Testimonial from Rojo's New Family

Before I moved to Fernley in November of 2024, my heart was already heavy with loss. I had said goodbye to my mare, who was more than a horse—she was family. She was also the dearest friend to my gelding, Ross. The two of them had been inseparable, spending years together grazing, playing, and keeping each other company in that way only horses can.

When she passed, I could see the change in Ross immediately. Even after the move, once we were settled into our new place—filled with the bustle of two ducks, three hens, two goats, and a rooster wandering around—he was never quite himself. He was always a character, full of playful mischief and endless curiosity, but now he stood alone more often, his head low, his eyes searching for the friend he’d lost.

I knew in my heart that no amount of feathery or furry companions could fill the emptiness he felt. He needed another horse, a kindred spirit to remind him how to be whole again.

So, I started looking, spending hours on Facebook and conducting my research, until I discovered Hoofbeat Heroes Equine Rescue. Their mission and compassion spoke to me. I reached out and shared my story with their wonderful staff, explaining everything Ross and I had been through. They were so patient and understanding, never making me feel rushed or pressured. That’s when they told me about Rojo—a little quarter horse standing 14.3 hands high, quite a bit smaller than Ross’s 16.3 hands, but with a big heart that seemed to shine right through the description.

After talking it over with my husband, I arranged to meet Rojo in Gardnerville, where he was being boarded with Dr. Collatos. From the moment I arrived, Dr. Collatos went above and beyond to help, welcoming me warmly and answering every question I had. And when I finally laid eyes on Rojo, I knew he was meant to come home with us.

Rojo was so different from Ross. Where Ross was cheeky and eager to pester anything with a heartbeat, Rojo was quiet and gentle. But behind those soft eyes, you could sense a depth that only comes from a life fully lived—sometimes hard, sometimes beautiful, but always with a will to keep going. He couldn’t be ridden; his legs carried the scars of all he’d endured. But I didn’t care. All I wanted was to give him a soft place to land, a forever home where he could finally rest and know he was loved.

Bringing Rojo home was one of the most rewarding choices I’ve ever made. He and Ross took to each other right away, fitting together like two puzzle pieces—different, but perfectly complementary. In the mornings, Rojo would greet me with his sweet nicker and a soft muzzle, waiting for scratches. Seeing Ross perk up and find joy again was everything I had hoped for.

Sadly, just a few months later, I lost Ross too. My heart was broken all over again. But in those first raw days of grief, it was as if Rojo understood. He followed me around the pasture as I cleaned, never far from my side, and every chance he got, he would press his face into me, offering comfort in the quietest, most honest way a horse can.

Today, Rojo still has friends to keep him company. In the summer, my friends bring their horses up to escape the heat, and in the winter, older horses who can’t manage the freezing Elko weather come to stay. Rojo is happy among them, always the gentle soul in the herd. He is truly an angel in a horse’s body, and I feel so fortunate to be his steward.

None of this would have been possible without Hoofbeat Heroes Equine Rescue. The team there never once made me feel like I was just taking a horse off their hands. They were patient, kind, and committed to making sure Rojo was the right fit for me and that I was the right home for him. They gave me the gift of healing, wrapped in the shape of a small, wise, red horse who carried me through the worst of my grief.

Rojo; Rojo with Ross; Rojo laying next to Ross' burial spot

Though I will always miss Ross, I am forever grateful to Hoofbeat Heroes for bringing Rojo into my life. Because of them, I found a companion who reminded me that even when our hearts feel broken beyond repair, love has a way of finding us again.