Abused, abandoned, frightened and starved…Charlie and his comeback story is an inspiration for us all! What a difference one year can make in the life of a brave, kind-hearted and gentle-minded horse that has just spent the past year recovering at Red Bucket Equine Rescue…where loving and caring volunteers have saved him from a lifetime of horrible mistreatment at the hands of humans.

Every year Red Bucket Equine Rescue features a special horse on both their calendar and invitation to the Ruby Red Gala. “Charlie” is the Red Bucket 2017 featured equine! His comeback story is one full of love and hope. “Charlie is the perfect ‘poster boy’ for the beautiful life-saving work we do here at Red Bucket!” exclaims volunteer Linda Rose. “He had been completely betrayed by the very people who were responsible for keeping him safe,” she continues. “Thankfully, we saved him just in time…and after months of love, good nutrition and a bit of ‘Red Bucket Magic’, Charlie has blossomed into a handsome hunk of a Love Bug!” says Linda.

Ironically, Red Bucket became Charlie’s new home only a day after our annual Ruby Red Gala last year. He had been abandoned 7 months before we received the call about his dire situation. Red Bucket was full when the call came in for Charlie, but we tightened our belt and made room. “When we arrived to pick him up and perform our assessment, Charlie was so weak he could barely walk,” according to Susan Peirce. “His body score was a 1 and we were so worried and concerned about this stallion’s status that once he was inside the trailer we said prayers all the way home that he would make it without going down before we got him back to the Ranch,” Susan explains.

According to Red Bucket volunteer Susanna Woeste, “Charlie came into the Ranch so thin, I could barely believe he was standing. He was started on constant small amounts of alfalfa and he dove right in!” she exclaimed. “He also began drinking plenty of water and I then felt…he is going to be OK… he is now drinking and eating,” said Susanna.

Charlie came to Red Bucket a stallion, and to help him transform into a safe and happy horse, he needed to be gelded. However, he was a cryptorchid, and needed surgery as soon as he became stronger. Cryptorchidism is a condition when one of the testes has not descended and needs to be removed. This procedure was eventually performed at the veterinary hospital around the corner from the Ranch. Charlie’s surgery went great and he was back on the Ranch, ready to enjoy his well-deserved time around loving human and equine friends.

Susanna happily expressed how quickly Charlie started gaining weight and how beautiful his coat became. “Charlie was amazingly sweet, even as a stallion,” said Susanna. “He has always loved grooming time…I was happy when he was well enough to be gelded,” she said.

Watching Charlie’s transformation has been incredible! He is a beautiful Quarter Horse with a remarkable disposition. It’s criminal to think this horse was once abused nearly every day of his life before coming to Red Bucket. He is such a grateful and kind horse. He responds to gentle hands, calm voices and kindness. Charlie is gorgeous! His confidence has been restored. We are working slowly with him on his training. Our first try found him frozen in fear. He has since learned to trust and his lessons are moving along nicely.

Linda Rose sums up Charlie’s story at Red Bucket this way…”During Sunday tours at the Ranch I show our guests a ‘before’ picture of Charlie and watch their jaws drop in astonishment. They cannot believe that this gorgeous, affectionate, teddy bear of a Quarter Horse is the same desperate creature they see in the photo. It never ceases to amaze me how forgiving these wonderful animals can be. Here at Red Bucket we give them a second chance…but they give us a second chance too. They allow us to show them that not all humans are evil. I’m so grateful to Charlie for giving us that chance.”

We hope this wonderful comeback horse will eventually find the great home he deserves. Susanna concludes, “I hope Charlie finds a great home. He is such a good boy and would be a fabulous horse for someone! I hope he gets adopted and they turn him into a spoiled and much loved horse.”