Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.  There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right.  To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.  

                       -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

                         American Poet (1803-1882)

2001-2002

Local equine veterinarian Dana Bridges often encountered horses that were living in poor circumstances.  All too often, she found them living in sadly neglected or even abusive conditions, so sometime in 1999, she began seeking homes for these horses -- some went with existing clients, others went to friends or people who passed the word.  Soon her barn was bursting at the seams with rescued horses. 

Realizing she needed assistance in her rescue efforts, Bridges approached friends and clients about creating an organization that could do this work on a bigger scale.  The early meetings drew a crowd.  As many as 30 or 40 concerned citizens from all over the area would show up to see how they could help.

There were lots of ideas on what the organization should do:  provide a fund for financial assistance to owners in need, rescue off-track Thoroughbreds and retrain them as companion horses, develop a therapeutic program that offered emotional support (since there were already two local therapeutic riding programs), and many other much-needed services.

The first six months were spent in choosing a name, getting a bank account opened, filing all the state and federal forms required, and just figuring out what we really wanted to do.

John and Jenny Edwards were among those who attended the early meetings and helped create the first board of directors.  But during 2001, Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer and for the next two years, getting well was her full-time job. 

By the end of 2002, HFH had a little over Three Thousand Dollars in the bank, had taken in three or four horses, and had about twenty active volunteers who committed not just hours and hours of their free time, but also acted as foster homes.

2003-2004

Burnout and high turnover are very common in nonprofit organizations, and HFH was no exception.  By the summer of 2003, there were lots of disagreements among the volunteers and other key players, and we had gone through two full boards of directors.    

In June of that year, John and Jenny Edwards got re-involved on a full-time basis.  Jenny took on the role of acting Executive Director, and John lent a hand wherever he was asked.  The first job was to pull together the core volunteers and agree on a mission for Hope For Horses.  Initially that mission was to “rescue and protect horses in immediate need, and to be a community resource that provides education on the proper care and handling of horses.” 

In early 2004, Dr. Bridges left the group to pursue other interests, and a new board was formed.    By the end of 2004, we had rescued more than 40 horses, moved the operation to a new home base in the Woodinville area,  and had refined the mission to “rescue and protect horses in immediate need that have have been seized by animal control.”  We also redefined our focus on education to “be a community resource for animal control and law enforcement agencies across the State of Washington.”

2005-2007

Between 2005 and 2007, HFH responded to more than 200 requests for help and rescued another 36 horses.  Our donations had grown to more than $120,000 by the end of 2007.  We had developed a strong base of supporters who contributed money, time, and items needed on a daily basis such as hay, grain, and tools. 

Also during those two years, we were involved in a documentary which made it all the way to the Sundance and Cannes film festivals, took apart and moved a donated six-stall barn, successfully birthed the first baby at our facility.  (No, we’re not in the breeding business!  This was a foal born to one of the pregnant horses who came into our care.) 

Recognizing that animal control and law enforcement needed better tools to help them in responding to complaints of neglect and abuse of horses, we developed the Equine Cruelty Investigations Training course, and by the end of 2007, had trained about 75 animal control officers across the state.

2008 AND BEYOND

There’s no question that the downturn in the economy during this period has taken its toll on all of us.  And it’s a particularly tough time for horses.  In 2008, our donations dropped about $6,000, while the expense of caring for horses in our program rose by more than $15,000.  But Hope For Horses is used to facing tough times ... and being on the bleeding edge of change. 

As of this writing, we have more than 100 volunteers who have gone through our monthly orientations.  And last year alone, those volunteers contributed more than fifty-five hundred hours of service to HFH.  Our financials are strong.  Our board is phenomenal.  And our desire to make this organization the best it can be has never faltered.

First horse rescued by Hope For Horses