A red (brown?) thoroughbred named Michael was once part of a loving family. His young caregivers fed and groomed him and rode him well. He had a good life with purpose. But when his young owners grew up and went off to school, he became lonely, neglected, and ultimately malnourished. It wasn’t a case of purposeful, abuse. It was simply that financially, there was no investment, and there weren’t means for him to survive where he was.

When veterinarian Melissa Tyson saw Michael, she knew he was not ready to call it quits, he just needed to find new purpose. The Asper de Tyson Foundation bought the horse and Michael found a new home at the Foundation’s Sanctuary. When Michael arrived you could see is ribs, but he was ready to eat. His disposition was easy going and he soon became playful.

Each animal’s the situation is unique. In Michael’s case, the goal of the Foundation was to retrain him to be a riding horse and maybe even to find him a forever home. But first he had to regain his health. He was having troubles with his back and in addition being under weight, he also needed corrective shoes. It took ____ months and approximately $_____  to cover his food, housing and medical needs.

After much rest and rehabilitation, Michael was ready for a rider. A woman whom Dr. Tyson had met at the Equestrian Center was looking for a horse for her daughter, but she could ill-afford the expenses of ownership. Still she was hopeful of finding a way to give her daughter the opportunity to ____.

Pairing the needs and benefits of Michael and this young lady was a win-win situation. And one which could only have been facilitated by the Foundation & Sanctuary who continued to provide going medical care and cover the costs of his housing. He was transferred to a stall at an equestrian center where his new young caregiver could learn the basics of equine care and learn how to ride, and jump, and show. Michael might have the chance to compete once again, and maybe even win a blue ribbon.

Human or canine, equine or feline, everybody needs to feel both loved and needed. Living creatures thrive when they have a sense of purpose. Some are conscious of this need, cognitively aware, and others feel it intuitively or even physically reacting to the release of endorphins. Michael and his young rider are just one among many of the Foundation’s win-win stories.