We’re near the end of another crazy year (Where did the time go anyway?), an opportunity to reflect, to plan and, most importantly, to be grateful
Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy (WHOA) obtained its 501(c)3 nonprofit status at the end of 2019, right before the start of COVID. We’ve been growing through a pandemic and everything the world has been facing since, through shutdowns and resource shortages, despite exploding fuel, feed and equipment prices.
It’s been scary and uncertain at times and yet here we are. A quick count last night showed that we have housed and helped 37 Mustangs so far this year. If the upcoming pick up from Cañon City still happens in 2022, that’ll make it an even 40. That is huge for our organization, and for each of the once wild horses we were lucky enough to get to know.
They were Mustangs we gentled through the TIP program, as well as on behalf of individuals and organizations. Nearly half of them WHOA took in at our own cost and risk, committed to doing what it would take to help them learn to no longer be afraid and to place them into loving, suitable, long-term homes.
Most of this year’s branded Mustangs had been (mis)handled before arriving here, then dumped at auction, sometimes passed around many times before coming to us. Some bounced back better than others from the trauma they had experienced. Most of them did come around.
We had some especially challenging TIP horses that we kept until just the right homes came along. We currently have a reservation Mustang here for gentling, recently gelded, who will be looking for a wonderful home very soon.
We adopted 10 Devils Garden Mustangs from our friends at Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals , a huge undertaking for us, both logistically and financially. They were Sale Authority horses who had been passed over at several adoption events. 10 unbranded (the Forest Service is not currently branding their Mustangs) mostly bay and brown horses, all on the smaller side. They deserved a chance to be gentled and find loving homes. 8 of them have successfully been placed already. DG Petrie has joined our Ambassador herd. 3yo DG Peanut, pictured, has been the most shy one of them all and will stay with us until she, too, is ready to find a home where she can thrive and feel safe with her person.
We taught workshops and did demos, all with the goal of helping people learn more about Mustangs in the wild, in holding, at the gentling stage and what they are capable of with continued training, and to empower participants to become better horsemen and -women.
Yesterday I wrote a check for over $11,000. The second one in 3 months. That’s what it currently costs us to bring in a semi load of high quality hay for the wild ones in our care. We all – our staff and dedicated volunteers , our donors, friends, partners and supporters – worked so hard to make this possible.
I’m proud of our organization, the many amazing people behind it, and the growth we have seen over even just the past year: More pens, two new round pens, bigger, taller and safer pens, more obstacles for the horses to learn on, wonderful volunteers who help with the care and training of the Mustangs, better, kinder, more effective training methods, and Tay Martin ‘s ever-increasing ability to efficiently manage feeding, watering, pen cleaning, repairs and improvements, work with other staff and volunteers, while somehow remaining cheerful and excited about everything we do, whether it’s 85 degrees or 10, 50mph winds or snowing a foot per hour. Her dedication frees me up to train, teach, create content, learn, and make and maintain important connections.
Tomorrow, 11/29/2022, is Giving Tuesday. It would mean the world to me personally, to our organization as a whole and to the horses we are responsible for and will be bringing in in the coming months, if you considered us in your year-end giving. We literally cannot do what we do without the support of kind and generous humans.
Links on how and where to donate and contribute will be posted here later today and again as as reminder tomorrow. Meta (Facebook, Instagram) is honoring recurring donations with their match this year. If you sign up for recurring donations between now and 12/31/22 (by clicking the Donate button on our WHOA page on Facebook or Instagram), they will match up to 100% of your donations after the second month. What a great opportunity to double your impact!
Sending love to all,
Stefanie
*Ways you can contribute:
Via Venmo: @wildhorseoutreachadvocacy
Via PayPal:
paypal.me/wildhorseoutreachWHO or stefanie@wildhorseoutreach.org
Via the Donate button our website: www.wildhorseoutreach.org
Via mail:
Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy
PO Box 113
Guffey, Colorado 80820
Amazon wishlist:https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/276Y41TKY2YFM
Chewy wishlist: https://www.chewy.com/…/wild-horse-outreach-advocacy…
If you’re shopping on Amazon this cyber week/holiday season (or anytime), you can sign in via Amazon Smile and select Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy as the charity you want to support. Amazon donates a portion of the proceeds at no cost to you!
Via our online store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/wild-horse-outreach-advocacy/
2023 WHOA Calendars are in and ready to be shipped in time for the holidays. Stay tuned for a post on those. All funds raised go directly to the Mustangs in our care.*
Photo: Eye to eye with DG Peanut
