After 522 days of waiting, Anaia is finally home! The gorgeous Arabian arrived at the Humane Society of Ventura County in October 2024 as an owner surrender. For nearly a year and a half, shelter staff and volunteers cared for the spunky mare, hoping one day she'd find her family. Fast forward to February 2026, when Anaia's future mom, Susan Schoonover, fell head-over-hooves in love after seeing Anaia's photos online. Our staff were thrilled with the prospect of a home for their favorite barn princess. The only catch? Susan lived nearly 1,000 miles away! Without hesitation, members of our team completed the 38-hour round trip journey to Wyoming to deliver 18-year-old Anaia to her loving family. She is now living happily ever after in a home that was made for her, because no distance is too far when it comes to true love!

At 3:00 am last Friday, HSVC's Equine Manager, Christina Malleck, and Director of Field Operations, Kendra King, securely loaded Anaia into her trailer and hit the road to Buffalo, Wyoming. Over the next two days, they drove more than 17 hours, crossing state lines and countless miles to make sure Anaia arrived safely. 

Along the way, the team made a special stop in St. George, Utah, for an overnight stay at beautiful Horse Haven Ranch (above). The ranch graciously welcomed Anaia into their stunning "mare motel,” providing a safe, comfortable place for her and our staff to rest after a long day on the road. We’re incredibly grateful for their warm hospitality and for offering such a gorgeous space for traveling horses to recharge before continuing their journey.

According to our staff, the lengthy drive from our shelter in Ojai, CA, to Wyoming was filled with breathtaking views that changed mile by mile. Kendra and Christina were treated to gorgeous desert valleys, towering mountains, and, as they crossed into Wyoming, stunning snow-covered peaks that felt like the perfect welcome to Anaia’s new home state.

Finally, after hours of waiting, Christina, Kendra, and Anaia made it to their final destination. Susan welcomed Anaia with open arms as soon as she stepped off the trailer. One horse on the property, Cinder, immediately took to Anaia. His eager, excited winnies could be heard immediately from the next stall over, warming the hearts of Kendra and Christina. Anaia was home!

"I am so grateful for the kindness and knowledge of care given to Anaia, and for her well-being during the journey to bring her to me. I couldn't have found a better place to adopt from!" said Susan. 

Anaia's trek to a forever home is just one example of how we will always go the extra mile to ensure our animals get the happily ever after they deserve. A big shoutout goes out to Kendra and Christina for transporting Anaia, and to all the staff and volunteers who had a part in her journey along the way. This storybook ending is just the beginning for our girl!