Thistle

This pretty girl’s name is Thistle! Thistle came to us in 2023 with three other mares, all suffering from neglect and several hundred pounds underweight. She needed dental care and farrier work, along with groundwork from our trainer. After a couple months in our rehabilitation program and after being put on a strict refeeding diet, Thistle gained the weight she needed to be evaluated by our trainer!

This striking mare has had quite a journey since then. During her initial evaluation, it became clear that Thistle had big feelings, especially when introduced to new tack. When our trainers placed a bareback pad on her, she responded with significant bucking and grunting—more accurately described as broncing, not the kind of bucking a typical rider can sit through. Shortly after her recovery, however, one of our Lead Equine Care Specialists fell in love with Thistle’s bold personality and adopted her. 

During her time with this experienced adopter, Thistle was sent to a professional trainer and eventually returned home where she was ridden at the walk, trot, and canter and even hauled off-property a few times. Unfortunately, the progress didn’t last. If Thistle wasn’t in consistent work 7 days out of the week, she would resume bucking. Her adopter spent months working with vets and paying for chiropractic evaluations to try and find some type of cause for Thistle’s behavior, but no physical cause could be found. Due to her dangerous behavior, Thistle’s adopter made the difficult decision to return her to us after trying her best to give this mare the home she deserved. 

Now, Thistle is here at Longmeadow, living in a pasture with other equine, and waiting for her forever home. In the herd, she occasionally takes on the role of lead mare but typically resides in the middle. She thrives with other mares but is fine with geldings as well. She’s a quick learner, loves attention, eats anything you offer, and is known for her constant “smile.” If adopted again as a riding horse, she’ll require an advanced rider working closely with a professional trainer. If adopted as a pasture companion, she still needs an advanced intermediate handler due to her strong personality and sensitivities (her previous adopter noted that she reacts strongly to new sensations, and even consistent desensitization didn’t show long-term improvement).

Maximum Carrying Weight (includes tack and rider): 225lbs