So for those who may be interested in the lives of the horses we are currently supporting – please see below – for those interested in sponsoring a horse from the list – they are all available – everyone needs a special friend! For those thinking of maybe adopting – best bet is to give us a call or email and we’ll set a day/time for an initial visit and go from there – Horse Play DOES NOT adopt out green horses or horses still presenting behavioral issues – this is because if things go south, the horse will just wind up back here – we’d rather take the time it takes to help them become the super partners they are capable of becoming – also adoption is a bit of a process – not like picking out a pair of shoes – if you think you may be interested please know we require all potential adopters to visit the horse a minimum of 8 - 10 times – we prefer more – we want adoption to be forever and strive to find the best match – We’ve had pretty good results this way – since our beginning in 1999 with over 210 horses helped – we’ve only had 6 returned to us and we’ve only had to go and repo 3. So read on if you like – one day we might turn this into a book or at least a comic strip!

Brief bios and descriptions of the Horses at Horse Play (as of 11/16/2011)

Aidan – 24 yr old 16 hand, bay T’bred mare – a “founding member” – the Alpah mare of the big herd – been with me for almost 20 years – saved from slaughter with one hoof on the kill-buyer’s trailer. She’s pretty much Deidre’s horse but she does dabble in lessons and camp

Reno – 15 yr old, 13.3 hand redun/Appy Mustang – rounded up at 10 or 11 yrs – rounded up from Herd Management area in Nevada - sent to adoption site and was adopted along with Sabio and Buddha by well-intended folks who ran out of money after a year and half and lost their farm – no gentling had been done with him (or the others) and when the bank was taking over, we were contacted to help since the alternative was to send them to auction i.e slaughter – a hoof injury resulting in damage/deforimity to hoof shape and capsule (sustained probably during round up) is a continual project  - but he is a holy horse sweet and the gentlest soul.

Sabio – 15 yr old, 15hand, bay Mustang – the Alpha male of the big herd -  from a different Herd Management Area in Nevada – he is one of the three – along with Reno and Buddha – who almost went up the road when the bak  foreclosed on a farm – he is still retains a lot of his “wildness” but once he trusts he will stick like glue – he has insulin resistance and is starting to learn more ground driving and other spooky stuff – he will eventually be started under saddle – when he is ready – this horse was possibly a band stallion and had a herd of mare and maybe babies – he lost a lot in the round up – his entire family – we feel we need to honor him and take things as slow as necessary – he carries a sadness with him at times.

Buddha – 15 yr old, 15 hand Red Roan Mustang –  # 2 in the herd pecking order – came with Sabio and Reno – bull-headed and stubborn – quiet gentleness works best with him – he is an enigma and we still figuring him out.

Princess – 8 yr old 15.1 hand grey QH(?)mare – green – was very runtly until a couple of years ago – has grown and filled out nicely –  was surrendered to Horse Play at 10 months as owner  had some physical issues that prevented him from keeping a youngster  - she is very, very smart and very much a lead mare in the making

Rasa – 8 yr old, 15 hand bay T’bred mare – last raced in Philadelphia Park – was claimed for less than $300 and sold immediately at New Holland auction for $500 to meat buyer – buyer/s truck had broken down and Rasa and at least 5 others were waiting at auction stables when Horse Play was alerted and asked to contribute to her “bail” – money was sent and she was rescued from the meat buyer at New Holland hours before his truck was going to take her and 5 others to Canada – crazy thing was – the folks that initiated the sale from the KB didn’t have a place for her to go so again we were contacted and we said yes to her coming here – she arrived very ill with pneumonia – spent 6 weeks in QT and has since been figuring out how to be a horse.

Buddy – 9 yr old, 15.2 hand, sorrel, Tennessee Walking Horse – had growth problems as a youngster – then a retained testicle – was adopted once and the person was diagnosed with terminal cancer and we brought him back – was adopted again a year and half later where (even though we visit) folks forgot to feed him or something along those lines and we took him back – 275 lbs  underweight – he is sweet and goofy – still green – we have been re-introducing him to play under saddle as well as trail riding.

Raven – 22 yr old, 18 hand, black Hanoverian/T’bred cross – Raven came to us when his trust fund ran out – he was originally schooled as an eventer – but sat idle for about 10 years – being boarded but no real interaction other than the necessities – he developed dome serious behavioral issues that almost cost him his life – when the funds ran dry he was going to be sent to auction or put down (at 18 yrs old)  - luckily the barn manager referred the owner to us – now Raven has loads of fun playing with Buddy – learning about trail rides and even does lessons and camp – the behavioral issues disappeared almost overnight as soon as he was allowed to be with other horses, diet change and some compassionate human interaction.

Bodhi – 18 yr old, 15.2 hand black/bay Appendix QH – Bodhi has been a ranch horse and a lead trial horse – we helped out another rescue by taking Bodhi 3 years ago - his owner had serious financial issues as well as health concerns – he was adopted almost immediately and was quite happy for about 2 years – then he started acting up – he was returned to us with suspected “eye/vision” issues  - however – we had his eyes checked by 2 vets (one a vet opthamologist) and they couldn’t find anything amiss – then last spring he started acting weird – he has been diagnosed with “photic head shaking” and we have had tremendous success treating him with just a dark fly mask – he is an awesome trail horse but for an experienced rider with light hands – you need to trust him!

Red – 15 yr old, 16.3 hand Chestnut T’bred – a grandson of Secretariat – he raced til he was 9yrs old and amassed almost a million dollars in winnings – then he became a saddle horse for a teenager who lost interest fairly  quickly – he was kept at a boarding facility where his feet went neglected for over 9 months (he had the same shoes on for that long!) – kid’s parents decided to try and sell him as they didn’t want the expense if the child was no longer interested – needless to say when he was shown to prospective buyers he was very off-ish – from overgrown feet and compensating putting some stress on tendons and ligaments – realizing they would be able to sell him privately,  he was going to go to the auction – another boarder spoke up and told them that he would likely end up at slaughter and recommended us – we loaded him in the trailer and he’s never looked back – he has been almost adopted but a divorce dashed that dream – he is a lesson, camp and trail horse here – wonderful and very laid-back

Timmy – 16yr old, 16.1 hand bay Appendix QH – former polo horse, maybe rodeo? – he has an arthritic knee (doesn’t bother him at all as long as he has his MSM) which dashed all hopes of him being a children’s hunter so he was surrendered to us – what they didn’t tell us was he also had a cervical spine injury (soft tissue) – found that out the hard way – whoohoo what a ride!– also don’t think he ever did a trail ride but he’ll learn – he is being rehabbed with chiropractic, massage and lots of stretching – going back into some ground driving and under saddle play – he adores his best friend Murphy (and Murphy adores him too!)

Murphy – 30(?)yr old, 15 hand bay QH/Arab – a saint, a sweetheart – currently laid-up with a huge laceration to his left hind leg – doing very well! Was surrendered to us because he had a very minor tendon strain and  they felt he was too old – this horse has been sound, sane- an awesome trail horse and great lesson horse – what more could they have wanted?

Monkey – 15.2 hand, 18 yr old sorrel American Saddlebred – was an impressive show horse but carries a ton of baggage – serious behavior issues, bites sometimes, gates, tacking up (but once you are onboard he’s an angel), feet were grossly overgrown – a mess! But he is coming right along – he’s great with other horses and figuring out people aren’t all bad – he’ll be fine!

Corsair – 15.1 hand, 13 yr old grey T’bred/Welsh Cob - he came to us with a “bucking” issue – after vet and different saddles eval, it appears to be related to weight loss and improper saddle fit – horses don’t really like it when the saddle bangs on their spine – he is also the horse who sustained the serious eye injury 2 weeks after he came to Horse Play – but that has healed with no eye or vision problems and we are putting him back in the playground with some lessons and personal one-on-one handling and relationship building.

Tater –  14.2 hand, 34 yr old, black/bay Shetland/Arab QH – a wonderful youngster – lots of potential – will be started under saddle this winter – very smart and sweet too

Thunderbolt – 15,hand, 38-40yr old black Morgan – our old manny – from Bonniedale Farm – had some urinary tract issues but all better now – he has free run of the property 80% of the time – a wooly bear – huggable, sometimes sweet sometimes cranky (just ears back once in awhile if you try to get him away from HIS grass)- his personality and intelligence is amazing – he can problem solve like a person

Junior – 14.1 hand, 8 yr old, chestnut Mustang – was rounded up a couple of years ago and adopted on his 3^rd strike for $25 – folks didn’t realize that wild means wild and also that he really does need to eat something –the local Animal control was breathing down their necks so  he was sent to the auction a day ahead where the owners were told there was no “buyer” present at that time and also he was too skinny to go through the auction so they’d have to find another solution – enter Horse Play – Junior is well on his way to becoming a super saddle horse, friend and partner

Sancho – 14.2 hand, 17 yr old bay Arab – at one time this horse did it all – the last 4 years with his previous owner however he did nothing except get shown to potential buyers but he is hard to fit a saddle and probably had some painful experiences ( he is learning to overcome a nasty habit of biting/striking when saddled )– then while playing with his owner’s dog, the dog got hurt (not by him) and the vet bill was exorbitant – so instead of keeping the dog away from the horse, the horse had to go – he came stayed at a couple of fosterors for about the last year and has come a long way – needs very experienced rider for trail stuff but is a peach in the ring with kids and for ground play – he also knows quite a few tricks –

Harley – 15.3 hand, 5 yr old bay Morgan – what can I say – he is a character – absolutely out of his mind in a wonderful goofy sort of way – always into something!!! A serious leg injury (fractured bone and tendon/ligament damage) sustained as a 2 yr old when he kicked out his stall window – grate and all – almost cost him his life –  his owners spent mega-bucks having him treated, rehabbed and healed – his is sound but with some scarring to the leg – he was surrendered to us as he is a handful and the owners are a bit older and they really wanted him to have a safe home – they tried to place him for 6 months but nothing felt suitable – so he is here and we’re giving him time to play and be a horse and get dirty and we’re hopeful his leg will continue to be fine – he is involved in our ground play exercises and will be re-started under saddle this winter or early spring.

Off the Property – horses being fostered

Prince Kris  – 16.1hand, 13 yr old, bay T’bred – he was surrendered to us with a stifle injury – too much jumping – he did A-rated children’s jumpers all over the east coast – he got hurt and the parents felt the child couldn’t take time away from showing in order for horse to heal so they bought another “better” horse and Prince Kris was going to the auction – barn owner suggested they release him to us as he being injured, he probably would end up at slaughter. He had all last winter off and was being brought back slowly – we had a tentative adoption set up – people loved him BUT – they ignored our advice that he continue to be brought back slowly – he was lunged with a rider at a prolonged canter several times and they even attempted to jump him and 5 days later he was lame again and just like the other family – they needed a horse the daughter could show -funny tho this wasn’t discussed when we originally allowed him to go with them – it was only supposed to be an occasional 4-H type flat class over the summer if he was ready – so he went back to the fosteror and is once again doing very well and going into some light play – he too loves trail walks and hopefully will enjoy trail rides

Dante – 15.3 hand, 12 yr old, grey T’bred – from the Bonniedale Farm  situation –crippled (fused fetlock joints up fron from severs DJD) since he was 7 or 8 this horse a tremendous heart!  He wond almost $300K for his previous owners but no retirement fund for him – he almost slipped though the crack several times – when the RISPCA took custody of the animals at Bonniedale Farm, Dante was the last one off the property –  he is in a loving home – they even built a barn for him and receives the absolute best of care – traditional vet as well as massage, pt, reiki, supplements but most importantly – love

Phoenix – 15 hand, 20 yr old, bay QH – he was a 4-H champion for many years – his luck turned two winters ago when he was sold to a guy who had no clue that horses need to eat – he turned the already thin horse out on an already dead pasture in November with no food at all for almost 3 months – neighbors complained and the guy got scared and called us – we took him in early February and he didn’t stop eating for almost 5 days – he has put on 300lbs -  he lives with Dante and is playing once again under saddle with a young girl who adores him.

Luna – 17hand, 22 yr old, grey, T’bred  - she came to us when her older owner decided to take her back from a potentially bad situation that she had inadvertently place the horse in – her owner had no room and limited fund so we took her in to live at a foster home and be companion to Ginger – she is much loved and queen of the field

Ginger – 16.3 hand, 18 yr old bay T’bred – Luna’s bestest friend! She was surrendered due to economic/financial  crisis affecting her owner – she was also severely abused (NOT by previous owner) and came with some baggage – but she has settled in wonderfully and Luna almost seems to “mother” her – she is quite happy now and enjoying a quiet life.

Pete – 15.2 hand, 14 yr old Paint (red & white) – an awesome horse – will probably be adopted by fosteror – he was the victim of an unscrupulous farrier – a long story– his owner ran out of money and options so he was surrendered to Horse Play – he is as close to push button as a horse can be – he has landed in a great place

Tommy Lee – 8 yr old, 13.3 hand chestnut Welsh pony – he came with some serious behavioral issues – we were his 11^th home when he was only 6 yrs old - but is now fostered with friends who adopted his “girlfriend” – he has learned to drive and really enjoys it – he looks too damn cute.