Arizona

 Arizona is a beautiful red roan mustang mare who came to Maslena Rescue Foundation May 28, 2022.  Her name had been Aspen but we renamed her Arizona in remembrance of her previous owner.  The owner was moving to Arizona and couldn’t take the horse because she refused to enter a trailer.  After a few conversations, we took a large stock trailer to her home and were able to encourage Arizona to enter.  The owner had tears in her eyes but was happy that Arizona was going to a good home.  Recently we found out that Arizona trailers well, is halter broke and can be led once you catch her!  She has been worked with a lot and Maslena got a bonus because she will make an incredible roping, ranching and pleasure horse for us.  She is now with the big herd where she and 3 others are great buddies!

Be sure to read her previous owner’s story below.

Moving day we had problems loading our three horses in a hired hauler’s trailer. It took hours to get the two mares in, and the gelding refused to load, even after we aced him. These horses were all well-trained to trailers and never refused before, so I think they knew the trailer wasn’t sound enough.

A neighbor agreed to walk him to her place and keep him until we could get him later.

The two mares headed down the road in the trailer but fifteen minutes later I got a call that the trailer was in an accident. I rushed to the scene and found my big black draft cross mare had plunged a foot through the floor of the trailer and her hoof was sheared off.

I put medication on it and bandaged it with a disposable diaper and the hauler reinforced the trailer floor with plywood, and they went like that to New Mexico. The mare ended up being euthanized.

My first week in New Mexico was marred by death and loss. My husband wasn’t there for support, I was alone. I didn’t know anyone in New Mexico.

My remaining mare was beside herself with grief and loneliness so we sought a companion as quickly as we could. I found a skinny strawberry roan mare on Craigslist and went to meet her. She seemed sweet, led well, and allowed me to touch her all over. I arranged for delivery to our home.

Her story, according to the seller, was she came from Shiprock, NM, had a foal pulled off her, and was ridden through the auction ring in Belen by a kid of around twelve. The seller got her as a project and used natural horsemanship methods with her.

When she arrived I said, “I forgot to ask you how she is to catch.” At the time, we had about four acres fenced, but no round pen, cross fencing, or shelter yet. The seller gave me a funny look and suggested I keep a halter on her until she got used to me. So I put on a web halter. Next morning, the halter was in the field and I could not get near the mare!

I spent the next three years gaining her trust and eventually was able to pet her all over, groom her, and she would lift her front feet for me. She loves being groomed. For a long time, she wouldn’t even eat from my hand, but this last year she got brave enough to carefully take treats. She would free lunge in the pen and change directions on command. She would lead with a rope around her neck. She was light and responsive, and I could tell she had lots of training, she knew a lot.

But if I attempted to pet her nose or got a halter anywhere near her nose, she would panic, blow up, and bolt away from me.

I ran out of time to get further with her, because we had to move.

She’s a sweet mare, was always careful not to harm me. She’s gentle and kind. But someone in her past really hurt her, probably repeatedly, viciously, and she was traumatized. For her, a sanctuary like yours is perfect. She would not have succeeded in an ordinary type home, but in your hands, she can recover and remember her great skills and you may even eventually be able to ride her.

She’s a really special mare and Callie and I miss her a lot. But I know she is where she should be, and she will never be hurt again and she’s surrounded by new friends and she’s safe. If anyone on earth can gain her trust and rehabilitate her, it’s you and Tori.

Thank you so much!