To the Rescue: Local organization helps animals during tough transition

There is just a hint of green in the fields where the small herd of horses stand basking in the sunshine. Longs Peak looms to the west, still covered with snow. The horses seem to not care about the impressive view from their backyard, more concerned with finding the tasty spring greens popping up in their pasture.

These are the pastures of Colorado Horse Rescue, located off of N. 65th Street north of Niwot and west of Longmont, a 501(c)(3) impact organization dedicated to the rescue and rehoming of at-risk horses. The 55-acre property can house up to 60 horses at one time, and as I drive by on N. 65th Street, the three main pastures and the group of small pens that compose their horse training camp are full of equine residents.

As a kid who grew up more than a little horse crazy, CHR is my happy place. I had been volunteering there since last summer, until around mid-March per COVID-19 state regulations. Out of consideration for the safety of their team, CHR asked me and the nearly 100 other volunteers to stay at home.

Director of Development Shawna English emphasised how much the rescue relies on this group of volunteers. "They basically do most of the care for the herd every week. It's a significant service that volunteers provide," she said.

Since mid-March, the rescue has been staffed by eight full-time staff members and a skeleton crew of volunteers, who have stepped up from working a single shift one day per week to working multiple shifts several days per week. "We have whittled it down to a very small group of volunteers coming multiple times per week, and our staff are part of the barn crew every day for every shift," English said. "We have to ensure we have consistent care for the 60 horses we have on the property."

From my vantage point on the road, the horses look happy and healthy, no worse for the wear. The people, on the other hand, are starting to feel the strain. Normally, a volunteer shift at CHR consists of six to eight volunteers mucking pens, filling waters, feeding all 50 to 60 horses, tossing upward of 20 bales of hay in the pens and pastures. There is normally a morning and an evening shift every day of the week. In light of the circumstances of the last two months, the rescue has had to find other ways to support its mission.

Since it was established in 1986, CHR has placed over 1,600 horses in new homes. At any one time, about 65 to 70 percent of the herd might be made up of privately surrendered horses. Private surrenders can happen for any number of reasons-divorce, medical emergencies, changing job situations, or other unforeseen expenses.

Increasing unemployment rates, pay cuts, and other financial insecurity caused by the coronavirus are having an impact, and CHR is stepping up to help alleviate the financial strain faced by many horse owners. As part of its mission, CHR works with owners to provide short-term financial assistance through the Leg Up Program, which helps owners pay for things like hay or board when they hit a rough financial patch. English notes that normally they budget around $2,500 annually for the program. As of this month, the rescue has already given upwards of $8,000 in support of horse owners. "Our hope is their horse doesn't fall into the system and become a surrender or go to auction," she said.

All this aid comes at a time when CHR's own operating budget is taking a hit. The rescue relies heavily on donations, many of which come from drop-in visitors, a luxury that the rescue doesn't have now. Other sources of revenue that have been impacted are their regularly scheduled horsemanship clinics and the LeadChange corporate leadership and professional development program led by English. Both programs have had to be cancelled at this time.

But even as their revenue is decreasing, the number of at-risk horses is increasing. "The need out there is rising. As people lose their jobs or their health is compromised, their horse is now in a vulnerable situation because they can't pay for board or hay," said English.

CHR recently took in 11 horses from a dude ranch that had to shut down its operation. In partnership with Drifters Hearts of Hope, Terolyn Horse Rescue, Safe Landing Horse Rescue, and DDFL Harmony Equine Center, the five rescues were able to save all 58 horses surrendered by the ranch with the aim of re-homing all the horses. It was a team effort that English is clearly proud of. "We're all in this together," she said. "We're all trying to save horses."

As with every horse that comes onto the CHR property, there are plenty of expenses that the nonprofit has to balance. Generally, a single horse might cost anywhere between $400 to $600 per month if an owner is paying for both feed plus board. For owners who have their horse on their own property, feed typically runs about $200 to $250 per month. And this monthly average doesn't take into account vet and farrier bills for horses needing regular check-ups, medication, and routine hoof and dental upkeep.

To add to the complexity of the issue, as English said, "We need to adopt horses in order to save more horses." With CHR at capacity and potential adopters unable to visit the property in the last six weeks, English said that they have had to resort to phone calls to court prospective adopters-which they have done successfully although at a slightly slower rate than normal. With the Boulder County stay-at-home order lifted as of May 8, CHR plans to allow adoption visits for one visitor per day-hoping to connect the right person with the right horse as part of the ongoing adoption program.

Another primary avenue CHR is leaning on to support at-risk and in-transition horses during this time is foster homes. Private individuals or stables with the capacity to take on the short term care of one or more horses saved by CHR can be a temporary lifeline for a horse that might otherwise go to auction and be at risk of going to slaughter.

"Because we can't take volunteers right now, giving financially is foremost," English said when asked how people could help. "Second, there is so much need, and we have a capacity, that we are trying to locate as many foster homes as possible. If everybody could open up their barns to one horse, it would make a huge difference in the amount of intake we could do for at-risk horses."

As with many nonprofits in the area, English has been humbled by the positive response of the community during this time. In a recent #GivingTuesdayNow campaign, the rescue raised almost $13,000 from 120 donors. "It's been amazing to see the community stand up and support horses during this time," she said.

Driving by the pastures as I do every so often on my way home from the grocery store, I wave out my car window at the sun-bathing horses, shouting hellos to the ones nearest the road, and think of CHR's slogan: "The only difference between a rescue horse and any other horse is a set of circumstances."

And I am glad to live in a world where even with a set of circumstances as unforeseen and unprecedented as a global pandemic, there are people willing to set aside the time and resources to care for at-risk horses.

For more information on the Colorado Horse Rescue, to view adoptable horses, or to make a donation, visit http://www.chr.org.