Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue

12/13/2024

ISO: We are looking for a gate combo like this. We need a 12' panel with a 6' swing gate. I could have sworn I saw them at Fleet Farm but they don't currently show up on the site. If you have one, or know of someone who does, who might be interested in selling/donating it to us, let us know!

12/13/2024

Are you coming to the Animal Rescue Festival this Saturday at the Buffalo Bridge Brewery in Hartford? The event starts at 4:00 and several different South Dakota animal rescues/groups are participating. Come see all the trees, and donate to vote for your favorite tree. Each group is bringing silent auction items - here's a preview of ours!! The bonus is that all groups get to keep the funds raised through their votes and auction items, so everyone wins! Head out and support everyone!

Huge thank you to Stacy, Sarah and Spenser who are making this event possible for us. They've done a great job getting these baskets together and would love to see you Saturday!!

Check out the event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/Hup8oKYpisLSpPd3/

12/13/2024

Vanessa’s journey with us began in 2016, during the heartbreaking rescue of horses from the ISPMB failure. At the time, our focus was on the younger horses, but Vanessa’s protective and unbreakable bond with two yearlings we intended to save made it impossible to leave her behind. So, she came along—a scarred yet strong mare, slow to trust but inherently gentle.

Her past has left its marks. Small scars trace her coat, and her guarded nature tells of a life where trust was hard-earned. Yet, even in her cautiousness, Vanessa’s maternal spirit shines. She has always been a steady presence, fiercely protective of the vulnerable and quietly strong in every setting.

Vanessa found her second chance when she was adopted and thrived in her new home, showing just how resilient and loving she could be. But life wasn’t finished testing her. A devastating fire claimed her family’s home, and Vanessa returned to us injured, with vision loss in one eye, and needing to start over once again.

Now, in her mid-to-upper teens, Vanessa has settled into a smaller group where she feels most comfortable. She forms bonds easily with younger horses and other quiet souls, including a particularly special friendship with Plucky, another resident of the rescue. While she would thrive in a home alongside Plucky, she’s confident enough to form new friendships too.

Vanessa isn’t the kind of horse who seeks constant attention or showers you with affection. Her love is quieter, softer. It’s in the way she approaches and stands nearby, offering her presence as a gift to those who take the time to see her heart.

She’s not high on our list for further training due to her age and vision loss, but in the right hands—with patience and kindness—there’s potential to revisit that path. For now, she’s looking for someone who can appreciate her for who she is: a quiet, maternal mare with a lifetime of wisdom and a heart that still has love to give.

If you’re the kind of person who sees beauty in the subtle, who values connection over flash, Vanessa might just be waiting for you. She’s not a horse for someone who needs constant adoration, but for someone who understands that her quiet presence is her way of saying, “I trust you.”

Vanessa deserves a safe, loving home where she can live out her days with the dignity and care she’s earned. Could you be the one to give her that?

***

Vanessa is available for adoption through our annual Homes for the Holidays adoption event where you can choose your own adoption fee. Learn More at http://gentlespirithorses.org/holiday

12/12/2024

📣 Help Name Our BLM Mustangs! 🐴✨

Six BLM mustangs are coming to Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue in January, and YOU can help pick their names! 🌟 Current contenders include:

➡️ Dewey
➡️ Forrest
➡️ Brooks
➡️ Jett
➡️ Canyon
➡️ Zion
➡️ Kelvin
➡️ Ozone
➡️ Radar
➡️ Twister
➡️ Typhoon
➡️ Vortex
➡️ Winter

💡 Have a favorite? Or want to support their journey with your own suggestion? Your donation casts a vote and helps these mustangs start their new lives with love and care. 💕

🗳️ Voting ends this Sunday at 8 PM! Make your pick count here: https://givebutter.com/2024blmnaming

Let’s give these mustangs names as special as they are! 🥰🐾

12/12/2024

Walter’s journey to Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue is one of heartbreak and resilience. When law enforcement arrived to seize neglected horses, Walter was found in a dire state, the worst of the surviving animals on the property. Locked away in a stall with three other stallions and left to die, Walter’s body condition score was barely a 1. Tragically, one of his companions didn’t survive long enough to be rescued.

The road to recovery was long. Walter endured months of rehabilitation, was gelded, and slowly began to regain his strength. However, his journey hasn’t been without challenges. He’s faced multiple injuries, including a broken jaw, and continues to struggle with maintaining a healthy weight.

Through it all, Walter’s spirit has remained unbroken. Friendly, gentle, and easy to handle, he enjoys being around people and seems to know he’s finally safe. Due to his past injuries and weight management needs, training and adoption have taken a back seat, but Walter has plenty of potential. With no ongoing physical issues holding him back, he could be trained for riding—with a sidepull strongly recommended to accommodate his jaw. His future vet should also be aware of his past fracture and take extra care during dental exams.

Walter is seeking a home where he’ll be well-fed, cherished, and given the love he’s always deserved. He’s a testament to the strength and kindness of horses who endure unimaginable hardships yet remain open to trusting humans again.

💖 Could Walter be the one to complete your family? He’s ready to give his heart to someone who will give him the safe and loving forever home he’s been waiting for.

***

Walter is available for adoption through our annual Homes for the Holidays adoption event where you can choose your own adoption fee. Learn More at http://gentlespirithorses.org/holiday

12/11/2024

Benny’s story is one of resilience and love, a testament to the spirit of a horse who once knew the best of care and devotion. Tall and graceful, Benny carries himself with the quiet dignity of a horse who was deeply adored in his previous life. But somewhere along the way, something went wrong.

When we found Benny in a low-end auction pen, he was skin and bones, barely able to walk, and in desperate need of rescue. Whatever path had brought him there, it had left him broken and vulnerable—but his gentle, sweet nature shone through, and we knew he deserved a second chance.

Today, Benny has regained much of his strength, though the scars of his past remain. A scar on his right knee and a lump on his back tell the story of an injury, likely a severe fall. While his x-rays didn’t reveal a clear cause for his lameness, Benny’s demeanor and build suggest he was once a performance horse, perhaps a jumper, who gave his all until he couldn’t anymore.

Benny thrives with a bit of extra care. Daily pain medication keeps him comfortable, and he adores the simple luxuries of life—a cozy stall, a warm blanket, and extra grain to help maintain his weight. But more than anything, Benny needs love. He lights up when he’s told he’s a “good boy,” and he lives for the moments when someone takes the time to stroke his nose and remind him he’s safe.

Though Benny’s days of carrying riders are behind him, he might enjoy the occasional lead-line ride for the tiniest of kids—if he feels up to it. What Benny truly wants is a family, perhaps with children, who will pamper him as he deserves and make him feel like the cherished horse he was always meant to be.

💔 Benny is waiting for someone who will see past his scars and love him for the sweet, gentle soul he is. Could you be the family who gives Benny his forever home—a place where he’ll always be told what a good boy he is and never know anything but love?

Because Benny is more than his past; he’s a reminder of how powerful kindness can be.

***

Benny is available for adoption through our annual Homes for the Holidays adoption event where you can choose your own adoption fee. Learn More at http://gentlespirithorses.org/holiday

12/10/2024

Have you heard the pervasive and damaging myth that "old horses are just skinny"? We all know that they are skinny because they aren't being fed food they can eat, but there can also be underlying conditions to be treated as well. This looks like a fabulous webinar series worth the time if you are interested in learning more about senior horse care.

We are excited to welcome horse owners from across the world for our 6th annual UGA Horse Owner's Webinar Series!

Did you know an estimated 20-30% of horses in the U.S. are considered "seniors" over 20 years of age?

Join us in February of 2025 for a 5 week series on senior horse management.

All programs will be held on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 EST via Zoom. Sessions will be recorded and supplemental materials made accessible to participants.

This program has a registration fee of $10 per person, which covers all 5 sessions. Participants will have an opportunity to earn raffle prizes by completing evaluations throughout the series.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/HOW2025

A limited number of scholarships are available to cover this registration fee. Please apply for scholarships by January 28th, 2025 at: https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/.../SV_50yAWg4QMJa6GZU

2025 Topics & Presenters:

Feb 4 - Understanding Aging in Horses, Dr. Alisa Herbst

Feb 11 - Senior Horse Nutrition, Robyn Stewart M.S.

Feb 18 - Health Ailments of Senior Horses, Dr. Jennifer Proctor

Feb 25 - Endocrine Disorders in Seniors, Dr. Erica Macon

Mar 4 - End of Life Planning, Dr. Rebecca Husted Gimenez

12/09/2024

Don't forget - the incoming BLM horses need names!! The winning theme was "weather/nature" and we've chosen a selection of potential names for you to vote on!

All six are coming 3-year-old geldings from the Antelope Valley HMA. Three were born in holding, the other 3 were captured as weanlings.

💸 Here’s how it works:
👉 **$1 per vote** or **6 votes for $5**
👉 Vote for one name, or mix it up with up to six names!

Your votes directly support their care, training, and bright futures.

🌟 Cast your votes and donate here: https://givebutter.com/2024blmnaming

12/08/2024

Kayla and Jillian had a blast at the rescue while we were gone :) Back on Track USA

12/08/2024

Belle and Dottie in Wagner!! Come see us TODAY, December 8, at the Bomgaars in Wagner from 1-3 pm!

Can't attend? Shop our Amazon Wishlist! We are having a blast filling up the tree with gifts for the horses!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/FR3RWI0K6QNJ?ref_=wl_share

12/08/2024

at the Bomgaars in Yankton!

12/08/2024

Belle and Dottie are on their way to Wagner!! Come see us TODAY, December 8, at the Bomgaars in Wagner from 1-3 pm!

Can't attend? Shop our Amazon Wishlist! We are having a blast filling up the tree with gifts for the horses!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/FR3RWI0K6QNJ?ref_=wl_share

12/08/2024

🎉✨ It’s here! The 11th Annual Home for the Holidays Adoption Event at Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue has officially begun! 🐴💖

This year, we’re focusing on extra-special horses and extra-special families—horses who need a soft landing, gentle care, and a home where they can live out their days surrounded by love. These incredible horses are looking for homes that value quiet companionship and are prepared to provide a little extra TLC, whether that’s minor maintenance or understanding the gift of limited time together.

🫶 Adopters can choose their own adoption fee, but hurry—applications must be submitted by January 31, 2025!

Learn more about these wonderful horses and apply today at gentlespirithorses.org/holiday. Let’s give these deserving souls the holiday magic they’ve been waiting for! 🎄🐾

12/07/2024

It's Auction Day ... and we are not going.

This time of year is tough - winter slows down adoptions so we have to be careful about intakes. With six coming in January and a couple of waiting list horses needing intake soon, we simply can't go today.

Especially because we're still paying for our annual hay supply.

If our hay was paid for, we could consider finding room for one or two, like our lovely Paige here who was saved last auction with your support.

But until it's paid, we are on hold.

We need nearly $15,000 to finish the hay fund. Consider a donation? https://givebutter.com/2024-2025-hay-fund

12/06/2024

Just two days left for our See's Candies fundraiser! The stores close FRIDAY so they can ship out the orders in time for Christmas. Get your order in now to help the horses:
https://www.yumraising.com/secure/facebookcomgentlespirithorses_gsh_christmas_c92/TifRin8197/candy

12/05/2024

It's time to help us name the six incoming BLM mustangs arriving in January! 🐴 These young mustangs are starting new lives with us, and we need your creativity to give them names as unique as they are. The winning theme was "weather/nature" and we've chosen a selection of potential names for you to vote on!

All six are coming 3-year-old geldings from the Antelope Valley HMA. Three were born in holding, the other 3 were captured as weanlings.

This is #6673

💸 Here’s how it works:
👉 **$1 per vote** or **6 votes for $5**
👉 Vote for one name, or mix it up with up to six names!

Your votes directly support their care, training, and bright futures.

🌟 Cast your votes and donate here: https://givebutter.com/2024blmnaming

12/05/2024

It's time to help us name the six incoming BLM mustangs arriving in January! 🐴 These young mustangs are starting new lives with us, and we need your creativity to give them names as unique as they are. The winning theme was "weather/nature" and we've chosen a selection of potential names for you to vote on!

All six are coming 3-year-old geldings from the Antelope Valley HMA. Three were born in holding, the other 3 were captured as weanlings.

This is #6672

💸 Here’s how it works:
👉 **$1 per vote** or **6 votes for $5**
👉 Vote for one name, or mix it up with up to six names!

Your votes directly support their care, training, and bright futures.

🌟 Cast your votes and donate here: https://givebutter.com/2024blmnaming