Two Right Horses, One Perfect Match

May 13, 2026

When Alyssa R. visited myrighthorse.org — a site featuring adoptable equines from ASPCA Right Horse Partners — she was looking for a new addition to her household. She ended up with two, proving that sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them.

“Even though I expected to adopt just one horse, I had this overwhelming feeling that these two Thoroughbreds — Sadie and Gracie — belonged with me, together,” Alyssa says. “I’m thankful every single day that I listened to that feeling. I can’t imagine my life without either of them.”

As she studied photos and descriptions of available horses, Alyssa recalls “waiting for that spark — something that felt right.” She had hoped for a light riding trail horse, since her 17-year-old Haflinger, Theo, and 7-year-old Miniature, Marybell, are companion horses and not ridable.

“I saw Sadie and fell in love instantly,” she says. “I stepped away for a day to think about it, and when I revisited the website, I noticed Gracie’s photo next to Sadie’s.”

She told the staff at February Star Sanctuary in Maryland that she wished she could adopt them both.

“That’s when I learned Sadie and Gracie are bonded,” Alyssa says. “Adopting them together felt meant to be. They were already connected, and I knew there was no way I could separate them.”

A Partnership Bridges the Miles

After a career in barrel racing, 10-year-old Sadie, formerly registered as Cosmoheart, was relinquished when a transition to show jumping — an equestrian sport where the horse and rider navigate obstacles — didn’t work out. Gracie, 14, has experience working with youth and providing therapy to adults with disabilities.

The ASPCA provided funding for February Star Sanctuary to rehabilitate Sadie and offer her as a companion horse or light trail horse for an experienced rider. Though Alyssa lived 600 miles away, a transport-to-adopter stipend helped make both adoptions possible. The stipend is available to adopters who find their match through myrighthorse.org if the horses are more than 250 miles away or are companion horses.

“Being part of ASPCA Right Horse is one of our most meaningful partnerships,” says Jillian J. Bruni, marketing manager at February Star Sanctuary. “It gives us vital tools to save more equines and help them find homes where they can truly thrive.”

“The staff at February Star are incredible,” says Alyssa, who adopted Sadie and Gracie on June 10, 2025. “They made the adoption process smooth, stress-free and supportive from start to finish. And they’ve stayed in touch. I love sharing updates and photos so they can see how happy Sadie and Gracie are.”

Patience and New Pastures

Alyssa, who grew up riding and has always been “horse-obsessed,” knew she would have horses of her own one day. When she and her wife, Nishell, bought their farmhouse in 2024, Alyssa’s lifelong goal became a reality. They also have four dogs, two cats and six ducks.

Both horses were healthy at adoption, but little was known about Gracie’s past, so helping her gain confidence is an ongoing focus. Most of all, Alyssa says they have taught her patience.

“Consistency matters more than intensity; progress doesn’t always have to look dramatic,” she says.

The household recently moved to a property with a spacious pasture that offers the horses more room to move freely and space to be apart when they need it.

“After the move, I saw a shift,” Alyssa says. “Sadie and Gracie relied on each other during the transition, and within weeks, seemed more settled and relaxed. My trainer even commented that they were totally different horses. I believe they feel safe; they know they aren’t going anywhere.”

Both horses enjoy working in the round pen.

“Watching them relax into their light work and into our partnership has been incredibly rewarding,” Alyssa says.

From Adoption to Belonging

Alyssa doesn’t have major goals for either horse, other than wanting solid, enjoyable trail horses.

“They’ve exceeded my expectations,” she says. “I love when they get excited and lie in the snow, then pop up, startle each other and take off with the zoomies. Their personalities are different, but they share that same playful, goofy energy.”

Gracie and Sadie are in a separate pasture from Theo and Marybell, but all four horses socialize over the fence.

Alyssa adds that the new equine duo isn’t just an addition to her family; they’re part of it.

“Gracie and Sadie are my right horses because they fit so perfectly into my life and routine,” she says. “They complement each other, have personalities I connect with and make every day joyful and rewarding. From the moment I met them, it just felt like they belonged here.”