BLOSSOM
Welcomed to the Sanctuary — March 2026
Across the Rainbow Bridge — October 2026
Blossom was a 17 year old Standardbred mare who had been worked hard for her entire life, leaving her with a body aged far beyond her years. To say she was overdue for an abundance of kindness is an understatement.
Everything here was new to her; grain twice a day, lots of fresh clean hay, fresh water, turnout, freedom to move her own body. Like many working road horses, she was not given treats, and doesn’t even know what they are. It is heartbreaking to think she did not know these simple basic things for so much of her life.
Blossom had immediate adoption interest but our intake vet process discovered severe arthritis and joint degeneration that required careful pain management to maintain her comfort, so we shifted our focus to hospice and ensuring she was allowed to enjoy the purity of just being a horse, in control of her own body, experiencing nothing but love, and being pain free, for as long as we could maintain the balance.
Blossom could be erratic, but she was happy in her quiet space, near Sherlock, who she adored. Hand shy, she had the softest fur on her neck, where she loved to be scratched. We all settled into a routine; one of the horses out at a time, and the other in their stall. After everyone adjusted to this, we were able to leave the top of the stall door open, and the pair would groom together, and things were nice and cozy.
Sherlock and Blossom did not know they were purchased, and they did not know that their days were measured. They did know a kind last chapter, where needs were met. They did get to know grass, and freedom to move their own bodies, they got great food, got to watch sunsets and sunrises, and stand in the rain just because it felt good (yes always with shelter as an option), and be near other horses, and be somewhere peaceful.
What a gift to give a girl who has only known hard work under the control of others. And today, the gift was to let her go.
So very many lives are forgotten, cast aside, treated without love, respect, or decency. And we try to change things, bit by bit. We hope our efforts made a difference for them, and their experience of being alive on this earth.