It seems every horse has his own story. Some are lucky to be able to live in a large area with friends and plenty of food.  Even if they are not ridden or handled by their owner, do they care?  Of course not!  The closer a horse lives to the life of a wild horse the happier they are. They don’t need stalls, they don’t need the daily ‘work’.
Some of the horses who have arrived here after living such unnatural, work driven lives could feel they were destined for death.

Charlie's Story:

Charlie was so unhappy he could hardly stand himself much less people or other horses. He would attack any horse put in with him from across the pasture, for no apparent reason. He bit and kicked those who crossed his path, wouldn’t tie and would buck anyone off who dared to ride or handle him. His feet were unbalanced, he was thin and had no strength in his hind quarters. Even after 3 years his ulcers (caused by stress) will still act up in the cold.

But what can one expect from a sensitive horse that had spent his life in a stall, only to be brought out for schooling? A handsome big bay gelding, Charlie didn’t stay sound enough for jumping, so dressage was his lot in life. From stall to sandbox to stall and back again. So many wonderful horses spend their lives like this; unhappy, fighting the program. Kind of like the Black Beauty story.

After spending 4 days tied to a wall, being unsuccessfully taught to tie, the last owner/trainer gave up and was going to shoot him. 

Needless to say, once he got to Northwest Trails, it took Charlie a while to realize it was okay to be a horse. Or that it was okay to express himself, to run across the pasture and splash through a creek with a herd of horses.

"After spending 4 days tied to a wall, being unsuccessfully taught to tie, the last owner/trainer gave up and was going to shoot him."