Meet Halo

Halo's Story

Halo’s life began in hardship. Born in Bulgaria as the foal of a gypsy cart mare, she spent her first 18 months in an environment filled with fear and mistreatment. The man who owned her was an alcoholic who openly boasted about his cruel ways of beating and abusing his animals. Even as a young foal, Halo was never spared from his violence.

She was kept constantly tied, whether to a fence, to her mother, or to the cart her mother pulled, and never knew freedom or safety. Her world was defined by pain, fear, and the absence of kindness.

One of our team members, living nearby at the time, watched Halo’s suffering unfold and couldn’t look away. Heartbroken, she made the decision to buy Halo for “meat price” simply to save her life.

At first, Halo was completely untouchable. The only way to approach her was through food, and even then she stayed tense and ready to flee. Every sound, every movement startled her. Her reactions were defensive, explosive, and rooted in deep fear. Handling her required an extraordinary level of patience, understanding, and calm.

Over time, Halo became an incredible teacher. She taught the value of slowing down, of meeting a horse exactly where they are, and of asking for nothing but trust. Working with Halo led her rescuer to study horse psychology and learning theory more deeply, eventually finding a mentor, Chuck Mintzlaff, who described Halo as a “Big Little Horse”, a small mare with a huge spirit.

Their bond grew slowly, built on liberty work and gentle communication. They walked together in the forest with no ropes, no tack, just companionship. Halo was always free to leave, and because of that freedom, she chose to stay. Although they tried riding, it became clear that Halo only tolerated it. Respecting her boundaries, her rescuer chose not to pursue it further.

Many years have passed since those early days. 

Today, Halo is safe at the HFTD Sanctuary, living as naturally and peacefully as we can provide. She still carries echoes of her early trauma, what we might compare to PTSD in humans, and she will likely always be cautious around most people. Yet with those she trusts, her gentle soul shines through.

Halo is finally free: free to choose, free to heal, and free to live her best life among her herd.

Sponsoring Halo helps ensure that she continues to have a life filled with safety, dignity, and the quiet freedom she never had as a foal.