Raven was abandoned by her owner with a neighbor in Napa. She lived with the neighbor for 2 years, alone in a small pen most of the time. The neighbor realized that the owner was not returning and it was not sustainable to keep her.
Roxy came to us in 2015 after being diagnosed with narcolepsy. She was a lesson horse, but had become increasingly unsafe to be ridden due to her condition. Lesson programs typically cannot afford to keep horses that can't be ridden, a system that we hope will be changed one day to be more humane.
Jake came to Sunrise when his owners, who had him for years after giving him a home when they saw he was significantly underweight, were finding it hard to care for their animals as they aged. They lived in a high, remote area in the Sierra foothills of Northern California, beyond the range of veterinary and farrier care.
Echo Raine was an Arabian who was imported from Canada, together with another Arabian, to be endurance horses (long-distance riding). They were abandoned at a stable in Dixon for five years. The stable owners took care of them but they were in a small space and needed new homes that could provide more room and attention.
Sonny was a quarter horse and former riding horse who lived in Lake County for 13 years prior to coming to Sunrise. Their owner was no longer able to care for Sonny and his herdmate, Tink, and had appealed to Sunrise for help. When they were threatened by the LNU Lightning Complex Fire of 2020, Sunrise evacuated and sheltered Sonny and Tink at our Calistoga facility.
Hayleigh was a Quarter Horse mare and is approximately 26 years old. She was used as a trail horse but developed severe neck arthritis and is now retired. Hayleigh came to Sunrise when her owner could no longer care for her and her buddy Gazor. Hayleigh and Gazor enjoyed getting groomed and getting love from all the volunteers at Sunrise.
Rio was a Quarter Horse that was born in 1990. He was a ranch horse, privately owned, who was diagnosed with EPM, a rare disease caused by parasites that produces neurological symptoms including lameness and muscle atrophy. The disease is manageable but not curable, and in Rio’s case it meant he could no longer be ridden.
We teamed up with two other horse rescue organizations to save Donya and two of her pasture mates from terrible neglect and starvation. When we found them, they were eating rotten vegetables, some of which were toxic for horses, they had limited access to water, and were covered in ticks. Despite over two months of extraordinary efforts by veterinarians and dedicated volunteers, two of the three horses we rescued that day were not able to recover from their severe maltreatment.
Every year thousands of wild American Mustangs are rounded up and put up for adoption. If not adopted, these horses may end up sitting in overcrowded holding pens for the rest of their lives or may even be sent to slaughter. Dusty was an American Mustang that was born in 1997. After many unfit homes, she found Sunrise as a place where she could just be a horse again with her good friend GG. Dusty passed surrounded by her loved ones. Now she is together again with GG. We will miss her dearly.
Ged was a Paso Fino gelding and was born in 2004. Ged came to Sunrise as a pasture mate to Quincy, a mare in her late 20s with severe arthritis, when their previous owner could no longer care for them. Quincy has since passed away and Ged had made many new friends horse and human. Ged certainly was one of our most handsome and easy-going guys which is why everyone loved him.
GG was a Quarter Horse cross that was born in 1996. The letters in her name stand for “Good Girl,” and that only begins to describe this sweet, mild-mannered mare. She spent some of her career at a children’s camp in Santa Rosa, where she taught kids their first lessons in groundwork, and patiently allowed them to groom her. There she lived with a young woman who loved her dearly, but her foster family, who ran the camp, then lost their land. In urgent need of a new home, GG came to Sunrise where she quickly made fast friends with Dusty Rose. Affectionate, gentle, and willing, GG was a favorite with many of our volunteers
A 28-year-old Arabian, shy but sweet-natured Sun-E served for many years as a brood mare before coming to Sunrise to live out her last years. When she grew too old for the job, she and her good friend Dreamer were taken in by a compassionate couple who kept them for eight years. But when those owners lost the lease on their land, both mares needed to find a new home quickly. At Sunrise, Sun-E lived with her long-time companion and was cared for lovingly until she reached a peaceful end of her days.
Emerson an American Quarter Horse that was born in 1989 he served many years teaching equitation to kids and adults at a local riding club. When his age and arthritis made him unable to work, he was slated to be sent to auction. There he would have been vulnerable to being shipped off for slaughter, but luckily he came under Sunrise’s radar before that could happen. He spent his final years happy and well-deserved retirement along with his buddy Roscoe where they both were fostered by the Clif Family at their beautiful Clif Family Ranch in Angwin, California.
Moe was a 29 year old Quarter Horse with a gentle and sweet spirit. After serving his owners for many years as a long distance trail horse, Moe was sent to a livestock auction where the only ones bidding on him were meat buyers. He finally found a safe home at Sunrise, where he made many friends that will miss him dearly.
This big guy was rescued from a farm in Napa and was near starvation when we were contacted by a concerned stable-hand. We got there just before his owner was planning on using a rifle to put him down. Barney touched the lives of many in his short time with us, but unfortunately he was so unhealthy that he was beyond the point of possible recovery. He was humanely euthanized surrounded by people who loved him.
Wal-E was a much-loved little Morgan who was brought to Sunrise because the medications he needed for metabolic condition were too expensive for his owner. He was the resident goofball who always brought a smile to everyone’s face with his sweet, silly antics. After many years of quality love and care, Wal-E was humanely euthanized after a lost battle with colic. He is sorely missed.
This little angel was a 19 year old Welsh Pony. After giving many years of her life for the enjoyment of the children who rode her, she was abandoned at a puppymill. Her feet were never trimmed, her stall was never cleaned, and worst of all she had no interaction with anyone. Princess also had several medical conditions that went untreated, including melanoma. At Sunrise, Princess received all the medical care she needed as well as all of the love and attention she deserved.
Sunrise Horse Rescue is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization, # 42-1746834
