Horses of Villa Chardonnay

Chardonnay

If you have read a few other pages on our website, you will already know that Chardonnay was our first rescue horse here in California.  She came to us from the pages of a website about 4 years ago.  She was being sold for $400 or they were going to take her to the slaughter because she had a bad foot and would not likely ever be ridden. Monika fell in love with her and had to save her. 

Full story here >

We drove in the middle of the night to Chico, CA to get her.  She was in pretty bad shape and definitely had a very swollen right rear foot.  She was beautiful - and still is. Just like a beautiful glass of chardonnay! Donate >

Robbie

Robbie is our second baby- we have to admit, Robbie is not a rescue horse with a terrible past like many of our babies.  He is however an angel with wings. Robbie is the safest most generous horse that ever lived.  He is a sweet heart and will always protect his rider no matter what happens.  He is also an angel when it comes to other horses. The other horses often push him around, but he is always gentle and nice and lets them do as they please.  He is the best when it comes to children, he is very caring. Donate >

RC

We met RC near a ranch where we first had some of our babies.  He always stuck his head over the fence from the neighbor’s yard and politely asked for grain.  So of course, we started feeding him.  We told the owner if he could no longer take care of him, that we were willing to do so.  About 6 months later after we left the area and moved our horses to the Big Oak Ranch in Morgan Hill, CA, the owner contacted us and said that he wanted to give him to us and that he could no longer afford to pay for his food and healthcare.  By this time he was completely emaciated, he was about 30 years old and had very few teeth, he could not eat the hay that they had been feeding him.  However, they could not afford to feed him grain.

Full story and more RC's recovery images here >

We brought him to the Big Horse Ranch, but we knew we could not afford to keep him there long term.  We already had a few horses there and could not afford another month’s board.  Everyone at first told us we were crazy and that we should even put him down.  We did not give in and tried to figure out some way to pay for him.  That is when our good friend Carol Ray, owner of the Big Oak Ranch came to assist us.  Carol’s big heart came to our rescue, as she helped us rescue RC by minimizing his monthly boarding fees for us.  We will never be able to thank Carol enough for all her help and guidance along the way.  You can see Carol in the Board of Directors page.

Now, look at RC today, he has never looked better! His best friend is Robbie; they are together all the time. Donate >

Bella

Bella is a Tennessee Walking Horse and she is young and beautiful! She became fast friends with Chardonnay when she first came to Villa Chardonnay. Bella is a special needs horse because she was so abused when she was a baby.  She has a very good pedigree and her owners wanted her trained as a Tennessee walker, their methods can be highly abusive.  They chain their legs and do horrible things to get them to walk in the Tennessee Walker fashion.  We believe that Bella did not take well to her training and since we have known her, she has very severe emotional problems. Bella is not very approachable, especially by strangers. However, if you get inside her stall and start to groom her, she is the most gentle and loving horse that we have.  We currently have her under special training, and she is making good progress.  He is as close as we can get to a horse whisperer and he is making progress, so hopefully one day Bella can be fully recovered and happy. Donate >

Bart Star

Yes, just like the football star!  Bart is another Tennessee Walker he is a very handsome boy and likes to run the show in the pasture!  He used to be a little more defiant, but as he becomes more comfortable in the loving atmosphere of Villa Chardonnay, he has become more friendly and calm.  He used to hold his head very high when you try to put on his halter, now he just lowers his head as if to say” OK Mommy, go put me in the pasture for the morning”. Donate >

Ari

Ari is a very gentle soul and he very shy.  He is a gelding and was abused and tormented by a stallion.  When we got him he was cut up pretty badly, he had to jump a fence to get away from the stallion.  Ari is very sweet and generous.  He very desperately needs a stall and a home; we are trying to raise money to get him a stall. Currently he is alone in a large paddock day and night, with no shelter. We don’t want to put him with the other horses because he so docile that they push him around too much and he cannot get his own food. Donate >

Purple Heart

She is so tender and for the first 4 months we that we knew her she would not let us get close enough to let us take off her purple halter, thus she was named Purple Heart.  She is a sweetheart, but does not seem to like getting baths very much.  She is very hard to catch and is a little feisty. Donate >

Brownie

Brownie is a chestnut Arabian, about 12 years old, and she is a little angel she likes attention very much.  She is friendly and well mannered. She likes to be brushed and groomed.  However, there is one thing she does not like, she does not want to you touch her hoofs!  Even when we just want to polish her hoofs! Donate >

Neshama

Neshima means soul and this baby is just that.  She is the soul of her little herd.  She likes to be by herself; she is very peaceful and always comes running for her food.   She is about 10 years old and is very sweet.   We wish that she would play more with the other horses in her herd, but she seems to be a loaner.  She is beautiful white Arabian mare. Donate >

Meyuchad

Mayuchad is a very "special" mare, that is what her name means. She has café colored freckles all over and is very pretty.  She often has allergies and has her eyes swollen.  She is very good and lets us take care of her and clean her eyes.  Most horses resist, Meyuchad is very nice and caring for the other horses in her paddock. Donate >

Freckles

I think Freckles is the neediest and friendliest horse we have at Villa Chardonnay.  If you just walk into the paddock where she and five other horses live, she is the first one to walk up to you and just wants your attention the whole time! She literally is like a puppy that lifts your hand with her head to pet her more!  She lets you kiss her and rub her all over.  She likes to eat out of your hand and is very friendly with the other horses.  She is only about 3 years old. Donate >