Watch: Turning a troubled horse into a champion

Kassie Barteau is an equestrian champ who, in her own words, has “ridden hundreds of horses.” And yet, when she first met rescue horse Sky, she felt intimidated. His sheer power and tendency to bolt without warning, Barteau said, “had me shaking in my boots.” Fast-forward to today, though, and Barteau and Sky aren’t just a winning competitive dressage team. (Dressage is an equestrian discipline that focuses on refined movements that take years of training. It is sometimes described as “ballet on horseback.”) Barteau adopted Sky and, together, the pair developed a partnership that has helped each other heal and grow. 

Their story adds to a mounting body of evidence that suggests the unique human-horse relationship improves the well-being of both species. And this perhaps lends urgency to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (ASPCA) assertion that horses are under-protected. In fact, the ASPCA’s The Right Horse initiative — a drive to offer better protection by increasing equine adoption in the U.S. — doesn’t just help at-risk horses. It brings a variety of wellness benefits for people, too.

“Kassie and Sky’s story exemplifies both the healing ability of horses and the power of finding your right match through equine adoption,” said Emily Weiss, vice president of equine welfare at the ASPCA. “By adopting an equine, not only are you saving a life, but you’re entering into a mutually beneficial relationship filled with joy.” 

Watch the video below to learn more about the special connection between Kassie and Sky.