Back in the Saddle

Settling on a pair of retired racehorses from Kentucky, the Fossums welcomed Stroll on Down, aka “Stroll,” and Stroke to their home in 2017 and found an unconventional parallel. “Racehorses are bred and trained to compete their entire lives and then suddenly left without a job when they’re retired from the track,” he explained. “I couldn’t help but compare myself and my career to these horses and found it therapeutic to give purpose back to them.”

Encouraged by the joy they felt from their first rehoming experience, the couple sought more four-legged friends to add to the barn. Their search led them to an unexpected find: a 32-inch-tall miniature pony named Duey.

“I found Duey for sale at a kill pen and could tell he was in bad shape,” Kadette said. “When I turned to Casey about rescuing him, his immediate response was ‘Why not?’”

Duey soon became part of their family in Woodway, Texas. Quick to reveal his intelligence and charm, the charismatic pony quite literally made himself at home. Within a few weeks, he was regularly coming through the Fossums’ front door like any ordinary pet. “Everybody loves Duey,” Kadette said. “He responds to his name, opens doors and is even potty trained!”

Noticing the effect Duey had on others, Casey and Kadette began sharing his magic in visits to local nursing homes, public events and the children’s hospital in Temple, Texas. As Kadette explained, “Seeing Duey’s impact made us realize there are so many horses out there that deserve a second chance—just like Casey did.”
 

Harnessing Potential

Today, in addition to purchasing and training horses, the Fossums have continued to take in rescues ranging from miniatures and ponies to thoroughbreds, rewriting dozens of stories for the better. As founders of Horse S.H.O.E. (Safe Haven on Earth), a nonprofit for rehabilitating and rehoming horses, Casey and Kadette have now saved more than 20 horses in need of a new start—inspiring and impacting countless lives along the way. “We give back through these horses because we know what the horses have given us,” Kadette said.

In one case, the Fossums’ belief in an abandoned pony named Jussi resulted in one couple getting just the companion they needed. Though Jussi’s small stature deemed him unsuitable to most buyers, Casey and Kadette recognized his value, and today, Jussi is helping the couple pass down their passion for horses by providing a safe space for their children to learn to ride.

“Jussi is getting a new lease on life,” Kadette shared, “and his sweet and docile nature is giving those children a chance to safely fall in love with horseback riding.”

In true Aggie fashion, the Fossums’ desire to care for others and exemplify selfless service is what fuels their desire to provide horses a stable place to land. “Horses can be so therapeutic for people in need,” Casey said, “so every time we save a horse, we believe we’re saving a human life too.”