C Lazy U Horses and Retirement

Several times a year, we evaluate our horse herd to determine if our horses are still a good fit for our riding program. C Lazy U Ranch is concerned about the ethical, post-ranch treatment of our animals and has worked diligently to identify humane and ethically responsible solutions for horses that are no longer suitable for the program. Typically, we have several horses each year that we send to the Denver front range to be rehomed by one of the rescues we work with. There are various reasons why we send them to the rescue: Some need a one-person home rather than having a new rider each week, some have physical limitations and are no longer able to be trail ridden in the mountains, and some just need to be retired and live out their golden years in a warmer climate.

C Lazy U horses
C Lazy U horses (from left to right) Brandy, Cheyenne, Smokey, Pepe and Brutus pictured arriving at DHOH Rescue with volunteers

C Lazy U Ranch continues to partner with The Colorado Horse Rescue, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, and donates net proceeds from the sale of the Petey and Wolf book to this wonderful organization. For more information on the Colorado Horse Rescue please visit their website at www.chr.org.

woman riding a horse in an arena
Libby, C Lazy U retired teen horse, pictured here being evaluated at the rescue prior to her placement with her new family.

C Lazy U Ranch is a proud partner with the Annie Project, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization that was created to offer Dude and Guest Ranches a new option for retiring horses. The Annie Project was born in June 2017 through the relationship between C Lazy U Ranch, Drifter’s Hearts of Hope and The Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association. 

As of February 2024, in hopes of fueling the Annie Project to expand and help more horses across more states, the team at Drifter’s has entrusted Colorado Horse Rescue (in Longmont) to fold the Annie Project into their programming. 

You are already supporting the Annie Project simply by choosing to stay at an Annie Project Approved Dude and Guest Ranch! Please encourage your friends and families to do the same, and make your choices known on social media.

If you want to donate or get involved beyond your vacation, please consider donating and/or volunteering at one of the participating rescues: Drifter’s Hearts of Hope, Terolyn Horse Rescue, and Colorado Horse Rescue.

3 horses at a watering trough
C Lazy U retired horses, Brandy, Cheyenne and Smokey, eating together and enjoying their new home. All three horses were adopted by an Equine Therapy Program and are used exclusively for kids with special needs!
Horse being hugged by his young rider
Brutus, a retired C Lazy U Adult horse, pictured here with his very own little girl who adopted him.

If you’d like to learn more about horses that we send to the rescue feel free to reach out to Ami Cullen directly at 240-426-7927 or acullen@clazyu.com.

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