This weekend, while working our way through farrier appointments, we found ourselves taking a harder look at some of our older, higher-needs horses. We have several seniors who are doing okay here — but okay isn't necessarily the best we can do for them.
They need extra groceries and individual feeding. Some love having a stall and a predictable routine. Some struggle to maintain their weight or thrive in a large herd. And all could benefit from something that's hard to provide at a rescue with more than 60 horses: the chance to be somebody's special horse again.
So we're looking for a few Final Families.
These aren't necessarily hospice horses. They may have months or they may have several good years ahead of them. Some can still enjoy a quiet ride; others simply need someone who wants to love and spoil an old horse.
Four in particular are on our minds:
Frenchie (KR French Honey), 24 — Missing her left eye with a cataract in her right, Frenchie can be a little anxious but is a very good girl. This granddaughter of Frenchman's Guy has produced several champions in her lifetime. Now we'd love to see her be the one getting spoiled. JJ (Watch Jack Jr), 25 — A grandson of Two Eyed Jack with plenty of life and energy who doesn't particularly know he's old. 
JJ stays on the lean side and needs a full senior diet. He LOVES routine, individual meals and having a stall. Simon, 18 — Simon has some lasting hind-end deficits from EPM that was successfully treated. His weight fluctuates, and when he's thinner his balance suffers. He LOVES people, is incredibly playful, and would thrive with a small herd and more individual attention. Annie (Peppy Bar Dancin), 21 — A wonderfully safe Quarter Horse mare with a sticky stifle who still gets around well and can enjoy light riding. Annie thrives in a small herd, loves having a stall and needs additional feed to maintain her condition.Final Family horses can be placed as lifetime fosters with no adoption fee, and GSH can provide a winter blanket if needed.
We're also introducing our Final Promise. When the time comes, GSH will cover humane euthanasia through our established provider (currently Central Dakota Animal Clinic in Platte, SD), or contribute that equivalent amount of what they charge toward euthanasia performed by your veterinarian. We don't want the cost of saying goodbye to be the reason someone is afraid to say yes to an older horse.
We can keep these horses here. They're safe, fed and loved.
But maybe somewhere there's an empty stall and someone who doesn't need another performance horse — just one to fuss over, mix senior feed for twice a day, blanket when it's cold, hand out too many treats and make one old horse feel like the most important horse in the world.
However much time they have, they deserve to spend it loved. 
Interested in becoming a Final Family? Send us a message or apply here: http://gentlespirithorses.org/adoption-application