Trooper, the 6-year-old Arabian gelding shot in the head and abandoned in the Deschutes National Forest in Oregon now has a new home, a new name, and a future helping kids in need.

The horse, renamed Hero, arrived at the Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Bend, Ore., on Nov. 21. He continues to recover from surgeries to remove his left eye and repair a serious leg wound. Eventually, he will join the ranch’s free riding instruction program that pairs rescued horses with children in need.

“We changed his name to Hero because of all he’s been through,” said ranch equine program manager Kelsie Patka. “He’s a symbol of hope.”

U.S. Forest Service officers and local horse owners rescued Hero from the forest Oct. 15. Russell Willeford, 27, of Banks, Ore., was charged with criminal animal abuse in connection with the incident.