Horsen Around Rescue Ranch and Foundation Inc

Impact Story: The Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) awarded Horse’n Around Rescue Ranch and Foundation, Inc. a generous grant in 2011 so we could establish an Adoption Project.  The Project provided the infrastructure (round corrals, training tools, educational materials, etc.) to utilize natural horsemanship training to handle the horses and assess the rescue horses skills, disposition, and potential so that they can be adopted into the appropriate type of forever home.  This story was included in the final report to the ACF.  While the grant has been completed the Adoption Project continues.

 

Bo’s dismal life looked like it had changed for the worse when his owner was incarcerated.  He was standing in a small pasture (with 2 equally skinny pasture mates) in Northern Arizona underweight and neglected the February sky darkening around him with an approaching snowstorm.  

He and his friends (2 bony horses and 2 chained dogs) were quickly loaded into the trailer heading to an unknown place.  Several hours later his fate was determined.  He and his friends were welcomed at Horse’n Around Rescue Ranch and Foundation – a warmer climate; ample, nutritious, and delicious food; gentle caring hands; and medical care.  Over the next few weeks and months, Bo’s shoes were removed (a difficult job since they were embedded in his severely overgrown hooves); he received dental care so his tired body could better utilized the nutrition he was enjoying; his dull shaggy hair shed out to a shiny coat; his eyes became bright with a look of love and gratefulness; and his ribs disappeared under a healthy cover of flesh.  He felt so good the old guy (24ish) ran and bucked and danced.  And so we call him Bo Jangles.

Bo Jangles had the good fortune to be selected for the Adoption Project at Horse’n Around Rescue made possible in part by a grant from the ACF.  Here his trainer worked (it seemed like play) to improve his ground manners and become reliable under saddle.  Bo made quick progress and was the best in the class.  On the last day class they let Bo Jangles dance!  He walked across bridges, over poles, through the gauntlet, around obstacles, and yes, he played soccer with a huge red ball.   

Bo was quickly adopted into a fabulous forever home.  He and his owner ride trails and dabble in dressage.  He has equine friends (some with long ears) and lots of love.  As for his friends... the dogs found wonderful homes with young people who take them rollerblading for exercise and his 2 equine friends (Zeus and Diamond) have completed the Adoption Project at Horse'n Around Rescue and have each found their forever home.