January 2008 - upon rescue

April 2008

Sterling

Rescued gelding, Year of birth: approx. 1982

A grey Arab gelding, Sterling was estimated at being within a month of death from severe malnourishment when rescued by Rainbow Meadows. He was very weak but willing to cooperate, and upon arrival, indicated that he understood his lot in life had changed. He is a very friendly horse and eagerly anticipates mealtime, but does require a senior diet. Sterling is well on his way to recovery. He has a history of having been a successful 4-H horse and family mount. He should be fully back to health by the summer of 2008 when he will be ready for a forever home.

Isabelle (a.k.a. Izzy)

Rescued mare, Year of birth: approx. 1984

Izzy is a rescued Thoroughbred mare who was going to be euthanized by her previous owner because she was too energetic for the family's children. She was only days from a date with the needle when her previous owner sought another option, contacting Rainbow Meadows.  Izzy has proven to be quiet, easily handled and sound.  She is a large mare, over 15 h 2" tall, and looking for her forever home.

Thunder

Rescued gelding, Year of birth: 2003

Thunder was owned by a young mother of two who found after a divorce that she could no longer care for her three horses. Desperate for assistance, she contacted Rainbow Meadows. The eldest of the group, a BLM Mustang mare and mother to the two younger horses (Thunder and Stormy), was placed immediately. Rainbow Meadows is currently seeking a home for Thunder, a young gelding who is ripe for his initial saddle training. Thunder is incredibly friendly and nearly unflapplable, while being very curious. He is only 14 h tall and slight of build, so would serve a smaller adult or child very well.

Stormy

Rescued mare, Year of birth: 2006

Stormy, the half sister of Thunder, found herself in the same desperate situation. She is currently being fostered in Claremore, Oklahoma, where she is learning all her baby lessons while awaiting a forever home.

Cap'n Morgan

Rescued gelding, Year of birth: approx. 1993

Captain Morgan (Cap'n) is a Morgan or Morgan-cross gelding who was abandoned when his elderly owner experienced a health-related emergency and was hospitalized. After hospitalization, it was determined that he could no longer live alone, so he was placed in a nursing home. Captain lived alone for 2.5 years with no care. When the farm was scheduled for auction, a neighbor contacted Rainbow Meadows, concerned that the gelding would be sent to slaughter by the new owners. Contact was made with the power of attorney for the owner and permission was received to transfer Cap'n to Rainbow Meadows. His appreciation for human attention was evident the moment he arrived as he allowed numerous volunteers to work for hours to remove all the cockleburs tangled in his mane and tail. Cap'n is a sweet soul that will make a wonderful partner.

Noble

Rescued gelding, Year of birth: approx. 2005

Daisy

Rescued mare, Year of birth: approx. 2002

Keoni

Ko-Ko

Keoni and Ko-Ko

Rescued fillies, year of birth: 2006

Keoni and Ko-Ko are two of 13 Quarter horse weanlings sent to a sale barn by their breeder because they had not yet been sold. If not placed, they were all to be sent to Mexico to be slaughtered for tender foal meat. Luckily, with the work of many concerned volunteers and horse lovers, all the weanlings were found homes. Now Keoni and Ko-Ko are waiting to be adopted to their own forever homes.

Sweet Pea

Rescued mare, Year of birth: approx. 1975

Sweet Pea arrived with Raven (who has now been adopted out to her forever home) as the most emaciated horse the Rainbow Meadows staff had ever seen. Both were to be sold at a killer auction, but Sweet Pea was so thin that the killers refused to trailer her to the slaughterhouse in Texas. The instructions by a seller were to "take her out back and shoot her." Instead, she was saved by two generous Rainbow Meadows volunteers. She arrived with an extremely advanced abscess in her jaw and has severe calcification her rear fetlocks, but they do not cause her any noticeable pain. The staff worked tirelessly to bring Sweet Pea back to good health. She has been ridden on numerous occasions at the ranch, and has proven to be a reliable mount to even the more inexperienced of riders, including children. She, too, awaits her forever home.

Midget

Rescued mare, Year of birth: approx. 2004

As a yearling pony, Midget came to us in December 2005. Born with limited vision, Midget was taken to a killer sale in November of 2005. There she was spotted by a loving and concerned family who rescued her from certain death. When her owners discovered that she was partially blind, they chose to give her to Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue and Retirement, Inc. Midget does not realize she is visually impaired and rules the ranch with the confidence of a horse ten times her size.

Ny Philli (a.k.a. Nia)

Rescued mare, Year of birth: 1983

Registering organization: Arabian Horse Association

Nia joined Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue and Retirement, Inc. in 2005. A victim of moon blindness and a registered Egyptian Arabian, Nia spent many years as a brood mare. While it is believed she has been blind for quite some time, when she was eventually no longer able to produce foals, her owner requested that she be put down. Fortunately, the veterinarian saw the light in Nia’s eyes. Nia is a calm and quiet mare who is a joy to be around. Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue and Retirement, Inc. is currently exploring opportunities for her to serve as a companion animal and visit nursing homes.

Palomita

Rescued mare, Year of birth: approx. 1989

Much like Nia, Palomita also suffers from moon blindness. She, too, served as a brood mare as a registered Paso Fino. But when she was no longer sound to produce foals, Palomita’s owners arranged for her to be put down. Instead, she was welcomed to Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue and Retirement, Inc. While she is a rather sensitive animal, Palomita can still be ridden and offers her rider a smooth Paso Fino gait.

A Lexus (a.k.a. Lexi)

Rescued mare, Year of birth: approx. 1985

Rescued from Alberta, Canada in 2004, Lexi spent many years on the Premarin lines where she was used in the production of the hormone, estrogen. This process required that she be kept 24 hours a day in a three-foot tie stall for seven months out of each year. When she arrived, Lexi was extremely thin, frightened and pregnant. Through the years, she has gained greater trust in humans and lives out her days at Rainbow Meadows. Her foal, Indigo Rain (a.k.a. Indi) is now a healthy and curious young mare in the ranch’s herd.

Moose

Rescued gelding, Year of birth: approx. 1980

Moose joined Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue and Retirement, Inc. on December 31, 2005, the victim of a stroke that significantly affected his ability to control the left side of his body. Following his stroke, Moose’s owners refused to provide for him the care and attention he needed. Fortunately, a sympathetic veterinarian stepped in, rehabilitated him and later brought him to us. Since his arrival, Moose has regained some sight in his left eye, can now hear in his left ear and occasionally canters around the pasture. Moose is a gentle giant.