Elliot's Story

​This is the story of our Elliot (also known as Suspended in Animation), a 14-year-old Appendix Quarter horse with best boy status. He was acquired from a slaughter auction by his former owner about twelve years ago. After rehabbing and selling him, she was able to repurchase him from a neglect/abuse situation. With his former owner, he was an accomplished eventer and jumper until around 2017 when he developed lameness in his hinds. It was determined he would need his hind pasterns fused due to osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions, which had developed into severe arthritis. He made a full and complete recovery and went on to compete again with his former owner.

He was given to us two and a half years ago as a companion for our Princess Piper and has been such a blessing. When he first arrived with Piper, the two of them spent a good deal of time mutually grooming and then did a few laps around the racetrack with Elliot in the lead. He was at first high-energy and needed to learn some personal space manners. Being patient, quiet, and extremely gentle with him was exactly what he needed. He is now able to relax and is no longer easily startled.

Elliot, who is nicknamed Goober, is a big, strong horse with a heart of gold. He is quite energetic and loves to run, rear, buck, and jump (with all four feet off the ground) when he is excited and happy (and particularly after a bath!). We ride him occasionally (he’s the only one of our four that can be ridden) and he has always been a perfect gentleman under saddle – he’s very well trained and is a constant source of joy and smiles! Elliot also loves to sleep and will lay down just about anywhere. While snoring sweetly, he dreams of running and eating, not necessarily in that order!

He is very playful and tends to want to put his teeth on the backs and butts of Piper and our old guy, Blue, so when he moves, they do too. Annie (the little Haflinger) is the only one who allows some play. I think she clocked him with her powerful little buck, so he knows he needs to be gentle with her. I’ve been asking him to be nice to the others and he is listening. The herd is spending more time closer together, even lying down sleeping in the pasture close together.
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Elliot took a cookie aggressively a month or so ago and was yelled at. The next time I offered a cookie and ever since, he has been so very gentle, tentatively using just his muzzle. All of this is a testament to his intelligence and need to please. We love him so very much and have promised to take very good care of him forever and ever.