For 17 years, a Suffolk Punch mare named Gidget lived by herself on a farm.
Technically, she wasn’t alone but her previous owner was already elderly and couldn’t take care of her, apart from sending oats down the chute for her.
She most likely had not seen any other people or animals for the past 17 years, especially since she was relegated to the basement of the barn where she lived.
Gidget was the last horse of the herd of Suffolks who lived with her at the farm.
Eventually, the folks at Rosemary Farm Sanctuary made plans to rescue Gidget from her sad and lonely life.
Gidget was already 29 at that time and she needed to live in a place where she would be loved and provided for.
Jonell of Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary helped with the rescue. Pretty soon, Gidget arrived at their sanctuary.
Jonell and the other staff were worried about how Gidget was going to fit in at the sanctuary.
All their worries were unfounded because, as soon as Gidget arrived, her eyes lit up and she galloped across the green fields.
Jonell had no idea who would become Gidget’s friend eventually.
Will anyone step up and become her friend?
Yes, there was someone: another horse named Peggy.
It was the most unlikely friendship but somehow the two of them chose each other to love.
Peggy came from the Humane Society from its previous owner, who just kept her inside a small stall.
Just like Gidget, Peggy was yearning to bond with other animals.
The two of them had stalls next to each other at Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary.
Whenever they left their stalls, they would touch each other’s noses.
It was as if Peggy was reassuring Gidget that it was good to live at the sanctuary and she couldn’t have asked for a better life.
Gidget and Peggy would spend all day together.
They’d run and run until they got too tired.
Gidget could have run non-stop if she had been younger but she wasn’t.
She just watched Peggy run around in circles around her.
It was hard to separate Peggy and Gidget.
Even when getting medical shots, they were not spared.
They would be touching nose to nose throughout the entire time.
Before Gidget passed away, they were able to celebrate her 30th birthday.
It was a wonderful celebration for Gidget, despite this heartbreaking news.
It may only have been a year with them but it was a year full of love and acceptance.
Jonell made sure that they showed Peggy that Gidget had passed away.
Peggy and Gidget had such a special friendship and bond with each other.
It was important that Peggy knew what had happened.
Peggy knew and she was devastated.
Peggy would stay in front of Gidget’s closed stall and wait for her to come out.
It was a heartbreaking scene.
Jonell and the sanctuary had no regrets though.
They were thankful that they were able to give Gidget so much love and care in her final year of life.
Watch how Peggy and Gidget’s friendship evolved in the video below.
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