The first thing you notice about Rosie is her “great big eyes,” says Linda George. Linda is Rosie’s adopter and describes her as “so cute.” She is a paint stock quarter horse with four white stockings that go up to her knees, and she has a dished face, like an Arabian’s.

Red Bucket rescued Rosie from a hoarding operation. She was scraggly and had a chip on her shoulder. She also had a hard time getting along with other horses and was protective of her food. But Red Bucket recognized Rosie’s positive qualities and focused on them. She was already saddle trained, had nice ground manners, and a deep yearning to be nurtured. Because Rosie had difficulty getting along with other horses, the decision was made to put her in the pasture with other horses to allow her to acclimate. This tactic worked, and Rosie was quite happy to come back to the Ranch with a new fresh attitude.

When Linda approached Red Bucket in search of a horse to adopt, Red Bucket appreciated her many years of devotion to horses and thought that she and Rosie might make a match. Upon meeting Rosie, Linda described her as “utterly adorable.” Their connection was evident. Susan Peirce says, “Our job is to understand what the horse is telling us and determine what the horse needs to be happy and satisfied. We give each horse enough time to heal and we never push. But from the beginning there was a connection for Rosie and Linda.”

Rosie has flourished under Linda’s care and attention. Linda speaks of her with great affection and says she is very smart and learns quickly. Rosie no longer struggles with insecurities around her food now that she knows she will always be fed. Linda has trained her to go into the yard to feed only when Linda calls to her, saying “okay, okay.” An excellent trail horse, Rosie is perfect for a green rider. Linda credits Red Bucket’s thoroughness in the adoption process, and the supervision they offer during this time, with the success of matching people and horses, specifically her and her “adorable Rosie.”