Nobody wanted Winston. A frightened 4-year-old from an abusive home, he kicked and bit or tried to knock down anyone who got close to him. His behavior was so challenging that he failed in three foster placements.

Then he met Bryce and Christina LeJeune, of Mount Pleasant Township

"I saw something in him the first time I laid eyes on him," Ms. LeJeune said. "He took my heart, and we had a bond. I just can't explain the feeling."

Two years later, Winston, now 6, travels with the couple as the poster boy for what love and patience can do to turn around a troubled life. He's also the poster horse for Second Chance Equine Association, which the LeJeunes founded two years ago, after their success with Winston, who is a cross between the Morgan and Arabian breeds. He had been seized in an animal abuse case and ended up on the couple's farm after a humane agent told them that nobody could deal with him.

"He had been severely beaten and starved, and he developed some very dangerous behavior," Mr. LeJeune said. "He learned that if he ran over top of you, he could get away from beatings."

The LeJeunes used "love training" to gain the horse's trust and "natural horsemanship techniques" to communicate with body language and eye contact similar to that which horses use among themselves. Within two weeks, they could put a halter on Winston, who became a gentle horse who loves people and being ridden.

Winston was the first of 15 horses that the association has rehabilitated in the past two years, although three had to be euthanized because of severe injuries or ill health. Most rescued horses have physical as well as behavioral problems from being beaten, neglected or starved. They also may be sick or disabled from injuries that did not heal. One rescued mare had such overgrown hoofs that she walked on her ankles.

The goal is to rehabilitate them into good trail horses. When that's not possible, they become companion animals. "Then all you can do is look at them and love them," Mr. LeJeune said.

Sandy Horwatt, of Hunker, fostered two horses. "They were so friendly and they really appreciated having a good home," she said. "We had to put one to sleep because of her health, and the other found a home. He was over 20, and his leg was very large down by the hoof, like it had been broken and never treated."

Joanne Snyder, of Salem, adopted Mister Twister after she met him in a feed store parking lot.

He had lost his teeth from poor health and has marks from where the halter had grown into his face. "But he is a beautiful Arabian," she said, "just like those merry-go-round ponies."

Jillian Rowe, daughter of William and Kelly Rowe, of Greensburg, boards a horse with the LeJeunes and watched them work with rescued horses. She immediately fell in love with Meghan, who had been starved and kept in a windowless, 3-by-8-foot building for two years, according to Mr. LeJeune. Her parents surprised her with the mare for her 16th birthday on Feb. 2. Six weeks later, Jillian was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had a difficult time through surgery and recovery.

According to her mother, the doctors were not hopeful about her walking, let alone riding, again.

Jillian had other ideas.

"I knew that horse was waiting for me," she said.

Weak and using a walker, she returned to the barn to take care of Meghan. "When I finally rode her, it was like magic," she said.

Now Jillian is recovering and doing fine, her mother said.

Mr. LeJeune is not surprised. "Horses give you back so much more than you give them," he said. "They are intelligent, they are gentle and they are such wonderful animals."

The Second Chance Equine Association has about 50 members, including Guardian Angels who are assigned to follow adoptions for two years.

For information, contact 724-423-7175.