Connor – Also known as “Mr. Connor”, is a APHA (American Paint Horse Association) Palomino Paint gelding. Connor spent his younger years as a Pony Club horse for a local youth. When his owner left for college, Connor was donated to the ranch and has become a session favorite to many children.
Our Herd
Gimli – Also known as “Gims”, “the Gimster”, “Gimmers”, “Pony” and “Hey, knock it off!” Gimli is a Haflinger gelding. His huge personality keeps everyone at the ranch laughing and repairing whatever he has recently broken. His love for attention and silliness breaks down walls and floods hearts with joy. To know Gimli is to love him!
Ladyhawke – Also known as “Hawke” or “Hawkester.” Ladyhawke is a Percheron/ Standardbred mare. Jet black with a small white star, Ladyhawke is often mistaken for a Friesian, which is why we often refer to her as a “faux Friesian” or a “Friesian on a budget.” She was the ranch’s flagship horse, chosen for her gentleness toward small children and her downright sassiness toward everyone else! Ladyhawke takes her job as the herd Alpha very seriously, always keeping everyone in line. She is every horse-crazy little girl’s dream, and every little boy feels like a knight charging into battle when on her back.
Horse Sponsorship
By simply choosing to sponsor a horse, you can further ensure quality care for our horses and a cost-free opportunity for the children who call this their special place.
Your sponsorship will provide the following for our horses:
- Countless hours one-on-one with a child and leader
- Daily engagement with children or staff, both physically and mentally
- Grooming, baths, and carrots
- Daily hay and grain
- Vitamins and supplements
- Regular preventative vaccinations, worming, and dental care
- Professional farrier trimming and shoeing
- Tack and equipment replacement and repair
- Contributions to the Equine Rehabilitation and Rescue Fund*
*The Equine Rehabilitation and Rescue Fund is an account that has been established to act as a medical “insurance fund” for the Ranch horses. Its secondary purpose is to assist in the funding of horse rescues.
Sponsorship Benefits
We love staying connected with those who choose to support the ministry at the Ranch through the horse sponsorship program. To show appreciation for this kind gift, each sponsor will receive an annual update on your sponsored horse.
To become a sponsor, please submit our Horse Sponsorship Form. We will send you a packet of information about your horse right away, as well as annual updates.
Sponsorship Agreement Information
This agreement in no way entitles sponsor to ownership and/or exclusive privileges in any way to sponsored animal or ranch property. MSR accepts all liability, expressed and/or implied, for the sponsored equine. Sponsor has the right to cancel this agreement with a 30-day notice to MSR administration. All monies received from sponsor to date of cancellation remain the property of MSR. Please note that there may be more than one sponsor per equine. This is to ensure that all our horses are cared for equally, as the funds go into an account to support our whole herd.
Mercy Spring Ranch has been established as a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization by the Internal Revenue Service. All donations are tax deductible.
Jedediah – A tribute
Some horses change your life forever. Jedediah (Jed) was one of those horses. A call regarding a donated horse that quickly turned into a rescue brought Jed to MSR in August of 2013. Over a decade of harsh handling had left Jed with several physical issues as well as a huge mistrust of people. He would stand in the back of his paddock and shake when people would try to approach or talk to him. The soft pallet of his mouth had been blown out by years of being ridden in a harsh bit and a constant pressure to keep his chin tucked to his chest. Jed was a Missouri Fox Trotter/ Kentucky Saddle Horse cross. A dark bay roan with beautiful flowing mane and one blue eye. He was not safe for the children who came to the ranch to ride, but he found his calling as a “liberty” horse, meaning he connected with children from the ground through exercises without any tack (equipment) on. As much as Jed feared humans, he desperately sought out connection and needed peace from the life he had endured. Once he began to trust again, he looked for every opportunity to connect with anyone who needed him and would slow down enough to know him.
In the winter of 2015, Jed was diagnosed with Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU). For three years we fought to extend his quality of life through daily treatments and medications, but there is no cure for ERU and the only way to stop the progression is to remove the horse’s eyes. We knew with all his fear issues, Jed could never handle permanent blindness. In August of 2018, Jed’s flares became unmanageable, and the heart wrenching decision was made to end his suffering with dignity.
How can one little broken horse change the lives of so many people in three short years? We gave Jedediah his name because it means “Friend of God” or “Loved by God” and at the time we acquired him, Jed really needed God to intervene in his circumstance, so the name seemed fitting. How could we have known what God had planned? Jed reminded us that no matter how broken and lost we are, the God who created us sees us as precious and valuable. He “Knit us together in our mother’s womb.” (Ps. 139:13) He is intimately acquainted with all our ways, and yet, He loved us all enough to make a way for us to know Him through the Cross of Jesus. (John 3:16) Jed found peace and love from people, even though his past trauma caused him to fear and distrust them. He spent the final years of his life teaching everyone who met him what it meant to be healed of the pains of your past. Jedediah, loved by God, taught us all how God’s love can heal anyone who trusts Him.