ADVENTURES OF BO & MELANIE
This Arab/Standard-cross that came into our rescue program for chronic bucking problems has found his niche in life, with his new adoptive mom Melanie.  Though his former owners couldn’t get him to stop bucking, Bo is now willingly and happily carrying Mel across deserts, dunes and mountains on endurance rides!     At UAAC, it is our goal to carefully match adoptive homes with the right horse, to help ensure a successful adoption…and thus a lifelong home for our rescued horses like Bo!  As you can see, Bo and Mel are accomplishing great things together…as horse and human partners, the way it should be.

Our volunteer trainers, themselves graduates of Parelli Natural Horsemanship Level 2, worked with Bo for two years, helping him overcome issues of insecurity and lack of trust in his former owners, preparing him for adoption to the right home.  With love, language and leadership through PNH, Bo learned to respect and trust humans again. 

We knew that Bo would benefit most by being adopted by a Parelli-experienced home, someone who could continue to build on the skills and confidence and “language” he’d already learn and mastered.  That’s why we sometimes make it a requirement to adopt some of our more challenging horses: that the new owner be willing to invest in the PNH tools and home lessons, and continue the foundation training we’ve started with so much success.  Our goal for our rescued animals, including our horses, is that they be adopted to families who will keep them the rest of their natural lives, never again to bounce them from home to home, shelter to shelter.

Congratulations, Mel and Bo, on all your successes.  UAAC wishes you well on all your life’s journeys together!




JORA & TWIX
Here are a few pictures that we took at our first show.  The kids had a blast.  Jora was nervous at first, which caused Carissa to be nervous.  But as the day went on, Jora decided that it wasn’t so bad doing showmanship and walking through a pattern.  They took 6Th place in their age division. 
Twix was a ball of nerves!  She didn’t want to do anything but whinny at all the other horses along with Jora.  But Zack and Twix took 3rd place in showmanship.  But they didn’t place in the horsemanship class.  But they did wonderful on trail.  Twix was skiddish about going over the logs, but the 2ND attempt, she did awesome.  Then they had to open and close a mailbox.  It took 3 tries, but finally Twix decided that it wasn’t so bad.  And they placed 3rd in trail in green horse division.  Then the kids rode around on the horses the rest of the day.  They are really enjoying them!  Thank you so much!!  We will send more pics as time goes on!
 
Nicole



RAJA

I adopted Raja (Sultan at the time of the adoption) from Wasatch Humane (now Utah Animal Adoption Center).  Anyways, I wanted to check in with you and tell you how he is doing, etc.  He is such an amazing horse and is so sweet, he means the World to me.  If I have a bad day, he does something funny to make me laugh, if I'm sad, he feels it and seems sad too. 

I wanted to share a little story with you if I could. A couple of years ago, I rescued a Thoroughbred that was headed for the slaughterhouse because he had cancer.  I couldn't believe this, let alone allow this sweet boys last days to be filled with fear of a strange place and then a horrible death. He was very sweet and he and Raja got along great together.  Unfortunately, after only 5 months of having him, I could tell it was time for him to be humanely euthanized. I took him to the vet and stayed with him so he was not alone in his last minutes.  I was devastated after this, but still had to take the trailer back to the barn.  I knew Raja was doing a riding lesson, so I thought I say good bye to him before I went home.  I wiped the tears out of my eyes and went into the arena. The lesson had already began, however, Raja stopped what he was doing (with the rider on his back) and walked straight over to me.  He looked so forlorn and knew I was upset.  He lowered his head, came right up to me and put his head right on my shoulder as if he were giving me a hug.  By this time, most of the people in the arena were crying when they saw what he did and his compassion.  After that he just stared at me and would not move until I told him I was OK and kissed him on his nose. 

Every time I recall that story, I still get teary eyed.  I wanted you to know how lucky I am to have him, I wouldn't trade him for anything in the World.  I also hope you will tell people that might be considering adopting any kind of animal this story, to show the special bond we form.  I have had many animals in my life and there is not one of my rescue animals that I didn't have a special and unique bond with.  Anyways, thank you from the bottom of my heart for first off saving Raj. from the slaughter house and then allowing me to adopt him!!!  I have attached some recent pictures of him.  I have to apologize as he has whiskers and is dusty and hot, but thought you'd like a picture of him.
 
Brooke Baker