Millie

Height:  14.3 hh (est)
Weight: 975 lbs (est)
DOB:  2005 (est)
Sex:  Mare
Color:  Chestnut
Breed:  Paint
​​DNA:  1st Chilean Criollo
2nd Quarter Horse
3rd Holsteiner
Adoption Fee:  $750
Category: Non-riding Companion

Millie's Story

Millie came to AAE with six other horses in mid-August 2025 after law enforcement intervention. There were originally two stallions, five mares, and a gelding; two mares in painfully poor condition were euthanized, Their owner was bedridden, and she was the horsewoman. Her spouse did not have the knowledge and experience to provide proper care, and the condition of the horses declined drastically. They were kept in stalls in a mare motel, standing in mounded manure, and they didn't appear to have any turnout for a considerable time (years). Needless to say, the horses were "existing", and their quality of life was poor.  Though they appeared to have been fed and watered, their hooves hadn't seen a farrier in years, and their teeth were in poor condition. 

Millie was thin and lame, her hoof capsules were distorted, and we were unsure of her future, but after a farrier report from law enforcement, we wanted to give her a chance. Millie was also very pushy and rude, presumably from living in confinement for so long and having little human contact beyond feeding and watering. Millie was very attached to Tori, one of the mares she lived next to in her prior home, to the detriment of both. Millie relentlessly pushed Tori, especially during feeding times. They both had extreme separation anxiety. Unfortunately, for better recovery, safer conditions, and ease of handling/care, the two were separated. With time, each adapted to become much easier to handle

Millie had dental and hoof care, vaccines, and deworming, and she got a microchip. She was also started on equioxx to help with arthritis. Her first farrier visit was difficult. Millie needed sedation for her initial trims. Her bars were so overgrown that they had curved inward and were pinching off the tips of her frog. She had a deep abscess that was opened at the tip of her frog in one of her hind hooves. Her opposite hind was painful, too, and she had difficulty standing for the trim. 

Millie's recovery has been anything but easy; after many months, ongoing hoof care, and multiple abscesses, her hooves are in much better condition, and she's finally moving much more comfortably. She's becoming more agreeable and less pushy/rude with time. Hoof handling is still a work in progress, but she's shown steady overall improvement. 

Millie did a little roundpen work between abscesses, and she was introduced to a saddle. She had no issues saddling, and it seemed familiar. Unfortunately, an abscess surfaced, putting a halt to her exploratory work. Now that she's feeling better, she'll move back into the training rotation. Millie was recently transitioned to a pasture environment with other senior horses, and she's beginning to enjoy herd life.

Millie is available for adoption to an experienced home. For now, she's best suited as a non-riding companion. If her comfort level continues to improve, she may be considered for light riding. Millie is  sweet mare that's had a really rough life, at least in most recent years, and she deserves a pampered life (with solid boundaries).

Millie is current with dental and hoof care, vaccines, and deworming, and she has a microchip.
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In general, there is a lot of activity around AAE, including vehicle and foot traffic in and out of paddock/pasture areas, mucking with wheelbarrows, grooming and care activities, tractor and trailering, and weekly farrier visits.  There are resident dogs, cats, goats, cows, a mini donkey, a mini mule, and mini horses, as well as various wildlife, including frequent turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, deer, coyotes, and bobcats in and around paddock/pasture areas.  Tractors are used in and around pasture/paddock areas, trucks deliver feed, and a squeeze is occasionally used for unloading hay. A portion of AAE is situated along a highway with high-speed vehicles, trucks, and sirens. Horses at AAE are accustomed to a more active environment as opposed to a quiet/sterile environment. Some do well; others will do better in a quieter environment.