Gone but not Forgotten
Our beloved rescue horses that are forever in our memory.
Benson Benson is an older Oldenburg gelding who was found wandering, alone, down Grapeview Loop road in 2019. He was underweight and not up to date on his vet care. After being surrendered to Sunrise Equine Rescue, he began his rehabilitation. He was put into retirement due to ongoing health issues and spent his golden years grazing in the pasture and making friends with all of the miniature horses. Unfortunately, Benson passed away in August of 2021. This guy truly was a gentle giant and will be missed greatly by everyone who got to know him around the barn. |
Cricket Cricket was rescued in 2014 and from that moment on she brightened the lives of everyone who met her. After her rehabilitation, she found an instrumental place in our lesson program. Her calm temperament and loads of patience helped us teach many kids about proper horse care and horsemanship. Sadly, in September of 2018, we had to say goodbye to this sweet soul. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew her. |
Dancer Dancer was rescued in 2014. Unwanted by her previous owners, Dancer was underweight and in poor condition. Luckily, she found her new home at Sunrise Equine Rescue where she was loved and rehabilitated. Sadly, she passed away in May of 2020. Dancer touched so many lives in the six short years she spent with us. Before her retirement, she competed in many shows with her leaser who loved her unconditionally and participated in our lesson program as one of our primary lesson horses. |
Gem Gem came to us in 2009 with no sense of space and an injured leg. She was very under nourished, afraid of everything, herd bound, and insecure. After some much needed TLC, Gem began to come out of her shell and showed a lot of promise. She lived a very happy, healthy, and content life up at Sunrise Equine Rescue up until her passing in 2014. |
Jasper
Jasper was an older Thoroughbred gelding who was surrendered to Sunrise Equine Rescue after his previous owner was no longer able to ride. He came to us with rain rot, mud scald, and dropped pasterns. He was also blind in his left eye. Although Jasper was blind in one eye and could not be ridden, he was instrumental in our lesson program. He was used to help teach grooming techniques, leading etiquette, and, most of all, love. He really was our gentle giant. Jasper was a permanent resident of Sunrise Equine Rescue until March of 2022, when we made the hard decision to say goodbye. Jasper will be dearly missed around the barn, as he was a friend to everyone who visited.
Moon Moon was a Standardbred mare who was found on Craigslist. When she arrived at Sunrise Equine Rescue in 2010, she was severely underweight and in overall poor health. Prior to her rescue, she had foaled and won $555,000 during her racing career in Canada. After a lot of TLC, Moon was brought back to good health by the wonderful people at Sunrise Equine Rescue and became a great pleasure and trail horse! She was adopted by her forever owner in 2012 who loved and cared for her until Moon's passing in 2018. |
Nora Nora had spent her life as a rodeo horse and came to Sunrise Equine Rescue in 2015 to live out her retirement in a safe and healthy environment. During that time, she was a great addition to our therapy riding program as she was sweet, patient, and gentle. She resided with our equine massage therapist until June of 2020 when we all had to say goodbye. We will miss her dearly. |
Romeo Romeo was a Quarter Horse gelding who came to us from a life as a barrel racer and was found starving and alone in a backyard. He was surrendered to us by his owner in 2010 and began his rehabilitation soon after. Romeo became a permanent resident after presenting us with several health challenges and after several years of love and care, we had to say goodbye to the kindest, sweetest soul to ever grace our presence. Romeo lived up to his name and stole the hearts of everyone he touched. We all will miss his sweet face, soft nickers, and hoover like abilities to clean up any food that was put in front of him. |
Ruthanne Ruthanne was a Quarter Horse mare and our second rescue case. When she arrived at Sunrise Equine Rescue in 2009, she had such severe hoof lameness that she couldn't put any weight on her right front heel. Her feet were so badly neglected that her hoof had grown and curled all the way under. Ruthanne was in severe pain and could not move. After two years of dedicated rehabilitation, Ruthanne was cleared for light riding. Sunrise Equine Rescue was her forever home until she, sadly, passed away in October of 2013. |
Sunny Sunny was abandoned by her owner in a field with a fence made of wire and only a tarp for cover. She was found severely neglected with no veterinarian care and was living in two feet of muck. She was covered with lice and rain rot and was both skinny and full of worms. After her rehabilitation with Sunrise Equine Rescue, she was adopted in 2016 by her new forever home where she was guaranteed a life full of love and care. Sadly, in early 2022, Sunny's hoof conditioned declined and her family made the hard decision to end her suffering. She will be very greatly missed. |
Uno Uno was our very first rescue here at Sunrise Equine Rescue, arriving to us in June of 2009. When he arrived he was severely underweight with an unknown injury to his right hind hip and leg. He was gelded and given constant care in order to maintain a proper weight. Eventually, he was turned out with other horses in order to make friends and develop the proper behavior for interacting with others. Unfortunately, Uno passed away in October of 2010. |