They say at the Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary, “The Universe brought M’Stor to his sanctuary home.”

And that’s lucky for not only M’Stor, but for every human who has had the joy of meeting him.

This reporter knows firsthand.

Admitting it was a bit daunting, the initial greeting with such an amazing creature after many decades of not being around horses.

Standing at his pasture stall, M’Stor sprinted toward me.

Once he approached, I offered the “horse shake” (or, opening the palm up and flat, non-threatening and still) to the face, so M’Stor could smell both the love and respect for him and respond on his own.

There really aren’t many things as joyous and as beautiful as a horse running toward you in anticipation of a greeting and the nibble of a treat gently taken from your hand—all this, from a magnificent 800-pound plus beauty that just exhibited the ultimate trust in you.

M’Stor’s history is nothing short of fascinating as it is tragic.

Those who know him best at the sanctuary will tell visitors, M’Stor has major bragging rights.

“M’Stor has the likes of a thoroughbred (Secretariat, Seattle Slew, AP Indy) and is second to none,” according to Jim Gath the owner of the Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary and the man responsible for saving M’Stor and the rest of the herd at Tierra from being put down.

“He was a superb racer until he broke his knee at the Phoenix Turf Paradise Racetrack.”

This is how M’Stor came to find his forever home at the special sanctuary ranch located in Cave Creek.

The injury, so catastrophic, a slab fracture described as an “earthquake”—where part of it separates from itself—he was only three-years-old, and the injury added to some terrible hoof problems (abscesses) that had him laid up for two years.

“Once all that was behind him, M’Stor became the fastest horse on the sanctuary ranch,” Gath said.

Gath told Northeast Valley News, “He likes to run in the large main pasture.”

According to the volunteers at Tierra, M’Stor can often be seen “Kicking it up!”

“He will kick his hind legs in the air and break into a full gallop,” said “Ron” a longtime volunteer at the ranch.

Perhaps M’Stor is recalling his racing DNA as a colt as he really gets going.

“He’s wonderful with people who’ve never been around horses before and has always been very popular among those who come to the ranch from the Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Dept. and the Special Education classes from Greenway High School,” said Gath.

M’Stor, unlike most of the other horses now housed in their forever home at the sanctuary, has lived there since he was young.

He has grown up and grown “old” (for a horse) at Tierra Madre.

Today, at 23, M’Stor is, well…probably the most familiar with the sanctuary—it’s the only home he’s ever known.

According to Gath, when M’Stor was first rescued from the Texas slaughterhouse and brought to Tierra, he was fearful of humans, he would try to bite and didn’t want to be touched at all.

He went from the very demanding and impersonal world of horse racing to a loving home filled with humans who simply wanted to care for him.

It took a bit, but M’Stor is now the most calm and loving creature and can often be seen with Gath’s arms wrapped around his neck—the two of them appear to be sharing secrets or just exchanging “chatter.”

Gath says, “M’Stor is the best listener on the ranch.”

A wonderful gift idea is donating to the Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary for Christmas.

People can make donations to Tierra in any amount or in the name of someone or they can simply help to help defray the cost of feed, housing and medications.

Each of the 19 horses housed and lovingly taken care of rely on the generosity of people who contribute and care for the amazing beauties.