A Gentle Giant
- Entry Date – 8/11/13 at age 7
- Type of rescue – Owner surrendered
- Reason – Owner acknowledges his fairy-tale dream is a living nightmare for his horses
- Special needs – Gelding & Training
Gandalf’s life before Equamore is a fairy tale gone wrong. Named after the powerful wizard in “The Lord of the Rings,” the young stallion had been the innocent victim of an owner who dreamed of a tranquil herd of Percheron stallions and mares living freely on a large property in northern California. Unfortunately, Gandalf’s battle-scarred body bore witness to the folly of allowing multiple stallions to breed indiscriminately with mares while all inhabited the same field.
It is suspected that Gandalf was born in that field and spent a good part of his young life defending himself from the other two dominant stallions. In 2012 the owner agreed to surrender his untrained and unmanageable herd. Finally, in 2013, Gandalf, Flint (also a stallion), and the mare Diamond were transported to the Equamore Sanctuary. Gandalf, then age seven, was gelded and his most recent (and rather severe) wounds treated. He healed beautifully and responded well to his training, adapting comfortably to his new environment.
Gandalf loved his stall at the end of the main barn, casting his wizardly gaze down the aisle at his smaller stable mates, and a spell of enticement upon all who entered to come behold this gentle, magnificent creature. He became a favorite not only of visitors, but of staff and volunteers as well.
After having fought so many battles as a young stallion, he found peace and tranquility with his herd mates and doting caregivers for the next eleven years. He particularly loved grazing languidly when turned out to pasture each day, usually off to himself near the top of the hill, as befitting any great wizard.
In May 2024, at age 18, Gandalf fought his final battle, but found victory in the peace of his passing. He was very loved and is very missed.
