The horses

Lieutenant was a ranch horse for most of his life. He also did some trail riding and occasionally gave rides to kids. He was the first to join our Heroes herd and has proven to be a perfect part of the team. He came from a home where he lived by himself and wasn't being used for anything, so he appeared quite lonely and depressed. He is the most social horse I've ever met and enjoys feeling proud from a job well done. He used to get severe separation anxiety if left alone, but has settled in now that he knows he is part of a family. Lieutenant is easy going and extremely playful. He is a friend to all and looks out for everyone around him - horse and human alike. He loves to play games and make people laugh, but is also quick to stop everything to come be a shoulder to lean on.

Wiley is a mustang from Modoc county and was rounded up as a stallion at 5 years old. He spent the next 15 years as a pack horse in the Marble Mountains. At some point he suffered a major injury to his hip and hind leg so he now requires gentle handling and daily walks to stay healthy. He has the fastest 3-legged run you will ever see. We adopted him in November 2020 after a wildfire burned his home. He and Lieutenant were instantly best friends, which has never changed. The original "side by sides."  Wiley is  an "old soul" who gently but steadfastly stands with you no matter what you're going through. He will be your rock, your companion, and your safe place. He LOVES going for walks, perhaps even more than he loves carrots! 

Update: Wiley joined our other treasures in heaven in March 2024.

Gabe is a 17+ hand Thoroughbred who came to us in October 2021. He was underweight and had been uncared for, unhandled, and alone for at least 3 years. He was a racehorse in his early life, but had an injury that ended his career before it even started. He has great breeding in his pedigree including ties to Secretariat, Ruffian, Princequillo, Northern Dancer, Nearco, and Bold Ruler. Although it has been many years since his racing days, he still carries a lot of anxiety and nervous habits that he likely picked up during those days. He is a sweet natured gentle giant, bold and sensitive, and slowly learning about peace and safety. Gabriel is our guardian and truly watches over the herd.

Johnny Rocket (J.R. for short) came to us Easter of 2022. He was underweight and had been rescued from starvation by a family a year prior after his original owner passed away. The family admitted that they didn't know much about horses and thought he would do better having other horses around so they asked if we would take him. Right away, we felt that we could help find him a forever home and so we agreed to take him after one of our hero families offered to cover his full sponsorship.  J.R. is an Arabian cross who is in his mid- to late-twenties. He is a very sweet and easy-going little guy. He happily carries lighter-weight riders and seems to really enjoy having a rider.  He was adopted in August 2022 by a hero family and is living a  great life! The neighbor kids visit him every day after school and he is best friends with the family dog.

Braveheart passed away in 2023. He was a Standardbred, in his late teens, 16.2 hands, who was used as a workhorse and for puling a buggy his whole life. When he became unable to do the job anymore, he was sent to a killpen. We were able to rescue him in May 2022 hours before he would have shipped for slaughter, thanks to generous donations from friends and families.  By the time he got to us, he was starved to a point that the odds of survival were heavily against him. We gave him the name Braveheart for a reason, and his strength of heart helped him fight his way back to life. He became strong and healthy after several months with us and even regained a youthful playfulness rearing and leaping in the pasture. However, he had pre-existing intestinal issues and we lost him to colic before his 1 year anniversary with us. He was described as having a quiet strength, strong and steady, kind and understanding towards all people. If ever there was a horse of royal nature, it was him. We know he is now running wild and free and we will see him again one day.

Freedom came to us as a 10 year old Standardbred/Draft mare at the same time and from the same killpen as Braveheart. Based on the background we were given, they likely came from the same working farm. Many believe that she and Braveheart are siblings or related in some way, which is very possible! She is around 16 hands and built strong and sturdy. She was used for pulling wagons and doing other farm work, as well as for breeding. She was slower to trust compared to our other horses, but she has come a long way. She easily partners with humans now and will walk anywhere with you - no halter or lead rope required! She is unafraid to stand her ground with any of the other horses, including giant Gabe, and I have to remind her to go easy on them because she is a lot tougher than all of them!

Hero passed away in 2023, only a week after his rescue. We purchased him from a killpen after several families and individuals donated towards his rescue costs and committed to be his monthly sponsor. He was in very poor condition with a body score of less than 1 on a 1-10 scale, but we believed we could give him a good chance at recovery. He had been at the killpen at least 2 weeks before we got him home, and it ended up being just too long to go without food and care. We know his last days on earth were filled with peace and he was surrounded by new friends fighting for his life - the way it should be. In the end, it was just too much for his weakened body to recover from. He was a fighter though and didn't want to give up. He passed on his own at sunrise after going down and being unable to stand on his own. He had been a former ranch horse who had aged out of usefulness and sent to a horrible fate. I'm glad we were able to intervene and give him a better ending to his years of faithfulness. Sometimes the new endings we give are shorter than we hoped, but they are still better endings either way and worth every penny.

We rescued Buddy in 2023 as a last minute decision while rescuing Hero and Miracle. We had room for one more on our trailer and he was "last call" meaning the killpen would not give him the same amount of time as others before he would fill a load to Mexico. His sweet face made me feel he needed to come home to us.  He is a Standardbred and was used for transportation by the Amish. He was a body score of 2, which is very thin. He was infested with parasites, had skin infections, very overgrown hooves, and just seemed too exhausted to care. Like the other horses we have rescued with similar backgrounds, it seems he never knew a kind hand and was used to abuse. He has worn down all his front teeth from stress-coping and pain-relief behaviors. But he is a sweet soul and reminds us much of our Big Boy Braveheart. They even have a similar high-pitched, squeal of joy kind of whinny! The pen aged him at 20 years old due to his bad teeth and poor condition, but it turns out he was only 7!

Miracle is a Standardbred who was a cart racehorse in her younger years with the registered name "Thanks to Me."  She is 17 years old and was being used for breeding and transportation pulling a buggy. We were able to rescue her after a hero family made the decision to adopt a horse of their own and wanted to help one from the killpen. They sponsored all of her rescue costs and her daily feed and care until they were ready to adopt her and take her home. After some unforeseen circumstances in their lives, they asked if she could come back and join the Carrying Heroes herd permanently, which we of course said yes.

Hammer is a 25 year old "few spot" Appaloosa that was likely used as a ranch horse in his younger years. His brands link him to previous owners in Oklahoma and Mississippi. We rescued him and Maverick at the same time in Summer 2023 - both were severely underweight and had the worst hoof infections we have ever seen. Hammer also had a recent tendon injury that has taken almost a year to heal. He has one of the biggest hearts, softest coats, and most expressive whinnies! He nickers almost constantly and seems so happy about his new life. He is a favorite to many heroes who come out and easily wins hearts.

Maverick is a 26 year old Thoroughbred and former racehorse with the registered name "Foolin to Fight." He is relatively calm natured, unless conditions are just right and he feels like showing off his moves. He has taken almost a year to get recovered from the neglect, injuries, and malnourishment prior to his rescue. He is very lovable and personable and it does seem like he knew kind humans in his life.

Champion went to heaven before we ever had the chance to meet him. Our attempts to save him did keep him from shipping to Mexico, but the level of extreme neglect and abuse he experienced ended his life before we could ever get him home.  He is still our Champion, and we believe his life and death will be used to help save others like him, to prevent them from the suffering he endured, and to shine light on the deep darkness of the horse world. We believe he has joined our other horses in heaven and that he has a job with our heroes up there now!

 While monitoring posts from a Texas sale barn to see who the next horse was who needed us,  a "big gentle gelding" caught our heart immediately. He appeared to be a well-trained roping or reining horse who had a significant knee injury and had ended up in Texas with one last chance before shipping to Mexico for slaughter. Within 24 hours of us listing a fundraiser for him, we were able to raise all of his purchase funds, which seemed like a miracle and confirmation that we were where he belonged. Several names were suggested for him, but every time I would go to say his name, “Commander” is what would come out. So that’s what we named him.  He is calm and steady, and stands at attention at your shoulder ready to do anything for you.

 We like to rescue them two at a time so that they aren’t alone during transport or through quarantine, so when we purchased Commander, we looked for another  horse who might need our help. A skinny, neglected Paint caught our attention and reminded us so much of our Wiley Mustang who we had just lost a month prior. A private party offered to cover all of this new boy’s rescue costs and so on April 17th, 2024 they were both on their way to California. The name “Chief” was suggested for him and it seemed fitting. So home they came - Commander and Chief. The sale barn had aged him at 20 years, but we estimated him to be much younger, and  it turns out he is still growing! 

 Sandy was a local girl who needed a quick rehoming and often these are ones that get into the hands of horse traders, bouncing from auction to auction and eventually Mexico, or just straight to meat buyers. She is said to be 24 years old and is around 14 hands. She is the sweetest mare you will ever meet and was said to be used for breeding her whole life. She loves affection and will calmly stand with you for as long as you will stand with her. Everyone who meets her loves her and several have told us how much joy she brings them.

Jet is an OTTB and had been working at a local trail ranch for the past 15 years. When it became time to retire him, someone who knew  him asked if we would take him to ensure he never ended up in the wrong hands. He was described as having a funny personality and being well-mannered. He is also very intelligent, very personable, and I think he has some good ideas he has been waiting to share with the right humans. 

There are hundreds of horses that are exported from the US to go to slaughter every week. Some have injuries that need time to heal, some have been starved and need extra feed to regain strength, some are older and need a kind home for their remaining years. Some are young with no training, some are wild horses that were rounded up on private lands, and some are babies that will ship as soon as they are old enough. Some are well trained and healthy and just ended up in the wrong hands. If you would like to help save a horse, please consider donating to Carrying Heroes, organizing a fundraiser, or contacting us about how to save one privately.