SCRAF's Equine Wellness
Meet "the Magnificent Seven" Thoroughbreds representing
SCRAF's 2026 Training to Train Program.
The "SCRAF Equine Welfare Standard of Care"
At SCRAF, we believe equine welfare isn't just about rescuing horses after something goes wrong.
It's about creating a culture where every horse owner, trainer, breeder, competitor, and caretaker continually asks:
"Am I doing what's truly best for my horse?"
Every horse deserves to live a life that prioritizes physical health, emotional well-being, dignity, and respect.
Whether a horse is a beloved family companion, a competitive athlete, a breeding horse, a working partner, or a sanctuary resident, the responsibility remains the same:
The horse always comes first.
Our hope is that every member of the equine community challenges themselves to continually improve the care they provide.
We encourage every horse owner to commit to these principles:
❤️ Put your horse's welfare first.
Every decision should be made with the horse's physical and emotional well-being as the priority.
❤️ Treat every horse with dignity, patience, and compassion.
Horses communicate through behavior. Listen before reacting.
❤️ Commit to lifelong learning.
Horsemanship evolves. Stay curious, seek education, and never assume you've learned everything.
❤️ Advocate for your horse.
If something doesn't seem right...
- Ask questions.
- Seek second opinions
- Trust your instincts.
- Your horse depends on you to be their voice.
❤️ Never rush healing or rehabilitation.
- Recovery takes time.
- Progress isn't measured by speed.
The best outcomes happen when horses are allowed to heal both physically and mentally.
❤️ Show up. Every single day.
Great horsemanship isn't built during the exciting moments. It's built through consistency.
- The quiet mornings.
- The routine care.
- The difficult days.
Your horse notices every one of them.
❤️ Provide care for the whole horse.
- Nutrition.
- Movement.
- Hoof care.
- Dental care.
- Veterinary care.
- Mental stimulation.
- Social interaction.
Every piece matters.
❤️ Plan for your horse's future.
Responsible ownership means preparing for every stage of a horse's life, from youth through retirement.
A lifelong commitment means ensuring your horse will always have a safe place to land.
Rescue Begins Long Before Rescue Is Needed
Many horse owners reach out to SCRAF because a small concern gradually became a much larger problem.
Sometimes it's a medical issue that went unrecognized until it required extensive veterinary treatment.
Sometimes a horse develops behavioral challenges, and the owner doesn't know where to turn for experienced training guidance.
Sometimes financial hardship makes it difficult to provide the veterinary care a horse deserves.
Sometimes an owner unexpectedly passes away without a long-term plan for their horse's future.
Sometimes a horse has never learned to safely load into a trailer until an emergency evacuation makes that skill a matter of life and death, or even worse, the horse became injured or scared in an incident and the owner feels there is no other option but to surrender their horse.
Most of these situations don't begin as neglect. They begin with good people who simply didn't have the knowledge, resources, support, or mentorship they needed.
This is why SCRAF believes one of the greatest acts of rescue is prevention.
At SCRAF, we encourage every horse owner to become a lifelong student of horsemanship. Continue learning. Ask questions. Seek experienced mentors. Build relationships with knowledgeable veterinarians, farriers, trainers, and fellow horse owners before you need them.
One of the very best educational resources available is the United States Pony Clubs, whose Horse Management curriculum teaches practical skills in horse care, veterinary health, nutrition, safety, emergency preparedness, stable management, travel safety, and responsible horsemanship. These are life skills that benefit every horse owner, regardless of discipline or riding experience. The knowledge gained through programs like these helps owners become stronger advocates for their horses throughout every stage of life.
As home of the Sandia Creek Ranch Pony Club Riding Center, SCRAF is proud to support Pony Club's mission of developing knowledgeable, compassionate horsemen & horse women of all ages. We encourage anyone interested in strengthening their horsemanship to consider joining SCRPCRC or finding a PC in their own local community. Pony Club membership is now open to members of all ages (adults now too) and horse ownership is no longer a requirement so any horse lover can join & learn information all the way up to "pre-vet" levels.
The more knowledgeable our equestrian community becomes, the fewer horses will face preventable hardship.
Our goal is not simply to rescue horses.
Our goal is to help create a world where fewer horses need rescuing!
Is my horse happy?
Your Horse Is Talking... Are You Listening?
Horses communicate every day through their body language and behavior. Sometimes they're telling us they're relaxed and content. Other times they're quietly trying to tell us something isn't right.
One of the most important skills any horse owner can develop is learning to recognize the difference between a training issue and a horse asking for help.
Before assuming a horse is being stubborn, difficult, or "misbehaving," ask yourself:
Could my horse be trying to tell me something?
Signs Your Horse May Be Uncomfortable
Watch for changes such as:
🐴 Pinning ears during grooming or tacking up
🐴 Swishing the tail excessively
🐴 Biting or threatening to bite
🐴 Kicking when touched
🐴 "Grinchy" behavior while saddling or tightening the girth
🐴 Refusing to stand quietly
🐴 Reluctance to move forward
🐴 Bucking, rearing, or bolting
🐴 Difficulty picking up one lead
🐴 Head tossing
🐴 Hollowing the back
🐴 Sudden changes in attitude
🐴 Weight loss or poor body condition
🐴 Loss of enthusiasm for work
Ask "Why?" Before Assuming "Won't."
Behavior often has an underlying cause.
A horse may be reacting because of:
- Poor saddle fit
- Dental discomfort
- Hoof pain
- Gastric ulcers
- Muscle soreness
- Arthritis
- Vision problems
- Ill-fitting tack
- Inconsistent training
- Fear or lack of confidence
- Confusing cues from the rider
- Environmental stress
- Lack of turnout or social interaction
Good horsemanship means investigating these possibilities before labeling a horse as "bad."
Sometimes It Is a Training Issue
Once pain and medical concerns have been ruled out, some behaviors simply reflect gaps in education or understanding.
Horses aren't born knowing how to:
- Stand quietly for the farrier
- Load into a trailer
- Accept clippers
- Tie patiently
- Cross water
- Respect personal space
- Stand for mounting
- Respond correctly to riding aids
These are learned skills that require patient, consistent training.
The goal is never punishment. The goal is helping the horse understand.
Common Stable "Vices"
In Pony Club, we learn about stable vices and stereotypic behaviors because they often provide important clues about a horse's welfare.
Some examples include:
- Cribbing / Teeth scraping
- Weaving / Pacing
- Pawing
- Kicking
- Biting / Charging the Fence
- Wood chewing
- Pulling Back
While these behaviors can become habits, they often develop because a horse's physical, mental, or environmental needs are not being fully met. Understanding why they occur is just as important as managing the behavior itself.
Keep Learning
No one knows everything about horses.
The best horse owners never stop learning.
As the home of the Sandia Creek Ranch Pony Club Riding Center (SCRPCRC), we're proud to support Pony Club's mission of developing knowledgeable, compassionate horsemen and horsewomen of all ages. Whether you join us or a Pony Club near you, investing in your education is one of the greatest gifts you can give your horse.
A horse isn't usually trying to give you a hard time. More often than not, they're having a hard time.
Meet Head Trainer Kiersti Wylie
Having grown up surrounded by many horses, especially Off-The-Track Thoroughbreds at Sandia Creek Ranch, Kiersti continues a family tradition spanning nearly four decades. As head trainer for SCR (including SCRAF's "Training to Train Program"), she mentors both horses and riders, helping each horse discover its potential while teaching the next generation how to retrain & build confidence with patience, compassion, and understanding.
Our favorite quote
Together, we can help them write their next chapter.
Every Horse's Next Chapter Looks Different
Sanctuary horses are actually part of the "next chapter" - Their next chapter just happens to be retirement instead of retraining.
Not every Thoroughbred is destined for a second athletic career, and that's okay.
Some of the horses who call Sandia Creek Ranch home are our Sanctuary Thoroughbreds. Many came to us after the passing of a beloved owner who knew their horse deserved lifelong safety, dignity, and compassionate care. Others have physical or emotional needs that make retirement the kindest path forward.
These horses may never compete again, but they continue to teach us patience, trust, and unconditional partnership every day.
Whether they arrived because of a career-ending injury, the loss of a beloved owner, or simply because life took an unexpected turn, each horse is welcomed into the SCR family and cared for as an individual. They continue to receive the same quality feed (sometimes supplements too), veterinary care, farrier services, and loving attention as every horse in our program.
When you support SCRAF, you're helping ensure that every Thoroughbred - whether preparing for the Thoroughbred Makeover or enjoying a peaceful retirement - has the opportunity to live with dignity, purpose, and love.
Our Sanctuary Horses are living proof that a successful second chapter doesn't always include another saddle. Sometimes it simply means safety, comfort, and the opportunity to enjoy the retirement they've earned. Because every horse deserves a happy ending, even when that ending doesn't include another ribbon.
Consider giving "the Gift of Retirement"
Every horse deserves the right future for that horse.
At SCRAF, success isn't measured by ribbons, rankings, or ribbons won. Success is measured by helping each Thoroughbred find the life that is right for that horse.
Help us write the next chapter.
Sponsor a Makeover Horse • Sponsor a Sanctuary Horse • Follow & Share Their Journey