Vee Stockdale and Lacie Pipher, volunteers with Spirit Wind Horse Rescue, work with Duchess, a thoroughbred who is in rehabilitation after a back injury.

Stockdale and Keenan decided they couldn't let that happen. They purchased the two mares, along with an abused filly, and took the animals home to rehabilitate them.

That incident served as a wake up call for the two. "We thought, my God, there really is a necessity for horse rescue in Delta County," Stockdale said. From that realization was born Spirit Wind Horse Rescue.

Historically, she explained, when a horse was seized by law enforcement due to neglect or abuse, the animals became property of the State of Colorado. The horses were put into foster care, and then were put up for sale. That's changed with Spirit Wind.

Relying on volunteers and foster homes, Spirit Wind rescues horses from bad situations in Delta County. They've rescued two horses from Grand Junction as well. A brand inspector is called in to change the horse's brand from that of the old owner to Spirit Wind.

Sometimes, their rescues come from law enforcement officers. Other times they are given horses by people who are no longer able to care for them, due to economic or health reasons. The two horses that came from Grand Junction were from an elderly couple that could no longer physically care for their animals.

Once Spirit Wind volunteers get the animals, the foster trainers spend months caring for and retraining the horses. One foster home in Hotchkiss takes only retired animals. Others take horses that can be retrained to ride or that can be trained as therapy animals.

Once the animals are rehabilitated, Spirit Wind starts the adoption process, which is very lengthy. There is a long application and a contract that adoptive owners must sign. The contract states, among other things, that owners are prohibited from breeding their new horse. Stockdale explained that this is to cut down on the number of unwanted horses.

The adoptive owner isn't finished yet. There is a six-month to a year trial process during which Spirit Wind volunteers routinely monitor the horse in its new home. "That just ensures the right decision has been made," Stockdale said. "People understand they need to keep their horses forever."

It helps that Spirit Wind tries to adopt all horses out locally. Only one horse is no longer in this area, but its owner, who is now in Oklahoma, is in regular contact with Spirit Wind through e-mail.

"We've been pretty successful," Stockdale said about the adoptions. Since its inception, Spirit Wind has rescued about 44 horses, 16 of which have been adopted. They currently have 20 horses in foster care; two are ready to be adopted now.

Spirit Wind tries very hard to adopt all of their rescues. There are occasions, however, when a horse is so badly injured that the animal must be euthanized. That isn't a decision that comes lightly, though. The trainers and volunteers work with area veterinarians to see if there are any other options besides putting the horse down. There aren't always, however. "And that's always the sad part," Stockdale said.

All medical bills, feed and other expenses are absorbed by Spirit Wind. They've been relying on donations; nearly all of their hay is donated by local families who want to help, she said. On Nov. 2, Spirit Wind will be the recipient of a fund raiser dinner by the Kids Pasta Project, held at Scenic Mesa Ranch in Hotchkiss. They do two yard sale fund raisers each year, and, when there is just no other money, she and Beth pay out-of-pocket for the horses' care.

Spirit Wind now has a board of directors, and at the end of September received word they'd been approved for a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Now, the sky is the limit, as are their plans. They would like to implement an emergency feeding program. If someone is unable to feed their horses due to the loss of a job or an extended illness, for example, Spirit Wind, using grand funds, would like to assist those families.

"We prefer to keep horses in good homes," Stockdale said. They also want to help people geld their colts and implement an equine therapy program. They hope to begin all these programs as early as next summer.

Stockdale is also gearing up for an art show at the Creamery that will run the month of October. A photographer, she has documented the plight of the horses Spirit Wind has helped, and those photos, along with vintage tack, will be on display at the gallery. More information about Spirit Wind can be found on their website, www.spiritwindhorseresuce.com. Information on volunteering, donating or fostering can also be found there, or you can call Beth Keenan at 921-5646.

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