01/18/2025
We’ve received a flood of messages about Swagger, a feral equine who has been prominent on R+ social media during his time in an R+ foster home. First off, I want you to know that we hear you, and we share your concerns.
Here's what we know so far:
Swagger’s story is one of resilience and transformation. Ivy has poured her heart, soul, and $$ into his care, covering everything from training to daily expenses. In that time, Swagger has made significant strides in a slow-paced, thoughtful, R+ program. However, despite Ivy’s dedication, there’s been a major development: Swagger is owned by Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue, and they’ve decided to reclaim him and transfer him to a traditional, negative-reinforcement trainer.
This news is devastating for Ivy, Swagger, and those who have been inspired by their journey together. For a horse who’s already made tremendous progress in a trauma-informed environment, it’s gut-wrenching to think of the emotional toll being subjected to force-based handling might take on him, especially after he’s already come so far.
🐦🔥 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘅’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀:
After reaching out to Heart of Phoenix, we learned their main concern is that Swagger hasn’t yet received important veterinary care. Specifically:
🦷 He still needs a dental float and vaccinations.
💅 While progress has been made with his feet, he hasn’t had a full traditional farrier trim yet.
💉 His injection training is coming along, but no vet appointments for vaccines or dental work have taken place.
While these concerns are valid, it’s important to note that progress is being made. For a horse with Swagger’s background, these steps take time, patience, and care.
🤔 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺?
In short–it’s not! However, at Steph K Equestrian, we’ve seen cases like Swagger’s before and we’ve helped them thrive. It’s our mission to help horses like him, and it’s understandable that people would reach out to elicit our help.
We have extensive experience with feral horses, including dangerous BE cases (horses who are deemed “too dangerous” to coexist with humans and are slated for euthanasia or slaughter). Some noteworthy cases include:
🐴 Frida: She was so wild that even the toughest cowboys hid behind cattle panels to avoid her. A few years in our program, and she was carrying 11- and 12-year-olds on brideless trail rides. She became gentle, cooperative, and most importantly, safe—without sacrificing her autonomy.
Read more about Frida here: https://www.petfinder.com/horse/frida-kahlo-58725836/mo/willard/steph-k-equestrian-mo801/
🐴 Atsa: The big red gelding who failed multiple training programs before coming to us. After realizing his age and acknowledging the extent of his trauma with humans, we elected to find him a sanctuary placement that allowed him to live the remainder of his days in peace.
Read more about Atsa & watch his docuseries here: https://www.skequine.com/get-atsa-home
We also recognize the importance of essential veterinary care–but this does NOT have to mean traumatizing the horse. We’ve demonstrated this repeatedly, for example:
🐴 Story: A mustang mare who arrived with her spinal column protruding where her tail should have been. She received emergency veterinary care fully cooperatively, at liberty, without force/coercion, all within 24 hrs of her arrival. She went on to have a full recovery–with 100% force-free & trauma-informed R+.
Read more & watch emerg care with Story here: https://www.skequine.com/story
🐴 Olaf: The tiniest pony with the biggest personality! This little feral critter suffered unimaginable harm before arriving at SKE. Despite his trauma, avoidance, and willingness to attack humans, we were able to hoof trimming, dental float & vaccinations, and gelding–without causing him stress and trauma.
Read more about Olaf here: https://www.petfinder.com/horse/olaf-74655658/mo/willard/steph-k-equestrian-mo801/
🐴 Atsa: Returning to this gelding’s story, upon arriving at the sanctuary, their founder–who has evaluated thousands of wild horses and taken in hundreds herself–remarked that he was “the wildest horse” she’d ever seen. Even with such a “wild” and unhandleable horse, we were able to get him the necessary veterinary care he needed and ensure his physical and mental wellbeing, including full hoof trimming, dental float, vaccinations, and x-rays of his feet and legs.
Again, read about Atsa & watch his docuseries here: https://www.skequine.com/get-atsa-home
These stories aren’t just successes—they’re proof that positive, trauma-informed approaches can transform lives, and that you don’t have to sacrifice compassion to ensure a horse’s physical health & wellbeing. Swagger, like so many others, deserves that same chance.
❤️🩹 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽:
After hearing from so many of you, we reached out to both Heart of Phoenix and Ivy. Here’s what we offered:
💝 A full rescue transfer, where we would take on lifelong responsibility for Swagger.
💓 Pro bono behavior consultations, to assist with his progress.
💞 Trainer/foster, where Swagger could continue his positive reinforcement training here or with one of our experienced R+ foster homes, without them relinquishing ownership.
Unfortunately, all of our offers were declined. There’s still about a week before Swagger is sent to the negative-reinforcement trainer and we remain hopeful that circumstances might change.
💔 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁?
At this point, Swagger is set to go to a force-based R- trainer. This trainer uses bridleless and minimal-contact R- to accomplish big, showy behaviors without it looking as forceful as some of the more aggressive/high-contact R- trainers–but make no mistake, force is force. Whether it’s the threat of punishment, lack of other options, coercion, or actual physical restraint–the animal is not a willing partner and the trauma is still as heartbreaking.
Having grown up in the traditional training industry, I know firsthand how it works. I have no doubt that Swagger’s new R- trainer will achieve milestones quickly, and I suspect he’ll make a big show of it on social media. Regardless of the cost to the horse and the harm done to Swagger. These results will likely be sugar-coated or outright misrepresented on social media, masking the reality of what Swagger is forced to endure.
We offer our support to Ivy. We can’t imagine the grief she’s experiencing right now. We’ve offered her pro-bono consultations to explore techniques that might get enough progress in the short window she has to convince the rescue to extend or lift their deadline, without sacrificing Swagger’s autonomy and emotional health. She’s done so much for Swagger already, and we are here to help in any way we can.
We also offer our sympathy to the rescue as they navigate these challenging decisions. We encourage them to carefully consider their next steps with Swagger. We have no doubt that they have the best of intentions, but intentions are not the same as actions.
Good intentions can amplify the impact of good actions, and may soften the blow of harmful actions, but they can’t erase the harm that is done. The ends do NOT justify the means, and no matter how well-meaning Heart of Phoenix may be, sending Swagger to a force-based trainer is not in his best interest.
We remain open to helping in any way possible. If circumstances change, we’ll be ready to launch fundraisers and rally our community to give Swagger the care and environment he deserves. For now, our hearts are with Swagger. We hope his future is bright, healthy, and filled with the kindness he’s come to know over the past 20 months.
To everyone who’s reached out, thank you. Your passion and concern remind us why we do what we do. Let’s continue to hope—and advocate—for a better outcome for Swagger ❤️🐴
