Cherry

Looking for a gentle giant who brings healing and calmness everywhere she goes? Cherry may be your perfect match!<br/><br/><br/>CHERRY’S BACKGROUND<br/><br/>Cherry arrived at SKE as a client horse in Fall 2021. She was on loan from a surrogacy program and carried the client’s foal when the biological mother no longer could. Despite being owned by veterinarians, Cherry was suffering from a number of problems, from matted mane and tail to a severely clubbed hoof. <br/><br/>Cherry had been in the surrogacy program for approximately 2 years and had a foal each year (the client’s foal born at SKE being her third). She was likely purchased by the veterinarians from local auctions or slaughter traders, but her history prior to that is unknown. <br/><br/>Diligent trimming and a bit of TLC went a long way and got Cherry to a place of comfort and health. SKE’s client decided not to send Cherry back to the surrogacy program after witnessing the level of fear and terror Cherry experienced when exposed to restraints combined with knowledge of the harsh methods this program utilized to handle these mares (including invasive procedures done forcefully under restraint, without use of sedation). Instead, this client sponsored Cherry’s time in the SKE rescue/rehabilitation program and ensured she is set up for success in her future. <br/><br/>Cherry has gone from fearful and reactive to reliably calm, laidback, and gentle. Many of our students and volunteers remark at her ability to calm and heal anyone who pauses to spend a little time with her.<br/><br/><br/>CHERRY’S TRAINING<br/><br/>Cherry has excelled with our "life skills" programs! Her education has been 100% R+ (clicker training, fear-free/force-free) since arrival. Her list of behaviors includes:<br/><br/>- Haltering<br/>- Leading (with halter, off a target, or off body language/at liberty)<br/>- Nose targeting (target stick & hand targets)<br/>- Stationary targeting (at a cone, mat, or bucket)<br/>- Body handling (for brushes, petting, vet, etc.)<br/><br/>- Veterinary handling (checking eyes, ears, nose, teeth/mouth, teats, etc.)<br/>- Cooperative injections (IV & IM)<br/>- Cooperative oral medications (via syringe, though she will also eat medications mixed into food)<br/>- Cooperative eye drops/ointments<br/>- Cooperative aerosol spray (like aluminum spray / aluspray)<br/>- Cooperative fly spray<br/>- Trailer loading (both ramp & step up; turning to walk off & backing off)<br/><br/>Cherry is physically and emotionally ready to begin riding training, and began fostering with one of our trainer/foster placements in July of 2025, where she will get a kind, gentle introduction to riding. We anticipate she will be very easy to start under saddle, given her laid-back attitude with other training and appreciation of snuggles!<br/><br/>Cherry has been an asset for equine-assisted learning and has done an excellent job working with several special needs students. She would likely continue to do well with similar programs as long as she is kept under threshold and relaxed. She is capable of becoming reactive if she is triggered by heavy restraints or total isolation from other horses–this reactivity is easily managed by the average handler, but may be intimidating to beginners due to her size. As long as she doesn’t experience heavy restraint and can always see, hear, or smell her herdmates, then she is easy and reliable for beginners to handle. <br/><br/><br/>CHERRY’S HEALTH HISTORY<br/><br/>Cherry is approximately 12 years old. She is a grade (no papers/registration) stock type, likely a quarter horse, paint, or appaloosa (she has mottled skin like many solid-colored appaloosas). Adopters can send DNA to check for matches with AQHA, APHA, or ApHC, if interested in breeding/lineage. <br/><br/>She’s approx. 15.3hh tall with a thick, sturdy build! She should be able to carry youths and lightweight riders with ease; average adult riders (up to 200 lbs) for frequent low-impact rides or infrequent high-impact rides; and larger adult riders (up to 250 lbs) for infrequent low-impact rides. <br/><br/>Cherry is an easy, easy keeper! She benefits from dry lots or track systems, and also does well on grass pasture. She does not require any grains/supplements/etc, just hay/grass and a mineral balancer.<br/><br/>Cherry is prone to clubbing on her right front hoof if left untrimmed or given poor quality trims. This is managed with quality barefoot trimming and does not currently affect her.<br/><br/>Cherry is sound and healthy with no athletic restrictions. She has a scar on her hind leg that indicates some sort of old injury, but appears to be superficial. She has clear spine, leg, and hoof x-rays we are happy to share with adopters, and new PPE is also welcome.<br/><br/><br/>CHERRY’S SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS<br/><br/>Cherry has certainly suffered from traumatic weanings in the past, and showed significant guarding behavior when her foal was born at SKE. With a gentle, trauma-informed approach to interactions, she eventually realized we were no threat and trusted us to interact with both her and her baby. She was able to keep her baby until she decided it was time to embrace weaning, and remained in the paddock next to his until she decided to wander further. Though this has all helped to heal some of the trauma from harsh weanings, it is in Cherry’s best interest to not continue with broodmare life, so she will be adopted with a no-breeding clause.<br/><br/><br/>HOW TO ADOPT CHERRY<br/><br/>SKE seeks adopters who have good intentions & good core values to direct them on their horsemanship journey - plus the knowledge, resources, & facilities to provide a great life to their adopted equine. If you feel that describes you, we would love for you to provide Cherry with an amazing home!<br/><br/>Cherry is available for adoption through SKE for $1500. She’s located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA and transportation is available in the US & most of Canada.<br/><br/>Start the application process by filling the adoption application:<br/>skequine.com/adopt<br/><br/>Contact SKE with any questions or concerns:<br/>adopt@skequine.com<br/><br/>Thank you for considering Cherry! This big, gentle mare is certain to bring happiness to her forever home!

Looking for a gentle giant who brings healing and calmness everywhere she goes? Cherry may be your perfect match!


CHERRY’S BACKGROUND

Cherry arrived at SKE as a client horse in Fall 2021. She was on loan from a surrogacy program and carried the client’s foal when the biological mother no longer could. Despite being owned by veterinarians, Cherry was suffering from a number of problems, from matted mane and tail to a severely clubbed hoof.

Cherry had been in the surrogacy program for approximately 2 years and had a foal each year (the client’s foal born at SKE being her third). She was likely purchased by the veterinarians from local auctions or slaughter traders, but her history prior to that is unknown.

Diligent trimming and a bit of TLC went a long way and got Cherry to a place of comfort and health. SKE’s client decided not to send Cherry back to the surrogacy program after witnessing the level of fear and terror Cherry experienced when exposed to restraints combined with knowled

Looking for a gentle giant who brings healing and calmness everywhere she goes? Cherry may be your perfect match!


CHERRY’S BACKGROUND

Cherry arrived at SKE as a client horse in Fall 2021. She was on loan from a surrogacy program and carried the client’s foal when the biological mother no longer could. Despite being owned by veterinarians, Cherry was suffering from a number of problems, from matted mane and tail to a severely clubbed hoof.

Cherry had been in the surrogacy program for approximately 2 years and had a foal each year (the client’s foal born at SKE being her third). She was likely purchased by the veterinarians from local auctions or slaughter traders, but her history prior to that is unknown.

Diligent trimming and a bit of TLC went a long way and got Cherry to a place of comfort and health. SKE’s client decided not to send Cherry back to the surrogacy program after witnessing the level of fear and terror Cherry experienced when exposed to restraints combined with knowledge of the harsh methods this program utilized to handle these mares (including invasive procedures done forcefully under restraint, without use of sedation). Instead, this client sponsored Cherry’s time in the SKE rescue/rehabilitation program and ensured she is set up for success in her future.

Cherry has gone from fearful and reactive to reliably calm, laidback, and gentle. Many of our