Another year has flown by! Sky Ranch Sanctuary was founded twelve years ago, and we have remained committed to our mission, to provide the best and most humane care possible for horses that are abused, neglected or abandoned.
Through the experience we have gained caring for horses, we have actually extended our mission to include all “unwanted” horses, horses that can no longer be ridden or perform the way they used to due to ailments or injury.
The owners of three horses now at the sanctuary were left with two untenable choices: either to sell the horse, without full disclosure of ailment or injury, to an unwitting buyer or have the horse euthanized. We were able to step in and provide a third, good option: retirement at Sky Ranch.
Ricci, Ace and Bronco are contentedly settled in and are now part of our Sky Ranch Sanctuary family. They receive medicine and supplements that keep them comfortable, and they’re able to live a good horse life. No need to be ridden or perform for anyone.
A sad note about Soda Pop, who arrived from Texas sick and “unwanted” last year.
After months of nursing care, supervised by our veterinarian and a veterinarian internist specialist, we lost Soda Pop to a broken leg. The leg appeared to break spontaneously, we suspect due to undiagnosed bone cancer. (Even if her bone condition had been diagnosed, she would have received the same treatment we were giving her.) Soda Pop was a good-natured sweet mare throughout her stay with us, and she patiently put up with the treatment. It was heartbreaking to lose her.
We also lost Chloe this past year. She was probably 30-plus years old.
She arrived here a few years ago, emaciated. Our vet commented that she was the thinnest horse he had ever seen! We were able to get weight on her, and she seemed to enjoy her life here. She had a chronic eye condition that required episodic treatment involving putting ointment in her eyes. She fought us all the way on that, but we got it done! She was euthanized due to a severe colic, most likely a result of old age. We miss her eccentric, quirky ways.
Moose and Meadow are doing great, and Sky Ranch is definitely home to them!
Please consider a one-time donation in support of any or all of our horses.
They each require special care, and that care involves costs. A donation in any amount will go toward providing a healthy, caring home for these magnificent creatures who deserve to live out their lives in a dignified retirement.
Follow our story on Facebook as well, as we count down our 12 Days of Christmas at Sky Ranch Sanctuary!
We wish you the best of everything in 2026.
Celebrate the New Year and keep loving horses!
Feel free to explore our symbolic gifts.
In early September I received a call from my vet asking if we’d be willing to take a horse belonging to a client. The owner had purchased Bronco for her daughter, but her daughter decided she wasn’t interested in riding. When x-rays revealed the horse had navicular disease (degeneration of the navicular bone in the foot), the owner didn’t feel comfortable selling him to someone else. She wanted to find a good retirement home for him.
It is with great sadness that I report that our oldest horse, Chloe, died on April 16 from a severe colic. She was 32 years old. When I arrived at the barn early that Sunday morning, Chloe clearly wasn’t her usual self. Soon after, she laid down and could never really regain the strength to stand. The vet arrived and, after several unsuccessful attempts to get her on her feet, with vitals showing signs of severe stress, pain, and shock, she was humanely euthanized.