Story shared by Kayli Koerner
Meet Devil Anse, or Anse for short! He was found wandering the roads of Mingo County, WV, and was rescued, gelded, rehabilitated, and started under saddle by some wonderful trainers.
I started volunteering with Heart of Phoenix in January 2022 after recovering from a tough arm surgery. I was looking for a way to regain my strength and embrace my new “horse girl” era. One winter afternoon, I went out to the field with one of the caretakers and that’s when I met Anse. He approached me cautiously, with pinned ears, not wanting my company at all. But in that moment, I fell in love and knew that, with time, we would become best friends.
Fast forward to July 2022, and I was able to adopt him! I learned all I could from the amazing caretakers at Heart of Phoenix, started taking lessons, and found a boarding facility so I could bring my new best friend home. Anse has been my greatest adventure—he’s introduced me to wonderful people and helped me connect with the horse community in our area. We now attend clinics, fun/local shows, and ride with our friends. My favorite days are the ones spent with him.
Since then, my husband and I have bought our own horse trailer and even added a second horse to be Anse’s buddy! I don’t know how Anse ended up alone on the roads of Mingo County, though I suspect he was abandoned, like so many others. But I’m so grateful that Heart of Phoenix saved him, as they do for so many horses. I can’t imagine my life without him—he’s the happiest guy, now busy teaching his adult amateur owner all his tricks, and celebrating each birthday with big number balloons, party hats, and treats.
Thanks, HOP! We will forever be thankful for everything you do!
