While all of our horses are superstars, we recently recognized "Yogi" (AKA Color Me Blue) as Loudoun Therapeutic Riding's Horse of the Year. He truly represents the best of the best. Yogi, a 23 year old quarter horse, has an impressive bio & is greatly enjoying “retirement” at LTR. Before he became a member of the our herd, Yogi had a long and illustrious career as a fox-hunter, event horse and pony club mount, and in 2016 he won the JR North American Field Hunter championships. And In case you were wondering about his cute little teddy bear ears (hence the name Yogi) he was foaled on the range in South Dakota in March and it is VERY cold out there...so you can just guess what happened! But more important than any of these accolades & achievements is his kind, gentle and generous spirit. He consistently does his best & readily connects with his humans. The words of a student, who shared this about his time spent with Yogi each week, really sum it up – When I am at the barn with Yogi, I FEEL CALM, RELAXED & PROTECTED. WHEN I LEAVE, I FEEL ACCOMPLISHED & I FEEL PROUD –– thank you, Yogi. Learn more about Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Foundation, Inc. here .

Meet Zillow, a 20-year-old pony from Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR), a non-profit equine welfare organization based in Woodbine, Maryland. Since its establishment in 1989, DEFHR has been dedicated to "ensuring quality care and treatment of horses through intervention, education, and outreach on a national scale." The equines that come to DEFHR are victims of abuse and neglect, seized by animal control agencies in the mid-Atlantic. These horses require specialized critical care, rehabilitation, and legal representation. Zillow arrived at DEFHR in late 2022 from Ohio as a severe neglect case. He had been locked in a barn for years, standing atop feet-high piles of his own waste. Of the 16 horses impounded, more than half did not survive the horrific neglect they suffered. Zillow was one of the lucky ones. In the initial months of his healing journey, Zillow had to relearn how to be a horse. Once his immediate health concerns were addressed, DEFHR trainer Leigha Schrader, began working with him. Zillow, fearful of humans and previously a stallion with little correct handling, needed to overcome many fears. The first few months of training involved the basics like picking up his feet, touching his hind legs without him kicking out in fear, being caught, and leaving the herd without extreme anxiety. Through this, Zillow slowly rebuilt his connection to humans. Around the same time, Leigha tragically lost her liberty training companion, DEFHR Equine Ambassador Vinni the Mini. One day, while round penning Zillow in preparation to start him under saddle, he suddenly and without being asked, came to Leigha and began offering the most beautiful liberty circles. This marked the beginning of their joint healing journey. Leigha’s heart started to heal from the loss of Vinni, and Zillow began to trust humans again. Zillow continues to grow in leaps and bounds. Every time he offers something new, Leigha is humbled by the incredible capacity these animals have to forgive and embrace their second chances. Today, Zillow has taken the baton from Vinni and continues his legacy of educating and showcasing the resilience of rescue horses and their ability to thrive beyond cruelty and neglect. While Zillow remains a permanent resident at DEFHR to teach others about horses, the other horses in DEFHR’s care are in various stages of recovery and will move on to retraining and rehoming. Your gift today, inspired by Zillow’s story, will help support the 120 horses we shelter on average each year. Thank you for supporting this important work! Learn more about Days End Farm Horse Rescue here .