Hi! I’m Jeanna. This is My Little Pony, Charlotte Sometimes.
Charlotte was rescued by one of our neighbors after her previous owner had left Earth for Heaven. This poor creature had become a living skeleton, extremely malnourished and confined to a stall with no exercise and ZERO love. We do not know how long she suffered like this.
Charlotte came to us, just a couple of years ago when a kind-hearted neighbor rescued her from the horrible living arrangement she was in at the time. Our neighbor could not keep her and knew that my husband and I wished to add a horse to our family. We knew this poor girl could not be ridden any time soon, if at all, because she needed a lot of TLC, a vet check-up, hoof care, deworming, etc. We immediately new it would be a challenge and a costly one. We are big animal lovers, more than happy to take her in. In our 30+ years of marriage, my husband and I have adopted many pets and helped numerous animals, not just cats and dogs, but birds, snakes, lizards, horses, sloths, and rodents… some of an unusual size.
When we took in this beautiful, frightened creature, her recovery was going BETTER than expected! She was eating well and bonding with me at what I thought was a perfectly normal pace. Soon after, she allowed my husband to come near her and pet her.
When people pass Charlotte’s Place, they frequently comment on how much better she looks since she’s been in our care. She is now a healthy weight, and we can see that she is eager to ride. She watches other horses ride by her pasture and skips around, wanting to join them.
We had plans to expand her shelter to accommodate a companion for her, and then my world turned completely upside down. I was diagnosed with breast & stomach cancer in 2022. After a few surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation & physical therapy, I’m currently in remission, which is wonderful, but the medical bills keep coming in and are piling up. A few months ago I received a new diagnosis of lymphedema, which causes a lot of pain and limits my ability to do simple daily tasks. Charlotte has been an essential part of my recovery. There is something extra special about a hug from a horse.
We need your help to continue making Charlotte a happy mare!
Our Goals for Charlotte
My husband and I want this sweet thing to have a fulfilling and joyful life.
The donations you send will be directly going to improve Charlotte’s happiness; her facilities and training for riding again.
She has been afraid of most people, except children. She is very curious about them. She approaches and stands next to them calmly when they call her and is ever so gentle eating from their little hands. I can see it in her eyes that she has no fear of them and would not harm them. Children always ask to ride her and I would love it if Charlotte could be THAT horse that puts a smile on more than one child’s face.
Robbie Potter, the trainer I hope to hire for Charlotte does not believe in “breaking” a horse and this is a very big deal! I met Robbie by chance in front of my home one morning, and I was thrilled to meet such a gentle cowboy.
Our wish for Charlotte is to rebuild her trust in humanity and get her riding the trails again. Re-training her will require a round pen. The round pen serves many purposes, like teaching her excellent handling manners and making her more comfortable with her farrier and her vet. She needs to have her hooves trimmed and pea gravel placed in her shelter to improve her hoof health. We also need the vet to make a farm call to give her a clean bill of health for 2024 and yearly vaccines.
Regardless of the amount, your donation will directly contribute to Charlotte’s well-being. If you are unable to donate funds for Charlotte, you can still help her by sharing this post and website – spread these words! Share Charlotte’s story with your friends, family, and social networks. The more people who know about her, the greater the chance of finding additional support.
With much gratitude,
Charlotte’s humans,
Jeanna & Erik Engstrom
