Honor was rescued as an 8-year-old Thoroughbred mare. Her registered name is Native Tail. She has great bloodlines with Native Dancer and Well Mannered both in there. I know she was raced as a 5-year-old, although I don’t know her history before that. She lost those races, became a broodmare and had two foals. She was then sold, and the new owner sold her because she didn’t get along with other horses. I answered an ad in the paper in Washington state that said “Thoroughbred mare, sweet disposition, $800.” When I found her, she was knee-deep in mud, covered in lice and rain rot, full of worms, and absolutely miserable. I brought her back to a friend’s new equestrian center where I set her up in her own stall. I moved into the stall next to her and went to work. It took three weeks of grooming and treatment to clean her up, and I poured on lots of good vitamins, oil, corn, oats, and good grass to put as much weight on her as I could. We have built a great relationship because of it.
Claire was another throw-away. Six years ago last March, I was riding an old mare down the road when I saw two puppies on the side of the road where someone had presumably dumped them. One was already dead and the other (Claire) was growling at me. She was about 3-weeks-old. I took her home and tried to get some of my ballet students to adopt her. No one would take her, but they named her Clara after the little girl in The Nutcracker. So I kept her and Clara became Claire. She is one of the best dogs I have ever had.
 A seven-year-old Norwegian Fjord, Essie Pearl was raised from a colt by Mark and Theodora Rice of Eureka, Montana, and purchased by Bernice for her 2008 ride. Essie is the first horse Bernice has worked with who has not been mistreated in the past. As a result, Essie lacks the inhibitions that many of Bernice's other horses have had to overcome. Trusting and sweet, Essie Pearl makes up in personality what she lacks in grace. A vital new part of Bernice's team, Essie as pack horse makes it possible to carry more food and supplies, even a tent and sleeping bag! In addition, Clare has learned to ride amid the packs, thus saving mileage on her paws.
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