The LF Horse Rescue Ranch near Vilna held an open house event on Saturday to promote awareness and education of proper horse care. The event featured a tack sale, silent auction and a chili lunch. All proceeds from the event will go back into the ranch's rescue program.
The LF Horse Rescue has been in operation for almost five years and usually has 15-20 horses going through the rehabilitation program. The open house allowed people to view some of the horses, which were available for adoption.
“We got started when we received horses that were neglected and we were able to save them with a lot of time and money," ranch owner Isabelle Lessard said. After receiving horses, which were supposed to be in healthy condition, Lessard realized how many horses do not receive proper care. “After this we decided to continue in that direction."
The ranch takes in horses, which have owners who are no longer able to provide care, and horses which have been treated poorly or neglected. Lessard currently has about 15 horses at the ranch, which will all be looking for new homes once they are ready for adoption.
“Most of the horses come to us with mental or physical trouble, some of them may have never been touched," Lessard said. “The horses can stay anywhere from one month to nine months. On average, I would say they stay about five."
Lessard explained the length of the stay depends on the shape they arrive in. Other factors, including training and health issues, also dictate how long it will take to get the horse ready for adoption.
In order to adopt a horse from the LF Horse Rescue, individuals need to fill out paperwork designed to find out what they are seeking in a horse. Once the paperwork is reviewed and approved, Lessard likes to match horses to people she believes will suit them best.
“I won't place a horse that is hard to handle with a beginner," she explained. Most of the adoptions are free, but with some horses there will be fees, depending on how much has been done to rehabilitate the horse.
Although Lessard enjoys being able to save the horses she receives and giving them a second chance, she believes proper education can prevent the horses from ending up in this condition.
“It's too easy and too cheap to get horses in Alberta. There is a big lack of education and most of the time people don't realize the time and care involved," Lessard said. “Education is important because then people will know what they need to do and the cost. We need education because if people buy a horse I don't want to see it end up here in four months."
At the open house, an information booth was set up so attendees could read up about horse facts as well as proper feeding and medical practices. Helping people take proper care of their horses is something the open house wanted to focus on, Lessard said.
Lessard has come across a lot of horses that did not receive proper care and has worked hard to give these horses another chance with new owners.
“The most rewarding part is when you see a horse change. When you see a horse come to you that is skin and bones that most people would kill and you see it become healthy again. Or when you see a horse with mental troubles that can't be touched, learn to trust people," Lessard said.
“It's about the horses, that's what important to us."
Lessard plans to keep on running the LF Rescue Ranch in the future, but does not have plans to expand the business.
“I want to keep it kind of the same, maybe have a better facility or receive government funding," Lessard said.
“I don't want hundreds of horses at once, I want to spend time with each of them. I can't match them to the best owners if I don't know the horse."
The rescue ranch is always looking for volunteers or anyone who is interested in adoption. For more information, contact Lessard 780-636-2664.