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Ashley's story is truly inspiring! Her resilience in overcoming adversity and embracing life as an Equine Ambassador is a testament to her strength and character. The loss of Ashley's eye has not hindered her ability to make a difference in our clients' lives. By sharing her journey of forgiveness and determination, she not only empowers others but also serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration. Her involvement in equine assisted programs, outreach to elementary schools, and participation in events like Think Differently and National Night Out underscores her commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others. Ashley's role as a symbol of rescue and rehabilitation highlights the transformative power of compassion and second chances. Through her work, she not only helps clients discover their own resilience but also fosters a sense of possibility and empowerment. Learn more about Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue, Inc. here .

Bear is one of the most popular and reliable horses in the Special Equestrians herd. Registered as Wagontrain MHH, this special Haflinger was inducted into Equus Foundation’s Horse Stars Hall of Fame in early 2024. For more than two decades, Bear has played a critical role in every program Special Equestrians offers. From beginner to advanced lessons to hippotherapy sessions and community outreach, he has touched the lives of thousands of individuals with cerebral palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, brain injury, PTSD and more, all with his ears pricked forward hoping for a treat. As our evaluation horse, Bear has seen nearly all the riders in our mounted therapeutic riding programs during his time at Special Equestrians. He is consistently dependable, doing his work with a sense of purpose and pride. Bear is extremely conscious of the rider he is carrying. For our most fragile riders, instructors and therapists trust him to walk slowly and quietly, especially from the mounting ramp. Bear also participates in our on- and off-site group programs and has worked with 25 community partners over the years, including area schools and nursing homes. Even as a senior, he remains active and engaged with all who cross his path. All told, this dependable workhorse has participated in over 10,000 lessons! Learn more about Special Equestrians here .

West is a 9 y/o gelding by Street Sense out of Goaltending. West was bred by Godolphin, sold for $70,000 as a yearling. West went on to 78 races with a record of 6-13-14 and earnings of $128,093. West is TB Makeover RRP eligible, just racing in January of this year.   West has been ridden a couple of times and has proven to be very nice under saddle with a great canter.  West does have large osselets on both front legs, that are a blemish and do not affect his athletic abilities.   West is good about grooming and picking up his feet, he has no vices.  West is a lovely horse and likes to be fussed over.   West is our ambassador as he epitomizes the heart of the thoroughbred, he is brave, noble and willing to do whatever is asked of him. Learn more about Second Chance Thoroughbreds Inc. here .

DK Miss America is a very special equine Standardbred ambassador at Sunshine Horses. She represents the mild mannerisms of this breed. Dawn was saved from slaughter many years ago, actually pulled off the truck. The woman that saved her was named Dawn, hence the name Sunshine Horses chose for this mare. She had been adopted but then returned through no fault of her own. Because of her kind, patient nature the organization uses her for horse/human bonding with visitors and volunteers. She loves the attention. Recently, Dawn was diagnosed with glaucoma and requires daily medication and an ultraviolet protection mask to prevent further damage. The enclosed photo shows her with her mask as she interacts with one of our younger volunteers. Learn more about Sunshine Horses Inc. here .

Eliza is many things. Patient, kind, assertive, hard working, persistent, and resilient. Much like the many veterans, children and adults with disabilities, at risk youth, and incarcerated women that she works with at Endeavor. Whether you are a new rider cautious about a novel activity, an advanced rider working on trotting skills, or an adult working through your personal challenges on the ground with the horse and a therapist - she is trusted partner. Eliza is one of our more senior equine partners. Prior to coming to the Endeavor Farm, she was a three day event pony and a lesson pony. Always game for a new adventure, Eliza took to her new career at Endeavor with gusto. She also lives her best life with one eye. She has learned to adapt and does not let this challenge keep her from any of her favorite people or activities. She is a role model for the many participants, volunteers, and staff that she works with at the farm. Since her time at Endeavor, she has provided over 500 lessons and equine assisted therapy sessions. All with a loose relaxed lip, perked happy ears, and a swish of her tail to say let's go! Thank you, Eliza, for bringing your wisdom and caring soul to each person you meet. We love you! Learn more about Endeavor Therapeutic Horsemanship, Inc. here .

GiGi is the type of horse you only encounter once in a lifetime. She has excelled as a therapy horse for most of her life and loves all her jobs. Her weekly schedule includes work as an adaptive riding horse, in speech or occupational therapy sessions, doing natural horsemanship, and as part of the herd for equine-assisted psychotherapy sessions. While being ridden by adoring students, GiGi seems to have promoted herself to instructor, as she knows exactly how much movement her student needs in that given lesson. Her forward bouncy walk provides the perfect amount of sensory input for many of our children on the autism spectrum who need an elevated level of vestibular input. Her quirky and inquisitive personality, much like the class clown of the farm, makes her a barn favorite for our veteran and first responder programs, working with at-risk youth and keeping our clients in the moment and grounded during therapy sessions. GiGi is also a personal favorite of one of our staff members. Together, they have done mounted drill team to music from The Greatest Showman, dressage freestyle to ‘Rise Up’ by Andra Day, and have shown in barrel racing, western jumping, and gymkhana events. She is, without a doubt, one of the best therapy horses you will ever meet and has helped hundreds of children and adults throughout her career. Learn more about Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Inc. here .

Jane came to us from a neglect case in South Jersey. Law enforcement reached out and asked for our help with the case. We worked closely with the State Vet and Detectives. Jane is an off the track thoroughbred who was placed improperly by an Aftercare Program when she was injured during training at 3 years old. Her 3rd failed placement was with a man named Rooster Featherston. He also operated a paint ball business from his farm. Rooster neglected over 100 animals on his farm and was charged with felonies as a result. The cows and horses were trapped in barn stalls with manure up to their knees. To this day Jane and her best friend Stevie who also escaped Rooster’s farm cannot step foot inside a barn because of their trauma. To accommodate them all of their medical care, feeding, farrier care and vetting are done in their pasture. This is harder on us but better for them. There is no place for horses like Jane to go besides a safe haven like our sanctuary. She’s young and beautiful but she’s not able to be ridden and therefore has no value. A horse’s body condition is measure on a scale of 1-9. A body score of one is days away from death and a nine is morbidly obese. When we rescued Jane she was a body score of 1. When a horse is this thin and fragile they must be put on a slow re-feeding program to prevent organ failure and death. Because Jane could not be stalled in the barn we had to build a temporary pen and shelter to rehabilitate her and Stevie. Our vet met us at the farm as we pulled in with Jane and immediately warned us that we would likely lose her. Re-feeding is so touch and go and hospitalization was not in her best interest as it’s such a stressful environment. For the first three days Jane was given a handful of hay every two hour and we slowly moved up from there. We follow the UC Davis re-feeding program which strongly advocates for alfalfa hay to replenish electrolytes and gives precise measurements for everything from salt to fat and protein. We gave Jane 6 medicated baths and two doses of ivermectin just to get her lice under control. We micro-dosed iron each day to treat her severe anemia. The moment she was strong enough to stand for sedation we floated her teeth and trimmed her long feet. Rehabilitating her entire body took a full year and to this day she gets foot sore without shoes. She’s also on her 3rd round of treatments for ulcers which costs us $1,500 each time. Janes meticulous rehab cost us over $10,000. She’s safe with us for life which also means our organization covers her daily care for the next 20 years. Her annual cost of basic care is $5,400. Now Jane lives in a herd with Stevie, Glowy, Bucky and her boyfriend Sully. She loves to be brushed and doted on. She’s also a water baby who loves to play and dunk her whole head in the water trough. She’s finally receiving the care she’s always deserved. Learn more about Bluemont Sanctuary here .

Every so often, a truly remarkable rehabilitation case comes our way. Meet Johnny Ritt, a talented racehorse who earned nearly half a million dollars in his impressive five-year career. Unfortunately, Johnny's final race ended in a horrible accident, where he fell over another horse, resulting in a severely wrenched back. But don't worry, this incredible gelding received top-notch care at The Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center, and then spent six months at New Beginnings Thoroughbreds for further rehabilitation. Despite the setbacks, Johnny's spirit remains strong, and he continues to inspire everyone around him with his resilience and intelligence, relying on stalls walls for support and not laying down for months in the beginning. We're confident that with time, patience, and the right care, Johnny will make a full recovery and find a new purpose in life, perhaps even bringing joy to those in need through equine-assisted therapy programs. If you're interested in being a part of Johnny's journey and helping him reach his full potential, please reach out. Together, we can make a difference in this special horse's life! Learn more about New Beginnings Thoroughbreds, Inc here .

Justine, a tall, pretty but not fancy, Off-the-track Thoroughbred mare, deserves some joy and recognition. She has not had much to celebrate in her 20 years. Her registered name, "JCJustanothername", sums up her history. Her barn name, Justine, is much more elegant and fitting. Her racing career was cut short on the track by a flying stone to her eye that blinded it. This kind mare quietly adapted to her disability. She became a reliable lesson horse, safely carrying her riders on trails and in the arena. When her owner died, she was passed on. Someone cared enough for her to contact Begin Again Horse Rescue and we took her in. Justine would love to be someone's focus. This sweet, intermediate level mare is ready for adventures with a new partner. She just needs to be appreciated. Learn more about Begin Again Horse Rescue Inc here .

Louie, a 14-year-old Thoroughbred, was surrendered in the Spring of 2020. Louie for years had been used as a lesson horse, but suddenly became lame. Without being able to be ridden as a lesson horse, which off-set his family’s boarding fees, along with the expense of trying to diagnose his lameness, the family was no longer able to keep him. While with us, we have been able to diagnose his lameness as Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM). The disease affects a horse’s capacity for the brain to send signals to the spinal cord. The result is a loss in mobility and balance. Through a change in diet and a comprehensive regiment of medications, we have been able to reverse some of the damage caused by the disease, but unfortunately not all. To keep Louie mentally and physically engaged, we have begun trick training him. Learn more about Roanchar Ranch Draft Horse Rescue here .

Rosie was found tied to a chain link fence on the streets of Philadelphia, and she was without food or water for quite some time. She was nothing but a bag of bones and seemed to have experienced a lot of abuse and pain. This little pony was meant for bigger things. Rosie was meant to teach children that good can come from bad and that anything is possible with a little love and faith. She currently serves in our Equine-Facilitated Learning classes and works with children who have experienced significant trauma and hardship in their lives. Rosie makes a connection with everyone she meets. She has helped young teens struggling with addiction learn how to find a new path to wellness. She has helped grieving mothers find hope. Despite her humble beginnings, without a show record, awards or accolades, Rosie is a star at the Gleneayre Equestrian Program. This little pony, who was afraid, timid, and lost, went on to learn new skills, trust humans, and heal souls. Best expressed by a program participant, "Before I came here, I didn't know anything about horses. Now I know I love them. I know that Rosie loves me. I haven't felt love like that in a long time." Learn more about Gleneayre Equestrian Program here .

Gentle, kind, and hardworking, Sven, a Norwegian Fjord, has been at the heart of Horses with Hope and a favorite among participants and volunteers since his arrival in 2014. Admired not only for his personality and temperament but also for his distinctive dual-colored mane, Sven is instantly recognizable. Although he has retired from the riding program, he continues to thrive in unmounted programs, supporting veterans, youth, and adults in need. Throughout his career at Horses with Hope, Sven has touched countless lives and continues to make a difference each day. Learn more about Horses with Hope, Inc here .

Tink is a 20-year old paint mare who joined the Mane Stream herd in 2010. She is loved by riders, staff and volunteers for her calm, steady and sweet personality. Tink is a wonderful horse for riders of all levels and really shines with new riders. She has an ability to bring out the best in her riders. Tolerant of riders who are just learning, Tink makes it easy for them to gain confidence in every lesson. She is a favorite mount in our Annual Horse Show because she loves the crowds and performs well even when her riders are a little nervous. Tink is the perfect Equine Ambassador for Mane Stream because she embodies all of the characteristics of a great adaptive riding horse. Beginning riders love her easy trot and she is predictable and steady during lessons. And, Tink makes the perfect canvas for summer campers and field trip participants. Using water-based paints, they turn her into colorful masterpieces. Tink enjoys attention and is well-loved by everyone she meets. Learn more about Mane Stream, Inc. here .

Touching My Toes gave her all on the track, running twenty-seven races and earning over $244,000. When her left foreleg collapsed in her final start, she was sent for breeding to carry the next generation. But after her months-old filly was taken from her and her body became too frail to sustain another pregnancy, she was cast aside. Unbridled found her severely neglected, starving, and forgotten on a frozen pasture. Through dedicated care, she regained her strength, her spirit, and the safety she had never known. Now, as Unbridled’s Equine Ambassador, she gives a voice to the countless horses who were never given the chance to be saved. Her journey is a testament to the power of compassion, reminding the world that these horses are not objects or commodities but emotional, intelligent, and sentient beings who deserve love, dignity, and lifelong care. Learn more about Unbridled Thoroughbred Foundation here .