“I received a call that Cinnamon was going to an auction frequented by kill buyers, and Red Bucket
was full at the time,” recalls Susan Peirce. “She was older and not super sound. I get these calls
all the time and have to watch the population that we bring in. Rescue is only the beginning, and
many are old or injured or lame. We only have so many spots, so by loading up with hard-to-adopt
horses, we won’t have room for those we are trying to place.” Susan knew that there were people
really concerned about Cinnamon though. She tried to find a sanctuary spot for her. Then she ran
out of time, and it was the day before the auction. “It was crisis time and we had committed to
trying to help her. We could not get her into the sanctuary, so we said ‘yes’ and took her, in
keeping with our Red Bucket mission. Once Red Bucket is committed to an animal, we are really
committed to it.”

“We had heard wonderful things about Cinnamon and, oh my gosh, she was adorable. Ponies get a bad
rap, but Cinnamon was the poster child for great ponies. She was delightful. She was grateful
wherever she was put. She loved being groomed. She was cheerful, happy, lovely, kind, and
benevolent. When you’d feed her, she would make eye contact and truly thank you.” Susan realized
that sanctuary was not the answer, and that she needed a family and, specifically, a little girl.
“It was an honor to take care of her. She was so deserving!”

Louise Tenhoff had adopted from Red Bucket before. A wonderful woman with a giving heart, she
contacted Red Bucket again…but not for herself. Louise was calling about a little girl, Bethany,
who had some physical challenges. Louise wanted to find a pony to help this little girl. Her family
had been through a lot of turmoil, and Louise knew that this would bring them a great deal of joy.

Louise recalls, “A friend of mine was the neighbor of a lovely family that had been through a lot.
Their 12-year-old daughter has Cerebral Palsy and walks with the help of crutches because she has
very little strength in her legs.”

Susan knew immediately that she had the perfect pony for Bethany. “I knew that Cinnamon was
trustworthy and would take good care of her. Louise had already gone through the vetting process
for adoption. When she came out to the Ranch with a group of friends who were also horse-loving
people, she took one look at Cinnamon and said that she was adopting this pony and that she would
have a home forever.”

There was one little issue. Cinnamon had not yet been ridden at Red Bucket. Although
she was fine for light riding, she needed a child rider, and Red Bucket team members were too big for this little pony. Susan recalls, “Louise brought a friend along who had been working with Bethany. We had no tack small enough to fit, so they hopped on Cinnamon without a
bridle or saddle. Right then there was lots of horse activity going on in a nearby arena, and she
did not react one bit! She just walked around carefully with her rider, as if she was carrying
precious cargo.”

Louise had previously allowed young Bethany to ride one of her own horses, and seeing the joy that
it brought to her, she knew she just had to fulfill this little girl’s dream of a horse of her own.
Louise recalls, “I spoke with Bethany’s physical therapist, who said, ‘Do it!’ Bethany’s family
could not afford a pony for her, but I didn’t care about that. I have horse property and really
nice in-and-out box stalls, and I just wanted to do this for her.”

Although Louise thought the name Cinnamon was a fine name, she wanted Bethany to feel that her new
pony was really and truly hers, so she asked Bethany to choose a name for her. Bethany chose
“Honey” for her new pony, and it was official! Cinnamon became Honey!

“Honey is a treasure, a very sweet mare,” continues Louise. “We trust her completely, both with
Bethany and with my own grandchildren. She stands quietly while Bethany is mounting from a mounting
block, and Bethany will hold her arms outstretched and say, ‘I’m riding!’ It melts my heart. I am
planning to make a video of Bethany and Honey to the music of Wind Beneath My Wings.” Louise
promises that she will be sharing that video with Red Bucket!

Honey might be a princess with little Bethany, but around the barn she is definitely the Queen!
According to Louise, Honey has become quite adept at bossing around her stall mate and donkey
buddy, Bruce, who was also adopted from Red Bucket. Louise chuckles, “Honey will steal Bruce’s feed
pail and drag it all the way over to her side of the barn! There’s no doubt who’s the boss in this
relationship!”

Bethany has blossomed since Honey came into her life. Bethany can’t walk very well, but with Honey,
she can ride and she can fly. Susan shares, “Louise says that there is not a better pony on the
planet!” And Louise has something to say as well. “Thank you, Red
Bucket, for delivering the angel that gave Bethany her wings!”