Welcome Back, Gemini!
Today we’re welcoming home Gemini, a 9-year-old Mustang mare who originally came to us as a weanling in 2016 during the ISPMB/Hallelujah Horses mission. She was one of the 16 horses we took in at that time, and she quickly became a memorable part of our early youth programs. At two years old, she participated in our very first summer training challenge that paired teenagers with young horses. Her trainer fell in love with her and adopted her the following year.
For the past six years, they’ve ridden all over South Dakota together — from local trails to a multi-day trip through the Black Hills earlier this summer. It has been a long, committed partnership.
Earlier this year, however, Gemini was moved to a new environment, and her behavior shifted significantly. She became anxious, pushy, and difficult to handle, and despite her adopter’s best efforts — lessons, clinics, a new farrier, ulcer treatment — nothing seemed to help. Both were becoming stressed and unhappy, and after a lot of thought, her adopter made the responsible, compassionate decision to return her so she can find a home where she feels confident and grounded again.
Gemini is a stunning, compact mare — about 14 hands, athletic, sensitive, and very smart. We’ll give her a few days to settle in before we begin her evaluation, but we’re hopeful that with a patient reset and the right guidance, she’ll get back to the good manners and confidence she once had.
Trainer partners — if anyone is interested in giving her a refresher or helping us get her back on track, please reach out. We’d love to see this girl shine again.