Name: Root Beer Birthdate: 8 yrs old Breed: Quarter horse Sex: Gelding Height: Color: Paint Rideable: Yes, after recovery. Arena riding only
7/23/21
THANK YOU DEB LUNDIN FOR SPONSORING ROOT BEER!! (8/2021;8/2022)Renewed 8/2023
Root Beer’s Story
End of the Trail Horse Rescue offers homes to abused, abandoned and neglected horses of all ages. We give rescue horses a second chance.
Root Beer’s Story: A Gentle Soul on the Road to Healing
Root Beer arrived at our Ranch in 2021, carrying far more than the weight of a severely split hoof — he carried years of hardship, uncertainty, and quiet resilience. This gorgeous paint gelding has one of the gentlest, calmest spirits we’ve ever known, and it’s impossible not to feel moved when you stand beside him.
Originally bred at the Nay Ranch near Nucla, Root Beer spent much of his life drifting from home to home. His journey eventually led him to yet another sale barn, where a kind family from Olathe first saw him. Despite the crowded, noisy atmosphere, Root Beer’s sweet and patient nature stood out immediately. When they noticed the terrible injury to his hoof, they knew they couldn’t leave him behind. They bought him with love, determined to give him a chance at healing.
But his injury was far more complicated than anyone realized.
When the family reached out to us for help, we welcomed Root Beer with open arms. Working alongside an equine podiatrist and after numerous x-rays, we discovered the extent of the trauma he had endured. His hoof had once been severely split and, heartbreakingly, had not been properly cared for at the time of the original injury. The result was extensive damage — significant arthritis, bone buildup, and long-term complications that he still battles today.
Thanks to the steady hands of our veterinarian and farrier, Root Beer’s healing journey is ongoing. Every visit, every trim, every treatment is another small step forward for this brave boy. And through it all, he remains gentle, patient, and trusting — a true testament to his spirit.
One day, when he is fully rehabilitated, Root Beer will be ready for adoption. While he’ll never again be a trail horse, he will thrive in a loving home where he can enjoy flat, arena riding and the quiet companionship he so deeply deserves.
We may never know how Root Beer was injured, but we do know this: he will never face hardship alone again. Here at the Ranch, he is cherished, protected, and given every opportunity for a life filled with comfort and kindness.
Thank you for supporting his healing journey — Root Beer’s best days are still ahead.
