Bear Valley Rescue: Testimonials



Hey Kathy!  I finally got to go see Agate this weekend. We renamed her Sadie.  She was so amazing. 
I've never seen a horse that was so calm and adaptable as she was. After a week of owning her we already 
had a saddle on her and I had a blast riding her on sunday. I never get the feeling from her that shes scared 
of anything, only that she's curious. She really fits in well with our other horses here too.
The first week the only contact she has was with my dad and she was so..cute is really the only word. Shes such
a sweet horse and she loves following people. This weekend we did her hooves which I think was to her relief. 
Shes such a smart horse too, after about half a day of teaching her how to neckrein she had already picked it up. 
I think what you guys do is amazing and I'm glad to be a tiny part of it.  
Thanks so Much. Jillian, Kirsten, Paul and Alex.



Hi Kathy and Mike 
Just wanted to update you on Moon since i havent lately. Moon is doing very well at Thunder Valley and tho he
has lots of friends seems most of the time to just roam on his own...could have to do with the fact that he doesn't
have to share his grass if he is alone in the pasture area he chooses *L* He is such a character and is such a 
wonderful horse...Since he has been out here i have had 3 people wanting to buy him but i have said no way. I love
him very deeply and he is so amazing. In the next couple of months we are going to begin training him so that 
should be a fun experience. He sure is filling out and growing quite tall. He had his hoofs trimmed in February 
and was very good about it. Right now he has some rain rot so i have to go get him some cream to deal with that 
but other than that he is doing very very well. I have enclosed some pics i took of him with my cellphone 
( they arent the greatest) but will get more as soon as i remember to take my camera with me. I live only a 5 
minute walk from him now so go to see him very regularly ...he truly is an amazing boy. Thank you so much for all 
that you did for him....and what you continue to do for all the other horses...i cant imagine not having Moon 
in my life...he brings me such joy. Talk to you soon...enjoy the pictures....one of them is taken with my 
youngest daughter Brooke who is 5'6 so you can see how big Moon is getting...
Take care, Karen



Hi Kathy and Mike,  We just bought a new digital camera, so of course we had to take it to the farm to get some
shots of Secret and Charm!  They've really grown in the last two months, as you will see. Secret is now halter broke,
leads like a pro and is close to picking up all four feet without much resistance. Charm leads with some guidance
and picks up all four feet calmly. They love their buckets of beet pulp mash and Charm's hock seems to be functioning
normally. Secret is the smartest little horse I've had the pleasure to work with. She understands full sentences
and knows her name. She seems impatient to learn new things yet again, and I'll probably continue on with the 
atural horsemanship training with her as the weather improves. Charm loves her chest scratched and will crane her
neck out further and further and make the funniest little face as she regales in her scritch. They've become such
great additions to our family. Sozo is very protective of them and they love running in the big field with him. 
He shares hay with them and they all tuck into the big shelter together on cold days. 
We wanted to send you pictures to show you how well they're doing and to thank you again.
Again, please accept our gratitude for caring enough to have saved these great fillies from a terrible fate. 
Take care, Monica & Christian


Howdy Mike & Kathy! Well, Treasure made the trip to Sask. like a trooper! =) She was in the trailer from 9:00am to 
8:30pm (with lots of breaks, of course) and she never once broke a sweat or was very anxious. At the beginning, 
Treasure wasn't too sure about all the traffic noises, but she got used to that pretty quick. I have decided to 
call her Caydee, because she reminds me of Chickadee, as she is so delicate and sweet. She halters and leads very 
nicely and we have started playing the Parelli Seven Games, which she is catching on to quite quickly. That is one 
aspect that I really like about Caydee -- she is very quick-minded and intelligent. You can almost see the wheels 
turning in her head. =) She will come and "catch" me in the pasture and hang around for rubs and brushes. Thank-you 
for all the work you two have done with her, for that. =) I'll bet you didn't know quite how athletic she is -- we 
had her separated for the first day, just so the Horses could make their introductions over the fence and stay safe, 
but Caydee really wanted to be with them, so she jumped out! It must have been four feet! Now, she is happy to remain 
with the herd, but I am thinking I just might have my eventing Horse. =) I think she may have some "cow sense" to her, 
as well, as she has been herding the dogs around quite aggressively, and managed to snake her head and bite at one 
while bucking and kicking at the other. Caydee is very quick! But, she is a pleasure to be around and very gentle 
with people, and as long as she saves the ugly faces for cows, it will be good. =) Hope you are well! =) Alex


Hi Kathy! Jasper is so incredibly good. He stands in a stall, lets me groom him, leads perfectly, doesn't flinch 
when I place a saddle on his back, he's the most laidback horse I've ever met. He practically falls asleep as soon 
as I start petting him, no matter how nervous he is. He is definately a lot more trusting now as I have been working 
with him pretty much every day and he lets us handle his legs. The sarcoid is almost gone now. He is the most curious 
horse I've ever met, he's always picking things up and throwing them around, he has the sweetest personality. Thank 
you so much, we just love+adore him he is so perfect!! I attached some pics. Sincerely, Taryn


Hi Mike and Kathy, Just to let you know that Whisper is taking to riding like a duck to water. He is in pony club with 
Melissa and I have to tell you the riding evaluator says he was a real find and we are truly fortunate to have him. He 
lunges like he has done it all his life. He is a very smart horse. Melissa continues to think he can walk on water! 
Chinook is growing like a weed. He has the most stunning movement and he is so fluid that everyone comments when they 
see him in action. His nature remains truly beautiful and the most gentle of all our horses. He halters and leads well 
now and he picks up his feet without a problem. Thanks, Karen


That little Jazz is a doll. She is very quiet, not even a little bit spooky or nervous when we arrived here. Today she 
is well on her way to being halter broke. Her build is very nice. My little girl, Jessica, just loves her. I am very 
happy with her too, for all the new things that were thrown at her in the last 24 hours she just goes with the flow. 
Thanks, Laurel


Hi Guys! Just wanted to let you know that Ringo is wonderful! He is halter broken and can be tied. He gets his feet 
picked out and loves to be brushed. Bridget should be coming to do his first trim soon! He is honestly the easiest 
horse to work with. He learns so quickly and tries so hard to do what is asked of him. I'm in awe. Thanks again so 
much for everything! Holly


Love your site!! I was the previous owner of Roseka, the older arab mare. I hear she is doing good. I had also got 
the two yearlings from you at that time; Fancy the chestnut filly, I had a lady from north of Edmonton at my place 
looking at some of my other horses, she fell in love with her and has since given her a loving home. The gelding we 
got was Rusty, the morgan x, yearling. He is such a wonderful horse!!!! We love him, he is now just over two and has 
been saddled, bridled, and had kids on him bareback, he is so easy to work with. Thank You for such wonderful horses. 
Robyn


Hi Mike and Kathy its brett again i just wanted to give you another update on dollar she is doing great and you can't 
see her ribs anymore!!!!yay!!! she has put on so much weight and her walking is improved she can manage to go for a 
good trot in fact she loves to trot without command. You guys should see her and the other horses running in the pasture 
its unreal. I wanted to maybe one weekend come to the rescue, I'm curious about quincy i want to see how big he is!! I 
was just on the website reading the news what that guy said was appalling im sorry to hear that i mean what a jerk!!! 
Talk about get a life and having no couth. I think what you guys have instituted is wonderful and i am a firm supporter 
of your rescue i think you guys rock. So dollar has made alot of friends and she is very happy where she is!!! Everytime 
i call her she comes like a dog and she winnnies her head off. I always bring her treats and i give her hugs. I go out to 
her as often as i can but now that im in school i only really get to see her on the weekends. But when i get the oppurtunity 
to see her i never pass it. Also how is emma doing have you seen her lately???? Anyways i just wanted to give you guys an 
update on her. Sincerely, Brett,Virginia,Striker,Dollar Scott


Just wanted to report in that Caramilk is doing fine now that she getting used to all the attention. At first she wasn't 
sure about us being out there everyday now if we go to leave she doesn't want us to. The kids just love her, they go for 
rides while she eats grass, doesn't mind being blanketed, or saddled (we all rode her on saturday). The farrier was out 
last week and she was good for him (he said you guessed right on the age he thought about 10 to 11 years old). But she 
was definitely due for a trim, the back foot was starting to crack. My daughter Jaimie at 6 years old can already halter 
her and lead her out for grass. Both kids will walk up to her in the pasture and start brushing her, she just stands there. 
She also likes to tuck her head under your arm and let you hold her head while you rub her face/neck. She will have a loving 
home with us forever,its to bad some people who have land or horses don't always have common sense to go with it. I would 
have to take a big box of kleenex with me to the auction for all the saddness seen. Our family would love to have more horses 
just wish we had the space to put them. If your ever in our neck of the woods, let us know, you are always welcome. I'll send 
you pictures as soon as I get them developed. from candace cec and kids


I am glad to report that Cinder has settled in nicely, she is learning the ropes of being a horse and for now I am just letting 
her find herself, I haltered my mare and lead her around the field yesterday and Cinder followed us around like a puppy. She 
is a sweet and quiet youngster, so far I have managed to touch from her nose to her side of her belly, each day we hang out 
with each other Cinder is becoming more accepting. she is already taller than my 11 year old mare and Cinder is only 11 months, 
I hope for my sake the "Gentle Giant" policy holds true for the Percheron horse because Cinder is going to be definately huge 
like you said. Now that she is beside my mare I can put that in perspective. But I am happy I chose her and we will make the 
best out of her that she can be.You do a wonderful job and without people like you folks there would have been no Cinder and 
none of the beautiful other youngsters and other animals you have rescued,..my hats off to you and God Bless. 
Roxanne Michalski


Oh my god! He's gorgeous!(and huge for his age, almost like he's a yearling already!) Thank you so much for all your hard work 
and effort in helping me along! Slick seems to be the little palomino colt of my dreams! He's doing great, drinks and eats his 
hay regularily, yet he doesn't seem to like his grain, not even if it's with molases! I think he preferes the green grass most 
of all. He his back leg got cut in the trailer, but it's healing up nicely. He was halter broke in only a day, and now seems to 
follow me everywhere! He's such a good boy. The others mares don't seem to like him very much, and so they're being held in 
separate pens. Too bad, but our one mares, Tosha, seems to like him a little. Later we had a bit of an adventure! The day after 
we got him, I was walking him along and then he saw the light from the house, so he walked over to it. At the time I was thinking 
of going into the house and have him play the piano. I guess our minds was on the same page because he was very co-operative towards 
going up the steps and into the house! Inside, my mom took our pictures by the stove as I read him a story and drank hot chocolate 
milk. He was then led down the hall way and there we all played with the piano. Our friends later came by, and I found out that my 
little Slick is "picture perfect", literaly! His frame is very presice, and the pasture is as long as a full grown horses, so he 
should be a great mover! That night when he went to sleep in his stall, he curled his neck around me! Wow, those are some perect 
horses you have there!! He is the Best little boy ever! Thanks So Much You Guys! Jennifer


Hello Mike and Kathy, It is hard to believe that I have only had Spunky,Chico and Prince for 1 week. They have come so far 
with their handling and their training. I can't tell you how great it is to work with horses that have no abuse issues and 
that are so completely trusting and friendly. It is clear that each of the three horses have come from a very different background, 
yet they all have a very willing attitude towards their training and toward people. I am so grateful that you saved these horses. 
They are worth loving and enjoying and deserve this second chance. When the time comes for me to add a few more horses to my 
group, your rescue horses are first on my list. Thanks so much. Lesli


Hi guys, just an update... Salem is a joy! My husband has fallen in love with another female! Salem. We let her out into a bigger 
corral with us tonight for half hour or so, and she loved it!!! She ran around and played with me. She nickers every time she 
sees us, and I have been able to get the halter on and off her twice and she will pick her feet up for me. Although picking them 
is not on her agenda yet. I know it has only been a week, but I feel as though I know her. Sean thinks I am spoiling her by spending 
so much time with her. Sincerely, Erin


Hello there, I just wanted to let you know that Bennet and Wishbone are doing fabulous. They are totally rideable now. We've been 
coming out almost everyday to train. They stand while being mounted, they walk, trot and canter on command. And they WHOA. I've 
had my friend Megan come out and ride with me a lot. She has been riding for at least 7years now. She usually rides Bennet and I 
ride wishbone. Just recently we started taking them out on trail rides, previously all the riding was done in the arena. At first 
it was hard to get them to walk away from the herd of horses, but they are really learning. Before when the herd was behind us 
they wouldn't want to move, but now they have been on about 10 trail rides in the 300 + acres out here. They are improving everyday. 
Wishbone likes to lead and Bennet loves to follow. We are going to try to work on him getting used to leading and thinking for 
himself once in awhile because he is a smart horse and we know he is capable of it. The only problem we have with Bennet is that 
sometimes he is hard to catch, he will walk away and if you keep trying to get him he will start running. So lately what I've been 
doing is making the whole herd run to the barn so that I can easily get Bennet and than when I catch him I bring him to the barn 
and give him oats, as well as wishbone. Hopefully after awhile he will want to be caught. I'm sure he will get over this. My dad 
came out the other day and we went on a trail ride and it was splended. The horses where extremely well behaved and everything went 
really well. My dad sure enjoyed it. I hope to be able to take them to the mountains sometime. Jess


Hi Kathy, I hope you're feeling a bit better after what was probably a pretty difficult week. I have some happy news (!): yesterday 
when I went to feed the horses their combo meal (senior supplement, beet pulp, and sweetfeed), Ben meandered over to me and--here's 
the amazing part--Rocinante, with Sky behind her, loped!! It stopped me in my tracks and put a huge smile on my face, so I thought 
you should know that at least two of your rescues are enjoying life. Whoo hoo. Janine


Hiya, Every time I decide not to bother you something happens and I have to....today, we rode Ebony and Sundance was on his lead 
rope watching.. and learning.. I couldn,t believe it..this is so nice. He put his head around my neck and rested it on my shoulder..
I felt like it was the best thing in the world, he loves me... awwww...We rode Ebony along the road and took Sundance with us, he 
was brill, went past all the things that I thought might scare him and he was in the front of Ebony as brave as a soldier. We went 
past the apaca and dogs barking, horses running along the fences and alsorts of scarey stuff.. I am so proud of them both.. Ebony was 
so relaxed and sensible too...I just think we made the very best move getting the two of them together.. its a dream of mine to ride 
out with one of my family, its something I have never done and now I think it will happen very quickly. Thankyou for letting us have 
Sundance we are so thankful to you both you know. Anyway, speak to you later.. love, Karen


Hey Kathy and Mike.. Just wanted to give you an update on the Mouse.. We cannot get over him!!! This past weekend Colton said 
he wanted to ride his horse so Brett threw a saddle on him and we put the boy on his back and Brett led him around and around 
the corral ... half the time Brett wasnt even holding him he was just walking and Mouse was following him... so after Colton 
had had enough Brett decided to try a bridle and bits on him ... so he put that on him and after a few minutes of very funny 
facial expressions and gagging motions he settled and Brett said what the hell and hopped on him.. He never bucked reared or 
nothing ..he started swinging his head around but Brett just put his hand on his neck and settled him down and then proceeded 
to ride him ... He did Marvelously!!! (if that is a word!!) he didnt fully understand the bits and turns and stuff but within 
one or two trips around the corral he just seemed to clue right in..! But the best part is Brett rode him for probably 20 mins 
or 1/2 hr then he took his saddle and bridle off and Colton brushed him down and we turned him out ...and you know he never went 
anywhere ..so Colton called him and he walked right over to him for a pet then he followed the boy to the shed for a treat just 
like nothing had happened!!! Brett says to me that he really only took Mouse because he wanted Bronwyn so bad and he figured you 
would be more open to letting him buy Bronwyn if we could keep them together ..but what a bonus he turned out to be !!! We just 
LOVE him and he seems to really love the boy ...!! When Mouse sees Colton he just goes right to him and then proceeds to follow 
him!! It is really cute too because Colton calls him like a dog and Mouse listens !!!
Bronwyn is coming along nicely too ... every weekend Brett works a little more with her .. putting things on her back and standing on 
a bucket and brushing her back and leaning on her ..and she is getting much better and Brett Loves her very much ..she is his pride 
and joy!! Oh one thing that was funny was Brett had Bronwyn in the corral and he had her tied to a tree and he threw the saddle 
blanket on her back and he was standing on the bucket and was getting her used to his touching her ears (she doesnt like that so 
it makes putting a halter or bridle on her hard)and Mouse walks over to her and reaches up and pulls the blanket off her !!! Too 
cute ..almost like "I'll get that off you buddy!" and this weekend Thistle actually CAME to ME when I called him !!! I was SO 
impressed!!! This coming weekend it is supposed to be very mild so I think I will ride him around the corral abit ... I dont want 
to scare him off now that he is doing sooo well so I will keep it nice and short!! I will keep you posted ...!! and if I dont talk 
to you before Christmas have a very Merry one!! and all the best !! I was on your web site and I see you have been out shopping 
again!!! cant wait to see the pictures !!! Wendy & Brett


Dear Mike & Kathy: The horses were well worth waiting for. Mocha, Rusty, Moonshine & Aspen were everything I had expected and more! 
They are all beautiful. They arrived in excellent condition, not sweated up at all, fat, healthy, up to date on shots and so very 
well behaved too! Thank you for your expertise and your professionalism. I will not hesitate to recommend Bearvalley Rescue to all 
my horse friends and should I need another horse in the the future, you people will be first on my contact list. Thank you again 
and I will keep you posted with updated photos.
Alexis, Mission, BC


It's me kimmi! Alfie is doing awsome! We got him some Alfalfa cubes and some oats with malasis or however you spell it... And 
today I got him a new saddle pad and more hoof picks n fly spray. He is very well behaved and funny at times, you were right 
after 2-3 days he does start to follow you around :)...
Hey Kathy! Alfies doing good i made him some bran mash to fatten him up and he loved it he got it all over him nose! hehee...Some 
cows are back on our property like someones leasing a couple acres to keep em there and me and alfie were chasing and herding them! 
Its kool I think he would make and awsome cattle penning horse cuz now I taught him to go from a standing spot to a gallop or lope 
its so cool i think me and him might go in 4h and barrel racing just for fun cuz hes SOOOOO FaST!!! But alfie needs a companion so 
were thinking bout coming back up to get echo...(he might like that lol) But im not shure wen! so Ill keep you posted! bye have 
fun at the farm! :) - Kimmi


Just thought that I would let you know that I am still intending on returning your halter in the next week or two. Nemo is doing 
well, he is halter breaking well and enjoyed hanging around watching one of our other yearlings get her hooves trimmed today. He 
also spent a little time in the round pen today having his halter taken on and off, as well as learning to face up. We can pick 
up his front feet and will be able to trim them soon I hope. He is learning to be bold from our other yearling draft filly. Nemo 
is incredibly quiet. Thanks, Darlene


We arrived at the farm in great shape although Teddy and Angel could hardly wait to get to the green grass. We kept them on picket 
during the day and in the barn at night. We've had the neighbours over to prounounce them wonderful and beautiful horses and tell 
us how lucky we are. I put a halter on Angel before she got out of the horse trailer. On Friday & Saturday, we let Angel follow 
Teddy although they were both on lead. Angel hesitated at the barn door on Friday night but on the second attempt, she went in. 
On Monday, Angel & I went a different direction than Tom & Teddy and she came with me with only a bit of balking; no rearing or 
fussing. She is so gentle and trusting. She loves to have her face washed.....Angel and Teddy are very attached and I am so pleased 
we took them both....Thank you again so much. We love Teddy & Angel so much and can't imagine life without them.... All the best,
Cheryl