Shoes have literally made all the difference! As a young gelding, Theo was all kinds of awkward in 2024. When he came to SAFE, he was extremely high in his hindquarters and very turned out in his front legs. As he matured, his withers finally caught up to his hind, and his chest has begun to broaden—helping his front legs start to track straighter. Unfortunately, the toed-out gait caused him to dramatically shear off his medial hoof wall, leading to grossly imbalanced feet. His front feet—especially the left—were our biggest concern, though he also started showing some discomfort in his right hind. Now, after multiple vet and farrier visits over the past six months, and shoes all around, we’re finally making real headway.
Once he was noticeably more comfortable in shoes, we slowly increased his workload—adding a saddle and working toward balanced, unified walks with more even weight distribution across all four feet. To say this was an easy process would be naive. Joel even remarked that Theo was probably one of the most stuck, heavy-on-the-forehand horses he’d worked with. But we stayed consistent, and wow, has that work paid off. With a clean bill of health and soundness, Theo was ready for the next step.
During our March clinic, Dani Gamble and Joel worked on building Theo’s freedom with a rider and developed a plan for his 30 days of training with Dani. He looked stronger and healthier every day. Putting him into full work carried some risk, of course—but with the improvements we were seeing and the support of balanced horsemanship, we felt confident giving it a shot. Worst case, the riding would make him sore, and we’d back off and slow down.
Theo did great on the two-hour trailer ride over the pass. There was even an unexpected detour that left him waiting patiently on the side of a busy highway while the truck got fixed. He was completely content munching his hay, even with cars zipping by! Once in Ellensburg, he quickly made friends with Dani’s 3‑year-old mule, and they immediately got into playful gelding antics.
During the first two weeks, Dani noticed some tenderness in Theo’s lower back. She checked saddle fit and pads to ensure he was comfortable, and when everything checked out, she adjusted his schedule—working him two days on, one day off. This made a big difference, and by the third week, all signs of discomfort had disappeared.
I had the chance to visit Theo and Dani last week during a roping clinic with Joel in Ellensburg. Theo spent the day learning to tie and stand patiently on a highline—and even made one half-hearted (and unsuccessful) attempt to lie down. He quietly got back up, realizing that wasn’t going to work out! I was incredibly impressed with the care, calm, and progress Dani has brought to Theo in such a short time. It’s a true testament to her horsemanship skills and her dedication.
She rode him during the clinic lunch break, and all I can say is WOW. Someone is going to be very lucky to get this horse. In addition to the incredible riding work, Dani has taught him how to tie to the trailer, haul out for rides, and work both in and out of the arena. She even took him on his first trail ride the day before—I heard he looked a bit at first, but then settled right into the work. We are so grateful for the real-life experiences Dani is providing Theo. He’s a gentleman, and he looks lovely in work. He’s freed up and found a wonderful willingness to move out. Dani is skillfully helping him find his balance without adding braces or shutting down the good try he’s offering.
We wholeheartedly agree with Dani and Joel—this gelding will mature into a very special riding partner. He’s kind, understanding, and thoughtful. With time, we believe he’ll fill in beautifully for his rider as he gains more experience. For now, we are actively accepting applications.
You must have current experience riding young horses and a solid plan for continuing his education. We will not consider anything less than a perfect match for this exquisite boy. So much good has been put into him—it’s a precious gift we’re presenting to the public.
This is responsible rescue. This is the thoughtful, intentional development of a young horse. This is how we wish all horses could be started. With all of this education, Theo has true value to his future person. Rescue isn’t just about feeding and watering—it’s about setting these animals up for long-term success. That value stays with them, as a mark of the people who cared deeply and gave them the foundation they needed for a bright future.
