From starving and frightened to sassy and confident, this beautiful bay princess has
found her fairy tale ending!
Back when Red Bucket was a brand new rescue, we received a call from Sunland,
California about two Thoroughbred mares in great distress. The mares were Lily and
Tatum. Their story was a common one. Their owners had dreams of getting rich by
racing them, but things went quickly downhill. The owners had no concept about what
they were attempting to accomplish with these beautiful mares. The money to feed and
care for them ran out, no training took place, and the result was two totally emaciated,
terrified horses that were not even halter trained. Their future had nearly come to an
abrupt end, until the call was made to Red Bucket for assistance, and we stepped in
and changed their lives forever. Lily and Tatum became wanted, cherished and loved by
the amazing team members Red Bucket. This is the story of Lily, and her incredible
journey from an untrained, starving, confused horse to the cherished companion of her
amazing new owner, Nikki Hust.
Nikki explains that she first heard about Red Bucket Equine Rescue through a friend
she met at her gym. She immediately fell in love with our mission and could not wait to
find out everything about us. She came to Red Bucket for a Sunday tour; she talked to
Susan Peirce about what she really wanted in a horse, and then filled out an on-line
application. As Nikki puts it, she was “blown away” by this ranch that our horses own.
Lily had been taken to Pedigo Farms for training, and that is where Nikki met her for the
first time. Nikki and Lily started to get to know each other slowly, with gentle grooming
sessions and ground work, and by her third visit to the facility, the adoption progressed.
Nikki and Lily had formed a strong mutual bond, and Lily’s happily-ever-after was
secured.
Nikki has a deep background and experience with horses. She grew up trail riding
around Lake Arrowhead and rode hunt seat while in college. In 2015 she finished her
nursing degree, and that light at the end of the tunnel was getting closer and closer. She
states that the bright light she had been waiting for…for so long…was Lily.
Nikki explains that Lily is extremely intelligent and sensitive. But after her rough start in
this life, it took about three months of Nikki working with her at Red Bucket for her to
really start trusting and relaxing into her new life. But now that Lily trusts Nikki
completely, oh boy has her personality blossomed! She is sassy and opinionated, and
will throw a challenge out there on occasion to keep Nikki on her toes. But she is also
extremely sweet and affectionate, and is enjoying every minute of her happily-everafter!