A fairy-tale ending for horses who survived the odds

A chorus of joyful neighs and snorts fills the air as adopters Gina DiLello and Grant Johnson swing open the corral gates, welcoming Libby, Bell, and Marina to their herd. The newly expanded herd bursts into motion, with nine horses, including two silly fillies, gleefully galloping through lush pastures framed by striking red rock cliffs.  

“It was a moving moment to watch,” recalls Gina. “After a month of being in corrals next to each other, all the horses joined up and tore through the pastures together.”

But life wasn’t always so sunny for these extraordinary equines. Bell was born at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s Horse Haven after her mother, Libby, came from a neglect case, along with 31 other hooved animals. Marina and her mother, Emma, arrived a few months later following a dramatic rescue after being marooned on a beach by rising waters at nearby Lake Powell.

Gina and Grant first learned about Marina and Emma through a story about their incredible rescue on Best Friends’ website. Moved by the horses’ plight, they knew they could offer a home as broad as their hearts.

Their expansive homestead near Boulder, Utah, is tucked among the magical canyons and cliffs of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. There, they explore the backcountry on horseback and lead environmental projects, such as clearing invasive species from riverbeds.

[First frolicking foals born at Best Friends]

“After reading that article, I knew we really wanted to adopt because the land here is very similar to where Marina was born, which you can actually see if you hike up from the corrals,” Gina explains. “The land we have here is for the horses. Horses are an integral part of the ecosystem at our homestead. The pastures that we irrigate for them to graze ... create vital breeding habitat for wild animals.”

With their homestead perfectly suited for horses and a passion for giving them a meaningful home, Gina and Grant eagerly contacted Horse Haven to adopt Marina and Emma — but their plans quickly expanded, and they returned home with three new additions to their family.

“Gina initially reached out to us to adopt Marina and Emma because of their story,” says Horse Haven lead trainer Ann Hepworth. “But Emma already had an adopter, so she adopted Marina, along with baby Bell and Libby.”

[Second chance for 33 neglected pasture pets]

As it turns out, Libby was already a trained riding horse, ideal for pack adventures, and Bell was one of Marina’s closest companions. For Gina, Grant, and the Horse Haven team, the triple adoption felt serendipitous. “It was like a fairy-tale ending,” Ann says. “They’re deeply loved and going to a fantastic home.”

Nowadays, the trio thrives with their new herd, galloping freely and exploring the enchanting landscapes of their homestead. “We love taking them out as one big family,” Gina says. “At first, Libby was protective of Bell, but now she’s grown more confident and relaxed.”

Meanwhile Marina, ever the character, treats Gina and Grant to adorable silly filly antics. “Marina is much smaller than all the other horses, so she’s been standing on top of the manure pile to be taller than them all,” laughs Gina. “She also sprints around with her tail straight up in the air.”

The horses’ story comes full circle, from uncertainty and rescue to joy and belonging. In the magical red rock kingdom they now call home, this herd of nine lives their happily-ever-after — a real-life fairy tale where freedom, love, and second chances reign supreme.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.