Evelyn M. was just 7 years old when she found her right horse.

“I love horses and wanted one to ride,” says Evelyn, now 9.

“We were just starting to think about getting Evelyn a horse when we visited the Equine Affaire in Columbus in 2023,” says Niki, Evelyn’s mother. “Though we go every year, we weren’t actively looking since she was still a year out from a 4-H horse program. But we still walked down Adoption Alley to see the horses.”

When Evelyn and Niki met Miss Lady, a short, 20-year-old American Quarter Horse who was available through the ASPCA’s Equine Transition and Adoption Center (ETAC), they fell in love.

“We wanted a horse that grandma could ride, too,” says Niki, whose mother helps support Evelyn’s equestrian endeavors and shares a love for horses with her daughter and granddaughter. “It was just a feeling at first, but it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Physically and temperament-wise, Miss Lady was exactly what we hoped to find. She was happy being led around by a 7-year-old and stayed calm; she didn’t get spooked or try to run off. She seemed like a perfect fit.”

Evelyn, with her mother, grandmother and ASPCA staff after adopting Miss Lady.

Horses All Her Life

Miss Lady, Evelyn’s second horse, shares a barn with Tumbleweed, a 16-year-old Shetland pony Evelyn’s grandmother adopted for her when she was 3.

“I hop on his back from time to time, but I’m really too big for him,” says Evelyn, who has been around horses all her life.

Evelyn with Tumbleweed, her first horse, in 2018, left, and in 2024.

“When she was born, we volunteered at a barn that rescued horses,” says Niki, a former veterinary technician at Ohio State University. “At 2 years of age, Evelyn was riding bareback on Taco, an Appaloosa we had, and never wanted to come down.

Evelyn’s family lives in Lancaster, Ohio. Horsemanship is one of two 4-H clubs Evelyn takes part in. At last October’s Fairfield County Fair, she and Miss Lady earned a ribbon in their first-ever competition, a novice showmanship class where Evelyn led Miss Lady in-hand and executed a simple pattern to demonstrate how they work as a team.

“That’s one of my best memories,” says Evelyn, who practices and rides Miss Lady at fairground workshops and weekly pizza parties at the barn where Miss Lady and Tumbleweed are boarded. She is currently working with Miss Lady to teach her to stop immediately after trotting.

“I want to participate in more shows and get her out of her comfort zone,” says Evelyn. “More bonding, grooming and showing should help with that.”

Age Is an Asset

Miss Lady was once part of a well-loved small herd in Oklahoma until her elderly owners relinquished the herd to ETAC due to their own health issues.

“It was obvious she’d been ridden before,” says Niki. “Now 22, she has no medical issues and a great body condition. Her age was also a plus. Her general demeanor is calm. While younger horses require time to train and take a saddle and bridle, she did not. We’ve been very fortunate.”

“She is an amazing horse,” says Evelyn. “Red mares are usually bossy, but she’s polite, although she doesn’t like bridles. She’s the queen bee.

“Sometimes with her body language, if her ears are back, it’s like she’s saying, ‘I could have kicked you, so I should be in charge,’” Evelyn adds. “In a herd, she’d be the top horse.”

Benefits of Equine Partnerships

Evelyn’s favorite thing about Miss Lady is her personality.

“She’s mellow and un-cuddly; it’s very amusing,” Evelyn says. “When I try to cuddle her face, she yanks her head away.”

Niki and Evelyn most value Miss Lady’s patience.

“She’s sensible and tolerant,” she says. “And having a horse is a great opportunity for Evelyn to learn responsibility for another living thing. Miss Lady outweighs her by 20 times, and working with an animal that’s much bigger than she is helps Evelyn learn Miss Lady’s language, how to communicate with her, respect her space and care for her.”

“She’s really chill and exactly what I need,” says Evelyn, whose family has two other horses, as well as two dogs, two cats and two rabbits. “I’m not always patient, but Miss Lady is. She tests my limits and gets me out of my comfort zone.”

Adoption Advice

Niki is aware of the ASPCA Right Horse’s wide adoption network and offers advice to others considering horse ownership.

“Be honest about what you’re looking for,” she says. “What you think you want may not be what you need. Take things that don’t matter out of the equation, like color and breed. Besides, what is beauty itself capable of?

“Adoption has always been our preference,” Niki adds. “I’m confident the majority of general horse owners, 4-H members or trail riders could find a horse that works for them through adoption.”

Feeling inspired and ready to adopt a horse of your own? Visit myrighthorse.org to browse hundreds of adoptable horses nationwide by breed, age or discipline.