Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue

11/23/2025

☀️ Good morning from Day 7 of our “15 Years, 15 Stories” countdown!

Our Giving Tuesday grid is filling in beautifully — each square a reminder of a horse who helped shape Gentle Spirit Horses and the mission we carry forward today.

Last night, we featured Tommy, the big, quirky Quarter Horse who inspired the Bug Club, invented the “naughty name,” and quietly helped define who we became. If you missed his story, you can read it here:

👉 https://www.gentlespirithorses.org/blog/tommy-the-horse-who-helped-define-who-we-became

Tonight at 8 PM, we’ll add another story to the grid — another horse whose life changed ours in unforgettable ways.

Neigh It Forward: Today’s Act of Kindness

Tommy taught us that personalities aren’t problems — they’re information. Horses (and people) communicate long before they speak.

Today’s kindness challenge:
Pay attention to someone’s “small signals.”
If you notice a coworker quieter than usual, a friend sounding tired, or a family member seeming a little off — check in. A simple “Hey, are you doing okay?” can make someone feel truly seen.

As we continue this 15-day journey, we’re working toward unlocking our $15,000 Giving Tuesday match, where every dollar donated is doubled to help the next horse who needs a soft landing.

👉 Give today at: https://givebutter.com/neighitforward

Thank you for helping us fill this grid with meaning, memory, and compassion — one story, one act of kindness at a time.

11/23/2025

Tonight we’re honoring Tommy — the big, quirky, unforgettable Quarter Horse whose influence still runs through everything we do.

Tommy came to us before we were officially a rescue, already adored and already full of opinions. He was huge, goofy, endlessly kind, and safe enough for the tiniest riders… those “little bugs” perched on his giant back who later inspired our whole Bug Club program.

His temper tantrums were legendary, his dramatic “I might bite you but I won’t” faces were unmatched, and his gentle heart made him one of the greatest teachers we’ve ever had. Tommy carried hundreds of kids, taught us to read personality instead of correcting it, and even gave us a tradition that still makes people smile: the naughty name. When Tommy was “being extra,” he became Thomas — and today Kat becomes Katniss Everdeen, Benny becomes Benjamin, and so many others earn their full names because of him.

Tommy passed at 24, sudden and peaceful — one moment fine and friendly, greeting people and taking treats, and the next simply gone. A heartbreaking loss for us, but a gentle exit for a horse who spent his life surrounded by love.

He helped define our early culture, our educational mission, and our belief that every personality tells a story worth listening to.

Read Tommy’s full story here:
👉 https://www.gentlespirithorses.org/blog/tommy-the-horse-who-helped-define-who-we-became

Dare to Care with Us

As we share these 15 stories leading up to Giving Tuesday, we’re working to unlock our $15,000 match challenge — dollar for dollar — to support the horses who need us next.

Tommy shaped who we became. Your gift today helps us carry that legacy forward.

👉 Give today at https://givebutter.com/neighitforward

11/23/2025

Cola is pretty excited about these naughty pony treats. Shop their wish list to fill the tree!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/FR3RWI0K6QNJ

11/22/2025

Come see the ponies at Fleet Farm in Sioux Falls today until 3pm!

Can't make it? so their Amazon Wishlist!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/FR3RWI0K6QNJ

11/22/2025

11/22/2025

Sioux Falls we are locked and loaded!

Come see the Christmas Ponies at Fleet Farm today from 1-3pm! Help us fill the tree up with their wishlists items or just come take a picture with Santa Cola!

11/22/2025

Good morning from Day 5 of our “15 Years, 15 Stories” countdown.

Last night, we shared the story of Millie — the tiny filly who arrived unable to stand, survived on patience and tiny steps forward, and grew into the Million Dollar Miracle. If you missed her story, you can read it here:
https://www.gentlespirithorses.org/blog/millie-the-filly-who-refused-to-give-up

Today’s Neigh It Forward Act of Kindness:
Practice one small act of patience for someone else. Hold the door for a person moving slowly. Let someone merge in traffic without frustration. Pause instead of rushing past an overwhelmed parent or a tired cashier. And if you feel irritation rising, take a deep breath and offer a sincere smile.
The tiniest moment of patience can change someone’s whole day.

Tonight, we’ll share the story of Tommy — the horse who inspired our Bug Club and helped teach hundreds of children the joy of connecting with horses. Stay tuned.

11/22/2025

15 Years. 15 Stories. $15,000 Matched. Tonight’s story is about a filly who defied every odd placed against her.

Who remembers Millie?

Millie was loaded into our trailer in the bucket of a skid loader. Before we arrived, we were told she was down and couldn’t get up, and that another horse on the property had died the night before. What we found was an extremely emaciated, tiny coming-two-year-old filly who had run out of options. We wrapped her in a blanket, called the vet, and were told she needed to leave immediately — but that she still had a real chance if we acted fast.

She spent the next three days down in our trailer under veterinary supervision. Volunteers rolled her, kept her warm, shifted her weight, and watched the clock as each deadline approached. She had to stand. She had to show progress. She had to keep trying. And on the third day — the last day we could ethically keep asking — Millie somehow managed to get to her feet.

Millie became one of our earliest lessons in refeeding syndrome and the importance of following the UC Davis Refeeding Protocol for severely emaciated horses. At a time when it wasn’t widely accepted, our vets guided us through tiny, frequent alfalfa meals that slowly brought her system back online. After a month of careful feeding she was strong enough for the trip to South Dakota, and at the vet hospital she again beat the clock by standing without assistance within ten days.

From there, she only moved forward. A volunteer who had been visiting her during her hospitalization fell in love with her and adopted her the day she was released. She went from a 397-pound filly with pressure sores to a bright, colorful little riding horse who was cherished beyond measure.

And in case you’ve ever wondered about her name — we were told her dam’s name was “Million Dollars.” That’s why we called her the Million Dollar Miracle, or Millie for short. It wasn’t the cost of her rehabilitation — it was a nod to her mother and to the miracle she truly was.

Read her full story:
https://www.gentlespirithorses.org/blog/millie-the-filly-who-refused-to-give-up

⭐ Impact Made
⭐ Millie showed us why the UC Davis Refeeding Protocol, when used correctly, can save a life.
⭐ She taught us that time is as important as any treatment.
⭐ She reminded us what can happen when people choose to care before a horse is “easy.”

As we count down toward Giving Tuesday, we’re sharing 15 stories of horses who changed us — and right now, every gift is matched up to $15,000. If Millie’s story touches your heart, we invite you to Dare to Care and help the next little horse who needs a safe place to land.

Donate:
https://givebutter.com/neighitforward

11/21/2025

Good morning from Day 5 of our “15 Years, 15 Stories” countdown.

Last night, we shared the story of Cola — the tiny horse with the big legacy whose gentle nature helped us realize how important small horses are in helping children feel confident and safe. If you missed his story, you can read it here: https://www.gentlespirithorses.org/blog/cola-the-miniature-horse-who-built-a-big-legacy

Today’s Neigh It Forward Act of Kindness: Encourage someone who doubts themselves.

Cola has helped hundreds of children take their first steps into horsemanship simply by being small, steady, and approachable. His quiet confidence reminds us that sometimes people just need someone who makes them feel safe. Think of a person in your life who may be unsure of their abilities — a new coworker finding their footing, a friend starting something outside their comfort zone, or a young person who doesn’t yet believe they can succeed — and send a quick, encouraging message. A small “you’ve got this” can go a long way.

Giving Tuesday is Coming. Every gift helps us give horses like Cola a safe place to land — and helps us continue offering programs that build confidence in children, families, and our community. Right now, every donation is matched up to $15,000. Dare to Care and help us Neigh It Forward: https://givebutter.com/neighitforward

Tell us in the comments: Have you met Cola… or Santa Cola? 🎅🐴

11/21/2025

15 Years. 15 Stories. $15,000 Matched. Tonight’s story is all about a little horse who made a very big impact.

Cola came to us in 2015 thanks to a young man on the Lower Brule Reservation who dared to care enough to walk into town and ask for help. Among the horses he had been protecting was a tiny mini named Čík’ala (“tiny”), who quickly became Cola — and ended up reshaping the entire direction of our children’s programming.

Because of Cola, we realized how important small horses are for helping kids feel confident and safe. He became the first friendly face many children met, inspired our pony and donkey barn, and still greets families every year as Santa Cola.

Read his full story: https://www.gentlespirithorses.org/blog/cola-the-miniature-horse-who-built-a-big-legacy

As we count down to Giving Tuesday, we’re sharing 15 stories of horses who changed us — and right now, every gift is matched up to $15,000. If Cola’s story warms your heart, we invite you to Dare to Care and help the next little horse who needs a safe place to land. Donate: https://gentlespirithorses.org/donate

11/20/2025

It's Golden Ticket Hour!! Share this South Dakota Gives post to your profile using the hashtag and be sure and tag us to increase our chances of winning!!

Giving Tuesday is coming up FAST!! Progress is slow on our $15,000 matching fundraiser BUT all donations on Dec 2 will be matched 1% by Givebutter, so we're hoping everyone is just holding on to make it count more!

It's GOLDEN TICKET TIME!!!

During the next three-hour window, nonprofits who share this post and use the hashtag will be eligible to win a prize! Individuals can also share the post, tag their favorite nonprofit, and use our hashtag to give that nonprofit another entry. Winner will be randomly chosen from all entries at 12pm CT/ 11am MT.