Update 7/14/2026
Smoky and Willy are now available for adoption. These bonded 21-year old ponies have lived together their entire lives. We'd love to have them both go to the same home, but know that they can be separated if that means the right forever homes for them. They have always been pasture pets but we've had them in training to work on their ground manners and they're doing well. One note: Smoky is neurologic so will need be monitored.
Smoky's Intake Story
When their longtime family faced health challenges and the need to transition, two 21-year-old Ponies of the Americas found their way to SAIN through a partnership with Save a Forgotten Equine. Willy and Smoky spent their entire lives as pasture pets—loved companions, but with some gaps in their ground handling skills.
Both ponies are smart and willing, but they're still figuring out the rules. They're learning to respect fencing, load into trailers, tolerate fly spray, and understand that gates are boundaries, not challenges. Some days are better than others—that's normal for horses transitioning to new routines and new people. What matters is the trajectory, and both boys are making progress.
Willy has trailer loading dialed in. Smoky is learning. They're getting easier to catch. And they're getting accustomed to having structure and expectations, which honestly, they seem to be thriving on.
We're still getting to know them—learning their quirks, their triggers, their personalities. Expect updates as their story unfolds.
Update 7/14/2026
Smoky and Willy are now available for adoption. These bonded 21-year old ponies have lived together their entire lives. We'd love to have them both go to the same home, but know that they can be separated if that means the right forever homes for them. They have always been pasture pets but we've had them in training to work on their ground manners and they're doing well. One note: Smoky is neurologic so will need be monitored.
Willy's Intake Story
When their longtime family faced health challenges and the need to transition, two 21-year-old Ponies of the Americas found their way to SAIN through a partnership with Save a Forgotten Equine. Willy and Smoky spent their entire lives as pasture pets—loved companions, but with some gaps in their ground handling skills.
Both ponies are smart and willing, but they're still figuring out the rules. They're learning to respect fencing, load into trailers, tolerate fly spray, and understand that gates are boundaries, not challenges. Some days are better than others—that's normal for horses transitioning to new routines and new people. What matters is the trajectory, and both boys are making progress.
Willy has trailer loading dialed in. Smoky is learning. They're getting easier to catch. And they're getting accustomed to having structure and expectations, which honestly, they seem to be thriving on.
We're still getting to know them—learning their quirks, their triggers, their personalities. Expect updates as their story unfolds.
7/14/2026: Progress Update
Nevada is now available for adoption! She is a fantastic young horse (6-8), though still fairly green. We have had her in training for a few months now and her forever home is going to need to commit to on-going training so she can blossom into the horse she's meant to be. She's enjoys the work and also enjoys her downtime -- she doesn't get antsy when she's not working.
5/17/2026: Progress Update
This sweet mustang has continued to make surprising progress! Our trainer has been riding her and she's been a champ. This girl is coming right along and we hope to make her adoptable soon.
1/17/2026: Progress Update
Progress Worth Celebrating!
Nevada has made remarkable strides in her rehabilitation and training with Payton Bushur. She is now halter broke and working well on the line—achievements that seemed uncertain when she first arrived. She's learning to calm herself when asked to reverse directions, and is beginning to understand the feel of coming into the center.
Her feet are becoming less of a mystery to her; she's learning to pick them up when asked, though she's still building confidence about holding them up for long periods. While she remains wary of ropes touching her body (especially her legs) or being pitched near her, she now accepts brushing and mane combing readily. And perhaps most tellingly: she's loving face rubs.
An Honest Look Forward
Nevada still has areas where she's building trust. Ropes and certain types of handling require patience and time. But what we're seeing is a mare who has the capacity and willingness to learn—she just needs it presented in a way that makes sense to her Mustang mind.We're continuing to take things at her pace, celebrating each small victory, and watching her blossom into the horse we believed she could become.
Nevada's journey is a testament to the power of patient, consistent work with horses who come to us carrying fear.
Meet Nevada: A 6-8-year-old Mustang mare whose story is just beginning—and whose ending we cannot yet predict.
Nevada came to Skagit Animals in Need in better physical condition than some arrivals (body condition score of 6/9), but covered in bot eggs and burrs that told the story of neglect. What we've discovered since her arrival is a horse carrying deep fear that may prove more challenging than any physical ailment.
The Reality of Fear
Nevada is profoundly afraid of people. While she has made small progress—cautiously sniffing hands and accepting treats—her fear response is intense. She will try to plow through fencing to escape even slight pressure. She's afraid of ropes, training equipment, and handling of any kind. These are not small hurdles—they represent significant behavioral challenges that may or may not be resolvable.
An Honest Assessment
There is a real possibility that Nevada's fear and behavioral responses may not improve despite our best efforts. While we believe that if we can reach her mind, she could be an amazing horse, we also must acknowledge that we may not be able to get there. We are committed to giving Nevada every reasonable chance, but we also must be realistic.
Where We Go From Here
Nevada is in the earliest stages of evaluation. She has demonstrated knowledge of groundwork in the roundpen, at liberty, so we believe she has had some training in her past. We're taking things slowly, watching for small signs of progress, and working to understand whether she can overcome her fear enough to be handled safely. This process will take time, and there are no guarantees.
1/11/2026: Nova has made so much progress, she's ready for her forever home!
Nova has made wonderful progress in training with Payton and is now considered adoptable! She can be handled confidently, loads and unloads from a trailer, stands tied (though she'll occasionally try to dig her way to China), and has solid groundwork skills. Her feet have been trimmed, and she's been tested under saddle.
While Nova is still green, she shows great promise—she'll stand patiently at the mounting block and wait for her cue to move. She's had no issues with being mounted or carrying a rider. She does better in a side pull rather than a bit, and she's a bit cinchy, so she shouldn't be cinched up hard while tied. Early in training, she had one spook at the saddle and sat back, but she worked through it quickly and had no further issues.
Nova would make a great match for light riding, as a kid's leadline horse, or simply as a loving companion. True to her sweet nature, she absolutely loves attention and being groomed.
She'll continue training with Payton 1-2 days a week to maintain her progress while she waits for her forever home.
Meet Nova: A 12-year-old Arabian mare with a sweet disposition and a story that's still being written.
Nova arrived at Skagit Animals in Need in need of care—covered in bot eggs, burrs tangled in her mane and tail, underweight with a body condition score of 3/9, and showing signs of a heavy parasite load. Despite her rough start, she greets us with a friendly whinny each morning and will accept treats and brushing.
Where We Are Now
Nova is currently being evaluated physically and behaviorally. We're still learning who she is and what she needs. While she's described as "possibly halter broken," the reality is more complex. She has some behavioral challenges and habits that need addressing and becomes anxious when separated from her companion, Nevada. But our trainer believes she has potential to improve with consistent, patient work.
Nova also has some physical concerns that require veterinary evaluation. We're committed to getting Nova the care and assessment she needs, but until we know more, well, we don’t know more.
What Comes Next
Over the coming weeks and months, we'll be working with Nova to address her handling and behavioral needs while evaluating her physical condition. We will continue to post updates here and in our social channels.
