March 25, 2025 
When Ulyssa was finally confiscated by law enforcement in March 2023 after years of living in less-than-ideal conditions, her future appeared uncertain. The 13-year-old pinto mare had been living alone, intended as a pony for her owner’s grandchildren. Animal Control had a history of concerns about the pony’s welfare over five years, and when her condition declined, a vet examined her and found she had a body condition score of two out of nine on the Henneke Horse Body Condition Scoring System (depending on breed a four or a five is an ideal score), meaning she was significantly malnourished.
After she was seized, she was sent to Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) in Woodbine, Maryland. With her only medical issue being her weight, Ulyssa quickly thrived under DEFHR’s expert care and blossomed into a bright, engaging, and personable pony.
In the summer of 2023, Ulyssa joined DEFHR’s training program under the watchful eye of trainer Leigha Schrader.
“She had very little to no experience under saddle, so I restarted her from the ground up, beginning with groundwork,” said Schrader. “I loved working with Ulyssa and nicknamed her ‘Rocket Pony.’ She was keen and always down for adventures and learning new skills. She was forward-thinking, and whenever I start ponies under saddle, I have kids in mind. Safety is my priority, and I always want to give ponies a solid foundation to help them succeed as safe, fun mounts for younger riders.”
Schrader set about desensitizing the 13.2hh Ulyssa to prepare her for a child rider.
“I didn’t want her to be dull or to ignore my aids, but I wanted to be able to act like a kid in the saddle,” she explained. “If her rider’s leg slides back a bit or they become a little unbalanced, I teach her how to react in a forgiving way. I want to make kind ponies that accept minor mistakes because it helps set both the pony and the adopter up for success.”
The pair rapidly progressed beyond the basics, and Schrader began schooling Ulyssa—whom she described as “a ham with a big, funny personality”—over cross-rails and then over jumps.
“Ulyssa had scope and a knack for the work over fences,” continued Schrader. “I knew she would make a great pony jumper, eventer, or Pony Club mount. I started taking her offsite as much as I could to get her used to different environments. From schooling shows to cross country to trail rides, I wanted to prepare Ulyssa for a competitive home and find a junior rider or small adult that was as bold as she was; someone looking for their next adventure.”
When teenage adopter Samantha Everett and her mother, Amy Everett, spotted Ulyssa’s adoption listing on DEFHR’s website, they “fell in love with her right off the bat.” It was titled “Meet Rocket Pony!” and included an adorable video.
They learned about the organization from a friend who had adopted a horse from DEFHR. Having looked for a pony for Samantha for some time, they decided to make the five-hour trip from Chesapeake, VA, in December 2023 to see Ulyssa.
“The search for a perfect horse was a challenge as we looked at many,” recalled Amy. “Samantha had been taking riding lessons for three-and-a-half years before we adopted Ulyssa. “When she rode Ulyssa, it was like they were meant to be together. Her size, markings, and disposition were what sold us; she was the perfect pony for our family.”
Schrader added, “Samantha was a strong rider and wanted to do a little bit of everything. I knew she would be able to enjoy growing with Ulyssa for years to come. I’m proud to have handed the reins to Ulyssa’s 14-year-old rider in January 2024, and they have been having a blast together!”
“She’s a very forward ride and loves to do her job,” agreed Samantha. “We have done all sorts of activities with her, but her favorite thing is jumping. Trail rides are also part of her normal activities, and we’ve started to free-lunge her in the indoor arena, which she loves.
“Ulyssa also loves her home and her herd, as well as jumping, eating, and rolling,” Samantha continued. “She has made an impact on our family with her friendly hugs and fist bumps with her muzzle. We thoroughly enjoy her company and look forward to spending many more years with her.”
It took a long time for the Everett family to find the right pony, and Amy had some advice for those considering adoption.
“Take your time, and the right horse will come along,” she recommended. “Be open to different breeds because you might think you know what you want, but that one horse you didn’t think you wanted could turn out to be ‘the one.’ DEFHR is an amazing organization that really cares about its horses. I would recommend them to anyone looking to adopt.”
If you think you may be able to offer a home to a horse in need, visit https://defhr.org to learn about the adoption process and browse current available horses.
