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 Flurry
This blind appaloosa was given to one of the HorseFriends
board members because she was unwanted. Likely, equine uveitis took her
sight. Dirty, thin and worm infested, she was fearful when first seen by
Emilie in a large pasture. With a smaller environment, lots of love and
consistent care, Flurry became a beautiful, noble and willing trail
horse. Quickly, she learned a mental map of her living area and would
freely move about without running into things.
 Flurry
loved to be ridden and became the dominant horse over two sighted
horses. A few days before she was to begin working in HorseFriends'
therapeutic program, she died unexpectedly, leaving a huge void and
great sadness. Because of her inspiring life, Emilie began Flurry's
Hope to help other blind horses have second chances in life. Flurry's
amazing courage has been the inspiration for other horses to be trained
and used in different ways. Her devoted spirit, enhanced by her
blindness, demonstrated the strong connection that blind horses can have
with their owners. Her true age was unknown but she was likely about 21
years old at the time of her death.
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 Promise
Promise, a 4 year old Thoroughbred, was blinded in an
unknown pasture accident on a Kentucky race horse farm at the age of
three months. Although there was hope that her optic nerve would heal,
it never did and the owner of the racehorse farm asked the vet to put
her down. Having spent time with her, the vet realized what a wonderful
heart this horse had and decided to take her to his own farm. After a
couple of years of her living in a dirt lot with a miniature burro, he
began to look for a permanent home for Promise. Emilie found out about
her on the Internet and Promise moved from KY to NC. Promise proved to
be a wonderful and willing mount. She had not been ridden before she
came but learned to work both in the ring and out on rides during the
nine months that she spent with Emilie. People who saw her in her
paddock could not believe that she was blind because she trotted and
cantered about with complete freedom.
 A
wonderful woman, Deirdre, loved Promise too and wanted to teach her to
compete in dressage. Knowing that this horse had so much potential,
Emilie knew that she had to let Promise go to become all that she could
be. Promise is currently in training for dressage and seems to be
enjoying her new work. The connection that she had with Emilie is one
that she will never forget. Promise loved to be touched, and to hear
and to smell Emilie. She was a tremendously devoted and loving horse.
Promise taught Emilie the importance of connecting with all the senses
with blind horses. She also revealed that many blind horses have
somewhat of a sixth sense. Either through sound echo or some other
unknown ability, this horse knows when there is some large structure
beside her. It is amazing to see knowing that she has absolutely no
vision since her optic nerve was destroyed. Promise has pupils that are
always fully dilated due to the destruction of the optic nerve. This
adds to her warm and gentle appearance giving her deep and thoughtful
eyes. |
 Belle
(on the left)
Belle is a 19 year old, 13 hand appaloosa/draft mix. She was headed for
the slaughter house when rescued by a loving woman in Illinois named
Marie. Marie used Belle for lessons with children and gave her to
Emilie to use for therapeutic work. Belle's blindness is due to equine
uveitis and she has been completely blind for about three years. This
strong horse arrived very afraid but began to trust with consistent and
loving care. Belle also knows her way around her paddock and is the
boss over every horse that comes, currently a sighted Clydesdale.
 Her
height makes her perfect for therapeutic work and her draft body gives
her the strength to go on and on. Belle loves to ride on roads, in
fields and on trails. Her favorite thing to do is to gallop. If you
think of this, she is flying in the dark with an incredible trust in her
owner. Belle is one sassy lady who loves to be petted and brushed. You
had better watch out, however, if she is trying to find out where all
the other horses are. She will neigh and go off in search of them to
keep them in line! Belle is a true gem who loves therapeutic work. |
 Goldie
Goldie is a 23 year old palomino who has been completely blind
for about ten years. Her owner bought her and realized that she was
blind in one eye. Late, Goldie ran into something that destroyed her
good eye. Due to an infection, this eye had to be removed. Regardless
of her blindness, she competed for years in high level barrel racing
competitions, rode carrying children on steep trails in the Badlands of
South Dakota and continued having beautiful, well-bred babies. Goldie
was donated to Flurry's Hope by her owner, Kris Klaussen (www.goldmineranch.com)
because the weather in Minnesota was just too cold for her.
 Kris
heard about Flurry's Hope through HorseFriends and wanted Goldie to have
a job. She is a wonderful therapy horse for HorseFriends as well as a
great mount for trails and in pastures. Goldie responds beautifully to
voice commands and is one of the easiest horses to work with that you
will ever meet. She has a beautiful heart and body, and is so thankful
to be able to still be a horse and run! Goldie was spotlighted in summer
2008 with an article in American Horse.
Read it here! |
 Miracle This
is Miracle, a beautiful three year old registered quarter horse who was
born blind. As a weanling, she was injured by barbed wire fencing and
rescued by a family in southern North Carolina. She has been trained
with groundwork for about two years and has been ridden only a couple of
times. Miracle is very sweet and loves to be used. She has a great
temperament and will make someone a wonderful mount. Since Miracle was
blind from birth, she is very comfortable with her blindness. She has
lots of energy and is still very green. She will need training under
saddle and would not be appropriate for an inexperienced rider at this
time.
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