Gray Arab/Quarter Horse Mare  ♦  DOB: 1999  ♦  Arrival: July 2019

When Angel (then “Angie”) arrived at Exodus Farms, we were instantly enchanted by stories of her past, rumors that she had been the most trustworthy trail partner and pack horse, ridden bareback and bridleless, communicating only by voice commands. But the “Angie” that we saw day to day didn’t look like a level-headed, trustworthy riding partner. Instead we saw mainly a cloud of dust as she tore around her pasture, and heard her unending frantic screams for her pasturemate, Daisy.

Angel’s previous owner had a huge heart for horse ministries for children, and he always desired his little white horse to be able to minister to broken hearts on a farm like ours. When he retired, he knew it was time for Angie to step into her purpose, and he donated her to us.

But transitions are always challenging, and Angie struggled to transition from her former loving, stable family into our “herd of misfits.” A quiet teenage volunteer saw right through Angie’s screaming cloud of dust into the angel horse that was inside, and dedicated her time to working with her. Soon Angie began to settle in. She did indeed respond to voice commands, “walk… trot… canter… woah…” She proved to be so tuned in to her rider’s energy level that she gives the impression that she can read minds.

These days, I have a fearful young boy who rides with me weekly. When horses move too quickly, kicking up dirt, or if they squeal, you can find him hiding behind his mother’s leg. But his choice of horse week after week is this little white horse that used to do all the things that make him afraid. She isn’t a slow horse by any means, and her engine inside can make even a confident rider grab for their saddle horn. But this little boy sees this horse as his guardian angel. Whereas on the ground he speaks almost in a whisper, on her back he speaks confidently, and boldly trots, even over obstacles, knowing his Angel will never let him fall.

…Thus, our angel horse is now fittingly, officially, Angel.

So many of our kids have experienced changing homes. Some over and over again. Some have been adopted by a new family, and like Angel, have taken on a new name. Transition is never easy, and maybe for many looks like a screaming, squealing cloud of dust. But the best part of Angel’s story is that she always had someone who could look through the messy cloud of emotions on the exterior, and see her true purpose and true name on the inside. Even all the years of being a trail horse before she came to Exodus, her human “father” saw and hoped for her to step into the purpose that she is walking out now with her brand new name.

One last story of Angel and her new name: My favorite lesson to teach at Exodus is called a “join up”. I reserve this lesson for the kids I sense are stuck in their “old name”, wondering whose they are, what their purpose is, and if anyone would choose them. And naturally, I love to use Angel. Horse and child enter a round pen. The horse is without tack- there is nothing forcing the horse to be with the child. Then I instruct the child how to communicate with the horse from a distance, using only body language, and I step out. Sometimes it takes a long time for the child to change their focus from me to the horse and communicate, but eventually it happens. And at that point, the horse “chooses” the child. I instruct the child to turn around with his or her back to the horse and wait. Magically it seems, a soft Angel nose presses onto the child’s neck, breathing her warm breath onto them, seeming to say, “I choose you.” Then I tell the child to walk away. He or she usually gives me a look of panic, as if to say, “but I don’t know if I’ll ever be chosen again…” but when the child walks away Angel walks alongside, her velvet nose never leaving their neck. She seems to say to the child who doesn’t feel wanted, who might look like a screaming cloud of dust, “I choose you. You are in my herd. I see mighty purpose in you. You are wanted. You are chosen.”

Strawberry Roan POA Mare  ♦  DOB: 1993  ♦  Arrival: 2010

Callie (whose full name is Calypso), is our 30-year old, semi-retired, strawberry roan Pony of America (POA). Early in her life, she experienced mishandling by a shoer/trainer, which led to a deep-seated fear of being tied up and a tendency to fly suddenly backward (or even throw herself over backwards) if you approached her too quickly with a girth, rasp, hoof pick, etc. She also had other defensive aggressive behaviors, including a tendency to snake around and bite very suddenly (and very hard!) when you were saddling, which led Ginger to start calling her “The Alligator.” She had packed kids forever, was part of Pony Club in the Chico area, and was an incredibly talented jumping pony, but her fear-related behavior issues had earned her the nickname “that crazy red pony” at many of the barns in our area.

Callie arrived at Exodus first as a boarder, and we saw some improvement in her behavior with kindness and consistency, but when her last owner could no longer commit to keeping a horse, Ginger found that she didn’t have the heart to send Callie “down the road” to be known as “crazy” at yet another barn. Although we were NOT convinced she would work well with the kids, we knew that she was content here. Thus, Callie entered the Exodus herd. It took two solid years of re-schooling and teaching her kind and firm boundaries, but Callie finally started to mellow out and become happier, and we started to be able to use her with the Exodus kids! In fact, when I met Callie for the first time (in 2009), it was as Ginger’s “superstar school pony” – the one who would take care of any tiny child; obey the smallest, most confusing signal from the most beginner rider; and stand calmly and undisturbed amidst a chaos of children and dogs. But even then, Ginger warned me, “NEVER tie her, and never pick her feet. I’m the only one who picks her feet,” and the one time I forgot the second part, I quickly learned why, as Callie backpedaled 25 feet at about 20 miles per hour when I reached for the first hoof.

But fast-forward again, ten years later, and I watch daily as the smallest children learn to pick her feet by themselves, and Callie stands placidly in place, holding her hoof up for as long as it takes them to finish the job. From an angry, scared, frequently rude and aggressive, “crazy” pony, she has become the kind, implacable creature who I once witnessed stand COMPLETELY STILL for a FULL HOUR when a terrified child had an anxiety attack on her back and froze, crying and hyperventilating and unable to step off her horse for fear she would fall. During that entire hour, as we talked that child down and helped her work through her fear, this sweet, once-fearful pony provided an immovable force of calm, literally not moving a hoof or even shifting her weight until the child had finally calmed down and was able to slide slowly off her.

After so many years of working together, Ginger refers to Callie as her friend and “co-worker,” and she is a favorite of everyone at the farm, including some kids she taught as littles who are now full-grown adults! She was truly one of the first Exodus horses to teach us that it is not our past that defines us, but our relationship with our loving and forgiving God that identifies us and satisfies us. For the one who was so fearful to now help give courage to others who are afraid is a true Exodus story, and we are thankful for each day we have with this brave red pony.

Being the matriarch and second oldest member of the Exodus herd, Callie has more than earned her “retirement” here at the farm. She still loves kids and participating in sessions or one on ones, but she now participates just in-hand with no rider. This is perfect for kids who are new and afraid of riding a horse, or just need a quiet day grooming and walking a horse with a great listening ear. 

Chestnut Mustang Gelding  ♦  DOB: 2009  ♦  Arrival: Spring 2002

Cedar is a handsome 2009 BLM mustang originally from Nevada. He proudly wears his freeze brand on his enormously thick neck, telling of his wild heritage. He was born in a holding pen following a helicopter round up, was adopted by a man who raised him and rode him on trails through the mountains, and then landed at Exodus after the sad passing of his human partner. For his first month at Exodus, Cedar looked like a giant deer in headlights. He had only ever lived with one other horse with a quiet family, so a herd of 20+, including miniatures and a mini mule, plus countless children arriving at his gate to swoon at his big neck and handsome coat all but overwhelmed him. He looked at us with skeptical eyes, sometimes allowing us to come close and pet him, other times standing back defensively, trying just to understand.

We knew early on that Cedar was extremely intelligent. When we moved him into a pasture next to Gilead, Cedar watched Gilead’s every move and interaction with us, appearing like he was trying to learn from Gilead how to behave in this new environment. This proved true at dinner time. We have trained Gilead (due to some food aggression) that when we bring food into his pasture and say “go to your bucket!” Gilead trots over to his feeder and waits patiently with “happy ears” for his food to arrive. To my utter amazement, when I stepped into Cedar’s pasture that first night, with no training or prompting from me, Cedar trotted over to his feeder and stood there with the same “happy ears” as Gilead, waiting for his dinner too! 

Over time the skepticism in his eyes has been replaced by soft curiosity. As a mustang, especially one with the leadership qualities that Cedar possesses, he instinctively looks out for himself. But with the consistent work of a few Exodus leaders, he is learning to let his guard down and trust. 

Cedar is the most amazing example I have ever met of soft, quiet power. Author and horse trainer Mark Rashid writes about how a mother horse can protect her foal with such ferocity that she can ward off any stallion, while simultaneously moving her tiny foal out of danger’s way with a soft nudge of her muzzle. Horses are masters at softness and power. While working with Cedar, we have also had to learn to master the art of soft power. Power without softness and Cedar will either turn his back to tune you out, or pin his ears and paw the ground, expressing his displeasure at your rudeness. Softness without power and Cedar will throw his head into you, refusing to follow your leadership. 

When we were ready to start integrating Cedar into sessions, he attended a cow working clinic with one of our leaders in order to expose him to a new environment, a group of horses, and many new experiences. He was called “the gentleman” by the clinician and won the award for cutting out one cow at a time due to that quiet, soft, powerful presence. The way he handled these new experiences launched him into his session career that he is now a full participant in. 

As a session horse, he is a challenge for both rider and wrangler, but the good type of challenge. He continues to demand that his handlers use that same fine balance of softness and power that we see displayed in him. He is a brilliant teacher for on the ground work and riding alike. And for the handful of students that really take the time to build a relationship with him, his loyalty, friendship, and beautiful gaits prove much worth the effort. 

Bay Morgan Mare  ♦  DOB: 2002  ♦  Arrival: 2012

Daisy, lovingly referred to as our “sweet lil Daisy Mae,” is a 21 year old bay Morgan mare that was donated to us in 2012 by one of our volunteers. In the past she had been used as a brood mare and continues to carry her motherly instincts. Her former owner thought that Daisy would be great with the Exodus kids, but when she arrived we found her to be a little too quick and reactive to be a safe program horse. A team of very dedicated volunteers began a three year process of rehabilitating and retraining this little mare. It took five years of consistent work with our volunteer trainers for Daisy to be fully integrated into our session program, but she is now an asset and a favorite of many of our kids. 

We have been surprised to find that Daisy has two specialties: teaching anxious children to manage their anxiety, and taking the gentlest care of the smallest riders. With most riders, Daisy is still a fairly reactive, anxious horse. It can take an entire session of coaxing to walk her through an obstacle course of pool noodles. But with a rider who remains calm and encouraging, they can help Daisy conquor her fears and learn valuable skills about managing anxiety and fear. In fact, she is the first choice horse for many of our teenagers who struggle with anxiety. They feel empowered to learn to manage their anxiety while helping their faithful partner Daisy through her own. 

Amazingly though, Daisy is also our most trusted babysitter for the smallest of riders. Carrying around a tiny five-year old, all of her fear and anxiety melts away. She steps carefully and methodically, even finding the smoothest trot imaginable if asked. She will gingerly play with rolling barrels and balls, or even the dreaded pool noodles, if the small child on her back asks her to. Daisy is an amazing reminder of the power of love and how love conquers fear. We are grateful for all those in Daisy’s life who have seen this potential in her from the start and have dedicated their time and efforts to helping this little mare realize her full purpose in our herd.

Appaloosa/Fresian Gelding  ♦  DOB: 2013  ♦  Arrival: 2020

We’ll let Ginger tell Gilead’s story in her own words:

2020 has been the year of heartache for me…….so many losses, so many challenges………discouragement and sorrow seemed to cover me like the early morning fog on our beautiful river. Upon returning to the farm the first of July after caring for my dearest friend through her last days of cancer, I would walk the farm and pray, asking the Lord to lift the weight, the fog of my sadness. Mid July, a dear friend and former horse donor, sent me a video of a horse needing a home. Love at first sight?? Absolutely!! I grinned from ear to ear as I watched this incredible creature canter……how could it be? How could a beautiful boy ….Friesian/Appaloosa cross with incredible good looks and manners… possibly need a home at such a young age? The Exodus team went to look at him the following week and he was everything the video showed…..but so much more. His personality was bigger than life and he wanted to connect with everyone! He had some soundness issues that would prevent his new owner from ever showing him but he would be fine for our kiddos. And still, I was smiling…….what was it about this horse called Ghost that brought light into my sad fog?? That night after looking at Ghost, I talked to God about him. “Lord, we cannot adopt a horse just because he is beautiful and I love him…..he has to have a story to tell; I need to know he is here to reach these kids.” You see, Ghost had been bought by a woman when he was 6 months old and shipped out from Missouri to Sutter county. He was raised and trained by her with the best of care…his manners reflected that. She passed away from pancreatic cancer and Ghost found himself in a sale barn, hopeful for a new lifelong partner. He was purchased last fall by an owner that thought he would be her last competing partner….but then the lameness started and it was evident that was not to be his future. My friend had reached out to me to see if Ghost might have a future at Exodus. I sat in dark silence that night, thinking about this incredible horse…and then the good Lord brought this to my mind. We serve several children at Exodus who have come out of “failed adoptions”….children who for whatever reason have had to accept the fact that their birth moms and dads were no longer able to raise them…….then been fortunate enough to have a family adopt them for their forever……….only to face the heartache of an adoption that did not work……and to process the fact that for them, there is no forever home and family that loves them. It doesn’t matter what the reasons are……..what matters are the results………a child’s heart that is not shattered once…..but multiple times. Then the good Lord spoke. ”This horse has lived those kiddos’ story….they will get each other…..and they will make each other whole. Know this…this horse will make your heart stop hurting….as well as theirs.”

Ghost arrived on July 29, 2020. One of our followers suggested that I call him Gilead instead of Ghost and mentioned the balm of Gilead from the Bible. I looked it up. The balm that was able to heal all wounds was only produced in the region of Gilead. Perfect. God had sent Gilead to me at just the right time to heal my shattered heart and to bring light into my fog of sorrow…….and He had sent Gilead to the countless children here that just need to fall in love with the most extraordinary horse….that will not only mirror their story but point them and all of us to a love that will NEVER, EVER let us go! Welcome home, Gilead…….”there is a balm in Gilead that makes the wounded whole…”

Sorrel Quarter Horse Gelding  ♦  DOB: 2003  ♦  Arrival:

Just like many of the kids who come through Exodus’ gates, Glory’s story has unfolded the more we have gotten to know him. Glory was lovingly rehabilitated by one of our trainers, Lee, over the better part of two years. He came to Lee underweight, in need of a “tune-up,” and blind in one eye due to a previous accident. Lee and Glory formed a unique bond, and over time Glory blossomed into an athletic, hard working, willing partner. Glory was easily integrated into our session program, and Lee and Glory mentored countless young men together as well. But that wasn’t the beginning, or the end of his story. We learned the “rest” of Glory’s story much more recently. Here’s Ginger to tell you:

On a very smokey August morning, Nina and I loaded up Glory to take him to the equine hospital to have his blind eye removed per our veterinarian’s recommendation.  Our Glory is a trooper on road trips, and had been trailering weekly to serve veterans and first responders in Cottonwood.  But today was much different.  From the moment Glory stepped out of the trailer, his anxiety was off the chart.  His tail was flagged, waving over his back… his nostrils were flared and blowing… and he was dancing in place, beside himself.  I walked him around the grounds, thinking he would settle and calm down.   He started whinnying, really it was a shrill scream, and as he looked around he became more and more vocal.  The vet tech told us to put him in a stall and he would probably calm down.  We put him in the enclosure…there was a horse next to him and I was sure he would settle and relax once he realized he had a friend next door.  Instead, Glory ran around his enclosure, blowing and screaming at a high, frenzied pitch.  I gave him a good rub and scratch goodbye and walked away…and he screamed again.  I turned to see what could possibly be wrong….and he stopped in his tracks…and whinnied again. Then dawned on me… I had never in all the years Glory had been at Exodus heard him whinny…he would nicker at us in his most laid back way when he wanted a scratch or a treat…..but never an ear piercing whinny!  And then I got goose bumps as God brought this memory to mind: when Glory had his original accident that punctured his left eye, his owners took him to the equine hospital and left him there, never to return, when they realized his sight was gone on that side.  Glory had had several owners since being left there but had no permanent home until coming to Exodus.  As I looked at him standing in that pen screaming at me my eyes filled with tears and I rushed back over to him.  “Oh buddy,” I cried, as I hugged his neck, “I will never leave you here….I promise, horse…I will come back and get you….I PROMISE!” 

—

Of course, words can’t really reassure a horse, so it wasn’t until we picked him up that we saw the real change in him. He snuggled up to Ginger, more cuddly than he had ever been before, as if to say, “THANK YOU. Thank you for coming back for me.” Since returning to the farm, Glory’s entire demeanor has changed. He has become more outgoing, brighter, more confident, and even his coat health and weight have improved. He is secure, finally, in his home and in the love we have for him here. He knows we will always come back for him.

This is the story of so many of our Exodus kids who are in foster care – moving from home to home, never sure if they can relax or if THIS home will be the one where they get to stay. What we want each and every child to know when they come to the farm is the same thing that we wanted Glory to know – that they are loved, that they are safe, and that someone is always looking out for them. 

Glory is a great example for the kids of the fact that our past trauma, though it may leave scars, does not have to define our present reality, and that, with the love and support of the community around us, we can move forward and find new joy and purpose!

Tri-colored Paint Mare

Gypsy has been a long time resident at Exodus Farms but only a recent full time addition to sessions. Gypsy was rescued and owned by one of our amazing leaders, and they competed in obstacle course competitions together. Unfortunately her loving owner needed to take a long break to recover from shoulder surgery and donated Gypsy to our session program knowing how much Gypsy loves kids. True to form, Gypsy loves her job as a session horse.

Not only is Gypsy a loving and affectionate addition to our healing herd, but it turns out she is a fantastic teacher as well! Gypsy is a very bossy, opinionated mare who has the unique ability to help teach students patience, clarity, and perseverence. She still maintains her love of obstacle courses, so whenever we have obstacles out she outshines all the rest. Gypsy is also also an incredibly strong mare, and we are grateful that she can carry many of our older teenage young men.

Bay Morgan/Arabian Gelding  ♦  DOB: 1995  ♦  Arrival: 2022

Jasper is a newer addition to our herd, and a bit of a heart throb! He is an older, retired parade Morab (morgan/arab) pony with plenty of energy left for a second career. Often times when we intake new horses, the horse that shows up is not quite the horse we envisioned. From photos, Jasper looked like a tall, flashy rodeo horse. However when he arrived at Exodus he looked more like a tiny woolly mammoth than a horse! He was diagnosed with PPID (Cushing’s Disease), which can be controlled with medication and was the cause of his long, woolly coat. Due to this condition he has difficulty building muscle and holding weight on his already small body. Although we always take horses for a trial period before committing to them long term for reasons like this, it was clear in that trial period that even though he was smaller and less fit than we had expected, he was still meant to be an Exodus horse. Not to mention the fact that we all just fell in love with him and couldn’t let him go. Due to the fact that he is adorable, several students also quickly fell head over heels for him, and even before he was rideable they made him their special project, grooming, bathing, and walking him whenever they were around. In turn he proved to be a very affectionate cuddler! Out in his pasture he is even trying hard to teach his pasturemate Glory (who is not a physical touch guy) to at least mutual groom with him. We are rooting for you Jasper!

Jasper is now a frequent participant in sessions, and although he will probably never be strong enough to do 8 sessions a week like our younger horses, he is still spunky as can be for small students for the couple sessions he can manage. He is a kind, fast, and goal oriented mount with much to teach the littles about balance, softness, and care for our elders.

Bay Quarter Horse Mare

“Kate the Saint” 

“Kate the Great” 

“Unshakeable”

“Steady Eddie”

“Bombproof”

I (Nina) have heard countless ways to describe Kate… and every single one of them rings true. When I first met Kate, I was told “This horse can truly do anything… you just need to ask it of her. And if she can’t quite do it, she is still going to try.”

You can pretty much count on horses to always be honest… if you make a mistake, if you ask incorrectly, if you allow your emotions to control who you are in the saddle… they will let you know. When I started working with Kate, it didn’t take long for me to realize just how obedient she was. And in this obedience, it became obvious that even more than being honest, Kate desired to be GOOD. 

Just like people, horses are full of personalities; they have big opinions and lots of emotions. Kate, however, very rarely emoted. While other horses would get spooky and rowdy, Kate would stand quietly, just watching. When it was feeding time, her pasture mates would run up to their feeder, and Kate would just quietly walk up to take what was hers. When a child would climb up on her back, scared, nervous, and dealing with their own big emotions, Kate would patiently wait for instruction from her wrangler, always doing what was asked of her.

Looking into her big brown eyes, you could see a mix of patience and melancholy. Like many of the children who come to Exodus, Kate was shut down. Something inside of her was closed off, and in desperate need of healing. Kate didn’t come from an abusive situation; she was very well cared for, but owned by a young girl who did not want anything to do with her. Like people, horses are highly relational, and healthy relationships are a key component to emotional health. Horses, like kids, process through their emotions by acting out in different ways, and it was almost as if Kate’s desire to be good was because she wanted to be GOOD ENOUGH.

Over the last couple of years, Kate and I have had the privilege to work with some amazing young riders, but for me, there is one kid in particular who stands out heads and shoulders above the rest; the journey of healing has truly been for both of them. Clay and I first met my very first week at Exodus. He had high functioning autism, told me he “only ride(s) Kate”, had a fantastic sense of humor, and we got along right away. Pretty soon, we were meeting for one-on-one sessions weekly. It became evident to me right away why Clay insisted that he only ride Kate; Clay also suffered from high anxiety, and when he was trying to process through these fears and emotions, Kate was the steadying force that kept him grounded. He could always count on her to be consistent. Somedays, we would ride for a full hour. Somedays, we would spend most of our time grooming, and going on a trail ride. Every few months, Clay would have a meltdown in the arena, as I was still learning how to navigate his anxiety and challenge him to try new things without pushing him too far. As we journeyed through this, I can say with complete certainty that Kate was the glue that held us together. 

Every week, without fail, Kate was so patient to meet Clay exactly where he was at. On days where I wanted to challenge Clay to try something new, all I had to do was look at Kate. Some days, she would lick and chew, letting me know they were ready. Other times, she would give me the look that said “Not today. He’s too anxious.” Kate carried more than just Clay on her back, she carried everything he brought with him. She was always ready to help give him confidence, and she was always faithful to do whatever he asked of her. 

As time went on, I watched something amazing begin to happen. As Clay became more confident, Kate became more honest. She wasn’t just GOOD any longer… she was coming alive. Kate was taking over as teacher; I was just there to facilitate. Pretty soon, Clay and I were riding out of the arena. I introduced him to Working Equitation obstacles, and he looked forward to them every week. This summer, he asked if we could start focusing more on bareback riding, and the day he cantered bareback for the first time I had tears in my eyes. 

Working with Kate has allowed Clay to overcome a tremendous amount of fear to be where he is at now. He tries his heart out. He is thoughtful, intentional, works hard, and dreams big. And he is so, so good to Kate. 

Likewise, Kate continues to come out of her shell. If Clay doesn’t ask her correctly, she’ll say “Try again, kid.” If he does something she doesn’t like, she lets him know. But those instances are rare. Their relationship is filled with love, and I know she looks forward to her time with him every single week. Now, Kate is good for Clay because she chooses to be, not because she has to be. 

Kate’s melancholy has been replaced with peace. She knows she is safe, protected, and LOVED. Just like with the kids we work with on a daily basis, building trust and healing hearts takes time… and Kate gets to show them that every single one of them are worth it.

Dark Bay Quarter Horse Gelding  ♦  DOB: 1993  ♦  Arrival: 2013

I (Ash) have always had a heart for old horses. Perhaps that is what endears me to King. King is an old soul. Donated to us in 2013 after his pasture mate died five years prior, King served his family as a flag horse for parade and rodeo till he reached retirement age. Horses are herd animals, so without companionship, they rarely rest and are always on alert. They literally have to fend for themselves, which many of us, and our Exodus kiddos, can unfortunately relate to. As a result, we harden ourselves to vulnerability, and are always on the defensive. Hence, many of our volunteers hesitate to work with King. Defensiveness is rarely pleasant to deal with. That being said, I can personally attest to having witnessed King’s “soft side”- the secret part of him that engages and displays emotion, and even affection!

This last summer while participating in a horse-based leadership development class for our leaders, King approached me while sitting on the mounting block in the middle of the round pen, and started…strange as this sounds..licking me! Not just little licks, but chin to ear full swipes of his tongue! I couldn’t stop laughing and King wouldn’t stop licking and encroaching. He wanted affection! The week before, we were discussing King and his ego – how he tends to be the type of horse who almost yells at you, “I know what I’m doing, so leave me alone and let me do it!” This of course makes it difficult to connect with him. Even more so, it makes us reluctant to connect because WE are on the defensive as well!! Realizing this, I learned that when you respect King and engage with him in a way that honors who he is, and motivates him to engage with you, he responds in kind (and with kisses!). Respect is given when respect is earned! That’s King’s motto. Since then I have always tried to give King the space to do his job while motivating him, and since then we have had a great working relationship, which just goes to show that even the toughest of us are capable of softening given the right opportunity to do so.

King is the eldest of our herd at 31 years old. He still loves his job, but due to arthritis he only participate in sessions occasionally. When he does, he is still full of enthusiasm and of course kisses for those special students and wranglers who can see through his defensive exterior and into his soft heart. 

Black Welsh Pony Mare  

When Ginger first met Lily, this beautiful little black pony dragged her owner all the way to the big barn. Her owner was the father of one of Ginger’s beginner students and had bought the pony off the internet for his daughter. Lily is a beautiful 21-year-old Welsh cross pony who arrived with several ponies’ worth of attitude packed into that tiny frame. Her original owner brought her to Exodus two summers in a row to get her safe enough for his young daughter to ride. Each summer, with regular riding and training, her behavior would begin to improve…but when she went back home, she would go right back to her “rude pony” behavior after a month or two of time off! 

At the end of the second summer, the student’s mother called and asked if Ginger would like to have Lily – they were done spending money on retraining her. Ginger jokes that she adopted Lily because she was gorgeous and had the same name as Ginger’s granddaughter – how’s that for a logical reason? – but whatever the case, we’re very glad she’s here! For a full year, Ginger rode Lily to get her ready for the kids – to the great amusement of all of our students and volunteers. Toward the end of that year, Lily was still exhibiting a bit too much “attitude” to go to work as an honest school pony. Ginger, fed up (and, possibly, tired of riding with her feet almost touching the ground!), decided, “She’s got 21 days. If she doesn’t shape up and become honest, she’s going to someone’s field to be a lawn ornament somewhere.” We’re fairly certain Lily both speaks English and overheard her, because at the end of those 21 days, when Ginger put the first child on her, she was PERFECT, like she’d done it all her life. Within another week, children were riding Lily regularly in sessions (and Ginger could finally go back to riding taller horses). 

With regular work, Lily has turned out to be a lovely lesson horse and the smaller kids adore her! She turned out to LOVE mounted games (and, occasionally, even a little jumping!) and she still argues just enough that it’s good for the kids to learn to work things out with her, but in the end, the kids are always able to win those “pony discussions” on their own. Lily has taught many a child persistence, follow-through, and the futility of arguing! She also travels to many events (including the Redding Rodeo Parade and Special Kids’ Day) as an “Exodus ambassador,” and her jet black coat and dainty features get her many an adoring “AWWWWWW” from both parents and kids. 

For the kids, Lily’s story is a great example of how, sometimes, our behavioral choices can make it difficult for people to work with us, or for us to fully participate in the things God has for us to do – but when choose to participate joyfully, we get lots of opportunities we wouldn’t otherwise have gotten, and our relationships with those around us improve immensely.

Black Shetland Pony Cross Mare  ♦  DOB:    ♦  Arrival: July 2019

On May 23 of 2019, I (Ginger) received an email from a friend of our old neighbor in Scottsdale, Arizona.  This friend had adopted a precious little pony that had experienced the most unspeakable abuse and had come through a law enforcement dispersal sale years ago.  This young lady was recently diagnosed with a very rare illness that would require long term treatment and had asked our old neighbor Tina if she had any ideas as to a good placement for Lilly, the pony.  Tina has been following Exodus since its beginnings in 2003 unbeknownst to me….and she immediately thought that lil Lilly needed to come here.  Both her and her friend reached out to me and told me Lilly’s horrific story.

Lilly was one of 35 horses seized by law enforcement from a barn in Washington.  Her tail has been broken in 3 places, her face greyed from halter scaring, she battles ulcers from the trauma.  It took me days to process her story…..NEVER in all my years of hearing horse stories, have I heard anything so awful.  I told the girls we were at capacity but that I would pray for what God had for Lilly.  I went out immediately and told my teachers who were all gathered around the picnic table cleaning tack and they also committed to praying for Lilly.  That night, and for many nights to come…I talked to the Lord about this horse…..I was deeply disturbed about her story…….and yet knew that at least 20 of our Exodus kiddos knew her story all too well…that sickened me more…..but was God bringing this pony to our attention that He might go deeper with these extremely hurting kiddos?  After days of praying, I told the Lord that if He wanted this broken pony to come to us, then it would be up to Him to decrease our herd as He saw fit….at that same time, we began to see two of our seniors start to have soundness issues and thought perhaps God was making a way. 

A week later, on Sunday, June 9th at 9pm…..my own horse, Indi, was stricken with severe colic and we had to euthanize him at 1:30 am.  My heart was  crushed…and in the numbness of the days that followed I gave the pony no thought …..or prayer.  Just a week after losing my beloved Indi, I was driving down Deschutes Road…and the tears would not stop….why had God taken my sweet friend, my therapy, my solace when I needed a diversion….. why?? …….and in a still small voice He reminded me that I had asked him to make a way for this broken pony to find healing at Exodus.  “Seriously, Lord?!?!?…..this is how?!?!?!?!?…..Indi was mine……..I raised him from a baby………….I loved him more than any other….Indi was most precious to me………….this was how You make a way???”…….I had never loved or trusted a horse this much….more tears…..this wasn’t the first time the Lord had asked for some sacrifice from me as He worked in the lives of our Exodus kiddos…….now I, through the tears, relived that moment when I held Indi’s head and stared into those incredible eyes and watched life pour out of him……Lord, I went through this agonizing heart ache for a broken pony??????…..His still small voice spoke again…..”Child, I gave up so much more so that your brokenness could be made whole….I watched the life pour out of my son that ALL the broken would find wholeness…”……………..  I felt as if the wind had been knocked out of me….sobs…..deep sobs………..as God gave me this intimate glimpse……..this personal application of the agony of the Trinity at the crucifixion.  Never in my life has the heartache of our Father at the sacrifice of His son been more real to me.  No more questioning…..I knew in that moment…. without a doubt…that through Indi, God had made a way for that broken lil pony to come to Exodus Farms, not only for her healing but the for the healing and wholeness of children who have endured the unspeakable.

This precious pony arrived the 4th of July, close to midnight.  I knew the minute that I saw her soft, dark and endless eyes that God had brought this farm a very special treasure!  In the coming days we decided that her new Exodus name would be Millie (short for Mildred!) as we already had two Lillys and a third black Lilly would cause a lot of confusion for our kids and adults!  In the coming days, we all got to know this sweet soul with a mane and tail.  We spent hours taking her for walks, grazing her on the lawn, brushing her, smashing bananas for her ulcer medicine, showing her around the farm…..and just being with her.   EVERYONE has fallen in love with sweet Millie…..

In the first few days, a young boy felt an urgency to read to her on a regular basis…this was huge in her being able to just hang out and build trust.  Our grandparents, struggling raising their grandkids, wanted to take her for walks and just decompress with her.  At the end of very long and challenging days, just Millie and I would hang out on the lawn, watching the sun go down…..and our hearts both began to heal.  As I began to get to know this exquisite lil pony, one thing stood out….her incredible sweetness.   In spite of all her horrible trauma, this dear one did not have have a bite or a kick in her…….she is truly the kindest, most gentle horse I have ever met.  Her sensitivity to those around her defies explanation…..she should truly hate every human…..but she doesn’t.  Just a few months from her arrival, she reaches her sweet little nose over her door to talk to us and beckon us to visit, she gallops free in the arena, begging all to come play and she lets countless little girls braid her perfect pony tail!   She is now fat and healthy and happy…….but any of you who know me know the message of Exodus is that we bring God’s love and healing to the broken in order that their hearts would be made whole and they would find God’s new purpose for their lives, just like our herd of rescued saints.  We are so excited to watch as we slowly introduce Millie to her new purpose, driving!!  She is a natural and is quickly becoming comfortable having a cart move behind her. 

Millie epitomizes all that Exodus Farms is……..a safe place for the broken to meet unconditional love and acceptance, no matter how horrific the trauma…………a safe place for the deeply wounded to finally step away from their pain long enough to smile and play………a safe place to realize that one’s trauma does not define us but the miraculous love and healing of our Savior shows us who we are.……a safe place where the ones’ who thought they would never have value find their new heavenly purpose!!!  Millie is a remarkable creature….brought to us by a remarkable God….and she has touched mine and so many other hearts already!

Bay Quarter Horse Gelding  ♦  DOB:  ♦  Arrival: 2019

Every class needs a class clown.

Prior to his career at Exodus, Oliver was a very successful show horse. But he has a constantly busy and mischievious mind that caused him frequent injuries in stalls and at shows, and his owners thought it would be best for him and his personality to be the star of a different kind of show. They generously donated him to Exodus in 2019.

Oliver quickly found his place as the Exodus clown. He swings ropes and running hoses around in his mouth, makes funny faces when we are trying to be serious and pray, and always has something in his mouth that isn’t supposed to be there. As much as our leaders and volunteers might feel like we need to babysit Oliver constantly, we could not do the work we do without him. His silly behavior is actually perfectly and uniquely suited to engage our most difficult population of Exodus kids; our preteen and teenage boys. Unlike their female counterparts, many of whom will happily stay involved with horses all through their teenage years, many of the boys do not. Oliver however, is a preteen boy magnet. Perhaps they see themselves in his silliness. Whatever it is, we are grateful for our big goof and his superpower.