Alex, or Alexander the Great if you're feeling formal, is an 18-20 year old QH sorrel horse. Sorrel is a reddish coat color that is lacking any black and is typically synonymous with the term "chestnut", though some regions distinguish the two from each other defining sorrel as a light coppery shade and chestnut as a browner shade.
Alex first came to the former Twist of Fate in the spring of 2018. He was literally pulled directly off of the slaughter truck, though I don't know how he came to be in that situation to begin with. Like a lot of other horses, most likely he had been dumped by his former "owner" after he was deemed no longer "useful", whether that be for riding, working, racing, showing, pulling, etc. This happens to thousands of horses every year.
Piecing together information from old TOF Patreon posts by Ashley DiFelice, it looks like Alex could have been rescued from the slaughter truck along with another horse, a mare, though the trail of info ended and I am therefore unable to confirm this or even get her name if that is the case.
Alex spent time in quarantine (pictured above) in April and came to live at Twist of Fate some time after that. There weren't too many posts about him - there was one of him eating with friends Timothy and Gabe* in September 2018, and another of him in a field in June 2020. In that post Ashley mentions how much everyone's support and donations mean to her during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdowns.
About 2 years later it would be discovered that for several months Ashley had been intentionally locking animals in pens and stalls, starving them, and ignoring their medical needs and all basic care. Compared to many others Alex fared okay and had a body score of 4 when he was rescued from her (on a scale of 1-5, 5 is the healthiest - not overweight or underweight).
Alex was taken in by Broncs & Buns Rescue (@broncsandbunsrescueandrehab), where he arrived stressed and carrying a lot of tension in his tired body, but found a much-needed friend in horse Scarlett. I can't imagine how difficult it was for Alex and all of the other TOF survivors to watch their friends all leave them behind or to leave their friends behind, being separated forever. Alex watched all of his pasture mates get loaded onto trailers for their "freedom ride" before he did, not knowing where they were going, what was happening or if he'd ever see them again. He and his pasture mates were all safe and going to great new homes of course, but there was still so much confusion and uncertainty for them, and these animals had bonded in a way that only trauma can do. They had spent weeks and months banding together, supporting each other even from afar, calling out to each other, hoping, and waiting. Waiting for Ashley or someone to help them, to bring them food and clean water. And then when she never came...waiting for someone to rescue them, all holding out hope together that someone would be coming, and that they all could hold out just long enough.
All of these animals lost so much - their affection, love, and attention from humans (at least those that ever got it to begin with), their health, their happiness, their voice, their sense of trust, their will, their safety and security, their friends, their siblings, their mothers and fathers, their children, and in many, many cases their own lives. They were all desperately in need of friends and support, both from humans AND other animals. It's so wonderful that all of them got to make new friends and family at their new homes.
Unfortunately Alex started having some health problems in the winter of 2022. Like most of the other Twist of Fate survivors the knowledge of his medical history is non-existent or fuzzy, but Broncs was told that Alex had severe ringbone. Ringbone is a type of arthritis and lameness condition that affects the pasterns and coffin joints in horses (basically the ankles and legs). As the mineral deposits calcify a "ring" or "partial ring" around the pastern joint is formed, hence the term "ringbone". It's a degenerative disease that continues to worsen over time, but the right treatment and ongoing management can slow the progression. In the winter of 2022 Alex started having multiple bouts of colic, which can be very dangerous for horses. Several vets were brought in over the next few weeks, but Alex was ultimately diagnosed with gastric ulcers. It was also discovered after that diagnosis that sadly Alex had a history of ulcers. It's believed that the stress around feeding time would cause him to have flare-ups, and then when he was left without regular meals for so long while under Ashley's "care" that this only exacerbated his stress and the ulcers. This reaction and condition makes sense though with all that Alex has been through with loss and worry, and he definitely carried that stress with him to his new home. Happily Broncs and the vets were able to get Alex's ulcers under control and he hasn't had a flare-up since then, and he has since learned how to be more calm and relaxed. Knowing that he now has regular meals, attention, love, and vet and farrier care definitely helps!
Sadly Alex lost his best friend Scarlett in April of 2023, and he was heartbroken - he would pace the pasture and call out for her. Animals grieve, just like humans do. After some time Broncs & Buns adopted a standardbred named Remmy, a former racehorse who was then sold to the Amish, who used him as a buggy horse. After he started developing issues with his feet and one of his legs he was deemed "useless" once again (are you sensing a pattern here?) and was dumped at an auction. He was saved and adopted out to someone only to then be used as a riding horse, but as his legs continued to fail him and he became harder and harder to care for his "owner" wanted to just euthanize him. Mercilessly and two days before he was scheduled to be murdered Caitlin of Rancho Relaxo and Lesley of Bluemont Equine Sanctuary intercepted and contacted Broncs & Buns to see if they could take him in. Still heartbroken over the loss of Scarlett but knowing that Remmy deserved every chance, Broncs and sweet Alex both welcomed Remmy home. The two boys bonded and became friends, and now Alex had the opportunity to teach someone else that they were safe, loved, and could finally relax.
Alex is VERY into his food and eating in general and loves to play. He eventually got over his fear of the water hose and grew to enjoy the cool down! These days Alex and Remmy spend their days together soaking up the sun, taking naps, and living a calm and happy life.
If you'd like to support the care of Alex, Remmy, or anyone else at Broncs and Buns, please give them a follow @broncsandbunsrescueandrehab! You can also make a one-time donation via PayPal (BroncsandBuns) or Venmo (D-shimp), or join their Patreon with a monthly donation! Broncs also has an Amazon Wishlist. They are a newer rescue that started in July of 2022 with a few horses and rabbits and are looking to grow, and the best and most sustainable way that any and every rescue or sanctuary can do that is with support from donors. Every dollar helps!!
Also, Alex needs a half sponsor and a "pedicure pal"! Please send a direct message to Dina of Broncs and Buns through Instagram for details.
Thank you so much for being here!
*Gabe, later named Whichahpi, had his story shared recently and you can read it here. I don't know what happened to Timothy - he was not among the survivors, though he could have passed away anytime between 2018 and July 2022. However, the only posts about him on the old TOF Patreon were in 2018 - this could mean something and it also might not mean anything.
To find out how you can help ALL horses, please click here to sign The Safe Act. You can also sign a petition that was created to save the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park here.
Also: Animals are here with us, not for us, and should not be used, abused, exploited or commodified in any way. None of should look at an animal and wonder what they can do for us or what they can provide for us, whether that is food, clothing, recreation or entertainment. To learn more about how riding horses or any animal is exploitative and cruel (whether or not you identify as a vegan), please click here and here.
Prior to publishing this story I checked to see if Ashley's next court date has been scheduled, and sadly it has not. I'll keep you all posted though! In the meantime please continue to share the petition. Thank you!!