If you remember the puppet Alf, our Welsh pony Alf, was of about the same color, especially in his sleek summer coat.

He came to us for retirement in June of 2004, before we had even actually started Equine Recline. Before retirement, Alf spent several years working as a therapeutic riding pony at the Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT).

Alf took to his retirement quite enthusiastically and decided that being retired he should no longer have to associate with small humans, also known as children. While he was quite content to take treats from them, if any came to visit without treats in hand, he was usually quick to leave the barn and head for the farthest part of the pasture.

Charlie, a 1991, chestnut gelding, formerly known as Charro was Equine Recline's first official rescue. He arrived just after we finished up the paperwork to become a non-profit organization in July of 2005. He had some lameness issues that with herbs and homeopathics for pain and inflammation we were able to help.

Charlie found a foster family that he just adored. Unfortunately he had to be put down due to an impaction colic.

Dreamsicle, or Dreamy as her previous owner called her, was a lovely 1985 Paint mare. Due to her age and chronic arthritis, her owner was not able to take her with when she went off to college. So Dreamsicle came to us to live out her life.

When we could no longer keep her comfortable and the bad days were outnumbering the good, we made the decision to let her go. She went peacefully after having a last spoiling that included lots of watermelon and carrots from us and treats from the vet.

La Marina was a 1990, bay Peruvian Paso mare. Her owners took up traveling and could no longer keep her. She had severe arthritis and we suspect insulin resistance that led to frequent abscesses in her feet. As such, she was retired here to live out her life. After four years we found that we were no longer able to keep Marina comfortable, especially during the colder weather and made the decision to let her go.

Maverick was a 1998, Quarter Horse/Andalusian cross, chestnut gelding. He came to Equine Recline after bowing a tendon in his left front leg. The previous year he had bowed a tendon in his right front leg. Unfortunately, instead of recovering he then developed contracted tendons in both front legs. Surgery was not an option as the vet felt that the tendons would just begin contracting again.

Maverick was such a joy to have around and completely lit up the barn. He was probably the most social horse we have ever seen, always wanting to be around the other horses. Of course, being with the other horses that usually meant he could steal... er, share their food too.

We had him for 4 years before we finally had to say good-bye to him as we never were able to find a cure for his contracted tendons.

Natasha was a bay, part-bred Arabian mare born in 1994. She came to us pregnant, underweight, with numerous wounds on her body. Her wounds healed up, she put on weight and on April 14, 2010 she produced a lovely bay colt that we named Shalom.

We placed her with another rescue as she needed more expertise than we had in retraining. Unfortunately, we received word that she had to be put down due to an accident.

Shalom is a part-bred Arab cross, bay gelding born April 14, 2010 out of one of the mares we rescued, Natasha. His sire is unknown.

He and Shay are very bonded and love playing together. Shalom is also what we jokingly refer to as the "alarm". If any horses are not where they are supposed to he begins whinnying. This also happens when neighbors horses have gotten loose and come visiting.

Shay is a bay Arabian gelding born in 1998. When playing with Shalom you wouldn't know there is a 12 year difference between the two as Shay is just as energetic and hard playing as Shalom.

Sonata, a 1987 black mustang mare that was captured in the wild in California was adopted through a BLM auction. Her owner later moved with her to Missouri where she found Sonata to have horrid allergies to the bugs there that were requiring her to be on massive amounts of medications. Upon the advice of her vet, Sonata's owner decided to find her a home back out southwest.

Sonata came to us before we actually started Equine Recline. Due to an agreement with her previous owner, Sonata was never put up for adoption and lived out her life with us. We finally had to say good-bye to her at the age of 33.

Sonny was a 1993, red dun Quarter Horse gelding. We took him in when his owner could no longer take care of him due to health problems of the owner. We had hoped that we could adopt him out to a new family. Unfortunately, Sonny had degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD) which caused a weakening of the ligaments in his back legs. While we found we could keep him comfortable, he was unable to be ridden and was retired here with us. Shortly before Thanksgiving in 2014 he began colicking and the decision was made to put him down.

Sonny was completely the Dennis the Menance type. He was in to everything and could not just leave something alone. Water tubs were meant to be played in, not just drunk out of and feed tubs were for throwing around.

Sypder, originally named Suerte, a 2003 Paso Fino gelding came to us in 2006 with a suspected neurological condition. He had no muscle tone, had difficulty even walking, was rather thin, and had an oozing sore on his belly.

Thankfully Sypder turned out to have an allergy to alfalfa hay and once his diet was changed his health completely turned around. He was fostered by a friend who we asked if she would train him. She agreed and soon her husband fell in love with Sypder and they adopted him. He has since been used for trail riding and loves to get to show off at the local gymkhanas.

Sunshine was a 1986 palomino mare brought to us in 2006 when her owner could no longer ride her due to lameness issues, stating that she had something wrong with her shoulder. She was fostered out for a time, but came back to us about a year later. She was permanently retired here, which made Maverick quite happy as the two of them had bonded after arriving within days of each other.

After Shalom was born, she desperately wanted to spend time with him, but his mom was having none of it. To say she was happy when Shalom was weaned and she could finally play with him was an understatement. Though she was not at all impressed when Shalom decided he would try nursing from her since he could no longer nurse from his mom!

Unfortunately we had to say good-bye to Sunshine on December 5, 2011 after she suffered a heart attack. The barn feels awfully quiet without hearing her flapping her lips or squealing at Shalom over something. Though she is once again with Maverick and we're sure they are getting into all sorts of mischief together.