In her many years as a horse trainer, Meaghan Martin has witnessed numerous disheartened equines. However, her past experiences allowed her to transform a potentially tragic tale into one of hope and redemption. Her journey started when she encountered Saxy, a young mare. Despite being trained for racing, Saxy had failed to make a significant impact on the track and had only managed to secure a few thousand dollars in winnings. Consequently, she was sold off to serve as a workhorse.
Often in America, retired racehorses are sold to Amish communities where they are put to work pulling plows and buggies. Unfortunately, it was during such an activity that Saxy met with an accident and was marked for slaughter.
At this point in time, Meaghan was fully grown and employed at Red Lion Farm in Gray, Maine. She stumbled upon Saxy’s story while browsing through Facebook one day. Instantly recognizing the brand on the mare’s neck—a mark she herself had imprinted when she first began training horses—Meaghan knew she had to intervene. This brand ultimately turned out to be Saxy’s lifeline.
Kendra Gorham, the owner of Red Lion Farm, also felt compelled to rescue the mare from her grim fate. The two women decided to share the cost of bringing Saxy home and issued an appeal within their community for financial aid or supplies to help with Saxy’s recovery. In less than 48 hours, they were overwhelmed by the generous donations pouring in from kind-hearted individuals eager to assist. People donated blankets, brushes, and boots to ensure Saxy’s comfort until shoes could be fitted onto her thin hooves which caused difficulty walking due to years spent running fast or pulling things rather than being asked to maneuver gently yet precisely (as would now be required).
After several years apart, Meaghan and Saxy were finally reunited. The mare immediately wrapped its head around her, bringing tears of joy to Meaghan’s eyes. Following several months of diligent care and patience (as Saxy needed time to readjust to life with humans), Meaghan announced that she had found a new purpose for the beautiful mare. Saxy would now join other horses in an equine-assisted psychotherapy program designed specifically for individuals suffering from trauma or PTSD.
Saxy’s story is a powerful testament to the power of love transcending distance and the potential for second chances to bring about something truly special—even if it takes longer than anticipated.
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