Photo courtesy February Star Sanctuary

Adoptable Horse: Maggie, a 17-year-old, 15.1hh Missouri Fox Trotter mare
Organization: February Star Sanctuary, Knoxville, Md.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Maggie

Are you looking for a marvelous mare? Meet Maggie!

This sweet chestnut beauty is a 17-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter. She’s lots of fun and was quick to make friends with some of February Star’s other horses. Maggie has the potential to succeed in various disciplines and styles, but will be a true project. February Star believes she’ll do her best with an experienced, patient rider.

Contact February Star Sanctuary today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Maggie!

Photo courtesy February Star Sanctuary

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Maggie appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“She was pretty healthy looking, but she was really wild and traumatized,” says Valdivia-Abdallah. “If you just walked in her pen, she would jump out. She did it multiple times.”

It was a familiar situation. The mare was one of eight at a “loose horse” auction (horses are bid on while running loose in a pen) that Valdivia-Abdallah bought.

“An Oregon man had been breeding mostly Shagya Arabians, and he died,” she explains. “The family called a horse trader who rounded 53 of them up. Most on that property were adult horses that had never been handled. She was such a difficult horse, and so not into people, that I named her after the Taylor Swift song, Love Story. It’s a version of Romeo and Juliet that has a happy ending. I like to give horses names with positive affirmations.”

Vera Valdivia-Abdallah, founder and director of Love This Horse Equine Rescue, says Love Story took about six months to tame after coming to her facility. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

Gaining Trust

She recalls that it took about six months just to tame Love Story. Valdivia-Abdallah and her daughters, Tamarah and Erna Valdivia, plus one other trainer, worked to gain Love Story’s trust. Even during this time, Valdivia-Abdallah had a special feeling about the mare.

“Once we got her going, I said that’s a Tevis horse right there,” she says. “Don’t ask me why. I just had that feeling.” California’s Tevis Cup is considered one of the toughest 100-mile endurance rides in the world. Horse and rider pairs have 24 hours to complete the race, with regular vet checks that must be passed to continue along the route.

Susannah Jones, a friend of Valdivia-Abdallah from Rough and Ready, Calif. (between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe), is always on the lookout for her next Tevis Cup horse. The three-time finisher of the race adopted Love Story in February of 2021. She took the halter-broke mare home and sent her to a trainer. The first trainer rejected her as too dangerous. The next trainer broke her to saddle, and eventually Jones began riding her.

But Love Story could still be difficult, and she bucked Jones off during a trail ride. Injured and sidelined for six months, Jones didn’t want Love Story to backslide, so Valdivia-Abdallah welcomed the mare back to Love This Horse Equine Rescue in October 2023. Her daughter Erna Valdivia began riding and conditioning the mare for endurance rides. Now 17, Valdivia learned to ride at age 5, and has been starting rescue horses under saddle since 2020.

Love Story intimidated Valdivia at first.

“The first time I got on ‘Lovie,’ I acted like I didn’t know how to ride, because I was so anxious,” she recalls. “I was shaking in my boots. She’s a big horse. She has a lot of power. It was just in my head, because she was Susannah’s horse, and I didn’t want to mess anything up and ruin her. But as soon as I stopped thinking about Susannah, and just treated Lovie like I was riding one of the rescue horses, she was easy to figure out.

“Lovie was very sassy,” Valdivia continues. “I had to be a little bit more stern with her because she’s a mare. She’d get upset with me, but then we pushed through it. When she’s with me, she knows she can’t get away with stuff.”

The two finished their first 25-mile ride together in California in January of 2024, then moved up to 50-mile rides, getting to know each other and building a strong partnership.

Valdivia took over the training on Love Story, taking her to the mare’s first 25-mile endurance ride in January of 2024. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

Targeting the Tevis Cup

After breaking to riding, many of Love This Horse Equine Rescue’s horses compete in endurance.

“Endurance riding is so good for starting our horses,” says Valdivia-Abdallah. “You have a different horse at the end of the ride. Even if somebody wants to adopt one as a trail horse, taking him to an endurance ride is valuable training. They must travel in the trailer, camp, stay tied to the trailer overnight, ride in a strange environment, ride a minimum of 25 miles under timed conditions, and complete successfully without having any issues.”

As Lovie and Valdivia accumulated more endurance rides and miles together, the “T” word came up again. Both Valdivia-Abdallah and Jones, now riding again, suggested the Tevis Cup. Jones volunteered to ride her other horse, Eli, and mentor Valdivia aboard Love Story.

“I was like, um, no!” Valdivia laughs. “I didn’t like the idea at first, because it’s Tevis. But once we got closer, and started making plans, I thought maybe it’s not too bad of an idea. I warmed up to it toward the end, and I was actually kind of excited for it.”

With Jones riding Eli and Valdivia aboard Love Story, the pairs rode two days and 50 miles of the Tevis Educational Ride in June, giving both newbies a good taste of the trail.

“It helped me, because the trails are narrow and the turns are pretty tight,” Valdivia says. “It gave Love Story peace of mind, too. It helped her watch her feet and be careful where she stepped. It was definitely a good experience.”

Erna Valdivia on Love Story (front) and Susannah Jones on Eli. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

Tevis Time

The atmosphere and idea of the Tevis Cup itself can make riders apprehensive, and the start can be chaotic. At the 5:15 a.m. start time on July 29, 2024, Love Story, not used to such a big field of 137 horses, was agitated.

Valdivia was nervous going into the Tevis Cup, but once the riders were able to space out she and Love Story relaxed. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

“I had to relax myself in order for her to be relaxed because there were so many horses around her, and all that adrenaline and energy,” Valdivia says. “It was nerve-racking for both of us.”

For most of the first 6 miles, Tevis is a single-track trail where it’s not possible to pass horses. It wasn’t until the trail opened up and they were able to spread out that Love Story settled down.

Jones rode her other horse, Eli, and mentored Valdivia for Tevis. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

The 2024 Tevis Cup was one of the hottest on record, particularly in the two deep canyons horses have to traverse, contributing to the low 40 percent finish rate.

Eli and Love Story successfully made it to Foresthill at the 68-mile marker at 9:35 p.m. They passed the vet check, but Jones and Valdivia opted to pull their horses and not continue the last 32 miles.

“Our horses were tired,” Valdivia says. “It was so hot. Their energy was just not up. The vet said we were good to go, but I felt like if we would’ve kept going, it would not have ended well for us.”

Valdivia and Jones decided to pull out of the Tevis Cup at the 68-mile vet check, where the horses were deemed sound to continue, but the riders felt they were tiring. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

A Happy Ending

And so ended the potential fairy tale story of Valdivia and Love Story LTH completing the Tevis Cup. But the plot doesn’t end there.

After Tevis, Love Story was slated to return home to Jones, her adopter. But that’s not how the cards fell.

“Susannah told Erna she was going to gift Love Story to her,” says Valdivia-Abdallah. “It took Erna a minute to process what had just happened. And then Erna totally lost it, jumping up and down and laughing and crying at the same time.”

Valdivia modestly downplays the moment.

“I figured after Tevis, Love Story should go back to Susannah, but I’m happy that she’s mine,” Valdivia says. “We got really connected doing all the endurance rides together. We know each other pretty well.”

Jones and Valdivia became close friends while training for Tevis, and afterward Jones decided to gift Love Story to Valdivia. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

Recipe for Success

Since incorporating in 2016, Love This Horse Equine Rescue has rescued 702 mostly Arabian horses and adopted out 534, and currently has 125 in its care. The horses come from a combination of owner relinquishment, law enforcement seizures, and low-end auctions.

What contributes to the group’s success is Valdivia-Abdallah’s focus on attempting to get every horse broke to ride before offering them up for adoption.

“Since I come from a training background, I get the horses going under saddle, because a riding horse will find a home,” she says. “They’re endurance horses, therapy horses, trail horses. We’ve had horses move on to hunter/jumper careers. We have one adopter who shows in hunter under saddle and dressage at Scottsdale [Arabian Horse Show], and this year she’s gone into ranch riding. So they’re really versatile.”

By taking the time to rehab and train rescued horses, Love This Horse Equine Rescue proves that adopted horses can not only become great companion horses, but they have the potential to perform at the highest levels of their chosen sports, including endurance riding’s legendary Tevis Cup.

This article about a Tevis Cup love story appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post A Tevis Cup Love Story appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Colorado Horse Rescue

Adoptable Horse: Callie, a 23-year-old, 16.3hh American Quarter Horse mare
Organization: Colorado Horse Rescue, Longmont, Colo.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Callie

Callie is looking for a quiet environment where she can feel at home. She does the best with other easy going, gentle horses — much like herself. She is blind in one of her eyes, so a consistent environment will serve her well. Callie loves being groomed and spending time with people. She is a lovely horse to spend time with, and will make a great buddy to both horses and people.

Contact Colorado Horse Rescue today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Callie!

Photo courtesy Colorado Horse Rescue

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Callie appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Easy R Equine Rescue

Adoptable Horse: Moonshine, a 14-year-old, 14.2hh American Paint Horse mare
Organization: Easy R Equine Rescue, Lubbock, Texas

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Moonshine

Moonshine came to Easy R in May 2025 as an owner surrender. The owner was having a very intensive back operation and could no longer care for the horses. According to him, Moonshine came to his house when the neighbor who owned her took a job that required extensive worldwide travel. Other than what they have been told, Equine R has very little information about her previous life and training.

Moonshine is a bit standoffish and leery of people. She is not mean or aggressive; she just acts as if she has had limited exposure to ground training and realizing what people are expecting from her. At this point, Easy R is working with her on standing nicely for the farrier, being caught and haltered more easily, and cooperating with any type of veterinary treatment.

She has what looks to be some arthritis in one of her back legs, which does cause her to be “off” at a trot and lope. After discussion with the veterinarian about potential soundness under saddle, it has been decided that it would be best for Moonshine if she was adopted as a non-rideable, companion only horse. The veterinarian expressed concerns that if she is lame without a rider, that it would cause too much stress on her injured leg to train her under saddle.

Moonshine gets along well with other horses—in fact, she is incredibly bonded to a mare at her current foster home. She is a very cute little Paint Horse and would be an adorable pasture pet in a home with at least one other horse.

Contact Easy R Equine Rescue today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Moonshine!

Photo courtesy Easy R Equine Rescue

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Moonshine appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Hooved Animal Humane Society

Adoptable Horse: Byron, a 17-year-old, 15.2hh grade gelding
Organization: Hooved Animal Humane Society, Woodstock, Ill.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Byron

Byron is a 17-year-old gelding known for his friendly, outgoing, and playful demeanor. He enjoys human interaction, is well-versed in groundwork, and is excelling in join-up and liberty work, which highlights his willingness to connect and communicate with his handlers.

Byron has been diagnosed with kissing spines, which makes him unsuitable for riding. However, he would make an excellent pasture companion, offering companionship to other horses while continuing to engage in groundwork activities that stimulate him both mentally and physically.

Byron is currently available for adoption to a suitable home that understands his needs and can provide him with a comfortable, stress-free environment. If you are looking for a pasture pal with a strong personality and a love for human interaction, Byron may be the perfect fit.

Contact Hooved Animal Humane Society today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Byron!

Photo courtesy Hooved Animal Humane Society

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Byron appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Susquehanna SPCA

Adoptable Horse: Belle, a 26-year-old, 12.0hh grade pony mare
Organization: Susquehanna SPCA, Cooperstown, N.Y.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Belle

Belle is a charming senior pony (estimated 25+) who is ready for a fresh start with someone who will enjoy helping her shine. After spending years alone with limited hoof care, she’s now discovering the world with new confidence. She can be shy at first, but a nibble of grain and a calm presence help her relax—and once she feels safe, her sweet, gentle personality shines through.

Despite her age, Belle has the energy and curiosity of a much younger pony. She enjoys stretching her legs, exploring her surroundings, and taking in everything happening around her. Her bright, independent nature makes her especially rewarding to work with.

Belle is still learning that farrier visits are a normal part of life, so she’ll need a patient farrier and a veterinarian who can provide sedation as needed to ensure her trims remain positive and low-stress.

She is looking for an adopter with the experience, steadiness, and understanding needed to help continue her journey. With consistency, kindness, and thoughtful handling, Belle will blossom into a confident and engaging companion.

Contact Susquehanna SPCA today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Belle!

Photo courtesy Susquehanna SPCA

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Belle appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Humane Society of Ventura County

Adoptable Horse: Tundra, an 18-year-old, 14.3hh Arabian gelding
Organization: Humane Society of Ventura County, Ojai, Calif.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Tundra

Help the Humane Society of Ventura County find long-term resident Tundra his forever home! This 18-year-old gray Arabian gelding arrived at the HSVC on December 23, 2022, after being rescued by their Humane Officers in a case of abuse and neglect. Despite his past and medical issues of metabolic and thyroid problems, Tundra has a sweet personality and doesn’t let his setbacks stop him from trotting around. He would need time to acclimate to new horses, but Tundra would love to be someone’s pasture buddy.

Tundra has been saddled and is working with shelter staff to become more comfortable being ridden. He just needs a confident, patient owner who will move slowly with him until he’s relaxed. Due to his anxious nature, we don’t recommend he go to a home with a child rider. Tundra is also looking for an owner who will be mindful of his gut health and can supply his metabolic supplements and thyroid medications for the rest of his life.

Photo courtesy Humane Society of Ventura County

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Tundra appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Kentucky Humane Society

Adoptable Horse: Moxie, a 10-year-old, 14.2hh Mountain Horse-type mare
Organization: Kentucky Humane Society, Simpsonville, Ky.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Moxie

Moxie is a beautiful, sooty chestnut Mountain Horse cross-type mare who was collected by KHS as a feral free roaming horse in December 2023. She was pregnant at the time but her foal was born healthy at KHS and has since found placement.

Moxie is a sturdy mare, very attractive in person, and hasn’t shown any unsoundness during her time with KHS. She was a very sensitive, flighty mare when she arrived but she’s coming around in handling with patience and time. Moxie would be a rewarding project for someone with training experience or could be adopted to someone who will send her for consistent training to develop her into the nice mare KHS knows she is destined to be. Adopters who aren’t experienced trainers or who don’t plan to utilize a trainer will not be considered for Moxie at this time for her best interest.

Moxie is currently in training in Wilmore, Ky. with Metcalfe Equine LLC. She has been doing extensive groundwork and learning a lot of the basics for the first time, like having her hooves picked out and trimmed, being caught and led daily, round pen work, etc.

She is most likely of Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse, Rocky Mountain Horse, and Saddlebred genetics and may be gaited under saddle when the time comes. If you are interested in Moxie, please reach out to KKHS with any questions and check back for updates as she continues to learn the ways of life in domestication.

Contact Kentucky Humane Society today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Moxie!

Photo courtesy Kentucky Humane Society

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Moxie appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Wild at Heart Horse Rescue

Adoptable Horse: Alma, a 17-year-old, 15.1hh Kentucky Mountain Horse mare
Organization: Wild at Heart Horse Rescue, Lancaster, Calif.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Alma

Meet Alma, a stunning Kentucky Mountain Horse mare with a story as remarkable as her spirit. Alma came from a wild herd roaming reclaimed Kentucky mine land. When toxic forage threatened the herd’s survival, the Kentucky Humane Society and ASPCA stepped in to bring them to safety—and that’s how Alma found her way to Wild at Heart Horse Rescue.

As one of the older mares in her group, Alma carried years of instinctive caution. Helping her learn trust again hasn’t been quick or simple—but it has been absolutely worth it. After three patient, dedicated years of gentle handling and relationship-building, Alma has blossomed.

Today, Alma is:
◆ Under saddle and confidently hitting the trails
◆ Standing calmly for the farrier, vet, and routine care
◆ Learning that humans can be safe and reliable partners

Alma is still a sensitive mare who will benefit from an adopter with patience, kindness, and a willingness to take things at her pace. But with the right person, she is ready to continue her transformation into a loyal and willing partner.

Contact Wild at Heart Horse Rescue today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Alma!

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Alma appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation

Adoptable Horse: Moven Van, a 4-year-old, 17.2hh Thoroughbred gelding
Organization: Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation, Guthrie, Okla.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Moven Van

Moven Van earned $27,612 during his racing career before being responsibly retired and joining the Horse and Hound Rescue family. This handsome guy arrived while recovering from an abscess, and he was an absolute gentleman during his treatment—patient in the stall and polite while soaking his foot.

Now that he’s feeling better, Moven Van is enjoying his downtime and making new friends out in the pasture. He’s sound, friendly, and soaking up the chance to just be a horse for a while. Once he’s had a bit more rest, Horse and Hound will begin his evaluation to see what direction he’d like to go in next.

Contact Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Moven Van!

Photo courtesy Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Moven Van appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.