Jake

Adopted by Michelle Du Bois on 1439164800

Jake’s Story: The Miracle Pony
Jake, a tired, scrawny, depressed Haflinger pony was rescued in July 2015. He was not expected to survive the night. His hind feet were misshapen and his rear-end structure was very weak and very straight.

Jake just after rescue, July 2015

He came to Bag End Farm as a foster about a month later, when his quarantine was done. I was told that he was 15 years old. Coming off the trailer and seeing Jake for the first time, I said, “This sad soul never needs to leave the farm and go back into the system.” His traveling partner and fellow foster was a young, excitable filly that we named Tango.

The day after their arrival, it became clear that Jake’s personality and demeanor would be very helpful for other fosters. He was able to calm Tango down and make her feel safe. If she wanted company, he was right there with her. If she wanted him away from her, he sauntered away.

I called Phyllis at Hidden Pond Farm Equine Rescue and told her that he would remain with me for however long he had and that I would use him to help other horses here.

And so began the regimen that would help with his physical and mental condition. He needed to gain weight, develop a healthy coat, receive vaccinations, get his teeth and feet sorted out, and gain interest in living and counting on people. With the help of the vet, Kerri; the dentist, Dave; and the farrier Billy, Jake got dewormed, supplements, hoof and teeth care. While we were doing his teeth, Dave asked how old he was and I told him the 15 years I had been given. His immediate response was “No. He’s at least twice that old and probably closer to 40 than to 30.” His grinding teeth on the left were worn almost to the gum line and the right side was only marginally better. We decided to settle on 35 for his age as a reasonable approximation.

Since those early days Jake has blossomed into an amazing character and has served as a wonderful companion, babysitter, soother, and teacher to many horses and people. Among the horses he helped foster are Tango, Opie, Beau, Penny, Ruby, Ranger, Doc, Girlie, Allie, Freckles, Pandora, Fiona, Skinny Lily, Arthur, Melody, Ariel, and Joyful.

Jake’s Fosters
Jake helped his fosters through many fears including walking down a strange road, staying calm through all sorts of scary adventures such as passing cars, school buses, motorcycles, rock walls, large trucks, as well as learning to trust humans. He was equally willing to lay next to one horse and babysit another so mom could have some peace or keep a safe distance.

   
   
  
  
   

Jake allowed his human friends of many ages to practice and learn many things ranging from pony rides to lessons or trail rides. They rode him bareback or in tack. He loved for them to brush him, pick his feet, bathe him, lead him, blanket him, halter him, and saddle and bridle him. Jake is a favorite of the neighborhood; most of that is because of the fantastic personality that has emerged. The neighborhood children come regularly to bring him apples or carrots and pet him.

During his time here he has demonstrated the ability to open latches (and he has taught others that as well—bless him!). He willingly lets the others out of fields (again—bless him!) and then goes into the aisle of the barn and waits patiently for us to come get him. Always with that look in his eye that says, “Who, me?” He loves to head into bushes and play hide and seek with us.

The neighbors’ green lawns are places he escapes to hang out. It usually brings company with treats for him, which he accepts as his due. He is a foodie, never refusing a mouthful, although with all of his molars worn down to the gum, he can’t chew hay. He plays with it, sucks out the juices, and spits the quids out for us to remove from his stall.

During mud season, Jake finds a large flat rock and surveys the world from on top. He doesn’t like to get his feet dirty! If you are a little person, he leads perfectly for you, but if you think you might know better than he, he will meander in crazy lines in other directions than you want him to go.

He always takes his job as a calm influence on other horses and will lead together with any of them, on the left or the right as seems appropriate. Jake is a ladies man; his favorite is Allie. When she came in heat, his little knees rose high, he flagged his tail as he ran (as quickly as he could manage) to her, calling as if to say, “I’m coming, Honey. Hold on.”

Rasheeka

Adopted by Tia Marotto-Potvin on 1605398400

How Rasheeka Found Her Unicorn

Sometimes a person who’s a horse lover searches spends years looking for their perfect “unicorn.” And sometimes the reverse may be true. This is the story of Willows Rasheeka, a marvelous horse who spent years searching for her “unicorn” owner. Rasheeka is a striking 19-year-old registered Arabian mare with ancestral bloodlines going back decades to international and national champions, including the renowned Arabians Ruminaja Ali and Thee Desperado.

At the age of one, Rasheeka left the farm in New York where she was bred and began living on a farm in northern New Hampshire where she led her new owner on many enjoyable trail rides over the next 14 years. Rasheeka may not have been a flashy show horse like her ancestors, but she was loved and well cared for. Her owner was the only rider she had ever known. As Rasheeka aged, she began showing signs of illness. In 2015, she foundered for the first time. Not long after, she was diagnosed with Equine Cushing’s disease. Her medication was costly and it was unclear if Rasheeka would stay sound enough to ride. Unable to properly care for Rasheeka any longer, her owner surrendered her to Hidden Pond Farm Equine Rescue in Brentwood, New Hampshire.

While at the Rescue, Rasheeka developed laminitis, a complication of Cushing’s disease that the grassy pastures there made worse. The Rescue looked for a more suitable home where Rasheeka would have access to a packed dirt paddock that would not aggravate her medical condition. In August 2019, Boulder Brook Stables in Lee, New Hampshire, agreed to foster her. Although Rasheeka had excellent care, she was missing her person and didn’t have a job nor someone to make her feel special. It had been at least 5 years since she had been worked or ridden. Memories of those enjoyable trail rides and the owner she had bonded with for so many years were quickly fading, and Rasheeka was losing her trust in humans.

Tia Marotto-Potvin began helping out at Boulder Brook Stables in the Spring of 2020, during the global Covid-19 pandemic. Working outside seemed safe during a pandemic, and it would be an understatement to say that horses are Tia’s passion. Tia is a young woman who experienced much physical and emotional trauma as a child, enduring a seven-year stay in the foster care system. This affected her ability to form relationships with people. Eventually, she came to live with a family who discovered that Tia could naturally bond with animals, and through those bonds, come to trust the people in her life once again.

Tia’s family introduced Tia to horses the very first summer she came to live with them. The fear and excitement of that first pony ride changed her life forever. She began taking lessons and then leasing horses. Quickly, Tia became an excellent rider and competed in local dressage and eventing competitions. Eventually, it became apparent that Tia’s developmental disabilities and medical diagnoses would impede her ability to compete at higher levels. Instead, her abilities were recognized in a different arena when she won first place in dressage at the State’s Equine Special Olympics, in addition to excelling at other Special Olympic events.

Tia’s parents can’t remember a time when she hasn’t talked constantly about owning her own horse. She spent hours, days, weeks, months, (perhaps years?)… pouring over horse websites each evening looking for her “unicorn.” She had a long list of criteria: must have good conformation, a “good looker,” be at least 16hh, well-schooled in dressage and jumping, healthy and taking no supplements, AND be affordable! She and her mother checked out a few horses, but nothing came of her efforts.

Then, in the Spring of 2020, after Tia had been helping out at Boulder Brook Stables for a couple months, she spotted Rasheeka, who was usually in her outdoor shed or alone in her paddock. No one seemed to be working her or paying much attention to her, but she perked up whenever Tia approached her. Tia was told Rasheeka had some medical problems and had been surrendered to Hidden Pond Farm Equine Rescue and was being fostered by Amanda Hanson, Boulder Brook Stable’s owner. Tia felt bad for Rasheeka. She understood what it was like to live in foster care and have medical problems that make others feel your potential is limited. Tia decided to befriend Rasheeka.

Amanda encouraged Tia to start working with the mare who hadn’t been ridden in over 5 years. A bond between Tia and Rasheeka began to form almost immediately. Tia started with just grooming the horse, but in a very short time, Rasheeka became acclimated to ground tying, entering the barn, being cross-tied, and eventually wearing tack again. Tia spent hours grooming and talking to Rasheeka each day. When Tia approached, Rasheeka would nod her head slowly and tilt her ears forward to welcome Tia. She would lean in to Tia while being groomed.

At home, Tia’s parents began hearing the word “Rasheeka” a lot. Tia always smiled when she said it. Tia was proud of how the horse was responding to her efforts. “Could Rasheeka be Tia’s Unicorn?” they wondered. When it came time for Tia to start working Rasheeka on a lunge line, she begged her parents to come watch.

Her parents visited the farm early that fall. They were told all about Rasheeka’s medical conditions and immediately knew Rasheeka did not meet Tia’s long list of criteria for a horse she could own. Yet, by the way Rasheeka looked at and responded to Tia, it was also apparent the horse was oblivious to that fact. If anything, Rasheeka appeared to be saying that she, too, had a list and that Tia met all the criteria on that list for an owner.

It wasn’t long before Tia began asking if she could adopt Rasheeka. When reminded by her parents that Rasheeka didn’t meet the criteria on her list, Tia nodded in agreement, but would look sad. Her parents reminded her that a horse with Cushings and a history of laminitis might not always be rideable and could have high vet bills. Soon, Tia countered with some very logical and heartfelt arguments agreeing to reduce some of those costs by helping Amanda with chores at Boulder Brook Stable. Tia’s parents noticed that her evening routine of scouring the internet looking at horses for sale was no longer a daily ritual. Instead, she scoured the equine catalogues that arrived in the mail looking for things she could buy for Rasheeka.

Finally, the big day arrived, and Tia invited her parents to see her mount and ride Rasheeka for the first time. When they entered the indoor arena, both Tia and Rasheeka were standing tall and proud waiting for them. Tia mounted Rasheeka, and both rider and horse immediately displayed an understanding of the potential significance and importance of this moment. The horse’s muscle tone was still being rebuilt, so her balance was a bit off. But Rasheeka did her best to please her rider. In the horse’s eyes, you could see the long ago memories of those trail rides with her former owner come back. On Tia’s face, you could only see a smile that stretched from ear to ear, pushing her cheeks to nearly rise above her eyes as well as a sense of pride swelling in her chest. It was clear to everyone that Rasheeka had bonded with Tia and that Tia had reciprocated. The love affair between the two was in full bloom.

Rasheeka was making progress very quickly now. About a week later, Tia’s mom received a text with a picture of Tia and Rasheeka on a trail ride on the Boulder Brook Stable’s property.

Without telling Tia, her parents decided to inquire about adopting Rasheeka. Phyllis Elliott, the founder of Hidden Pond Farm Farm Equine Rescue, explained the process and made it sound very easy. Amanda Hanson agreed to continue boarding Rasheeka at Boulder Brook Stables. The family decided not to tell Tia about the adoption that officially occurred on October 24, 2020 until Rasheeka’s registration papers from the Arabian Horse Registry of America arrived, listing Tia as the new owner. The papers arrived a few weeks later.

On November 15, 2020, exactly fourteen years to the day after Tia had joined their family through adoption, Tia’s parents arrived at Boulder Brook and surprised Tia with the equine adoption and registration papers. Tia and Rasheeka will forever share the same “Gotcha Day!” Together, Tia and her parents officially welcomed Rasheeka into their family. While Tia was shocked and happy, Rasheeka stood tall and calm on her cross ties gently nuzzling Tia’s arm as Tia grasped the paperwork tightly in her hand. Tia may not have found the “unicorn” horse of her dreams, but Rasheeka certainly found her “unicorn” owner. Tia met all of Rasheeka’s criteria for an owner: fun, loving, caring, responsible, and forever. Together, they share a truly beautiful relationship, a bond that will never be undone because as Tia has learned, “Family is Forever.”

Tia and her parents thank the following people for bringing these two unicorns together:

• Phyllis Elliott, founder & owner of Hidden Pond Farm Equine Rescue
• Amanda Hanson, owner of Boulder Brook Stables
• Emily Meister, Tia’s companion & coach
• Terri Warren, PDMS Supervisor at Community Bridges (Assistant Producer, “Fly High” video)
• Kelly Smith, Windrush Farm, Dawn Mar & UNH Equine Program who encouraged Tia’s dream