Written by new Board Director Rachel Masen on her blog Decidedly Equestrian
In 2011 I met a nice lady at a local horse event that ran an OTTB rescue in my area. I being a big racing fan at the time was quick to volunteer. That organization was Neigh Savers Foundation. In that time since, I worked for Golden Gate Fields helping to rehome racehorses. I’ve done work with CARMA, TAA, and CANTER USA. I’ve made good friends with people running a number of local rescue organizations. Through all of this, I stayed on with Neigh Savers.
Recently a board position opened up at Neigh Savers…and I said yes. It’s a change, but not that big of one. I worked hands on with NS horses for years…rehabbing and retraining. Then I was a barn manager and an operational manager for a short time before stepping back a bit. I have been their website guru for years now. I’ve helped with so many events. I’ve watched the org move barns, trainers, cities, and breeds accepted. I watched them go from a OTTB only org that worked closely with TAA/TCA/CARMA to the full blown all breeds Sanctuary they are today. I watched them as people have come in and out of the organization with different ideas of what should be done. I watched them go through an auction horse phase. A “we only take fancy one’s that will sell well” phase. A Retired Racehorse Project phase. A broodmare phase. A warhorse phase. As times changed, they have changed for what they found was needed in the market. A new phase started a couple years ago…and it is the best phase of all in my opinion.
A couple of years back, a huge property was dropped on Neigh Savers…which was initially quite the curse…but long term quite a blessing! A woman (who had previously taken a couple of horses on from NS a good decade ago) passed away suddenly…and unknown to Neigh Savers…she left her 75 acre Northern California farm to them…as well as all of the responsibility that came with it. She also left them 30+ aged, mostly crippled horses. It would have been one thing to have these things coming…if you knew about it. If things were in good shape. But they weren’t. Many of the horses were very old and struggling to get around. The property was a complete mess (because she had been sick for some time and not had help). On top of that…there was no monetary support for any of this…with her funds gone…so it all came as essentially…a big money pit. Long story short…Neigh Savers took them on with open arms because Karin is nothing if not a superwoman.
Funds have been raised (and continue to be raised) to improve the property and living situation for the horses. The old barn has been repurposed into a hay storage barn. The arena has been redone after being left to fall to weeds and nature for the last decade +. A mare motel barn has been built with stalls for quarantine, medical needs, or any horses that need smaller accommodations. Fences have been rebuilt (an ongoing project). The house has been brought up to livable conditions and is slowly being rehabbed. Pastures full of rampant blackberry bushes have been cleared. It’s quite a remarkable turn around from just a couple of years ago. Long term vision is to have the Sanctuary become a place in the local community that can teach others about horses and farm life, support other local organizations, and be a home for horses in need.
A number of the original horses have passed on (due to extreme age…some as old as their mid 30’s) and new horses needing help have come in since. With the death of racing in Northern California, the rehab/rehome model has gone away and these horses are now horses that need life long care…and are a hodge-podge of breeds. They are getting that care in the form of green pastures, herds of good friends, and the care and attention of a wonder family that has taken over as the on site care takers for the Sanctuary.
I’m thrilled to be a part of it…now quite officially…with my new position on the Board. The whole story is a long one…maybe longer than you wanted to hear (and I kept it brief)…but watching and participating in this non-profit has been one of the more rewarding things I’ve done in my life. If you ever get a chance to work hands on (or even less hands on) with a local equine rescue…I highly recommend it. It’s eye opening. It’s heart touching.
If you’re interested in learning more about Neigh Savers and their Sanctuary, you can visit their website here. They’re currently fund raising for fencing and looking for sponsorships of a few of their horses.
