When a horse comes to Red Bucket, they receive a bucket, a name, and dignity. The bucket belongs to them…and so does their name, their names are thoughtfully chosen….usually it is the only thing that they have in the world…until the dignity sets in and really lands. This is the beginning of a promise that we take very seriously. They also receive their first goal. Most often, that first goal is to whinny when we approach, and while the whinny may initially occur because of the red bucket, it doesn’t take long for that whinny to become a greeting to their new human friends who represent kindness, safety, humanity and trust. Our newest residents, Saunders and Bentley have mastered the whinny, and while their horrifically emaciated frames serve as a gut wrenching reminder of the unspeakable abuse that they have endured. We refocus our own energy on the healing that these newest friends have ahead of them as we prepare them on a journey of rebirth in preparation for a forever home of their own. Today Bentley mastered his second goal. Cathy had ever so gently groomed the paper thin hide that stretches taught across his skeleton, gently applied fly spray…and as she slipped the halter off of his beautiful head, he dropped and rolled in his fluffy fresh bedding….and then stood up! He climbed back on his feet and with a little shake reclaimed his life.