“While time will fade their hoof prints, the ones left on our hearts will never disappear.” - Unknown
By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill, is a lush green meadow where time stands still. Where the friends of man and woman do run, when their time on earth is over and done. For here, between this world and the next, is a place where beloved creatures find rest. On this golden land, they wait and they play, til the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day. No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness, for here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness. Their limbs are restored, their health renewed. Their bodies have healed with strength imbued. They trot through the grass without even a care, til one day they whinny and sniff at the air. All ears prick forward, eyes sharp and alert. Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the herd. For just at that second, there’s no room for remorse. As they see each other… one person… one horse. So they run to each other, these friends from long past. The time of their parting is over at last. The sadness they felt while they were apart, has turned to joy once more in each heart. They nuzzle with a love that will last forever. And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.
SERGEANT TROOPER(Sarge)
October 6, 2026
The horse who started it all. The heart behind our mission. Forever our ambassador.
Some horses come into our lives and change everything. Sarge was that horse for us.
When Sarge came into our lives in September 2021, we never imagined how profoundly one horse could change our future. Rescuing him from the slaughter pipeline sparked something bigger than we could have ever anticipated. He became the reason North Winds Rescue and Healing was founded, the inspiration behind our mission, and the face of the work we are so passionate about today.
But Sarge was so much more than the horse who started a rescue. He was a teacher, a friend, an ambassador, and a source of connection for countless people. Through his presence, he helped children discover the joy of reading, gave people opportunities to experience the healing power of horses, and showed us that sometimes the most profound connections happen without a single word being spoken.
He had a way of leaving an impression on everyone he met. Whether you knew him as the horse who started it all, the familiar face at an event, or the gentle soul who helped you feel a little more at ease, Sarge had a place in your heart before you even realized it.
Losing Sarge so unexpectedly has left a heartbreak that words cannot fully express. An accident took him from us far too soon, leaving our family, our volunteers, and our entire rescue community grieving a horse who meant so much to so many. We wish we had been given more time, more memories, and more ordinary days with him. There is so much we still wish we could share with him.
But while his time with us was far too short, the impact of his life will never be measured by the years we had him.
Sarge's legacy is woven into the very foundation of North Winds Rescue and Healing. It lives on in every horse given a second chance, every child who finds confidence beside a horse, every person who experiences a moment of peace, and every connection made because we believe in the incredible bond between horses and humans.
We started this rescue because of Sarge. And while we never imagined having to say goodbye to him this soon, we know our work does not end with his passing. If anything, his memory reminds us why we must continue.
We will carry him into every new beginning, every challenge we overcome, and every life we have the privilege of touching. We will speak his name, share his story, and remember the horse who showed us just how much one life can change so many others.
Sarge, you were our beginning. You will always be a part of who we are. Though we can no longer stand beside you, we will continue the work you inspired, carrying your legacy forward with every horse we help and every heart we touch.
You were loved beyond measure, you are missed beyond words, and you will be remembered for a lifetime.
Run free, sweet boy. Thank you for giving us a purpose, for changing our lives, and for being the reason so many beautiful things began.
We started this because of you. We continue for you. And you will forever be in our hearts.
LOGAN SCOTT (Logan)
October 19, 2026
Logan Scott came into our lives in September 2026, a 16-year-old Appendix gelding who had been placed in protective custody by the county. When he arrived, his hooves had gone more than a year without being trimmed, and he had not received veterinary care in approximately the same amount of time. We knew he had a history of founder three years earlier and had been diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, but there was still so much we didn't know about his condition.
While in protective custody, we began addressing his most immediate needs. Logan received the long-overdue hoof trim he desperately needed, and we started getting him caught up on his vaccinations. His teeth were evaluated, and although he needed a dental float, we chose to space out his care to avoid overwhelming him. Despite these efforts, Logan remained in significant pain. Even after his trim, he struggled to move comfortably and would often stand with only three legs bearing weight, even with pain relievers. It was clear that something more was going on.
About a week and a half after his arrival, his owner agreed to surrender him to our care, giving us the opportunity to pursue further diagnostics and explore what could be done to improve his quality of life. We arranged for updated X-rays to better understand the extent of his founder and investigate the source of the pain in his hind leg. The X-rays showed that although the damage from founder was significant, it had not progressed substantially. Had that been his only challenge, there may have been options to help him achieve a comfortable, pasture-sound life. Unfortunately, the images of his stifle told a different story. There were significant arthritic changes and remodeling within the joint, suggesting an old injury that had never properly healed. The damage was so extensive that we knew a comfortable, pasture-sound life was no longer a realistic possibility.
At North Winds Rescue and Healing, we believe every horse deserves the Five Freedoms: freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain and disease, fear and distress, and the freedom to express normal behavior. As we looked at Logan's condition and what his future would hold, we had to face a heartbreaking truth. We could not give him the quality of life he deserved. So, we made the decision no rescue ever wants to make. We gave Logan one final act of kindness and allowed him to leave this world peacefully, free from the pain that had taken so much from him.
It wasn't the outcome we had hoped for when he came into our care. We wanted to help him heal, to give him comfort, and to offer him a future. But sometimes, rescue doesn't mean finding a way to keep fighting. Sometimes, it means having the courage to recognize when the kindest thing we can do is let go.
Logan's story may not have ended with a miraculous recovery or a new beginning in an adoptive home, but his life mattered. He mattered. We are grateful we had the opportunity to advocate for him, to seek answers, and to ensure that his final chapter was guided by compassion rather than continued suffering.
Run free, Logan Scott. May your legs carry you effortlessly now, may you know only comfort, and may the pain you carried here be nothing more than a distant memory.
You were loved, you were seen, and you will forever be in our hearts
HONEY LYNN (Honey)
July 21, 2025
Honey Lynn came to us in May 19, 2025, a soft-eyed, sweet-tempered 23-year-old mare in need of a safe place to land. Despite the challenges she arrived with, she immediately showed us just how much heart and grace she carried.
Honey Lynn suffered from advanced navicular disease in both front hooves, a club foot, and chronic lameness in both of her hind legs. Her body told a story of years spent trying to compensate for discomfort—yet through it all, she remained gentle, willing, and trusting. We don't know much about her past, other than she went to the CMRF in DeKalb already sore from standing on walnuts.
From her first day with us, our team did everything we could to manage her pain and provide comfort. She enjoyed quiet moments in the pasture, gentle grooming sessions, and the calm companionship of other horses. Though her stay was short, it was full of care, dignity, and love.
Over the past weeks, it became increasingly clear that her pain was progressing, and the burden on her aging body was growing heavier. She had begun losing weight despite our best efforts to put weight on her, and had continuous gut issues (which led us to investigate finding that her gut sounded like she had stones - not just sand as horses get from time to time). After thorough veterinary consultation and many heartfelt conversations, we made the deeply difficult decision to lay Honey Lynn to rest. We chose to say goodbye not because we wanted to, but because she deserved relief.
Honey Lynn is now free from pain—running without restriction, no longer burdened by a body that couldn't keep up with her spirit.
She may not have been with us long, but she mattered. She mattered deeply.
Rest easy, Honey Lynn. We were honored to love you through your final chapter. You will forever be part of our herd and our hearts.
TUCSON CATALINA (Lena)
June 26, 2023
Lena came to us May 28, 2023 from a private owner in Lake Geneva, WI. She was believed to be 18 years old, said to be broke to ride, and was surrendered only because the owner was having trouble keeping weight on her. When she arrived we noticed that her right hock was double the size of the left, and it was very painful for her. We were unsure if it was a new injury or an old injury.
We had the vet come out to evaluate her, and we decided to start with putting her on joint supplements and giving her some pain meds to see if that helped with the inflammation. Next steps would be to do an x-ray and go from there.
We posted a video of Lena on our social media, that went viral. It just happened to be that Lena’s original owner (who purchased her as a yearling) saw the video, and reached out to us. After a lot of discussion we determined this was indeed the same horse, and her registered name was Ms. Special Poise. She was not 18, in fact she was 29 years old, and she the hock which we were concerned with had been an issue for years. She had actually received injections for it, and last the original owner had heard she was retired from showing because she could not trot on it. Her original owner had kept track of her until about 5 years ago, but up until that point knew that she had been very well cared for.
With the new information of Lena being 29, we realized a lot of things made more sense. This is most likely why her surrendering owner had trouble keeping weight on her, among other things. We consulted with our vet regarding our options for her painful hock. Given her true age, and the fact that she had already received intervention on that hock for years prior, it was determined there is nothing further that we would be able to do for her to get her pasture sound. Her hock is so painful, that we were not even able to trim her feet without her going 3 legged lame. We had such high hopes that we would have been able to help her be a sound and happy horse again, but it is not fair to keep a horse in constant pain just because we do not want to say good-bye.
With very heavy hearts, we decided that Lena would be laid to rest. May she run whole and free in green pastures forever. You will be greatly missed, and forever in our hearts, sweet girl.