Be My Valentine - Bo

Meet Bo
Bo has been a special case since they day I laid eyes on him. We rescued him from an auction when he, along with his emaciated herd mates, were ordered to go to auction. There are many rumors that have swirled around Bo. I've even been accused of being the one to send him to auction. Only those who actually know me would know what a laughable statement that is. But we outbid the killbuyer and brought him home for $110. I wasn't sure he was going to even make the trip home.


We nursed him back to health but he's always been a difficult one to care for. From the get go, he's been classified as a hard keeper. Every year one thing or another would happen and we'd be faced with more challenges: severe lameness, ulcers, weight loss, breathing issues, and now heart failure.


The minute the vet uttered "heart failure" my heart broke because there was  nothing more I could do for Bo. I can keep him comfortable and as happy as possible but I cannot bring his body back from the wreckage. So now, as the days pass, we constantly watch to ensure Bo's quality of life is where it needs to be.


Even with the abuse and neglect he endured  before coming to the Sanctuary, he is still a happy horse, always greeting me with a huge whinny (it's because of the grain but I'll take it). I think Bo knew he was close to death and there seems to be a different bond between him and me than any of the other horses. He still has no ground manners and will run me over if someone challenges his space. He's the lowest on the pecking order but has figured out evasive maneuvers to get away (which include running me over if need be).


But Bo is sweet. He has a kind heart and wants to love and be loved. He watches me just as closely as I watch him. If only his condition wasn't to this point. If only we could have met years ago. I believe we would have been an amazing riding team. We did go for a short ride but his previous life stressed him out for riding so I only took him once on a short excursion before realizing that from no on, he needs to stay home and stay quiet.


He's best friends with Zeke but now that he's in the barn over the winter eating, he's getting to know Jim a little more. They tolerate each other in the barn but I was hoping they'd at last hang out a little bit in the big herd, but so far that's not happening.


Bo has taken to sticking to himself, patiently waiting for his evening grain and hanging out with me.


I wish that I could speak more eloquently about Bo to show you how much of an amazing horse he is. I hesitate to post pictures because his heart failure is taking its toll on this body and we've always fought to gain any ground on his weight problem. But pictures dont' do justice to Bo's spirit and energy. He doesn't have the demanding presence but he has a different presence that for me is somewhat calming. There's just something about Bo that I can't put into words that I wish I could share with you all. Bo is a very special horse and although he won't be on this earth for very much longer, I would love to share him with you so you too can see what an amazing horse he is.


If you'd like to sponsor him, monthly sponsorships are $50 and it would go to buying Ramona feed (which is what keeps the ulcers at bay) and senior feed (which hopefully keeps some weight on him), along with a weight booster supplement and buteless supplement (to ease the aches and pains he's experiencing during this cold snap). In return, you'll receive monthly updates and pictures of Bo (mostly eating his grain!)


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Be My Valentine - Chaos

Meet Chaos
Chaos is the first horse to officially come into the Sanctuary. In May 2006 we welcomed an unhandled yearling stud. It was a true wakeup call because we'd only ever handled older horses. We accepted Chaos sight unseen but are definitely glad we took the leap of faith on him as he's been our go-to horse for many and seems to catch the eye of many as well.


Chaos has come a long way from that gangly yearling stage. He's now 13 and completely sure of himself, which makes me appreciate him more. He has self confidence that pours from him. There are certain horses that exude personality and confidence and Chaos is one of them. He demands respect and gets it from the entire herd (except Rain).


We've gone through many ordeals with Chaos include a foot stuck in a concrete loading chute, a nail in the hoof, getting caught up in the fence and cutting both back legs, and a few others that I can't remember right now. I honestly think that Chaos has and is a blessed horse with someone watching over him because he has been accident prone when he was younger.


Chaos is always one of the first to greet you at the gate and if you have treats, he'll be your best friend forever. He's carried me through countless trail rides and carried novice and expert riders with the same care. He's a bit on the lazy side and prefer to simply hang out but will pick up the pace when the herd goes on a gallop around the pasture.


Chaos is one in a million and I'm very glad we took the chance on him way back in 2006. He's a very easy keeper and only requires hay and his salt block. Would you like to be Chaos's Valentine this year and provide a monthly sponsorship? $50 monthly sponsorship would go to buy his winter supply of hay, countless salt blocks, and some treats that he does absolutely love. In return, you'll receive a monthly update and pictures of this hunk-a-hunk horse.


You can pay for sponsorship through paypal at www.paypal.me/Borderlands or via mail at
Borderlands Horse Sanctuary
PO Box 164
Humboldt, SD 57035


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Be My Valentine - Zeke

Meet Zeke
I'm not allowed to have favorites but Zeke, well, he's special. The first time I swung my leg over the saddle on Zeke, it was like I was riding my first Arab that I had retired. It felt as though I was picking up where I had left off except with a different horse.


Zeke was just that easy to get along with that after only six months, I was more than comfortable riding him to the church in my big poofy wedding dress for my big day. That is how much I trust him, and I still trust him. Don't get me wrong, my biggest spill also came from Zeke but that's all my fault.


I wasn't looking for a horse but I'm prone to notice arabs for sale. I found him in September 2009 and bought him as my personal horse. We did everything together. He's been my trail horse (although failed miserably because he'd prefer to jump creeks rather than walk through them), participated in parades, and was involved in not one, but TWO drill teams. In fact, he was the oldest horse on the team and keeping up with the younger "pups" and showing them off. He knew when it was the real deal. I'm guessing he once was a show horse in a previous career but we'll never know.


But at the age of 24, he told me that he was tired of performing for drill team so I retired him at that season. He's been enjoying retirement to the extreme since then. When I retired him from drill team, I put him into the Sanctuary program and he's been very happy ever since.


I knew Zeke was special but this past year has shown me the extent of how special he is. He's the typical arab but seems rather down to earth. He's always hung out with Bo and even Brego and Ivan when Bo was in eating. He isn't one of the pushy ones and is lower on the pecking order. But he takes everything into stride.


When Ivan was colicing last November, Zeke stuck fairly close to him. I thought it was odd. He went to far as to touch Ivan's belly where it hurt. Zeke was trying to make him feel better. After we lost Ivan, Brego went into a depression. I was worried sick for Brego. I shouldn't have worried. Zeke was there to bring him out of his depression. Now I see them play fighting all the time, tormenting each other. If Brego isn't picking on Zeke, Zeke is picking on Brego. It's so good to see Brego out of his depression and it's good to see that Zeke is moving around like a typical young arab instead of an old duffer.


He still watches over Bo. There was a bit of a tiff when Lightening came. Lightening immediate went to Zeke for protection and to follow. It was like they were one and the same but in the past few months Lightening has found his own stride. That's a good thing because Zeke is back to watching over Bo. I think Bo and Zeke have always been fairly close friends because Zeke knows that Bo has never been 100% healthy.


Zeke is very special and even at the age of 26 he doesn't seem like he's slowing down in his retirement. I'm looking forward to pampering him during his golden years because he deserves it. He's taken care of me countless times, kept me safe during all our rides, and now deserves (and will get) a retirement where he can be spoiled every day of his golden years.


Would you like to help spoil Zeke? You can sponsor him monthly for $50, which will buy him a bag of senior feed and ensure he gets the needed trims to keep him balanced and comfortable. In return, you'll receive monthly updates with pictures. I know Zeke is special to me, but I'd love to share this special horse with you!


You can pay for sponsorship through paypal at www.paypal.me/Borderlands or via mail
Borderlands Horse Sanctuary
PO Box 164
Humboldt, SD 57035


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Be My Valentine - Mayhem

Meet Mayhem
Mayhem came to us as a three month old filly in September 2011. She was Rabbit's last baby and the owner didn't want either Rabbit or Mayhem as Mayhem was guaranteed blue roan and she obviously didn't come out blue roan. There are no guarantees in life other than death and taxes. So the owner wanted to find them a new home. We'd been looking for an "older" horse for our late 20s mare and there was Rabbit. The catch was Mayhem. We could either keep Mayhem for $50 or bring her back after she'd been weaned and he'd find her a home. I was worried because she was registerable but the papers weren't filled out properly so she never did get registered. She also had an umbilical hernia. Not many would take on that challenge and being sorrel, she'd be easy pickings for slaughter. So we kept her.


Mayhem had already had two strikes against her so she came to live at the Sanctuary. She's had a few additional strikes against her. We thought she was colicing and took her into the vet. We discovered instead that she has colitis. I will take full responsibility for that one. But in the  mean time, we also discovered that she has a heart murmur. Then during one of her runs through the pastures, she poked her eye and there is now a white spot on her left eye. She can see out of it but as she ages, I expect that she will have difficulty seeing.


So Mayhem is a bit of a horse who has been able to outlast the normal three strikes and you're out theory. Mayhem really does stand up to her name.


Personality wise, she's been around old horses so she's a bit of an old soul. But she also brings out the playfulness in the older horses, which is always a good thing. Mayhem is inquisitive but also a bit shy and unsure of herself. I blame that on me as we've never really done much with her. She always kept getting pushed to the back burner because another older senior needed our time, attention, and funds.


Mayhem likes everyone and seems to blend will with whoever she is in with. She can hang out with the ponies, or Lace and Junior. Or she can tease the boys and taunt them with her filly silliness. But overall, she's a solidly built mare who reminds me so much of her mother but with the carefree spirit that all horses should have.


Mayhem still has the umbilical hernia but we have the funds built up to get it repaired. We are currently waiting for the weather to warm up and for our vet to heal for an injury before we proceed. Until then, Mayhem is a very easy keeper and only requires hay. I'd love to send her to a trainer but that's not in the cards as I use my personal money for all horse training and there's a lack of funds right now for me.


If anyone would like to sponsor Mayhem, it would be $50 and would go directly to her hay bill and keeping a salt block in her pasture. She's a growing girl so she powers through the hay like no one else can. In return, you'll receive a monthly update with pictures.


You can send sponsorships through www.paypal.me/Borderlands or via mail at
Borderlands Horse Sanctuary
PO Box 164
Humboldt, SD 57035


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Be My Valentine - Brego

Meet Brego

Sweet and mello. That's the words to describe Brego. Brego is the gentlest horse at the Sanctuary and would never hurt a fly. Brego came to the Sanctuary in October 2008 on a rainy night. He was the first horse we dealt with that was thinner than we would normally have liked. We've struggled with his weight until we finally went to round bales and now he's nice and plump. I think he was so passive, that he let others eat his food.

Brego is a 13 year old grade quarter horse gelding.

Brego is a sweetheart with a heart of gold. He's always curious to know what I'm doing but never gets into my space without first asking.

When Brego was five, I sent him to the trainers to become a good riding horse only to discover that he should never be ridden. We can only guess that he has a back/hip issue that causes pain. So instead, he is now a pasture pet.

This fall he lost his best friend and I was terrified that he would fall into a deep depression. Luckily, he had adjusted well and seems to be back to his sweet self once again. I cannot believe how residential Brego is.

Brego is lower in the pecking order but doesn't seem to get pushed around either. He always seems to be congenial and sweet tempered. I don't know that I have ever seen him pin his ears at anyone.

Would you like to sponsor this sweetheart of a horse? Brego's monthly sponsorship is $50 and covers the cost of grain and will ensure that he gets a winter blanket. He has a blanket but it's starting to show its wear. Brego hates being cold and loves to wear blankets. It's one of his special perks of being a thin skilled QH. In return for sponsoring Brego, you'll receive monthly updates and pictures.

You can donate to www.paypal.me/Borderlands or send via mail to

Borderlands Horse Sanctuary

PO Box 164

Humboldt, SD

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