August 28, 2026

Meet Dani: JS Tinkys Misty Dawn

1999 American Paint Horse • Black Tobiano Mare • Permanent Sanctuary Resident

Dani’s story began long before she arrived at Rainfall Ranch Rescue.

Born on April 30, 1999, in Montana, Dani’s registered name is JS Tinkys Misty Dawn. She is a registered American Paint Horse, and her original registration papers even include a photograph of her as a foal. Photos shared from later in her life show a beautiful mare under saddle—a glimpse into happier chapters of a life that has now spanned more than 27 years.

On August 28, 2026, that life took an unexpected turn.

Pierce County Animal Control contacted Rainfall Ranch Rescue after receiving a report of two horses running loose down a road in Graham, Washington. Those horses were Dani and her longtime companion, Sky.

The mares had lived together and were deeply bonded. Even now, they rarely want to leave each other’s side. After Animal Control contacted their owner, Dani and Sky were legally surrendered, and Rainfall agreed to give them a safe place to land. Dani was not a fan of the trailer, and it took a bit of coaxing and patience to get her to settle in.

Dani arrived cautious, frightened and skittish, but underneath that uncertainty was a curious mare who still wanted to interact with people.

Although Dani was carrying a reasonable amount of weight, it quickly became apparent that she needed significant care. She had reportedly gone several years without routine veterinary or farrier attention. Her hooves were severely overgrown, and her dental examination revealed sharp points that required floating.

Her first veterinary workup included an examination, bloodwork and fecal testing. Her fecal test showed 418 strongyle eggs per gram, placing her in the laboratory's high-shedding category, and she was subsequently treated for parasites.

Further testing revealed another concern. Dani's insulin measured 63.9 µU/mL, a result the laboratory categorizes as insulin dysregulation, while her glucose remained within the reference range. Her veterinary team is continuing to evaluate her metabolic health, including concerns about possible PPID (Cushing's disease).

On September 2, Dani received much-needed farrier care. Her farrier could see evidence of an old abscess that had previously blown out through her right front hoof. The following day, Solas Equine Veterinary floated her teeth.

During her dental exam on September 3, two loose teeth were discovered among several issues caused by lack of care over a long period of time. One was loose enough that it needed to be extracted. The second tooth was cut down and will be closely monitored to determine whether additional treatment is needed. Addressing these dental problems is especially important for an older horse and will help us keep Dani comfortable and able to eat effectively.

She has access to timothy hay 24/7 and receives a soft mash twice daily made with alfalfa pellets and Enrich Plus. Between her metabolic needs, dental care and recovering hoof, Dani will require ongoing monitoring—but she is settling into sanctuary life beautifully.

Dani may be 27, but she has plenty of opinions.

She loves apples, mash and neck scratches. Baths, on the other hand, are most definitely not on her list of favorite things.

She approaches people cautiously but is increasingly friendly and sweet as she learns her new routine. She also makes one thing very clear: Dani is the boss.

Dani follows Sky’s lead, and Sky is usually the one deciding where the pair is headed. Their bond, however, is unmistakable. After years together, neither mare wants to be far from the other.

At 27 years old, we aren't asking Dani to become anything for us.

She doesn't need to prove that she can be ridden again. She doesn't need to earn her place here. And she doesn't need to hurry through rehabilitation so that she can move on to another home.

Dani is home.

Because of her age, she will remain a permanent sanctuary resident at Rainfall Ranch Rescue, where her veterinary, dental, hoof and nutritional needs can be managed throughout her senior years. As she becomes healthier and more comfortable, her gentle nature may eventually make her a wonderful participant in our Healing Hooves program, but only if that is something Dani enjoys.

For now, her job is much simpler.

Eat her mash. Demand neck scratches. And discover that at 27 years old, Dani finally has a home where she never has to wonder what happens next.