Meet Our Horses

Second Chances for Blind Horses

  This is Flurry:
  a blind horse
  who became
  an inspiration!

Belle of the Ball (in front)

Belle, age 21, is an appaloosa/draft cross. She was blinded by an infection common toappaloosas called equine uveitis (moon blindness). Belle was rescued as she was most likely heading to a meat processing plant. Belle has been blind since 2007.

She is an excellent horse for therapeutic riding. Belle will carry any beginning rider, as well as gallop in the fields for an advanced rider. She is from Illinois and was one of the first two horses to enter into the Flurry’s Hope program. She has been with us since 2008. (what does 'adoption' mean?).

Casino

Casino is an 8 year old registered quarter horse who has spent his early years competing in barrel racing. When he began to go blind, his owners left him at the veterinarian's office in hopes of finding him a place to live, rather than putting him down. Remarkably, this vet had just been to a seminar at NC State and had been given our brochure. She contacted us and the owners agreed to pay for transport from Louisiana. Casino is a beautiful, gentle, even tempered gelding who will have a bright future. He has been at Flurry’s Hope since December 2009. (What does 'adoption' mean?)

Cassie

Cassie is an eight year old registered quarter horse who was injured in one eye in a trailer accident and lost sight in her other eye. She has likely been blind since 2008. Her owner, Brittany (age 17) was tragically killed in August of 2009 in a car accident. Cassie had nowhere permanently to go. Cassie is a very gentle and affectionate horse. She is doing well being ridden blind. Cassie has been at Flurry’s Hope since October 2009. (What does 'adoption' mean?)

Chance

Chance is from Pennsylvania and joined us on September 20th, 2011. He is an ex-race horse who had over $300,000 in earnings. His previous owner was going to put him down because he was being bullied by the other horses and she didn’t have a safe place to keep him. She discovered Flurry’s Hope, and through talks with Emilie, got him safely transported to us. He is very calm and a true gentleman. We’re delighted to count him among our blind friends!  (How can I 'adopt' a horse?)

Cherokee

Cherokee, orginally named Hollywood, joined Flurry's Hope in February, 2011. Cherokee is just 6-years old and has an incredibly calm temperament. He is originally from the Southern Pines area of N.C.  (How can I 'adopt' a horse?)

Destiny

Destiny is a sweet 3 year old OTTB mare that came to us from Canter, OH.  Many kind individuals there rescued her from her previous owner who wanted to shoot her because she is blind.  She arrived at Second Chance Ranch on June 13th and is settling in nicely.  (How can I 'adopt' a horse?)

Fanny

Fanny is a 16 year old quarter horse/Thoroughbred mix from Illinois. She was raised from a baby by the owner. Once she went blind, the owner was going to kill her if he could not find a place for her. Belle’s former owner found out about Fanny and asked Flurry’s Hope to offer her refuge. We were told that she suffered two head traumas, which caused her blindness.

Fanny loves to canter in the fields. (What does 'adoption' mean?) 

  Flash came to us from around the Lexington, Va. area.  She is a 12 year old  Thoroughbred/Warmblood Mix.  Flash is very friendly and enjoys socializing with   just about anybody. Her latest owner did not have a safe place for her and requested that we take her to live at Flurry's Hope. Flash adjusted quickly to the sanctuary and has had no problem at all in understanding the boundaries of the pasture she is in.  (How can I 'adopt' a horse?)

Holiday

Holiday is a 15 year old appaloosa/Arabian mix. He was blinded by equine uveitis, an infection common to appaloosas. His owner, Danny Fulp, asked Flurry’s Hope to take Holiday so that he could live a productive life. Holiday is extremely affectionate and will be anyone’s friend. He is great on trails and has a huge personality. Holiday is from Stoneville, NC and has been blind since 2005. He has been with Flurry’s Hope since November 2009. Holiday is available for adoption.  (How can I 'adopt' a horse?)

Jack

Jack is a 16 year old palomino who has been blind for about 5 years. He was going to be killed because his owner could not keep him and feared that he would be taken advantage of. After hearing about us, the owner drove from Oklahoma and brought Jack to us in 2008 because he loved this horse. Jack was a trail horse at a ranch and is very gentle to ride. We do not know the exact nature of his blindness but it appears to be cataracts.  Jack and Snowflake (pictured right) were best buddies! (How can I 'adopt' a horse?)

Mercy (before and after)

Mercy arrived, with his friend Justice, in February 2010.  Read their stories in the March Newsletter.  The picture on the left is how skinny and malnourished Mercy was when he arrived. The one in the middle is after just one month with us; the far right was taken in August 2010 - he's thriving again!   (What does 'adoption' mean?) 

Promise

Promise, a young 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 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 she learned to work both in the ring and out on rides during the time she initially spent at Flurry's Hope.  People who saw her in her paddock could not believe that she was blind because she trotted and cantered about with complete freedom. 

Promise, like many blind horses, seems to have a 'sixth' sense.  Either through sound echo or some other unknown ability, Promise 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; however, this only adds to her warm and gentle appearance giving her deep and thoughtful eyes.

A wonderful woman, Deirdre, loved Promise and wanted to teach her to compete in dressage.  Promise spent some time with Deirdre,  learning dressage. She moved 'back home' to Second Chance Ranch, and is available for adoption. (What does 'adoption' mean?) 

Toby

Age 12, is a leopard appaloosa who was a lesson horse in eastern North Carolina.  After he went blind, he was being bullied by sighted horses.  The owner did not know what to do with him and was considering putting him down. Toby is a beautiful and steady horse who is regularly ridden by Ashley.  They have a deep connection and seem to know what each other is thinking.  Toby is typically very calm when things out of the ordinary occur.

 (How can I 'adopt' a horse?)

Whit (Illegal Witness)

Whit came to Second Chance Ranch in the summer of 2010 (his registered name is Illegal Witness). He and Reggae (behind, in right picture) enjoy the shade on the ranch. Born in 2002, Whit is a highly trained barrel racer, recently blinded by cataracts. To the right is a video of his last run, before he became completely blind, where he won 2^nd place overall. He was donated by the Wilkins family of South Carolina. Whit is a big, beautiful bay with gentle disposition and is great with children. He has been with us since April 2010. (How can I 'adopt' a horse?)