ZEE
Welcomed to the Sanctuary — March 2014
Across the Rainbow Bridge — April 2026
“The Gentle Tiger”
A born leader, Zee was a sudden intake in Spring 2014 ("He is getting in the trailer and going to either auction or to you!"). A teen-aged Quarter Horse at the time, he was dumped because of a hereditary medical issue that caused him hoof pain and rendered him unsound for regular riding. And that made him unwanted. This very handsome dun, with his bar stripes, was destined to be sold, flipped, go lame, be sold and flipped over and over until death, without interception. Obviously, we said yes, and changed the story.
Zee was proud, but so incredibly kind with humans, and we invested a small fortune in rocker shoes, radiographs, anything to help him. Finally we moved him to an outlying farm, where we boarded him for a small sum, and he was kept pasture sound with many short natural trims, barefoot. There Zee became an integral part of the family, with tight friendships and any easy, loved life. Getting any horse to mid 20’s is an accomplishment, especially one with ‘navicular’, so Zee was lucky indeed.
Our hearts are with Zee’s caregivers and horse friends, who were his true family for over a decade. Sometimes our role as facilitator is our most important one. We are grateful to the medical teams and to the donors who supported his emergency fundraiser yesterday, as we made a valiant effort to save Zee’s life.
This is what Sanctuary is, true lifetime guardianship, for the sake of the horse. Of course, our lives were richer for knowing Zee, and he will be remembered with love.