Hazel's Journey of Trust and Transformation
If horses could write memoirs, Hazel's would break your heart and then stitch it back together again.
This beautiful Morgan cross mare came to us as just a whisper of the horse she was meant to be. At approximately 25 years old, Hazel arrived after being seized by law enforcement, her body telling the stark truth about her past with a body condition score of just 1 out of 9 – the equivalent of surviving, not living.
Think about this for a moment: Hazel had spent her entire life on one property, hadn't known proper veterinary care, hadn't had proper hoof care, and never even experienced being transported in a trailer. The world as most horses know it was completely foreign to her. And yet, beneath her fear was a quiet courage that has left us in awe.
Each small victory with Hazel has felt monumental. The first time she allowed herself to be caught without panicking. The February day when, with some gentle sedation, she experienced her first proper hoof trimming in our care. The morning when she stood still for grooming, perhaps feeling true care for the first time in her life.
Today, this bay roan beauty can be caught, haltered, and led – skills that might seem basic for most horses but represent mountains climbed for Hazel. And perhaps most telling of her progress: she can now be safely transported in a trailer, opening up a whole new world of possibilities for her future.
Hazel has taught us so much about patience, about meeting another being exactly where they are, and about the healing power of consistent kindness. She's shown us that trauma doesn't have to be the end of the story – it can be just the beginning of the most beautiful chapter.
We're now looking for Hazel's forever home as a companion horse. She doesn't need to be ridden or shown – she just needs a person who recognizes that her worth isn't tied to what she can do, but to who she is. Someone who will celebrate each small step forward, who understands that trust once broken takes time to rebuild, and who sees the quiet dignity in this mare who has overcome so much.
Is that person you? Could your pasture be the safe haven where Hazel spends her golden years, finally knowing what it means to be truly valued? If so, reach out to us. Be part of the next chapter in a story that's already touched so many hearts.
Sometimes the horses who need the most healing end up healing us in return. Hazel is ready to show someone exactly what that means.
>>>Link to Adoption Application