Shasta - She Started It All!

A Mountain of Miracles

At 17 hands high and underweight by 250 pounds, Shasta proved to be the first mountain in the vast landscape that has now Become New Hope Ranch.  When she first arrived at New Hope Ranch, we gazed in awe at the huge stature she posses and marveled at how a neglectful owner could have let her get in this gaunt condition.  Not only was this mountain of a mare in extremely poor condition and lacking in vegetation, but her foundation was also crumbling beneath her due to the crippling Navicular Disease that plagued both of her front feet.

When we first started to tackle Shasta’s mountain of issues, we discovered that she wasn’t only large in statue, but also possessed a heart and loving spirit that towered above the rest.  Through all of the physical therapy and sometimes crippling pain inflicted on her by the Navicular, not once did she ever react in a manner that was unkind.  She was cheerful and good natured in all weather and she somehow knew we were trying to help.

Her courage and spirit inspired people at New Hope Ranch to enter her as a candidate for Equine Senior’s Horse of the Year, which she won by a landslide.  By winning this contest, she not only received free Equine Senior, which helped many others at New Hope Ranch, but also had her story publicized by local newspapers.  This was a critical first step that was needed to bring her neglectful owner to justice and finally shed some light on her story so that what she lived through won’t go unnoticed.

Although New Hope Ranch was able to ease her pain and symptoms from her Navicular for more than five years, sadly it returned and was unable to be managed to keep her out of pain.  Despite all of our efforts, the pain had become more than this gentle lady could bear.

It was then decided that it was time to pay back the kindness that Shasta had shown us.  Shasta was sent to be with the Lord’s Brand shortly after her condition was deemed incurable and she could no longer be kept out of pain.

Shasta will always be remembered for her kindness, strength and indomitable spirit.  Not only was she a champion in our hearts but also won the hearts of others through her story and her spirit.  Shasta is the reason New Hope Ranch was founded and it is through her memory that we strive to promote all aspects of rescue and humanitarian work.

It is the hope of New Hope Ranch that her memory will live on through everyone that she has touched and inspire others to tackle the mountain of neglect and help horses in need by not throwing away a whole life just because it was banged up a little.