Dandy is a 15 year old, 16.1 hh Dutch Harness mare with us for training from Gerda’s Equine Rescue. Dandy was saved from a kill pen by Gerda’s in May 2022, and was sent to us in May 2023.
We knew when she arrived that her future as a riding mount was questionable. Due to a birth defect or traumatic injury, her hind end is not positioned correctly and her lower spine is deformed. She was initially hard to catch, pushy, and could even be aggressive at times.
Through months of patient ground work and consistent handling, Dandy blossomed into a sweet, people-oriented mare. We slowly built her fitness and conditioning to the point where we felt she was ready to take a rider. She was perfect for our trainer to get on and begin slow under saddle conditioning at the walk. Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that the added strain of carrying a rider was too much for her physically. Upon veterinary evaluation and X-rays, it was found that Dandy had numerous pathological problems in just her lower limbs alone. Likely due to hard use on paved roadways as an Amish cart horse, she sustained chronic irreversible tendon and ligament damage. In addition to her spinal deformity, this factor made it an easy decision to seek a companion only lifestyle for Dandy. Our vet recommended a retirement home with no riding or driving in her future.
Dandy truly deserves to live out the rest of her days in peace and comfort with a friend. After years of being used and mistreated by humans, we all just want help Dandy find the soft spot to land that she has most certainly earned. She loves being groomed, stands beautifully for bathing and the farrier, and is getting better for the vet. Dandy very much prefers mares to geldings and would do best with another mare as a friend. She is sensitive, spirited and a lot of fun to practice one’s ground work skills with or to explore the basic concepts of liberty work. If you are interested in Dandy, please contact us.
UPDATE: After nearly a year with us, we were thrilled when Dandy was accepted into a lifetime sanctuary located in New York State. She will become the companion to a retired mounted partrol horse named ‘Randy,’ and we can’t wait to see pictures of these two enjoying a well earned retirement together. This is a wonderful outcome for Dandy, and we wish her many happy years of peace and relaxation. Congratulations, lovely girl!
