Honey
Her story & support request
Honey is a jaw-dropping 6-year-old buckskin roan grade Quarter Horse mare who has been in my care since May 9th, 2024. She came to me from a ranch in Eastern Oregon with an infection in her withers, which we later discovered was the result of previously broken withers. No one knows exactly what caused the original injury, but I suspect she was either in an accident, or she crashed hard. That injury required surgical repair, and her recovery has been long, difficult, and often heartbreaking.
When I took Honey on, I genuinely believed she would be a great fit for my program. I thought, after she healed from surgery, she could be a rewarding project horse, one I could gently start under saddle, train, and eventually re-home to a suitable rider. But I didn’t fully understand the extent of her injury or how it would continue to affect her recovery and overall quality of life.
Since surgery, Honey has continued to fall. These are unexplained, jarring collapses that I’ve witnessed with my own eyes, sometimes hard enough to reopen her surgical scar. We’ve managed her wound and supported her healing the best we can, but the truth is that something deeper is going on. I’ve consulted with veterinarians, bodyworkers, and other trusted professionals. Some have suggested weak stifles. Others suspect something neurological. I haven’t been able to afford a full lameness or neurologic workup, and at this point, our small business cannot take on that additional cost alone.
What I do know is this: it is my professional opinion that Honey is not safe to ride, now or in the future.
She was only ever ridden twice as a two-year-old and has never been properly started under saddle. Her history of falls, her sensitivity around humans, her traumatic surgery, and the placement of her scar all reinforce this concern. Watching her go down the way she does, the sheer force with which she hits the ground, I can imagine what would happen if someone were on her back. That thought is terrifying and has prevented me from rehoming her sooner.
And yet, Honey is not a horse defined only by injury. She is also the mare who now sometimes wants a scratch, blinking at me with softer eyes. The one who cautiously reaches out to set boundaries with the younger horses. She is selective with her affection but loyal once she knows she can choose to trust being with you is safe. She cares for the older horses in the herd and proved to have a knack for calming a nervous yearling just by being near them. She’s inquisitive, observant, and when the mood strikes her, quietly hilarious in that way incredible horses sometimes are.
She is beautiful. She is incredibly intelligent. She is willing in her quiet moments. And I know how easy it would be for someone to look at her and think, "Maybe someday." I’ve had that same thought. I’ve had to let it go.
She doesn’t need hope for a riding future. She needs a home that will protect her from it.
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Honey would thrive in a calm, low-pressure environment where she can live in a herd and be allowed to just be a horse. She’s best suited for someone experienced with sensitive or trauma-informed care, who can give her the consistency and space she needs. She is not easy to catch, though she’s made progress with patient groundwork. Her ideal person will respect her boundaries, value consent-based handling, and not expect her to become anything other than what she already is.
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Want to help with Honey’s care?
Honey’s journey hasn’t been easy, but I believe she still deserves a future filled with peace, safety, and dignity. Your support, whether financial, logistical, or simply through sharing her story with others, can help us create that outcome together.
Donate Toward Her Medical Care and Answers
Venmo: @groundwork_collective
Paypal: @groundworkco
Any purchases from the GWC etsy shop (it is inactive at the moment, but will re-open July 2025!) goes straight to our general animal vet care fund.
I have additional fundraising efforts currently in the works with some artists! (be on the lookout for that on socials!)
Your donation helps cover the cost of:A full lameness and/or neurologic evaluation
Imaging or specialist consultations if needed
Continued wound care services, sedation, and medications
Transport to vet appointments or potential placement
A portion of the $10K+ already invested in her recovery & our animal vet care fund.
Every contribution, no matter what it is, brings us closer to clarity, for her future, her health, and her peace.
📍 Help Us Find Her Safe Landing
I am giving Honey the summer to find a suitable, trauma-informed, non-riding home. If you know of an experienced horseperson, a sanctuary, or a soft-hearted soul who might be the right fit, please share this post with them.I am also actively researching long-term sanctuary herd placement options (such as All Seated in a Barn’s Texas location). If you have reputable recommendations, I welcome them.
🚛 Offer Support With Placement or Transport
If you are local to the Pacific Northwest and have experience hauling sensitive horses, or can help network for safe transport or housing, please reach out. I’m also willing and prefer to personally deliver her within a reasonable distance if the home is a good match, so any aid/recommendations regarding travel accommodations is greatly appreciated.💛 Share Her Story
Sometimes the biggest help is simply widening her reach. Share the link to this post. Share her photos and her story with people you know. Let people know that a horse like her still has value. -
May 2024: Acquired Honey with a withers infection
June 2024: Underwent surgical intervention to remove infected tissue
July–December 2024: Monitored and treated recurring wound complications
2025: Multiple unexplained falls observed; wound reopened 3+ times
Vet records and photos available upon request
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Veterinary care: $8,000+
Feed and maintenance: $3,500–5,000
Medications and supplies: $500+
Trainer consultations: $500+
Full itemized spreadsheet available upon request.Honey benefits greatly from consistent handling, round-penning, desensitizing, ponying, and confidence-building work. If you have the time and experience to help her progress, this could be a great fit.
She’s looking for someone who can dedicate time and patience to her ongoing training, with a focus on positive reinforcement (not treats based) and building a trusting relationship with more humans than just me.
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What kind of training has she had?
Honey has had groundwork focused on basic handling, desensitization, and cooperative care. She halters, leads, stands tied, picks up her feet, bathes, and loads in and out of the trailer well. She has been ponied on numerous trail rides and tends to stay calm and connected with the herd. She’s recently started light hobble training and has responded with curiosity and increasing confidence.She has worn a surcingle and tolerated it well, with only minimal bucking. Her only significant reaction was to a rope near her flank, which is understandable given her physical history. On farrier recommendation, I also experimented with using light weights on her hind legs during round pen work in an effort to strengthen her stifles. She handled this process reasonably well, and it’s something that could potentially be built on with further diagnostics and support.
Honey also has a foundation in very basic liberty work and often engages in calm, voluntary interactions while in the pasture. She enjoys being brushed out in the field and is most relaxed when approached in a low-pressure, choice-based way. She prefers connection over control, and thrives when her boundaries are respected.
For routine care, she does well with the right setup. For more invasive procedures like injections or deep wound cleaning, I sometimes lightly sedate her with Dormosedan to reduce stress and ensure safety for everyone involved given her medical history. Honey does well for the farrier and has been trimmed many times while with me but has never had shoes. She needs to have her legs/feet worked with prior to the farrier coming out and only responds well to a gentle farrier willing to take the time she needs.
She was sat on twice as a two-year-old but has never been formally started under saddle. Due to her unexplained falls, surgical trauma, and physical sensitivities, Honey will not be ridden and should not be considered a riding prospect under any circumstance.
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Honey is typically "low man" in the herd dynamics, meaning she tends to shy away from more dominant horses. In a herd setting with more assertive horses, she can lose weight easily due to stress and competition for food. Additionally, she sometimes rolls, which has lead to re-injury of her back in prior months. For her well-being, a stall with a small turnout is the best arrangement, providing a controlled environment where she can rest and graze without the stress of more dominant herd members. She is also easier to catch when not kept in with the herd.
When kept by herself, Honey can become a bit worried about being alone, as she’s naturally more comfortable in the company of other horses. However, this can also be an opportunity for her to connect more deeply with humans, as she often seeks out interaction and reassurance in the absence of other horses. In a solo situation, she can be more focused on building trust with her handler, which is great for her training and overall confidence-building. That said, a stall with turnout is still the ideal setup, offering her the best of both worlds—time to be around other horses in a controlled environment, and moments of quiet where she can bond with her human caretaker.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can she be ridden someday?
No. This is not something we are exploring for Honey, now or in the future. Her history of falling, the placement and sensitivity of her surgical scar, and her deep mistrust of human handling make her unsuitable as a riding prospect. While she is beautiful and intelligent, her safety and wellbeing are the priority, and riding is not part of that future.Can she live in a mixed herd?
Yes. Honey has done well in a variety of herd settings and thrives when surrounded by other horses. She tends to form strong attachments and experiences separation anxiety if isolated. She is especially nurturing toward younger horses and has shown a calming presence in a group. While she may posture a bit like a stud when first introduced, she settles in quickly and has coexisted peacefully with both small and larger herds.Will you rehome her to a rescue?
If no suitable private home is found by the end of summer, I am actively pursuing placement in a reputable sanctuary or herd environment that can support her specific needs. Humane euthanasia remains an option if no safe, informed, and stable placement becomes available. My top priority is ensuring she never ends up in a situation that puts her at further risk.Can I come meet Honey?
Yes, meet-and-greets are possible for seriously interested and appropriate potential homes. She is located in Central Oregon. Visits must be scheduled in advance to ensure privacy and support for both Honey and any potential private homes.Does she have any special handling needs?
Yes. Honey is not easy to catch and does best with someone who practices low-pressure, consistency and relational based horsemanship skills. She responds to calm, consistent handling and will shut down or become reactive if her boundaries are pushed too hard. She is not a horse for someone new to working with sensitive, complex mares.Is she registered or papered?
No. Honey is considered a grade mare and is not registered with any breed association. Her exact breeding is unknown, though I was told she came from a Quarter Horse ranch herd in Eastern Oregon. Based on her build and movement, my best guess is that she carries some Hancock and maybe Kiger Mustang influence indicated in her markings.Are you open to long-distance placements?
Yes. If the home is the right fit, I am open to long-distance placement. I am also willing to deliver Honey within a reasonable distance myself, or help coordinate transport with someone experienced (especially because of her “falling” tendencies). My only priority is ensuring her next home is informed, ethical, and potentially permanent.
Lessons w/Lease: Lessons would be REQUIRED to work with Honey. I include 4 free lessons during any sale/rehoming to ensure the best chance of success for a new horse/human partnership. I will not send her somewhere site unseen.