Allegiance Ranch and Equine Rescue Inc

Background Statement

It all started with two horses, Mariposa and Montez. We had begun searching for horses to buy for our daughters and the cost of horses was staggering, depending on the breed, age, level of training, and so on. Through our research, we happened upon a horse rescue organization. We don't know why it hadn't occurred to us there would be organizations seeking homes for horses just as there are for dogs and cats.

Unfortunately, like dogs and cats, breeders and horse owners are not always responsible with breeding or caring for their animals. Sometimes they aren't able to care for their horses properly or they find they can't afford to care for them. As you might imagine, caring for a horse is a much larger endeavor than caring for most dogs or cats. Their sheer size, the space necessary to keep them, and the costs of feeding, grooming, training and veterinary bills can be an extraordinary burden.

We are so grateful that our horses were saved by rescue organizations and as a result we were able to bring them into our lives. Mariposa was found abandoned in a field, in the middle of nowhere, tied to a tree with multiple ropes. Whoever tied her there intended for her to die. Thankfully someone discovered her and got her to a horse rescue where we found her. Despite having trust issues, unsurprising given the way she was left, she is a sassy, strong and loving horse.

Another rescue organization purchased Montez at auction, but he was lucky not to be purchased by a kill buyer. Considered an old man at 16, Montez is believed to have been a ranch horse and was showing signs of wear with joints popping and bones creaking. Gorgeous boy that he is, he could easily have found himself on a truck bound for slaughter. Instead, we happened to walk into the rescue looking for a horse just a couple of days after the rescue had purchased him. It was love at first sight. He has turned out to be a well-trained and gentle giant.

Our experiences finding Montez and Mariposa opened our eyes to the world of horse rescue and the many horses in need of safe and loving homes. It also led us to the knowledge that hundreds and thousands of horses are being sent to slaughter every year. Many people don't realize this. According to the Animal Welfare Institute, tens of thousands horses are shipped to Mexico and Canada annually, where they are killed under barbaric conditions so their meat can continue to satisfy the palates of overseas diners in countries such as Italy, France, Belgium and Japan. In 2023, over 20,000 U.S. horses were shipped to Mexico and Canada.

We wondered how this could happen. Who would allow their horse to be sent to slaughter? Most people would never willingly send their horse to slaughter, but sometimes people can no longer care for a horse. Circumstances change and perhaps they can't afford the vet bills or even the cost of hay. Maybe they tried to sell Montez themselves or find him a new home, but to no avail. Desperate, they take him to auction thinking a nice family or private buyer will buy him. All too often, however, the kill buyers who frequent these auctions are the ones who buy the horses. Once on a kill buyer's lot, a horses' fate is typically sealed.

We decided that if we could help save horses in any way, we wanted to do it. Our goal is to intercept horses before they end up in the slaughter pipeline including horses surrendered by owners who can no longer care for them or horses at auction and in other at-risk situations. The horses in our care are provided love, training, rehabilitation (both physical and emotional), and the opportunity to serve as support animals for visitors to the ranch. Some of the horses become available for adoption as well.

While we developed a plan for helping horses, we thought about our desire to help our heroes. As the family of a Navy veteran, one who was lucky to serve and return home unscathed, we had a strong desire to give back. We knew that our efforts to help and heal horses could also support veterans in need. What better way to help our heroes than through the powerful connection with horses? So many Veterans and first responders lack the support they need, and for Veterans with wounds both physical and emotional, the VA too often fails them. Medication is not always the answer and we all heal in different ways. We felt strongly that offering free access to horses was a small way to give back to our heroes. Allegiance Ranch and Equine Rescue was born out of love and respect for horses and heroes, and was founded in April 2017.

We provide a safe and non-judgmental place for Veterans, active military, first responders, and their families, to find release from every day challenges. We offer unstructured time with horses as well as a variety of programs to support our heroes. The programs we provide are offered at no charge to Veterans, active duty military, and first responders.