DOOLEY
Dooley is Staydopted and supported for life by the Cynsie Kraines family, who have been his dedicated sponsors since 2021.
“Le Coeur de la Mer”
Sometimes it can take years for a horse to truly show the depth of it’s soul, to truly trust and bond. Dooley is one such horse.
From all indications, Dooley worked hard for most of his life. Tall, a proud Saddlebred, older, he was all used up when he found himself in danger of shipping to slaughter, and had an open wound under his driving collar when he was rescued. Used until the last minute. The rescue community is a vast network, and Dooley was in several barns before being transferred to Rosemary Farm Sanctuary in 2018, for the soft landing he deserved.
Saddlebreds are a unique breed of horse, developed for their special gait and their intelligence. They are often very emotional, and will take time before bonding with one special person. If they are untrusting of someone, they make that clear, too! Sometimes they seem like they are part gazelle, with their extra long neck and tall stance. Dooley is a classic Saddlebred, but a very tired one, and very concerned about his future.
Upon arrival to the Sanctuary, in early 2018, Dooley was very unsure about his new home. Reported to be 15 years old, his dental exam indicated he was a bit older, and he was worn out with use. And he was mistrustful of his new home. This is common with equines that have moved a lot, or lost friends, and they fear their life will just get worse. He was tense and suspicious, and very protective of the younger Saddlebred, now Bowie, who he had met while they completed quarantine together, and who traveled with him to their new home. Dooley does not give his heart easily, but there was time. First he needed to heal, both his body and his mind. Dooley was treated for ulcers, vitamin deficiency, painful hooves, and neglected teeth. These are common areas that many rescue horses need addressing. As the body heals, and the horse can begin to observe the care they are receiving, and also observe the happiness of the other horses, they begin to relax. As both geldings started to connect, they began to make friends. Aches slowly go away and joy replaces them. Before one knows it, relationships have formed. Over the years of his time at the Sanctuary, he has finally learned to trust and to love. Dooley enjoys the company of the main herd, ruled by Molly and Finn, and has friends that he is often with, including Bowie, Ruby, and Christine. His girlfriend is the beautiful Arabian mare Venezuela. They are a modern couple, not always together, but they find each other on a regular basis. When not with horses, Dooley can be found waiting nearby for his favorite human, and a grain snack with his nightly meds. Not one for regular stalling (he has had enough of confinement!) he now understands that care will always be waiting.
As of 2023, Dooley is enjoying his 5th year and is 22-27 years old. He is cushings positive, as are many of the senior equines, and he is recovering from a bout of Lyme disease. He is beginning to spend more time up in the Medical Wing, and it’s very possible that in the future he will enjoy a dedicated stall in there. When he is ready.