written by Malgosia Mosielki
In the summer of 2021, I got a call that changed everything for one little Appaloosa mare — and, in many ways, for me too.
A woman reached out, concerned about her neighbor’s horse. The horse, named Apple, had lived alone for 12 years — no pasture mates, no herd, no companions. For horses, herd animals by nature, this is more than just unusual — it’s deeply unnatural and emotionally harmful. Apple’s owner, an elderly woman, was now moving into assisted living and was planning to sell her to slaughter for a quick $500.
She was frightened of anyone but her. In fact, she was so wary that when it came time to move her to my rescue, she had to be caught by lasso — a terrifying and traumatic experience for an animal who already felt so alone. She had not seen a vet, farrier, or equine dentist in those 12 years. Her vaccines were not up-to-date, her teeth neglected, and something else was clearly wrong: she didn’t seem to see well at all.
“Horses understand us far better than we understand them. Their intelligence lies in their instinct and empathy.”
– Jane Smiley
When Apple first arrived, my herd rejected her. It’s common for horses to sort out herd dynamics over a few days, but they completely excluded her. And Apple — overwhelmed, blind, and grieving the only home she’d ever known — was completely adrift.
It took six long months before Apple allowed me to touch her. She eventually trusted me enough to let an ophthalmologist examine her. That’s when we got the heartbreaking news: Apple was essentially blind in both eyes, the result of long-term, untreated uveitis, a condition especially common in Leopard Appaloosas. Eventually, one of her eyes became so painful it had to be surgically removed. After that, she was more comfortable, and while the remaining eye is also blind, it’s stable and doesn’t cause her discomfort — for now.
Despite the trauma, pain, and years of isolation, Apple’s story wasn’t over. Because then, two years ago, I got another call. A second blind horse needed a home — a mare named Abby, rescued from the OLEX auction in Kitchener, Ontario, a notorious waypoint in the pipeline to slaughter. Without hesitation, I said yes. What happened next still gives me chills.
Usually, new horses spend time sorting out social cues — running, sniffing, asserting dominance. But not Apple and Abby. When they met, they simply walked up to one another… and stood face to face, completely still. Like they recognized each other. Like they already knew they were meant to be together.
Since then, they’ve been inseparable. Abby is a little more confident and independent, but Apple? She has glued herself to her new best friend. After over a decade of solitude and nearly two more years trying to find her place, Apple finally has a companion who understands her world — because she lives in it too.
Now, when I look out my window and see the two blind girls grazing side by side or napping in the sun, I feel this quiet, overwhelming joy. Apple didn’t just find a home. She found her family.