse at a time 💖

EIN 39-2656894
Non-Profit 501C3 pending

Official AnnouncementThis decision hasn’t come lightly, but I’ve officially decided to close the gates on Southern Arizo...
10/17/2025

Official Announcement

This decision hasn’t come lightly, but I’ve officially decided to close the gates on Southern Arizona Equine Rehabilitation.

It breaks my heart to even say that out loud. But I can’t keep doing this on my own anymore. I’m thousands of dollars in debt trying to keep up with feed, vet bills, and everything else — and the financial support just isn’t there.

To everyone who’s supported me over the last five years — thank you. You’ve been a part of some incredible rehabs, second chances, and peaceful goodbyes. You helped me change 26 lives. That’s huge. And I couldn’t have done it without you.

But to be honest, it can’t just be the same three or four people stepping up every single time. That’s not sustainable, and I can’t keep asking them to carry the load.

I was planning to keep going with the rescue highlight series, but it’s just too much right now — emotionally, mentally, all of it. I’m going to wrap it up on a happy note with Woodhouse, because he deserves to close it out strong.

It’s been a damn good five years. We’ve done a lot of good here. But it’s time for me to step back, breathe, and just enjoy the horses I have.

Thank you — all of you — for every ounce of love, support, and belief along the way. ❀

Day 6Woodhouse (right)Woodhouse came with Meric and Rook. His poor halter was rubbing his face raw. He has not been hand...
10/11/2025

Day 6

Woodhouse (right)

Woodhouse came with Meric and Rook. His poor halter was rubbing his face raw. He has not been handled and is not easy to trust.

We have a mutual understanding, that is touch is on his terms. He is able to haltered when needed for vet and farrier care, but he prefers to engage when he chooses.

He lives in my pasture with Meric, my personal horse Nox, and his donkey friend Cyril đŸ€

You fought so hard. All the way to the end. Your mind said it wasn’t your time but your body had other plans. My big bra...
10/10/2025

You fought so hard. All the way to the end. Your mind said it wasn’t your time but your body had other plans.

My big brave boy. The pasture will not be the same without you. I love you always Vino

Day 5 of Rescue HighlightsThis is Rook.Rook came to me back in 2021 along with Meric and Woodhouse (who you’ll meet tomo...
10/10/2025

Day 5 of Rescue Highlights

This is Rook.

Rook came to me back in 2021 along with Meric and Woodhouse (who you’ll meet tomorrow). He was probably in his late teens at the time — an old soul from the very beginning.

He’s the definition of a gentleman: calm, kind, and endlessly sweet. Just one of those horses who instantly gives off “wise and gentle” energy.

These days, Rook is living his best life as a beloved companion horse for a good friend. He gets to spend his days in peace, surrounded by love — exactly what he deserves.

The results came back this morning, and unfortunately, there isn’t much more we can do for Vino. He has been scheduled f...
10/07/2025

The results came back this morning, and unfortunately, there isn’t much more we can do for Vino. He has been scheduled for humane euthanasia this Friday.

We’re looking at an additional $700 to cover the cost of euthanasia and burial. If anyone would like to help contribute toward that final bill, any amount would be greatly appreciated.

Before anyone comes for me about “why not try to maintain him” — there is no maintaining this. Vino cannot urinate on his own. The only way to keep him going would be to haul him to the vet every other day to have his bladder drained — at roughly $300 per visit. That is not financially feasible, and more importantly, it’s not fair to him.

This decision isn’t being made lightly or out of convenience. If there were any possible fix — a stone, an infection, anything treatable, I would have exhausted every option. But at this point, I already have.

If you’d like to help with his final expenses, donations can be made through:

Zelle: [email protected]

Venmo:


Thank you to everyone who’s followed his journey and supported him through this. It means more than you know. 💔

10/07/2025

Day 3: Meet Moxie

She came from the same “rescue” as Choco and Sofie. If you’ve been following along, you know the kind of operation I’m talking about.

Moxie was around 18 or 19 when she came to me, and we had zero information on her backstory. What I did find out was that the rescue had planned to breed her with a stallion they had on site. Which is absolutely disgusting that a rescue would be breeding. Thankfully, I was able to get her to my property before that ever happened.

Over the next year, Moxie started having episodes that looked like severe sleep deprivation. We weren’t sure if it was pain-related, neurological, or something else entirely — one vet mentioned the possibility of narcolepsy. Whatever it was, there wasn’t really a way to manage it long-term. She would stumble and collapse at any given time.

We did everything we could for that year to keep her comfortable and safe. But when it reached the point that we couldn’t guarantee her safety anymore, we had to make the heartbreaking decision to let her go peacefully.

Moxie was gentle, stoic, and patient. She deserved far more than what life handed her before she found her way here. Her spunky personality is missed greatly

Day 2 of our Rescue Highlights: Meet Sofie.Sofie came from the same rescue as Choco. The first pic is the original post ...
10/06/2025

Day 2 of our Rescue Highlights: Meet Sofie.

Sofie came from the same rescue as Choco. The first pic is the original post from the rescue in Jan of 2020. I brought her home June of 2020.

Her story was that she was an 8-year old who worked cattle. She’d taken a spill down a mountain and injured her hind leg. Her original owner was going to do the responsible thing and euthanize her, but this “rescue” convinced him to let her take her instead.

So, she ends up with me. I was told she was young, sound, and just needed time to recover from a tendon issue. Supposedly up to date on everything. Spoiler: she wasn’t.

Her weight wasn’t bad, but that’s about all she had going for her. Her feet had been done, but her teeth had never been touched. When my vet came out, she was actually aged around 20, not 8. And when I asked for vet records? The rescue suddenly “couldn’t remember which vet” she used and had zero documentation. No X-rays, nothing.

Turns out her injury was far more significant than anyone had admitted — and she was also severely laminitic. I kept her comfortable for as long as I could, until the kindest choice left was to let her go peacefully.

10/05/2025

Day 1: Meet Choco

Today we’re starting off our rescue highlight series with the one who started it all. Choco, my very first rescue.

Choco was dropped onto me by another local rescue. I was told he was 20 years old, had his feet and teeth done, had seen a vet
. you know, the usual “he’s all up to date” story. The first photo shows him while he was still at that rescue. The next ones are from just a month later, when he arrived at my place, and it was clear none of what I was told was true. When asked for vet records to confirm care, she couldn’t remember the vet that she used or who had done his teeth.

He was in terrible condition. He was being fed Bermuda hay, which he couldn’t even chew, and he was rapidly losing weight. Once I got my vet out, we discovered he was closer to 25, his teeth had never been done.

So, we started from scratch. Choco was switched to a soaked pellet diet, and for the first time in who knows how long, he began to thrive. When I found his tattoo, I learned he had actually been an off-track horse — and not 25, but 30 years old.

He lived with me for a year and was laid to rest at 31.

This old man taught me so much about who I am as a horsewoman. He gave me my confidence back, became my therapy, and is a huge part of why I pursued bodywork and rehabilitation as my calling.

Choco will always be the one who started it all. đŸ€

10/04/2025

Let’s take a trip down memory lane.

In the last five years, I’ve rescued and rehabbed 24 horses. Now, I know most rescues out there crank out those kinds of numbers in a few months
.but let’s be real, that’s because they skip the hard stuff. They skip the vet care. They skip the training. They skip the trust-building. They skip the actual rehab. They just fatten them up, slap a bow on them, and flip them for a quick buck.

I put in the work. I put in the money (and lose plenty of it). I don’t adopt out crippled horses for “light trail riding.” I don’t hand horses off to people who have no business owning them. And I sure don’t lower my standards just to move horses faster.

So yes, 24 might not sound like a big number. But every single one of those 24 got the time, care, and second chance they deserved.

Over the next 24 days, I’ll be highlighting each of those horses and their stories. The good, the heartbreaking, and everything in between.

Welcome to the real side of rescue.

Here’s to the past, present, and future faces of SAER.

And if that rubs you the wrong way
 maybe ask yourself why. 😉

10/04/2025

She gets a little more curious every day đŸ„°

My sweet VinoWe’ve been doing everything we can — vitamin E treatments, vitamin C, Banamine — but unfortunately, he’s st...
10/03/2025

My sweet Vino

We’ve been doing everything we can — vitamin E treatments, vitamin C, Banamine — but unfortunately, he’s still not improving. Right now we’re waiting on the vet to confirm his lab results, but it’s looking like we’ll be making an appointment for humane euthanasia soon.

We’ve raised $370 of his $800 vet bill so far, but with euthanasia and burial costs, we’re looking at another $700. If anyone is able to donate, even a small amount, it’s desperately needed and deeply appreciated.

Donations can be made via:
đŸ“© Zelle: [email protected]
đŸ“© Venmo: Southernazequinerehab

Thank you to everyone who has stood by us during these heartbreaking times.

Anissa and the herd

Address

Tucson, AZ

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Southern Arizona Equine Rehabilitation - SAER posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Southern Arizona Equine Rehabilitation - SAER:

Shortcuts

Share

Category