'He's just a super sweet old man': Rescue volunteer finds her match in 23-year-old horse

Stacey Saldanha-Olson, Topeka Capital-Journal

A Kansas horse is getting the love he deserves after being adopted earlier this month.

Titus, a 23-year-old appendix thoroughbred Gelding horse, was adopted by Maple Hill resident Samantha Schneider.

"He's just a super sweet old man," Schneider said. "He's got this look on his face, and I compare it to puppy dog eyes. It's just ... it's adorable."

Titus, a 23-year-old appendix thoroughbred Gelding horse, is caressed by Samantha Schneider after going through a few training routines at Rainbow Meadows on June 18. Schneider is adopting Titus.
Titus, a 23-year-old appendix thoroughbred Gelding horse, is caressed by Samantha Schneider after going through a few training routines at Rainbow Meadows on June 18. Schneider is adopting Titus.

Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue was established in 2005

Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue is a Junction City-based rescue for horses and other related animals.

Established in 2005, the rescue has had a mission "to serve the equine companions who have so loyally served us by offering a safe and peaceful refuge for abused, neglected, abandoned and slaughter-bound horses, which it actively rehabilitates and adopts out to caring homes," according to its website.

Horseshoes painted in the colors of a rainbow frame some of the horses grazing in the pastures June 18 at Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue and Retirement LLC outside of Junction City.
Horseshoes painted in the colors of a rainbow frame some of the horses grazing in the pastures June 18 at Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue and Retirement LLC outside of Junction City.

The rescue took in Titus about two years ago after a family in Paola surrendered him.

"Too often, people think of rescue horses as 'broken,'" said Karen Everhart, Rainbow Meadows president and co-founder, in a written statement. "In this particular case Titus, is an appendix thoroughbred, was part of a small herd consisting of a donkey and two pony-sized mules. As a result of significant family issues, all of the equids were in need of intense hoof rehabilitation."

Volunteer joined rescue because of passion for horses

Schneider joined the rescue as a volunteer almost three years ago because of her love for horses.

"I never grew up with horses, but I always loved them," Schneider said. "I always wanted one for myself eventually."

Titus, who is 23 years old, is accustomed to his new owner Maple Hill resident Samantha Schneider. Because of his age, Schneider said Titus will be a companion horse instead of a riding one.
Titus, who is 23 years old, is accustomed to his new owner Maple Hill resident Samantha Schneider. Because of his age, Schneider said Titus will be a companion horse instead of a riding one.

When she moved to the Maple Hill area, she would work as an athletic trainer at Highland Park High School in the mornings and had her afternoons free. Wanting something to do, she began volunteering for Rainbow Meadows.

Not long after Schneider volunteered, she met Titus. Everhart said Schneider showed interest in training Titus and that she was unsure how the pairing would play out.

"So when Sam indicated she wanted to be a part of the training program and that she wanted to work with Titus despite his lack of socialization, I'm not going to say I was skeptical," Everhart said in an interview with The Capital-Journal. "When you take someone who's very inexperienced regarding horse training and a horse who's very inexperienced but older who hasn't been trained, you kind of go, 'Hmm, this may be a little difficult.'

"But the two of them built a really nice bond."

The bond between Titus and Samantha Schneider is easy to see as she uses a light rein and clicking noises to train him at Rainbow Meadows.
The bond between Titus and Samantha Schneider is easy to see as she uses a light rein and clicking noises to train him at Rainbow Meadows.

Rescue horse will be companion because of his age

Given Titus' age, Schneider said she doesn't intend to ride him but will have him as a companion horse.

Currently, Titus still lives at the rescue until Schneider and her husband, Cody, either find a home with enough land or a closer place to board him.

Titus, age 23, now spends most of his time in the prairie grass at Rainbow Meadows where owner Samantha Schneider says he has met new friends, including a younger adopted horse named Dre who spends a lot of time with him when not training.
Titus, age 23, now spends most of his time in the prairie grass at Rainbow Meadows where owner Samantha Schneider says he has met new friends, including a younger adopted horse named Dre who spends a lot of time with him when not training.

She said her husband has been supportive of her horse endeavor as he also has horses and works as a cowboy for a nearby ranch.

Schneider said she'd also like to get more horses in the future and her husband has three that he uses for work.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Maple Hill's Samantha Schneider adopts horse, 23, from Rainbow Meadows

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