Meet Smudge: A 13-year-old Appaloosa gelding whose journey has taught us that sometimes love means changing course—and that providing comfort and dignity can be just as meaningful as finding a forever home.
Update - January 2026
We had such hope for Smudge. After his vision loss from leptosporosis and uveitis, we were thrilled to see him back in training this month, gaining confidence despite his impairment. But what we thought was adaptation to vision loss turned out to be something more complex.
That characteristic head tilt that made Smudge so distinctive? It's not related to his vision. Recent evaluation revealed that Smudge is neurologic. He has no range of motion in the upper third of his neck and limited awareness of where his hind legs are. Our vet suspects a past injury that may have caused arthritis in his neck, putting pressure on spinal nerves. There may also be issues in his poll or brain.
Recently, Smudge has fallen at least once while being worked on a lunge line, and likely other times when no one was watching. An unexplained scrape on his right knee tells part of that story.
The recommendation from our vet was clear: Smudge should remain here in experienced foster care where he is comfortable and known, not be adopted out or moved. He is unsafe to ride and should be considered retired.
Smudge's New Chapter: Hospice Care
Smudge is now in long-term foster care that is, in reality, hospice. He could have a year, or two, or ten—there's no way to know. What we do know is that he deserves to live out his days in comfort, safety, and peace, surrounded by people who understand his limitations and love him anyway.
We'll monitor him for progression of symptoms: falling, circling, running into things, unexplained injuries, or difficulty balancing. When his quality of life declines, we'll make the kindest choice we can for him.
Smudge's Story: How He Got Here
When Smudge arrived at Skagit Animals in Need through a law enforcement seizure, we saw beyond his physical condition to the remarkable horse underneath. He battled leptosporosis that caused uveitis and permanent vision impairment—tearing and partial detachment of his left retinal tissue, damage to his right eye, and cataracts in both eyes that left his world foggy.
Despite these challenges, Smudge showed us his heart. He's friendly, though he expresses frustration at times. He builds trust with his handlers. He tries so hard. And even though we now know the path forward isn't what we hoped, that doesn't make him any less extraordinary.
How You Can Help
While Smudge isn't available for adoption, his care continues. Daily Equioxx for inflammation, regular farrier appointments, feed, and monitoring all require resources. If Smudge's story touches you and you'd like to sponsor his care during this chapter of his life, we would be deeply grateful.
Sometimes rescue isn't about the happy ending we imagine. Sometimes it's about providing comfort, dignity, and love for as long as we're given. Smudge may never have a traditional forever home, but he has something just as important: a safe place to be exactly who he is, for whatever time he has left.
