13/02/2019
Hidden Valley Equine Sanctuary and Therapy Center
It is with sadness that we must announce that hidden Valley Equine Sanctuary must soon close its doors. It was a near death blow when Jennifer broke her neck in an auto accident in 2017 and had emergency spinal surgery. By the grace of Providence she survived and after a long recovery continued her work caring for these beautiful beings.
We made a plan to keep going forward. But fate always has her way with us. They say that “if you want to give God a laugh, tell him your plans”. Jennifer has just been diagnosed with skin cancer, malignant melanoma, and must soon begin treatment.
As we are almost single-handedly caring for 9 horses ourselves, that will no longer be possible. As I am 66 and Jennifer 63 years of age, we knew that the day we had to relinquish this lifestyle that we love so much couldn’t be too far off. But our love for these horses, all of whom have been with us between 7 and 20 years, kept us stubbornly working harder than many half our age would find sustainable.
At this time we are looking for homes for our equine family. All are the picture of health and extremely well cared for. Shyamie, our 29 year old Tennessee Walker and his 28 year old lifelong buddy Chandra, a New Mexican quarter horse, have never been separated since we took them in and must stay together.
Maadri, our 30 year old ex-winning OTB and broad mare, is the only horse we have that cannot be ridden, but she’s so sweet and makes an excellent companion horse.
Rosie, a 20 year old salt n’pepper, half thoroughbred/half quarter horse, now has only one eye after her recent operation, but is the gentlest horse we have ever known. She loves everybody, is an avid talker and has always been our “bomb-proof” horse for riding. She has always been my friend and I have personally ridden her so many times.
Chitra, a 14 year old bay OTB, is also extremely gentle and loves everybody, too. She needs some retraining to strengthen her back, after which she will make an excellent trail horse.
Bhakti, our gorgeous big buckskin quarter horse, who we’ve had since a few weeks after her birth in 2010, is going to be 9 this year. She was slated to be put down due to “rolling over” on her front feet, but we saved her. She took much patience and therapy for over a year, but now is a strong and graceful beauty, wanting to please. She’d make an excellent trail horse, but cannot be over worked, as she’s subject to weakness in her two front “ankles” and hocks. She truly is breath taking to see and would love being trained and having a “job” to do. We Have papers on her, so she can be registered.
Lastly, our two precious minis, Star, about 26 years old and Peanut, about 14 years old and Star’s constant companion, need a good home together. Star is partially blind, as well as hard of hearing, so Peanut is his auxiliary eyes and ears. They stay in the same stall at night and when grazing are never more than a few feet from each other. She is a deva, and loves being washed, shampooed and conditioner please! Groomed, don’t forget to rub her tummy in the process.
If anyone can provide a good home for any of these lovely souls, we, and they, will be eternally grateful. Even if not, we would ask if all of our followers on FB would be kind enough to share our plea. Thank you so much.
