MEET THE RESCUES
“Saving one horse won’t change the world, but it will change the world for that one horse.” -Unknown
If you are interested in one of our rescues we would be happy to discuss them in depth via messaging or phone.
If you are interested in a particular horse and would like to meet them to see if they are a good fit, we DO REQUIRE a submitted and approved adoption application. Our rescue is 100% volunteer. To manage our time efficiently, meet and greets are by appointment only.
Please see the adoption application below.
NWR ZERA LOUISE (Zera)
Zera’s photo from her listing
Zera’s progress photo from November 18, 2023
Zera came to us July 31, 2023 from a rescue in Wyoming. We had originally paid for Zera from the kill pen in Colorado, but we were instead sent her mother “Birdie” now known as Athena. Zera was instead sent to the rescue in Wyoming that had originally paid for Birdie. We were contacted as informed that the two have been together all their lives and may be bonded. Zera was supposed to be bred, with an unknown due date, and if she was pregnant would not do well foaling in winter. Zera finished quarantine in Wyoming, and we arranged for her transport to us for evaluation and rehoming. Our goal is if Athena and her are indeed bonded, we would like to rehome them together.
ADOPTION STATUS: Zera is currently in training.
Zera has extensive trauma that needs to be worked through before she will be listed as available for adoption.
AUGUST 2023 UPDATE: Zera received her vaccinations, and we had an ultrasound performed. Zera is NOT in foal. Zera seems to be a very strong willed mare, she is very matted and fearful. She is hard to catch. At this point we are unsure if she has ever been handled, or if she was handled, it was not nicely as she has zero desire for contact. We are slowly working with Zera on haltering and working on building connection. This is one that we are taking our time with, and every interaction will be intentional.
NOVEMBER 2023 UPDATE: Zera’s rehabilitation has been coming along wonderfully. She leads around like a champ, and is letting us do more and more with her. She is officially ‘ungrounded’ and is in with the other horses in the pasture. She is easy to catch, and has been a perfectly behaved citizen.
DECEMBER 2023 UPDATE: Zera has been such a good girl that we were able to have the vet out to do her teeth finally. We were not sure how she would handle working with someone other than Valorie, so we delayed the floating. The vet said our timing was perfect as she was just starting show so affects from some sharp points, but not bad at all, so someone took care of her prior to being sent to feed lot. Her upper teeth said she was about 6, and her bottom teeth said she was about 9, so we are going with the 7/8 year old range as that is what we were told she was to begin with. This girl is starting to seek out attention and will be starting to do more training sessions as weather allows!
MARCH 2024 UPDATE: Zera has been growing leaps and bounds! She is trying so hard to be a good girl. We are lunging beautifully and teaching her how to connect. She has started to approach people in a friendly manner, and is genuinely curious about things as of late. Our next goal is to be able to groom her without ANY ear pinning. While she doesn’t try to bite us anymore, she still doesn’t enjoy it yet, but we will work on grooming being a positive interaction!
APRIL 2024 UPDATE: Zera is learning clicker training, also referred to as positive reinforcement training. She is such a smart girl, and is picking it up very quickly. She is now allowing us to brush her, we are still working on her feet. We have found that the only time she is uneasy is at dusk and dawn, not sure if it has something to do with the lighting, or with her trauma. We continue to take steps in the right direction with her!
BELLA LUNA(Blue)
Blue’s arrival on April 8, 2024
Blue’s arrival on April 8, 2024
Blue came to us on April 8, 2024 as an owner surrender. She was surrendered due to no fault of her own, it was due to her owner’s health. Blue is approximately 8 years old, and had 30 days training when she was about 3 years old. Blue was very loved, and is super sweet, with such a kind eye and sound mind. She seems to be very level headed and taking everything in stride thus far. She had high ringbone around 3 years old, but it fused naturally. She seems to be a little ouchy on those front hooves still, but was due for a trim when we got her in, so we are going to work with our farrier and vets to get that taken care of.
ADOPTION STATUS: Blue is currently undergoing evaluation.
APRIL 2024 UPDATE: The farrier came out, and blue is not a fan. She was great for her back feet, but we think she has some pain memory/trauma (she expects it to hurt) from when she had the high ringbone issues. We will be working with her on picking up and holding her feet for us. We did find some white line disease in the hoof that is ouchy, so we are hopefully that fixing that will help her. We plan to do x-rays to make sure we got all of the white line disease in the trim, and that there is nothing else going on in there that we can’t see. On a positive note, Blue absolutely loves attention from everyone!
MAY 2024 UPDATE: We did updated x-rays on Blue. Her high ringbone is fused completely on the one side, which eliminates that bone rubbing, so she will be ok for riding. She does have thin soles, and would do best to be put in front shoes, however Blue is not a fan of having her front feet handled yet, so we will continue to work on that with the goal of putting shoes on her. She will be best suited for a home that likes to do arena ride, and light trail riding (walk/trot). Now that she is sound, we are beginning her “training” evaluations. Up to this point she lunges beautifully and does not seem to be spooky with anything we have thrown at her, but we are going to see how she does with saddle work!
FOREST RANGER (Ranger)
Ranger’s arrival on April 23, 2024
Ranger’s arrival on April 23, 2024
Ranger came to us on April 23, 2024 as an owner surrender. He was surrendered due to no fault of her own, but for his own health benefit. Ranger came to us from North Carolina. He has heaves (like COPD for people), and the weather/environment down in North Carolina was not conducive to his health. The heat, and humidity, and possibly the allergens all were contributing to his not being able to breath. When horses can’t breath well, they don’t eat, and Ranger lost a lot of weight during his episodes. His owner, and the rescue his owner got him from all felt it was in his best interest to move to the Northern States. Ranger is said to be 19 Quarter Horse , broke for a advanced beginner to ride, and he is so docile! Just the sweetest boy!
ADOPTION STATUS: Ranger is currently in quarantine, and then will undergoing evaluation.
MAY 2024 UPDATE: The vet came out and evaluated Ranger’s breathing, and overall health. When he arrived, it was immediately apparent that his teeth needed to be addressed, by how he was dropping food. His teeth are not good, not only are his front teeth worn at a diagonal, but his back teeth both arch and wave. He seems to have learned how to compensate for this, as he has clearly had teeth problems most his life. We are hopeful that with add mash portions, he should be able to keep his weight on. The vet said his lungs sounded great, we are optimistic that the move to the northern states, and changing the allergens will help him. We also had the farrier come out and correct the angle of his feet, as his toes were long. He stood like perfect gentleman, now it is just a matter of letting him gain some weight so we can see what type of home he would be a good fit for.
RESCUE AMBASSADOR
(NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION)
NWR Sergeant Trooper (Sarge)
SARGE’S ARRIVAL - SEPTEMBER 3, 2021
NOVEMBER 2023
Sarge was pulled from a Louisiana kill pen in September 2021, the day before he was to be shipped to slaughter, and right after Hurricane Ida went through. All we were told was that he was a yearling. He was the most fantastic horse we have encountered from the get go. Calm, curious, and sweet from the start, he still maintains those qualities to this day.
Sarge is a PERMANENT AMBASSADOR of North Winds Rescue. He not only the reason we started the rescue, but he is the face of the rescue. Sarge is the best horse to put in with our other rescues post quarantine, so we can see how the new rescues interact with other horses. It helps us establish how they will do with other horses, and what type of herd dynamic they will strive with. It is for this reason that Sarge will always call North Winds Rescue his home.
RESIDENT OF NORTH WINDS RESCUE HEALING PROGRAM
(NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION)
NWR WYATT RIPP (Rebel)
Rebel’s Listing Photo November 7, 2023
Rebel December 7, 2023
Rebel came to us November 8, 2023 from a pen in Minnesota. Rebel was said to be 5 months old, who came from a South Dakota Reservation. He seems to have had limited contact with people and is very nervous, in fact, he just hid behind his “brother” Chief. We seperated the two for a little while, and Rebel quickly became attached to Gregory (Valorie’s son). Gregory was the first person he touched, and Gregory was the first one that he took a treat from. After that Rebel became VERY social. He loves attention, and he loves to smell your breath. When we listed Rebel for adoption, Gregory was very upset and we discussed him adopting Rebel. Another horse had always been “in the cards”, but not a baby. But when you see that type of bond - you can’t NOT nourish it. So, Rebel is now part of our forever family. He will be part of the North Winds Healing program, and Gregory’s horse. Welcome to the family Rebel!!