Helping Horses

In honor of "Help a Horse Day" on April 26, we asked our readers to share photos and success stories of horses they've rescued or adopted. Here are a few of their stories. | Photo: iStock

Helping Horses: "Mr. XL"

"This is my pride, Mr. XL. He is an old riding school horse. I bought him when he was 20 and retired from the hard work. Needless to say, huge horses like him don't tend to live very long, especially when working (as hard as he did). He is 25 and still full of energy. We are hoping for 30." | Photo: Jana Hucul Mulacova

Helping Horses: Young Colt

"This little boy was 3 months old when he came to me with his mom. She was very scared of people, but happily he was too young to find out what she knew about bad humans. Now she is 21, and he is 7." | Photo: Zuzanna Rajchert

Helping Horses: Before and After

Evelyn Sabraw shared these photos of one of her rescues from last summer. "She's doing fantastic now and is in a very loving home," she said. | Photo: Evelyn Sabraw

Helping Horses: "Candy"

"This is my mare Candy. She was my first rescue horse and I got her in 2002. She had been horribly abused by a woman. She didn't trust women, but she was okay with men. She arrived cut up and filthy, and wasn't into being loved on. With lots of love, patience, and time, she is now a great little trail, barrel, and pole horse. She goes English and Western, loves attention, and is a jewel with kids!" | Photo: Anne Blue

Helping Horses: "Smokee Bruno"

"I rescued this sweet little stud colt in May 2014. He had suffered severe neglect at the hands of his owner and, because of his clubbed hoof and opposite bowed-out leg, he was to be put down. I found a doctor in Sheridan, Wyoming, who agreed to perform the surgeries he needed. Seven months and almost $14,000 later, my free little stud colt now has perfect legs. He's an amazing little boy ... a true miracle worth every penny. Here he is before his surgeries." | Photo: Angielynnshorseadventures

Helping Horses: "Spree"

"I found Spree on Craigslist. When we arrived she was in a small chute in a dark barn. She had a severe eye infection and was pretty underweight." | Photo: Ashley Stamm

Helping Horses: "Daylon Brandy"

"This is my adopted Standardbred, Daylon Brandy. I love her to death! We competed to training level and she taught me everything I know about eventing!" | Photo: Brittany Stinson-Todd

Helping Horses: Arabian Stallion

"I rescued this Arabian Stallion on Jan. 12, 2012, when he was two days from shipping to Mexico." | Photo: Barbara D. Johnson

Helping Horses: "Archer"

"Archer, saved from a Washington feedlot, is a purebred Welsh Cob. He is so beautiful and packed full of pony personality. He was taken to auction because he had a history of bucking, but we are working through that. I love him!" | Photo: Cori Dundy

Helping Horses: Premarin Foals

"We rescued these two boys about 7 years ago. They were both 'byproducts' of the drug Premarin and were at a feedlot in Canada." | Photo: Lisa Albillar

Helping Horses: "Atreyu"

"Pictured on the left is Atreyu the day I took him home and out of his previous owners hands. On the right is him about a year later. When I brought him home, he was terrified of ropes, sticks, and anything you had in your hands. Now you can almost do anything with him. He's a good boy and loves to be loved on." | Photo: Nina Amelung

Helping Horses: "Tommy"

"This is Tommy, my 24-year-old OTTB, who does 2nd level dressage with his Pony Club rider. He raced until his was 9 and I got him at 12. He's healthy, happy, and the kindest horse I have ever known." | Photo: N. Cate Burnette

Helping Horses: "Sundance"

"Sundance was rescued by Founder Rehab Ranch. Before and after a severe clubfoot sent him to the feedlot in Washington nine years ago. He was a year old at the time, and now is perfectly sound and sassy as can be!" | Photo: Peggy Hetlage

Helping Horses: "Adele"

"My mare Adele, who was rescued by a local rescue and I adopted her from them. She now lives the good life and does not have to fear if she gets her next meal!" | Photo: Deanna Belanger

Helping Horses: "Zorro"

"Zorro on the day I rescued him (left). I had been sneaking him food for a month at this point. On the right is Zorro after a lot of TLC." | Photo: Stephanie Fitkin

Helping Horses: "Delta"

"My mustang Delta from Live and Let Live Farm in New Hampshire." | Photo: Cassie White

Helping Horses: "Rosie"

"I've rehabbed about 20 horses over the past six years. It's rewarding to see them blossom then move on to new homes. This is our current rehab/rescue. Her name is Rosie. She is 22 years young. The photo on the left was taken about a week after she arrived. Here she is now (photo on the right) before she shed her winter fluff. She's been here about 3 months." | Photo: Susan Deming

Helping Horses: "Midnight"

"Midnight is a rescue from the Large Animal Protection Society of Pennsylvania, who loves to roll in the mud." | Photo: Ann Cervino

Helping Horses: Azteca Stallion

"I found this horse in a chicken coop at a trash collection facility. The floor was concrete. He spent a week at the hospital. He was a basket case both physically and mentally, but improves every day. He will be my next Grand Prix horse!" | Photo: Susan Thomas

Helping Horses: "Blue"

"I have rescued a few horses. I think the worst case I have rescued is Blue. She had strangles, then subclinical strangles, and then got Australian stringhalt. These are her before and after photos." | Photo: Jennifer Delaney