Western Montana Equine Rescue & Rehabilitation Inc.

28/02/2025

Sittin in the middle of a horse hair cushion ❤️

09/02/2025

I don’t think people realize just how many horses out there carry trauma with them.

With that, I don’t even mean severely abused horses that have been starved, or beaten heavily. There are plenty of those around, and those usually cause a lot of outrage (as they should).

What I am talking about though, is the horses whose trauma is never really recognized as such. The ones who tolerate humans and their requests, but never learned to trust them. Those who get extremely obsessive about food which are labelled as “bossy” or ”dominant”. Those who deal with severe Separation anxiety, which are said to be “dramatic”. Those who cannot self-regulate, or co-regulate and constantly carry tension. Those who try to express their pain, which get punished for it because “just a mare”.
Those who are “perfect” until they finally get a choice.

Between Unethical weaning practices, unsuitable welfare, constantly moving homes & and ownership, and aversive training/handling approaches, most horses at some point experience trauma. And this trauma can present itself in a variety of ways. Some are more subtle than others.
Trauma doesn’t have to be this huge explosive reaction. Just like people, horses can carry trauma and move on with their lives fairly normally. It can shape their personality just like it can shape ours.
However, that doesn’t mean doing so is healthy.

The horse that has been in 6+ homes before the age of 10, and thus can’t cope with changes. That is Trauma.
The horse that has never had consistent companionship and becomes obsessive with certain herd mates. That is Trauma
The horse that has only known corrections when they tried to express their confusion, fear, or dislike, and turns from “a perfect beginner’s horse” to “Don’t touch me” the moment you stop using corrections. That is Trauma.
The horse that never had a chance to learn from other horses or connect with people and thus can’t trust people to make good choices for them, can’t self-regulate or co-regulate, and can’t think their way through a situation. That is Trauma.
The horse who was only ever fed 2 times a day and was left without food for 6 hours each night, and has thus become food-aggressive. That is Trauma.
The horse who experienced highly aversive training techniques, and thus now gets frustrated, tense and severely stressed out anytime they are handled in a similar manner. That. Is. Trauma.

Sometimes, awareness of this can be a frustration and defeating realization. I think as equestrians we are often blind to this reality, because sadly, it’s just so common to see horses like that.
It’s not until you work with young, untraumatized horses, or rehabilitated horses, that you realize: “Oh! This is how it should be!”

27/01/2025

20/01/2025

Chief and Buddy….who can give these boys love, care and a home?
These two literally had no where else to go. We got them out of their bad situation into temporary care for 2 weeks. Dentals done by MacKinnon Equine Dentistry. (Pictures below) Hooves trimmed.
After 13 years, the younger one Chief (23 yr old QH) was saddled and ridden a bit, no issues except not wanting to go too far from his best friend Buddy (27 yr old QH/TW cross) They’ve been together for at least 18 years. Thanks to Bree Wilson, we got them to the Bitterroot from northern MT last Thursday. The day of transport, a generous woman offered her assistance in housing them for a week. The week is up in 4 days. Who is available?
Please DM us, email wmerescue@gmail. com
406-360-8473

17/01/2025

The Empty Halter ❤️😓
Photo 📸 by Sonya S Helm Photography

"This photo captures the end of life story of a gentle gelding named, Blu. The woman in the photograph is his owner, Patty Sexton, of Bristol, TN. I shot this a few days before his scheduled euthanasia appointment and edited this as a memorial gift to her. This picture has literally been shared around the world in various formats and has received in excess of 30k comments. The reaction was humbling as it united horse lovers across the globe in the acknowledgement of a shared grief and emptiness that accompanies such a loss as this."
Sonya S. Helm
sonyashelmphotography.mypixieset.com

15/01/2025

Urgently needing a home for two aged geldings, 23 and 27, Preferably in the Bitterroot but will consider other options. Teeth floated, hooves done. Please message 406-360-8473 or email [email protected]

09/01/2025

A Poem - What Do They See?

Looking at a horse, what do you see?
It depends on what you want us to be.
Some see on our backs riding dreams,
A signed up member in clubs or teams.
None matters if friendship is the goal,
Look closely into the windows of the soul.
Connection, partnership and bond,
Love is much deeper than being just fond.
Personality, character and spirit are there,
Our wonderful gifts we happily share.
Part of the family and friend you can trust,
Our manes soak up tears and will not rust.
Tell us your secrets and we will never tell,
Gift of healing we give if you are not well.
A horse is good for body, soul and mind,
And the very best therapy you can find.
Life lessons when the student is ready,
Yes teachers can be a hairy neddy.
There are so many things a horse can do,
What does a horse see looking at you?

Kez - The Non Ridden Cob

31/12/2024

The last day of 2024…we and the horses want to send a huge THANK YOU to our volunteers, supporters, donors, foster parents, veterinarians, farriers and adopters! It’s because of you that we were able to help these horses this year…..

16/12/2024

I want you to know that it’s enough.

The little things you do.

They are effecting not just your world, they are effecting the whole world, and beyond.

The getting up. The walk to the barn. The care. The filling of water and the giving of hay and the loving interaction.

The trying and the trying again, the learning and the growing. The process. The constant letting go of who you were and stepping into who you are, on your way to who you will be. And helping others along the way to do the same.

All of this…it vibrates inward and outward, it calls and echoes and connects, rises and builds, through all of this life, through all the world, and through all of eternity. The way you care, connect, and interact with horses is seen and felt in ways that travel the world. Your hand rested on your horse’s withers in your backyard can be felt by someone in another place, in another time.

You have power that is always there and never leaves you, and the more you become keenly aware of it and deeply connect with it, the more the whole world feels it.

It’s all ticking the needle forward, bit-by-bit. The work of care and connection for you and your horse is not just for you, it’s for all the world. And the world is seeing and feeling the difference as horse slaughter numbers drastically go down and the number of horse rescue and sanctuary organizations strongly go up, and the amount of abuse decreases while an understanding of horses and their care increases.

Never forget that you play a part in this. And what you do in the barn and in your backyard with your horse, out there alone with them…what you feel and do and discover…it’s not just for you…

It’s for all of us.

😊🐴🙏