Aengus was surrendered into our care in the spring of 2022 by an owner here in Wyoming who had only recently acquired him. The owner was contemplating euthanasia because Aengus was exhibiting what appeared to be significant aggression, biting fast and extremely hard, when people touched his back.

After intake and further evaluation, our trainers believe Aengus is not aggressive by nature, but is experiencing the symptoms of having been started with harsh methods in a previous situation, which, in addition to other problems, have led to back pain from ill-fitting saddles and untended conditions in his feet and legs. We believe early handlers likely ignored the subtle signals Aengus gave to express his discomfort, so he resorted to stronger ways of communicating his pain.

Trainers are currently working with Aengus to help him regain trust in people enough to be lightly handled in all areas of his body. Once he is comfortable enough to be handled by other practitioners, we will have him medically evaluated to pursue best courses of action for his pain.

Continuing our mythology naming theme for 2022, Aengus was named for the Celtic god of love, poetry, and youth with powers of resurrection and shapeshifting. We hope an apt name for horse in need of a new beginning, physical and mental.