Living Edge - July 2025

Celebrating 10 Years - Hope and Healing

We’re proud to be marking our 10th Anniversary. Looking back, it’s a remarkable story, especially as we are completely volunteer run. Almost 650 horses have been rescued, almost all from slaughter; more than 600 have been adopted into a new life. 

It’s been an incredible journey of hope and healing. But it’s also been a gruelling and gargantuan task, particularly for volunteers with boots on the ground: barn chores, feeding, grooming, farrier and vet visits…it never ends.

But the rewards are immense — watching an equine soul turn a corner, heal from neglect, or begin to walk through their fear and trust again. Ask our amazing volunteers and they will tell you the experience can be life changing. Yes, there’s heartache and heartbreak, saying farewell to those whose time has come, and knowing there are so many healthy and deserving horses we can’t save from the slaughter pipeline. 

We couldn’t have rescued so many without you. Thank you for being part of our herd!

MEET THE HERD

In the next few newsletters, we will be featuring each of the horses in our small herd, located near Duncan, British Columbia. They are quirky, they are characters, they are all unique. 

Some are permanent residents due to age or health, and others are still awaiting a loving home.

Each has a unique story, but they all share the honour of being given a second chance. Most also share the journey of overcoming trauma. 

We have two rules: we always take back a horse if an adopter can no longer care for them. Secondly, once a horse is adopted out and returned three times (yes, it happens), they become a permanent resident.

CORA

Cora is our gentle giant, a gorgeous draft cross who is sweet as pie. Cora came to us in 2015 from a feral herd roundup in Osoyoos when she was only four months old. The mothers were all sent to slaughter, and the foals were rehomed. When Cora first arrived, she had tiny scabs all over and a closer look revealed she was covered in ticks. Over 200 ticks were picked off her tiny little body.

Cora needs to keep moving as she has some neurological issues and her back legs tend to lock up if she stands too long. She is a permanent resident as the herd environment is perfect for her to roam, which also strengthens her hind end. Cora is a big girl (yes, she's a bit tubby), sweet and kind, and will follow you around the field hoping for some love and, of course, treats.

SAFFRON

“Sassy Saffie” may be mini, but she's huge in personality - super smart, full of energy and antics. If you're fixing a shelter, Saffron is pawing at the tools trying to help. She chases birds. Not a fan of dogs, she likes to chase and kick them. She gets the zoomies, races around and then takes a cat nap. With her slightly-crooked wrye nose, there’s no one cuter.

Saffron epitomizes why we rescue. In 2019, she was rescued from the slaughter pipeline — weighing just 86 pounds, riddled with worms, and severely anemic. She was barely clinging to life (photo below). But loving care and good nutrition nursed her back to health.  

Saffron has been adopted out several times and returned. The last time, we had to seize her back due to neglect (along with Mikey), severely underweight and dehydrated. Those days are gone. 

Saffron is happy living her best life as a permanent resident. If something's afoot, you'll find Sassy Saffie right in the middle of it. And you'll always find her cute nose digging into your pocket for treats. 

NEVAEH

Neveah (heaven spelled backwards) is a gentle 25-year-old quarter horse mare saved from auction in 2021. We would love to find her original owner so we can  reach out and let them know she is safe. 

Neveah was consigned to auction through a livestock lien when her owner failed to pay her board. She was going for meat. But Neveah had been well cared for; she was up to date on trims, vaccines and her teeth. She was clearly well loved by her owner. 

Last year, Neaveh was diagnosed with Cushings and receives daily medication. Even so, this gentle lady has a forever home with us.

APRIL

April is a lovely golden-dabble Welsh X pony standing 12.2  hands high. She was consigned to auction in 2023 with badly foundered hooves. Once in quarantine in Alberta, the foster home fell in love with her and decided to adopt her. 

Unfortunately, April foundered again and was returned to us last year. Since being at the rescue, we have made good progress in correcting her hooves. April is a sweet gal who was quite shy and low status when she first arrived, but has gained confidence within the herd. 

COWBOY

Cowboy is a beautiful quarter horse who has come a long way in learning to trust people. Cowboy was rescued from the Armstrong auction in September 2015 as a three-year-old consigned with 15 other horses from the same herd after the owner’s property was ravaged by a forest fire. Cowboy had 60 days professional training on him, which did not go well. It resulted in trauma; he has a sore back and he learned to fear people. Cowboy remains with us as he has stiffness in his hind end and pelvis. Although he is nervous around new people, Cowboy has grown into an inquisitive and loving quarter horse. He is a permanent resident.

MIKEY

Our little spitfire of a Shetland pony loves to play; his favourite winter-time ‘horsing around’ is to pull off his buddies' blankets. He's a sweet soul who loves attention — and children. You'd never suspect his past. 

Mikey came to us in 2021 from auction. He had foundered and his hooves were so long they had been hacked off. He could barely walk, so the auction field-men locked arms and literally pushed him through the ring. Our winning bid was $125. Once in quarantine in Alberta and under vet care, X-rays showed that the rotation in his hooves was actually not that bad.

Mikey is about 14 now, and he has been out on several free leases. We seized him back from his last home — severely dehydrated, underweight and anemic. The vet said he would have been dead within a week. Fortunately, Mikey turned around after ulcer medication, good feed, good care - and a ton of love. He is now a permanent resident.

With all of Mikey’s antics, you would never know that he has a hernia that needs surgery and we will be raising funds this fall. This little spitfire deserves it.

WILLOW AND RIVER

Willow is a beautiful and independent Tennessee Walking mare (left in photo) saved at auction in September 2018 along with 13 other horses, all successfully rehomed. What we didn’t know at the time was that Willow was with foal. Eigh tmonths later she delivered a handsome and healthy boy, River.

Unfortunately, River was very large and this poor lady suffered some serious trauma during birth and had to be cauterized due to ongoing bleeding. River was her fifth and final foal.

Despite our efforts, there has been little interest from adopters, but we never lose hope. Willow is a beautiful girl who minds her own business and enjoys being out in the fields grazing on grass. This lovely lady deserves a family to call her home where she can spend a spoiled life. She will be adopted with a non-breeding contract.

River is also available for adoption, but to a trail home only, no show homes.

GEORGE NEEDS A HOME

George is our tall, dark, and handsome pasture prince looking for a special home. This 10-year-old, 16 hands high Appendix gelding has a personality as big as his heart (and his bum… which he loves having scratched). Rescued from the Kamloops auction at age three, George was adopted quickly and spent seven years with a family before life took a turn and he came back to us a year ago.

George has had some training, but he will randomly throw in a good ol’ fashioned buck. But not just for fun—through bodywork and vet care, we’ve discovered he likely had a pull-back injury, and he’s got a very mild hind-end issue that only a pro would notice. So George is not a riding horse. George is a pasture puff with a working brain and a love for connection. He needs a home that will enjoy playing games, offering enrichment, and letting him be the quirky character he is. He would prefer to be an only child—he loves attention and doesn’t like to share.

George does need a home with secure fencing, ideally electric. He’s strong, smart, and not above testing boundaries when he’s feeling spicy. If you’ve got room in your heart for a lovable pasture companion with charm, smarts, and just a sprinkle of drama, George is waiting.

GARAGE SALE, JULY 20, NANAIMO

Thelma (left) and Louise (her Momma) are announcing a Garage Sale Fundraiser to support the rescue – and we need your help! Have any gently used items taking up space? Donate them to help the horses! 

Bonus: We’re also collecting empties (bottles/cans).

SALE - Sunday July 20th, 34 Gillespie Street, Nanaimo, 10 am to 4 pm

Drop-Off Locations: 34 Gillespie Street, Nanaimo. For the Duncan location, send us a message on our Facebook page. Your support will turn into hay, vet care and happy hooves. 

VOLUNTEER NEEDED IN CHEMAINUS

OUR 10-YEAR, $10 CAMPAIGN

We’re celebrating 10 years of saving lives and second chances. To honour that milestone, our goal is simple and powerful. We’re asking 1,500 of our amazing followers to set up a $10/month recurring donation.

Why? 

Because $10 a month is not a lot, but together, it would fully cover our basic monthly expenses—likefeed, bedding and routine care—so we don’t have to constantly fundraise just to stay afloat. 

That means more time, energy, and focus on what really matters: the love and care of the horses. YOU can be part of that foundation. Sign up at humanityforhorses.com.

SHOPPING WITH PURPOSE

There's a great way to support the rescue, without spending anything extra out of pocket!

Simply switch where you shop for your everyday household items—cleaners, supplements, skincare, coffee and more—to The Wellness Store. The products are affordable, made in North America, and the horses benefit directly through their registered non-profit program. We receive a monthly cheque, while you receive quality products from a company that has been supporting Canadian families for 30+ years. Contact Wendy@businessboxbooks.ca.

Want to learn more or take a peek at the store? Check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USgtZR1zFnE     

EASY WAYS TO HELP

Our membership number: 857334

Use our membership number when fuelling up or shopping at Co-op. At year end we will receive a cheque based on the total purchases on our membership. 

Our code: 2507108079 

Tucker (left) and Mitchie

“Aiming to save, protect and improve the lives of horses in BC. Working towards saving horses bound for slaughter in BC and Alberta.”