Skipper

Skipper, born in 1992, is one of our resident Quarter Horses. Originally named “Skip Me Rick”, he served as a Barrel Racer and then a lesson horse. Skipper lived in a backyard barn with two other horses, with limited space. The alpha horse at that barn was food dominant, pushing Skipper and his herd mate, Sky, off grain and hay regularly. When we rescued Skipper we believed the large gash running from his withers to his hips was due to “horse business,” resulting from one horse trying to establish dominance over another. His age and health became a concern for his current owner; With Skipper no longer working, it was time to retire. In 2013, Spirit’s Promise rescued Skipper and his paddock mate, Sky. He was Skipper’s protector as he navigated the herd of Spirit’s Promise, so when Sky became sick, Skipper happily took on the role of caregiver to his best friend. Unfortunately, Sky was in pain for years due to his very thin soles and years of neglect of his hooves. In 2019, Sky crossed over the rainbow bridge. While we were relieved he was out of his pain, everyone was worried about Skipper. He had lost his best friend, but the herd helped him heal. Skipper is now one of the kindest souls who still takes a back seat in the herd but shines with people. He forms strong connections with our volunteers and with our grief therapy groups, relating to those who have suffered a loss.

In addition to his meals consisting of Hay, Grains, and Alfalfa/Timothy Pellets, Skipper also receives a de-wormer and daily doses of Vermont Pro, a prebiotic/probiotic, and Triple Crown Oil, a digestive aid.