Adopted! – Vivian’s Story

Vivian, the most unlikely candidate for adoption placement, healed, thrived and found herself an absolutely spectacular Forever Guardian placement. The day we saw Vivian and Lucy in the kill pen we had no idea just how traumatized they had been. We did not know how feral the two Morgan mares had become prior to entering the slaughter pipeline. We saved them sight unseen as was typical, but Vivian and Lucy were different, they would require care to heal their physical and emotional scars and training to start them on a path of safety for themselves and others.

The process took about 4 years, daily helping them to release their past and fear of humans. If cornered they would defend themselves – it is what horses do to stay safe, so we learned to safely navigate their care and training. Never, not once did anyone get kicked and everyone followed instructions on how to help the girls get through their trauma. It worked!

It not only worked, but both Vivian and Lucy became love bugs – they wanted to be with people, they loved attention and we earned their trust. The day Patty and Bill came to PAH for a  MatchMaking visit, Patty walked into our indoor arena with 5-6 horses roaming free, including Vivian. Within about 3 minutes Vivian got Patty’s attention and Patty walked over to her. Viv put her head in Patty’s arms. Patty turned to Bill, her husband, and said, “Can I Have Her – I love Her”. and as any wonderful husband of a horse loving wife should say… Bill said, “Yes, Absolutely”! There it was 4 years of healing paid off, Vivian met her Forever Guardians and she would have the very best life with her big buddy Jack, a humongous – kind Belgian.

News from Patty and Bill is that Vivian is doing great and is bossing her big buddy Jack around. They love her and she is gaining confidence daily. Way to go Team PAH! We love you Vivian!

Bonnie & Amie

Bella and Lizzie

Seeing minis in auctions and the kill pens always breaks my heart. They are often someone’s former sweet pet or perhaps a riding mini for a child that is very small. Some are terribly treated and abused and come to us with so many emotional scars that are almost impossible to clear. Many of them have a deep seated fear of people, it is tragic. Some are absolutely perfect, breed standard and confirmation perfect, some even come with registration papers. Some are in foal at the time we save them and some are very very sick. The slaughter pipeline is a place where respiratory illnesses and injuries are highly prevalent, especially among minis and donkeys.

Bella and Lizzie are two minis Peaceful Acres Horses saved early on in our collaborative advocacy and intervention with The CHW, they were absolutely perfect, yet still found their place in the slaughter pipeline. Both are silly, sound, people friendly and craving attention. Bella is exceptionally kind and stable and really enjoys her time meeting new people, so Bella began going to events with me and even home visits to people who were not physically well enough to visit her at the sanctuary. Bella also became the emotional support equine mentor to little Katie Louise who was born at PAH after we saved her very fearful momma from slaughter. Bella and Katie are quite the Emotional Support Team and believe me when I say they bring joy to every person they meet. Bella has done some wonderful home visits and has truly assisted people to have the peace and comfort they deserve in times of illness or grief. Bella is one of those minis who has a special way with people to be their sunshine when the days are dark and bleak.

One day we hope to have a mini bus that Bella, Katie, Captain and other PAH Minis can do more home visits and also visit seniors in assisted living facilities and skilled nursing homes. Imagine that PAH Mini Bus pulling up to a place where our minis would bring a smile to the faces of the people who need them for emotional support. We will get that bus some day!

Bella’s sister Lizzie is also very sweet and craved the attention of people, she especially loves children. In 2020 one of our adoptive families asked us if we had a mini who would fit with their family of 4 children and a wonderful little farm with goats, chickens and two of our tiny mini donkeys Willy and Waldo. They came by the sanctuary to visit with little Lizzie and it was a perfect match! Lizzie now shares her time with 4 wonderful children, Willy and Waldo and one of the best families I have had the pleasure of meeting.

Saving minis has been such a blessing in my life and helping them to find their Forever Guardians is my mission, it truly gives me and my team at Peaceful Acres Horses great joy to watch them thrive with their new families.