Meet the Horses

Raku & Clay

Raku and Clay - Raku’s colt, are our most recent projects.  They were left on a local property when it underwent a change in ownership, and the buyer reached out for assistance with placing them in good homes.  They were relinquished to Horse ReCourse in 2020. Over several years, they transformed from their unhealthy, feral condition into beautiful, friendly horses.  Raku had several years of professional training in training both with Robyn and with Erin King at All the King’s Horses in Calistoga. She was permanently placed with Warrior’s Soul, a rescue and learning center in Lincoln, CA. Clay was placed in a home through another trainer who is located in the Santa Cruz, CA area, where he is starting training to be a well rounded riding horse.

Rupert

Rupert was a trail horse for the public, first at a guest ranch, and then at a beach concession.  He spent over twenty years serving thousands of people in this capacity. At the age of 30, when he was no longer able to be ridden, he was left in a stall for months without proper care.  Horse ReCourse took him in and invested in vet and farrier care to help him recover his health.  These days, Rupert is healthy and happy, and we’re working to support the care he needs and deserves for the remainder of his 5-10 years. As a senior horse, Rupert will not be re-homed, however, he is enjoying a happy and comfortable life with a foster in central California.

Alma

Alma is a BLM mustang that had suffered neglect with her initial adopter.  She was entrusted to Robyn in 1999 and helped develop Robyn’s philosophies regarding the rehabilitation of horses.  She is 33 and has lived a long, full life with Robyn and her friends.

Danny

Danny came to us as a “dangerous horse.” He had the breeding and talent to be a grand prix superstar and had been passed from one trainer to another to get him going on the competitive show circuit.  After several accidents with various riders, he was deemed useless and tragically transformed from an asset into a liability.  After many months turned out on pasture, Danny was restarted as a trail horse and slowly brought into condition with classically based dressage training. 

After several years of careful conditioning, Danny enjoyed a brief foray as a low-level eventer before ongoing health and soundness issues forced him into retirement.  He lived a happy life for over a decade, and made friends everywhere he went.  Danny was a kind, gentle horse that got along with everyone.  Through scrutinizing his upbringing, and following up with his breeder, we were able to ascertain that Danny and his siblings suffered from exposure to silica, and he was diagnosed with silicosis.  Unfortunately, as there is no cure for this terrible disease, Danny was humanely euthanized and his body was donated to UC Davis for use in a study to help veterinarians learn more about how to prevent and treat horses that have contracted this devastating condition.

Chico Suerte

Chico was found online, advertised by an organization that bought horses from feedlots and placed them in caring homes.  He was in poor shape, malnourished and fearful of humans. 

After many months of quality care, Chico blossomed into a sweet, adorable young horse.  Several attempts were made to start Chico under saddle, but he was never comfortable carrying a rider, and after several years here in California, it was decided that the optimal life for Chico would be to live in a herd, on pasture.  He is currently living his best life in New Mexico.

Cooper & Tonto

Cooper and Tonto were relinquished when their owner fell upon hard times and was unable to provide them with quality care.  She wanted what was best for them, and entrusted them to us.  Both horses needed care and training and after a few months, they were placed with two of our neighbors. They’ve been loved by these local trail riders.

Granite

Granite was a beautiful Blue Roan Appaloosa gelding.  He was brought to us with behavioral issues, and we spent several months helping him become a safe riding horse. 

Granite transformed from an obstinant, dangerous horse into a reliable trail horse. He spent a summer on a working cattle ranch, completed an endurance ride, and provided horseback security at a festival.  He was placed in a loving home where he lived a full life.

Diego

Diego is an adorable BLM mustang from the Beatty’s Butte herd.  He is a stout, solid guy with a heart of gold.  He came to us needing some training and became a great teacher for riders needing to learn with a dependable horse.  Diego spent a summer on a working cattle ranch and now belongs to a local trail rider.

Fiona

Fiona is a flashy pinto pony that came to us with extensive behavioral issues.  She received quality training and was placed with a loving owner who enjoys competing in local dressage shows.

Red

Red is a Holsteiner gelding that was relinquished to us due to behavioral issues. After receiving quality training, he was placed in a loving home with a competent, compassionate equestrian who loves him very much.  He enjoys dressage, jumping, trail rides, and camping.

Rooster

Rooster was relinquished to us due to behavioral issues, as well as with hoof problems.  He required extensive therapeutic shoeing and was challenging to train under saddle.   After many years of rehabilitation, Rooster was placed with a rider who is a farrier and rancher and enjoys working with Rooster.

Easy

Easy was an appendix-type gelding that was given to Robyn in 1995.  He was a very special horse and joined Robyn on many adventures from ranching to jumping.  Easy later taught a good friend to ride, and was a successful low-level event horse before retiring with Robyn.  His legacy has helped Robyn develop Horse ReCourse.

Dylan, Shelby, & Spirit

Dylan, Shelby, and Spirit are BLM mustangs that suffered neglect in their original adopter’s care.  They were passed from one place to another and eventually relinquished to us in deplorable condition.  All three horses required extensive care to get them up to a healthy weight, and they were mistrustful of humans to varying degrees. 

Spirit was very old and had crippling arthritis.  We reached out to our friends at Sunrise Horse Rescue in Napa, California for lifetime sanctuary and they provided compassionate care until the end of his life.  Dylan was placed with a kind owner who provided excellent care and was ridden lightly until he received a much-deserved retirement.  Shelby was retired at a sanctuary in southern California.

Cookie

Cookie was a kind grey quarter horse mare that was relinquished to us when her owner could no longer afford to keep her.  She was always been a wonderful horse, with a stellar disposition.  She became a beloved trail horse for Granite’s former owner when he was brought to us for training, where she lived a long, happy life, and was loved and well cared for.

Apache

Apache was a beautiful paint gelding that we acquired several years ago.  He was underweight, lethargic, and infested with lice.  After many months of care, he gained weight and became a safe and gentle trail horse.  Unfortunately, after a couple of years, he was diagnosed with lymphoma, and was humanely euthanized.