Horse Spotlight: Bo & Jo – The Gift and the Joy

Not all heroes gallop in with fanfare. Some arrive ribby, nameless, and quiet—just two unassuming geldings standing in a dusty auction pen in Oklahoma.

That’s how Bo and Jo came into our lives. They weren’t “famous” mustangs with flashy coloring or dramatic stories. They were just two riding horses—branded, saddled at some point in their lives, and now unwanted.

But as fate would have it, their story was about to change.

The Auction, the Bail, and a Little Synchronicity

There were three mustangs at the auction that day—Bo, Jo, and a palomino. Evanescent Mustang Rescue and Sanctuary was doing everything they could to raise funds to bail them out. The palomino caught someone’s attention and was scooped up first. That left Bo and Jo.

They were out of time.

By the next morning, both horses would be loaded onto a truck bound for slaughter.Less than 24 hours. That’s how close they came to never getting a second chance.

That’s when Peggy, part of our Zenhorse® family, stepped in. She offered to bail out Bo. That act of generosity allowed Candace at Evanescent to combine the rest of the pooled funds to give Jo his freedom ride too. One gift opened the door for another. It felt right—like something bigger was at play.

Candace reached out to ask if Jo could travel with Bo to Zenhorse®. She never liked to send a horse alone—and I didn’t hesitate for a second. Jo was the one I had my eye on from the beginning. My answer was an enthusiastic yes.

Healing, Quarantine, and First Impressions

Before making the journey to Missouri, Bo and Jo spent some healing time in quarantine with Shanti, another foster who gently helped Bo gain back some weight. He’d arrived at the auction painfully thin—every rib visible, his spirit subdued but not broken.

Neither horse had a name back then. Just labels: “riding mustangs.” Which could mean anything—from steady ranch hands to horses who’d only been saddled once or twice.

When they arrived at Zenhorse®, we started to piece together their stories through feel, not fact.

Bo had the calm, seasoned presence of a horse who had seen a lot—probably a ranch horse, probably ridden many, many times. But we also noticed some stiffness, especially in his back leg. It became clear that whatever riding life he once had, it was time for him to retire from it.

Jo was a bit more of a mystery. He let me saddle and bridle him without issue—but when I went to mount, he startled straight into the air. Maybe he’d only been ridden a handful of times. Maybe he’d had a bad experience. Either way, he told us what he needed. We listened.

There’s no need to ride them now. These two don’t owe anyone anything. Their job is simply to be who they are—which, as it turns out, is exactly what we need.

From Auction to Ambassadors

Bo and Jo are now essential members of our therapy herd. They travel together beautifully and have become our go-to pair when we trailer offsite to give veterans and community groups a glimpse into equine-assisted therapy.

Their calm presence, natural attunement, and willingness to connect make them ideal partners. Whether standing quietly with a veteran, mirroring emotions with subtle shifts in posture, or simply offering their grounded company, Bo and Jo remind people what safety feels like.

No riding required. Just presence.

The Gift and the Joy

When it came time to name them, we wanted something meaningful—something to honor their spirit and their new chapter.

We looked to the Nordic runes for inspiration.

Bo is short for Gebo—the rune of gifts, generosity, and balance in giving and receiving. That was fitting. Bo’s journey to Zenhorse® began with a gift: Peggy’s act of kindness that opened the way for both geldings to be saved. And Bo himself is a gift—steady, wise, and quietly powerful.

Jo is short for Wunjo—the rune of joy, harmony, and well-being. Even with his initial fear, Jo radiates a quiet sweetness, a yearning for connection. He is joy on four legs. He brings balance, contentment, and a peaceful presence that softens those around him.

Together, Bo and Jo are a walking reminder that healing doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like two horses standing shoulder to shoulder in the sun. Sometimes it looks like a veteran’s first deep breath in weeks. Sometimes it just looks like enough.

We’re so lucky to have them.

And they’re so lucky to have each other.