In October 2023, Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) responded to a call from Animal Control regarding a neglect case in Carroll County, Maryland.
DEFHR staff arrived on scene and ultimately seized eight neglected equines and brought them to DFEHR’s Woodbine, Maryland-based facility for rehabilitation, training, and eventual adoption.
One of the horses in the group was a then 13-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse mare that DEFHR staff renamed Wise Willow, or “Willow” in the barn. She presented obvious signs of neglect including a low body condition score of 3 out of 9 on the Henneke Body Condition Scale. It was also clear that she would only be suitable for very light, walk-only riding.
Willow’s treatment plan was straight forward, and she fully rehabilitated within three months. She then moved into DEFHR’s training program to be evaluated and to gain skills necessary to be a solid equine citizen for a future adopter.
Right away, DEFHR head trainer Sara Strauss recognized that Willow was sweet and quiet and would be suitable for handling by both children and adults. As a result, Willow was placed in DEFHR’s Equidopt Grooming Program—a monthly sponsorship program that enables sponsors to participate in weekly grooming sessions with an assigned horse.
“The father and daughter duo that had Willow as their Equidopt horse really enjoyed their time with her and loved that she was an easy-going mare,” Strauss shared.
After several months in the Equidopt Program and in training with Strauss, Willow got her big break.
A prospective adopter named Kristina Nolan reached out to DEFHR in search of a companion for her riding horse, a Thoroughbred gelding, as well as her Warmblood filly. More specifically, she was eager to find horse that was friendly with children and would enjoy giving light pony rides to her own kids.
Luckily for Nolan, she was familiar with DEFHR and its adoption process as her sister had previously adopted two horses from the organization.
Nolan began her adoption journey by speaking with Strauss and explaining her needs. Nolan had had her eye on a mare that was already in the process of being adopted so Strauss suggested she visit the farm to meet Willow.
“I met Willow, noted her kind eye, spent time grooming her, and saw a playful side,” said Nolan of her initial visit with Willow. “She was so gentle and kind. I knew she would be a good fit, despite her physical limitations.”
Soon after that first meeting, Willow’s adoption became official and she arrived at her new home, a small farm on Nolan’s property. Willow settled in and to Nolan’s relief, bonded quickly with her Thoroughbred gelding and Warmblood filly.
Building trust
“Willow was easy to handle and was pleasant with us even though she didn’t know us,” Nolan explained. “However, I realized that she wasn’t actively seeking attention and we still needed to gain her trust.”
Interestingly, Nolan noticed that Willow began to let her guard down once Nolan treated her front hooves for thrush daily and rewarded her with extra treats.
“It was clear to me that Willow wasn’t invested in us until we demonstrated that we were invested in her,” Nolan noted.
Nolan remained patient with Willow and focused on spending calm, quiet moments with her. After several weeks of becoming familiar with her new family, Willow decided that Nolan was “her person” and she showed that in more ways than one.
“Willow has an ear that is super sensitive, so putting on her fly mask and halter were very tricky,” commented Nolan. “But now that she’s decided that I’m her person—holy cow, I’ve seen such a difference! She puts her head down for her fly mask and her halter, looks for cookies all the time, checks in with me while we’re walking to the field, and is appreciative of her grooming sessions.
“She has also shown me her playful side,” Nolan continued.
“Willow is a bit impatient to come in from her field for breakfast. After I bring her pasture mate into the barn and I walk back outside to get Willow, as soon as she sees me, she whinnies and sticks one front leg out in front of her like she’s going to paw, but she just holds it there. She also loves when we tickle her top lip—she’ll wiggle it against our fingers in a lighthearted way.”
While Nolan loves the bond she’s developed with Willow, it’s Willow’s patience and affection toward her children that has stolen her heart.
“I love that Willow is kind, and that she just knows things,” said Nolan. “For example, Willow knows that my three-year-old daughter is a tiny, delicate human and that she must be gentle and careful around her.
“Willow also knows to walk very slowly when my daughter is riding her. My 10-year-old, non-horsey son, who is affected by autism spectrum disorder, is even able to lead Willow to the field by himself. He loves that she’s calm and trustworthy.”
The value of a rescue
Nolan’s experience with Willow, coupled with the experience her sister had adopting two DEFHR rescue horses, has led her to encourage others to reconsider how we think of “rescues.”
“I think when people think about ‘rescue horses,’ they think of a horse that’s been neglected to the point of starvation, or a horse that’s been abused in some way and has mental scars that are difficult to overcome,” Nolan explained.
“I’ve realized that it’s not a one-size-fits-all label. Yes, all of these horses need a soft place to land, and yes, they’ve all probably seen a not-so-great side of humans. However, the term ‘rescue’ is a nuanced label. Many horses are very happy and willing to accept a new person and embrace their new job, whatever it ends up being.”
Willow has undeniably impacted Nolan and her family in unprecedented fashion and Nolan is hopeful others will recognize the good that rescue horses bring to the table.
“Willow has quite a few emotional scars from her previous life, some of which we’re just beginning to uncover. That being said, she is a wonderful addition to our little farm,” concluded Nolan.
“She’s a fantastic pony-ride horse for my daughter, and a great companion horse. There are some people who think I should have adopted a horse that I could ride or use in a more ‘meaningful’ way. What they don’t realize is that Willow truly is wise, and therefore, she is valuable. She’s taught my filly manners that my gelding couldn’t. She’s teaching my daughter how to be safe around big horses in a way my other horses could not.
“She’s reminded me that when you invest in horses, they invest in you.”