FRONT RANGE EQUINE RESCUE

Front Range Equine Rescue's mission is to end the abuse and neglect of horses through rescue and education. While rescue is critical to each horse in a situation of abuse (often life threatening), it aids one horse at a time. While numbers add up over the course of rescuing horses over the years, this angle is limited by funding, shelter space, and the number of people available to provide responsible care year round, every day of the year. From its beginning in 1997, Front Range also implemented an educational/advocacy program. To make change in how horses are treated and cared for comes with knowledge of responsible horse care practices. Front Range has offered clinics, seminars, a newsletter, educational brochures, website, Facebook page, direct mail program, email alerts, petition drives, and various events to reach out to both horse owners and the general (horse-loving) public to help create the change needed to decrease/end horse abuse. Front Range has teamed up with animal control agencies over the years to strengthen their ability (which often lacks) in removing horses from abusive situations as another means to achieve its goal. Creating working partnerships in the horse industry with trainers, other educators, horse-related companies and organizations, vets, farriers and similar enables Front Range to unite people in the common cause to improve horse care/management practices. Front Range has also provided innovative, short-term solutions in emergency situations. For example, running a feed/vet assistance program for responsible horse owners during difficult economic times, allowed good owners to keep their horses instead of neglecting them, or sending them into the slaughter pipeline (intentionally or not). Solving horse abuse must have short and long-term strategies which Front Range has always used in its program goals/efforts.

Ways in which Front Range Equine Rescue works to end horse abuse include a rescue and educational program. The rescue program takes in horses from abusive situations and brings them back to health. The majority are adopted to qualified new homes; others remain in a retired herd at the rescue. Special programs include "stop the backyard breeder" (gelding reimbursement); trails end (humane euthanasia reimbursement); re-homing tips; short-term owner assistance for hay/vet services in tough economic times; fire/disaster evacuation assistance; and referrals for service providers. Front Range also engages in legal action as needed to protect America's wild horses and to responsibly end horse slaughter. Educationally, Front Range provides annual events to keep horse owners and horse enthusiasts informed of horse abuse issues, responsible horse care including the time and financial commitment needed. Front Range also provides ways to become involved with horses other than ownership. FRER's website, Facebook page, direct mail campaign, email alerts, and newsletter provide basic and updated information on equine abuse issues and Front Range's work.

Front Range Equine Rescue began in Colorado and over time grew to assisting horses in other parts of the country (e.g., the "three strikes" mustang cruelty case in NE; helping kill lot horses in OK). In 2014, Front Range expanded its direct rescue program to the East Coast helping horses in VA and from surrounding states. During 2015 Front Range relocated its headquarters to Ocala, FL while maintaining efforts in CO and the West via Board members and a long-standing partnership with another CO rescue. Since 2003, Front Range has reached tens of thousands of people via a direct mail program which both educates and raises much needed funds for program efforts. Front Range also works with one of the top animal lawyers in the U.S. on its highly successful legal endeavors to responsibly end horse slaughter and work to protect America's dwindling wild horse herds. Educational efforts are coordinated between FRER's President and Education/Event Coordinator to ensure appropriate topics are covered and ways to engage the public in helping to end horse abuse effectively presented.

Front Range Equine Rescue has helped thousands of horses through its rescue (direct and indirect) efforts. The educational program has impacted countless other horses as Front Range has reached tens of thousands of people via events, mailers, email, Facebook, and referrals to instruct on horse abuse issues and solutions. Front Range's legal efforts in 2012-2013 were significant in preventing the return of horse slaughter plants to the U.S. FRER has been part of legal action to end wild horse roundups; a 2009 lawsuit stopped the zero out of a herd in Colorado. Hundreds of horses were safe during wildfires in Colorado when Front Range provided services such as transport to safety, feed, supplies and vet care at evacuation sites. Hundreds of horses have been part of the stop the backyard breeder program to help curb over-population issues; and dozens of owners have received financial help when needing to make the decision to humanely euthanize a horse in a poor quality of life. Several hundred horses have been assisted when Front Range provided short-term feed/vet care during the Great Recession with a horse owner assistance program.\r\nWhile it is impossible to fully achieve an end to horse abuse, it can be greatly curtailed with rescue and educational programs. While there are also numerous obstacles to overcome to ban horse slaughter in the U.S. and keep America's horses from slaughter across the borders, it is not an impossible task once politicians and special interests learn the alternatives to slaughter and the legal ramifications of sending an animal not raised for food into the human food chain. Wild horse issues are also a significant challenge, but change can be made. Progress is slow but small inroads to keeping wild horses on the public lands designated to them have been made (e.g., use of fertility control to manage populations). Ultimately one organization cannot do it all, but all have a part to play. Front Range has been a role model and leader in the horse rescue community and fully intends to continue its efforts.