Barbie (right) with Buddy Holly (left)

We met Barbie, along with her son Buddy Holly, just over a year ago - she was 28, her hoof and vet care neglected for years, and she had well-earned trust issues. Over the last year, I had the joy of watching this beautiful soul relax, open up, and find trust again.

We had already made the decision not to ask another winter of her - her arthritis was taking its toll in spite of daily medication, and her weight had become a constant struggle. Then when the summer heat hit - she let us know she was ready. It was time to let her go.

This morning, the time had come to bring Barbie peace. There are just no words to describe the sheer strength this old girl carried, and her heart was nothing but kind and loving. I am so lucky to have been a part of a loving final chapter, and grateful for the opportunity to be with her as she found peace, her dignity and memory firmly intact.

Rest well, my strong and sweet girl. Having the chance to love you changed me for the better. I'm grateful to have shared my life with you, if only for a short while. 💜 -Renne

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Ginger

"We get no choice. If we love, we grieve."

~ Thomas Lynch

Ginger, you were a beautiful, incredibly resilient, sensitive and damaged soul. In spite of our best efforts, your fear never left you. It escalated, and though you found a peace amongst a herd - people had become a threat to you, long ago. Around us you were reactive and on constant high alert.

Because of the life inflicted upon her, Ginger's fear had made her dangerous, unpredictable, and unsafe to be around. Handling her was impossible without an explosion, and if a human was anywhere near - she immediately began looking for a way out and did everything she could to protect her space.

Yesterday, I had to make the heart breaking decision to give her the peace she'd been denied for so long. These are the goodbyes that hurt the most. None of this was her fault, and yet she paid the ultimate price for human actions.

Ginger was one of the horses we took in from Pine County in April 2025.

She was most terrified of the group. Her entire lower abdomen (along with her cheeks and neck) was covered with what was at first thought to be hives - but turned out to be dropping scabs from repeatedly getting bitten by dogs. Though she was far too high anxiety for full handling an assessment right away, we suspect she's been taught the basics at some point in her life.

More about how she came to GRG:

Thanks to the efforts of Animal Humane Society agents and the Pine County Sheriff's Office, the lives of more than 100 animals have changed for the better. On April 9th, we were asked to partner with AHS agent Amanda Oquist, as well as with other AHS staff and local law enforcement, to assist in the removal of 2 horses, 1 large pony, and 2 mini horses in Pine County, MN. Not only were they crawling with parasites both inside and out, with feet in dire need of hoof care - suffering the effects of a life on concrete, but these incredible souls survived on a property with no running water. Living with the constant and very real fear of dog attacks.

Ginger, you were so incredibly loved. There is no fear for you now, and to us - you are important, and you matter. I am so sorry for what they put you through, and I am so sorry I couldn't find a way to make it right. 🧡

~ The laws surrounding animal welfare need to change. Now. They deserve better, and it's our responsibility to provide that.

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Hall

Hall came to us from a severe neglect case. We hoped he could live a life with some maintenance and appropriate management, and GOOD life. But he was in so much more pain than Oates, his friend who came with him, and we soon found out why.

Not only was Hall suffering from severe rotation, tendon and ligament stress, but in just 15 years had suffered such chronic and severe laminitis, that at this point - a huge percentage of the coffin bone just isn't there any more. His coffin bone has been steadily degrading over the last several years.

We gave him several months of love and care and pain management, and when there was nothing else we could do and his pain was too much, we let him go. Read his tribute here.

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