Koaa 5 News
Colorado Horse Rescue
The Colorado Horse Rescue Network has started a buy-out program that intercepts horses before they are sent to auction, and caught in a kill buyer's bidding war.
RAMAH- Standing tall and large inside a cozy and snug stable, Captain leans his head down. Half of his face disappears into a round, purple bucket. Out comes a sound.
Munch. Munch.
He lifts his head, while still devouring his mush. He notices the camera pointing in his direction, walks over to it, and says 'hello' the best way a horse could- pressing his nose against the lens. Some of his mush falls onto it (left-overs for later).
Captain is a rescue horse being cared for at Ruby Ranch Rescue in Ramah. He was recently taken in through a new program.
The Colorado Horse Rescue Network has started a buy-out program that intercepts horses before they are sent to auction, and caught in a kill buyer's bidding war.
The program is a little more than a month old. It's already making positive strides in the community. Volunteers have been able to take in eight to nine horses, so far. Most of them have been from the Front Range area. Another four to five horses are pending.
CHRN will pay the owner $100 for its horse. No questions, no blame. There has to be a brand inspection, but they'll take it regardless of its condition, age or sex.
CHRN board member Carrie Terroux- Barrett says not only is Captain charming, he's extremely affectionate and people-friendly. Those traits say a lot.
"I don't think this is an abuse case, so to say. I think it's probably more of a family that had a horse that didn't understand the care needs of an older equine," said Terroux-Barrett.
This is the situation for many of the cases the non-profit comes across. Owners hit a financial rough spot or are stuck in a hardship, and they're simply too scared to speak up or ask for help in fear of getting in trouble.
"You can really stack up a pretty big bill on a horse. In just over a year, I mean, you could be looking at several thousands of dollars just to care for your average equine," said Terroux- Barrett.
Terroux-Barrett hopes this program will provide a solution to that, but the ultimate mission is to rescue the horse before it is sent to the auction and sold to a kill buyer.
"We don't want to see owners necessarily penalized because that's really going to discourage other owners that really feel overwhelmed from doing what they view as the right thing and going out to find that horse a new home," said Terroux-Barret.
As the program grows, CHRN will have to be cautious about the amount of horses they take in. Right now, they really mostly on donations from people.
The good news- the horse rescue network just got its first grant of $2,500 from the ASPCA.