Reboot & Repair
We rehabilitate and train horses for relationship-focused psychotherapy work, and take on individuals who were given up by their owners due to injury or old age and left to suffer severe neglect or worse, but had the right dispositions to become therapy horses. We facilitate their extensive trauma-related emotional, mental and physical rehabilitation at our farm location in South Raleigh, NC. Horses begin in our training program and continue their journeys with clients once they have the mental and emotional reserves to do so.
Our Team
March: A young mare who had presumably been tangled in wire that tore the extensor tendon in her back right leg, March was dumped at auction as a two-year-old. She became very thin and her future was unknown until we happily found her and quickly came to love and appreciate her for her intuitive and caring energy. March is also in proprioceptive ground work training to increase her sense of body awareness and confidence following the complications that came from her injury. She works best with open-minded and open-hearted individuals who are looking to build deep and meaningful connections.
Bailey: Two-year-old Bailey had been passed through auctions and was waiting patiently for someone to see his worth. Bailey sustained a lower leg break as a baby which has resulted in his having to compensate for lopsided hips. As a youngster who is sound and in no pain, there is ample time to turn his fate around with a lot of supportive and corrective work, targeted exercises, free pasture roaming, a special diet, and time. He has big goofball puppy dog energy and would like to be petted and scratched almost 24/7 by anyone who is willing to be kind and gentle. (Seen here getting PEMF treatment).
Ren: Ren is a registered 2005 Standardbred, likely born for racing and named Flying Renegade. He was brought to auction by Amish owners who had taken the time to tie a braid in his forelock before they brought him, and he rides and drives. He has quickly stolen the scene as a therapy horse and seems to gravitate to adolescents who will take the time to scratch and brush him.
In Training
These horses are either on-site or in secondary locations being mentally and emotionally rehabilitated by myself and other very talented and passionate individuals. When they are ready, they will either become a part of our therapy team or will work with other therapy teams as adoptees.
Junior: Junior was rescued from a farm that did not have the funds to keep and maintain all of the horses that they had taken in, and we’re so grateful to have gotten him before he met a terrible fate. He is a yearling and is getting more ground work under his girth before he’ll understand boundaries well enough to be part of a therapy program. He’s currently living with other young horses and a gentle horsemanship trainer who will ensure that he has a consistent and structured upbringing. He loves people and will gladly stand and hug you for as long as you’ll let him.
Artemis: This sweetheart has been making so much progress with one of our trainers and is now catchable and friendly when she knows and trusts someone. She is a Boss Mare and will rule the roost in a group, but has a much gentler and kinder disposition with people one-on-one. She will take time to learn that humans can be trusted, but once she does she is as loving as they get.
Bonny: Named for a favorite childhood book, Bonny’s Big Day, this 16.5hh early-20’s spotted draft mare is kind but wary of what people have to offer. She’s already won the hearts and interest of many in the rescue chats and is on her way to finding out that people can give so much more than they take.
Bandicoot: Teen gelding Bandicoot, or Bandy, is coming to join us as a very standoffish but sweet guy who does not trust humans and is not sure why he’d want to connect with or help them. He has good ground handling skills once he’s been caught, but he is very nervous when being approached by people that he doesn’t know. Once he’s comfortable around us and easily caught, we will begin working on filling the holes in his training at his pace. First we have to get him to let us trim his hooves and identify the cause of his lameness. Our method of psychotherapy does not require or currently include any riding, but we want each horse to have as much training as their bodies will allow and benefit from.
Mrs. Strawberry (Missy): Missy and her buddy Mr. Strawberry were rescued from the kill pen last summer and then abandoned by their owners. Missy has a club foot and swollen back leg which has been vet checked and apparently does not cause pain or lameness. Mr. Strawberry, a blind former Amish cart horse passed away tragically last fall leaving Missy without a place to go or her close buddy. Her sweet and easygoing personality will be an excellent addition to our team.
Retired, Never Forgotten
This section is dedicated to our loved and lost souls who taught us more than we could ever have imagined, and whose lives enhanced ours with immeasurable joy, love, connection and understanding.
Zodiac: The sweet boy who started it all as a PMU (pharmaceutical made using the urine of pregnant mares) rescue foal in 2002. Zodiac suffered from navicular disease, laminitis, and ultimately a tendon tear and bone break that led to his passing in early 2023. His kindness, patience, spirit, beauty and teachings will never be forgotten.
Duke: After a lifetime spent as a riding horse, Duke was sold at auction to a kill buyer during his golden years and lost a significant amount of weight quickly. We found him likely days before he would have passed due to starvation. Duke’s patient and loving soul, strong emotional boundaries and clear communication made him very relatable and a joy and pleasure to work with. He was in almost perfect physical condition before we unfortunately lost him in winter 2023 due to a bad case of colic. He had the quality of life that he thoroughly deserved until the very end and touched the lives of many.