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 making a donation to support one of the rescues, you can click this link.
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.
Adoption fees are subject to change, but are not negotiable.
The price you see below is their current fee.
Please see the adoption application below.
RUBY IN THE ROUGH (Ruby)
Ruby the day she arrived on May 1, 2026
Ruby on August 5, 2026
Ruby came to us as an owner surrender on May 1, 2026. She was surrendered due to medical concerns (Insulin Resistant and Navicular) resulting in her owner not being able to ride her like she wished to. Ruby is said to be 16 years old, and 15.1h. She is a quarter horse. said to be broke out with buttons and easy enough for a beginner, and she used to show. We will be having our vets run some updated labs on Ruby so we can see where she is at, and will adjust her diet accordingly. Stay tuned, for more information!
ADOPTION STATUS: Ruby is available for adoption
Adoption Fee: $1,500
We are currently accepting applications for Ruby.
JUNE 2026 UPDATE: This girl has shed out and she is BEAUTIFUL! Ruby was just seen by the vet, we ran some updated blood tests and the good news is her diet is doing wonders for her insulin resistance. The bad news is, Ruby will need a dry lot where her sugar intake can be limited for the unforeseeable future. We also took some update xrays of her front hooves, and when we started working with her last week, we noticed that she seemed to be stepping very ‘gingerly’ as if tender footed. X-rays showed no rotation of the coffin bone, which is fantastic news, but it did show that she had developed much thinner soles. We have her farrier appointment set with the farrier for June 2, and will be putting on some Bartek twin shoes! We will give her a couple of cycles and see how that goes for her soundness.
JULY 2026 UPDATE: Ruby is just the sweetest girl and take everything in stride when it comes to humans. She does not LOVE all of the other horses, and seems to be higher in the pecking order. She especially does not like smaller horses and can be overly aggressive towards them around stalls and food. Ruby had a lameness exam and determined her being unsound is due to the navicular. We are giving her more time with shoes and also put her on some equioxx to help with the inflammation. NEW UPDATE: Ruby is doing great on the meds, and just had her shoes reset and is sound! We have started her evaluations, and will be posting that video soon. She is beginner safe, but is very food motivated (will try to grab snacks any chance she gets).
AUGUST 2026 UPDATE: Ruby is doing great. She does still get ouchy sometimes, and we aren’t sure if it is having too much pasture access or too much riding. She seems to do well with shorter riding session, more controlled footing (like in an arena) and a rider under 130 lbs. Because of this we are recommending her adoption be with the understanding that she is for light riding. She is so sweet, she had a beginner rider on her, and was happy to tote said rider around!
SEPTEMBER 2026 UPDATE: Ruby is still doing great. We reset her bartek shoes, and they are working wonderful for her. We have kept her in the routine of pasture with grazing muzzle during the day, and stall with hay at night, and she has not been lame since we switched to that. She has given pony rides, and done 2 miles in our back pasture going up and down the hill and all around. This is fantastic news, and now she is just waiting for her forever home!
IVAN THE GREAT (Ivan)
Ivan the day he arrived on August 21, 2026
Ruby on August 29, 2026
Ivan came to us as an owner surrender on August 21, 2026. He was surrendered due to his owner ‘getting out of horses’, no fault of his own. Ivan is said to be 19 years old, and 14.1h. He is supposed to be a paso cross, and. said to be broke out with buttons intermediate friendly. His previous owner said he “has a go button when it comes to jumping”. He has been on trails with other horses, and even said to go out solo. We will be doing evaluations throughout the week and can’t wait to learn more about him. All we know is he seems to do well under saddle, and is top of the herd hierarchy.
ADOPTION STATUS: Ivan is pending evaluations, and not yet officially available.
Adoption Fee: $1,750
We are currently accepting applications for IVAN.
SCOUTS HONOR (Scout)
Scout the day he arrived to foster on August 22, 2026
Scout on stall rest September 8, 2026
Scout came to us as an owner surrender on August 22, 2026. He was surrendered due to his suspensory ligament issue, and his owner not being able to afford 2 horses. Scout is said to be 17 years old, and 15h. He is an appaloosa, and said to be broke out to ride, even beginner friendly. His previous owner said she was able to ride 8 miles at a walk and him not be uncomfortable, but that he would get uncomfortable if riding at a trot or canter. Scout was injured at his fosters after just a couple of days of being there. He pawed up a ground wire and sliced the back side of his pastern pretty deep, to the point that the tendon sheath was involved. We did antibiotics and are wrapping it daily, as well as being on stall rest until he is healed. The good news is, he remains sound on that leg! We are not sure how long it will take to heal, if it heals, but we are staying hopeful that he is a trooper and will come out the other side just fine. Until then he gets as much love as we can offer, and lots of toys and snacks. He really is a very sweet boy!
ADOPTION STATUS: Scout is currently pending medical evaluation, and not yet officially available.
Adoption Fee: TBD
We are not currently accepting applications for Scout until we know he is “out of the woods”
OPALESCENCE MARIE(Opal)
Opal January 1, 2026
Opal June 2, 2026
Opal came to us from a rescue situation. She is approximately 20 years old and has some trust issues that we are trying to work through. Until she is a well behaved citizen, she will remain with us, and will not be available for adoption. While she is cute, she does sometimes breathe fire.
ADOPTION STATUS: Opal is undergoing training to learn manners. She is not available for adoption
Adoption Fee: TBD
We are not currently accepting applications for Opal.
JUNE 2026 UPDATE: Opal has come a long way from where she began. While she is a lot more tolerant, she still is not willing to work with people who have not established a relationship with her yet. Even then she is complicated to say the least. We are making progress, but it is very slow! Follow her journey on facebook for her latest progress!
JULY 2026 UPDATE: Opal is still making good progress, and continues to improve. She does seem to keep her circle of trust very limited at this time.
AUGUST 2026 UPDATE: Opal has started using buttons to learn how to communicate with us. Follow her journey on our facebook!
RESCUE AMBASSADOR
(NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION)
NWR Sergeant Trooper (Sarge)
SARGE’S ARRIVAL - SEPTEMBER 3, 2021
July 18, 2025
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
July 18, 2025
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.
Rebel will be part of the North Winds Healing program, and Gregory’s horse. Welcome to the family Rebel!!