Hazel

Hazel is an old red mare. Red mares are notorious for having a “princess complex,” and that can sometimes translate into difficult to handle, and an argumentative temperment. Even in horse rescue operations, red mares are often passed over, wether this reputation is deserved or not.

We don’t know why Hazel eded up in the mixed-animal lot. But, knowing that she didn’t have much of a chance to be adopted out, her stewards at the lot neglected her.

When she came to Haven Mountain, Hazel was wearing a “death coat.” When an equine suffers extreme stress from malnourishment, or abuse, they develop a coat of hair that is coarse and shaggy. This is a sign that the animal is near death.

Hazel settled in to her new home and opened up right away. She was so gentle, easy to lead, and seemed genuinely happy, if not relieved to be with us. When she had put enough muscle back on her malnourished body we brought her into the training pen and put a saddle on her.

It became very clear, very quickly, that someone had loved Hazel and had taken good care of her for a very long time. Hazel had experience with everything we were doing, from simple commands to taking the bit, Hazel was very familiar with the process.

Between her obvious experience at a farm, and her very sweet and loving disposition, the mystery of Hazel’s origins come into focus. We think that Hazel was loved, and cared for, and maybe cherished for a very long time. But Hazel outlived her owner. And then she found herself in a nightmare of new people and places, ending up in a mixed lot as the old red mare that no one wanted.

Hazel’s story is far too common. Many horses outlive their owners, and without a plan in place those horses can be sold off or simply abandoned.