Thunder

Thunder, an incredibly gentle horse, became an immediate favorite among the volunteers when he arrived at Sunrise. He loved attention and eagerly awaited visitors, tilting his head to the side to listen to the goings-on at Sunrise Horse Rescue. This endearing head tilt may have developed as he lost his sight and learned to compensate. Although he was blind, he was well-trained and cognizant of his surroundings. Bonds between horses develop naturally, and we believe it improves their quality of life. In Thunder’s last years, he devolved a bond with Hank and they loved spending time together. Horses are highly social animals, which is one reason many people are drawn to them, and we encourage all of our horses to bond with each other. Thunder lived with a family and their other horse since he was just 8 months old. He grew up as the family’s beloved trail horse, and happily resided with on a hillside pasture in Napa for years. When Thunder developed moon blindness, a condition common in Appaloosas, he slowly lost his sight. Eventually, he was unable to navigate his hillside home, and it became unsafe for him to stay. At the recommendation of their veterinarian, Thunder’s family sought the help of Sunrise Horse Rescue.