Volunteer Spotlight – Vicky Willadsen

The Making of a Horse Rescue

 Volunteers are the lifeblood of all non-profits and Vicky Willadsen

is one of our best! Celebrating her 9-year Anniversary

this year, she has shared with us some of her memories. 

  I have been a lifelong horse girl. I guess since I was 5 years old and Dad came home from work one day and caught me sitting on his Appaloosa's back while she was grazing in the pasture, since then I was hooked.  Throughout my life I have owned horses, bred, raised and trained a few for riding. Once I got older, and could no longer physically care for my horses at home. I still needed to have them in my life, and in 2014 I found Ages on Facebook. I followed them for a while, got to know some of the horses through the posts, and maybe even fell in love with one or two. Went to visit on a visitors day and talked to some of the volunteers there, (Laurie Kaiser being one of them!) And I thought yeah, I can do this! Take care of horses, but not every day! I started late fall 2014 and haven't looked back!

  Since I have become a member of the Ages family, (and that's what it is out there) I have met some great people who I consider close friends, and fallen in love with more than one horse! But that's what the volunteers do, they love the horses! There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you’re keeping things clean for the horses and giving each one a little loving while you are in the paddocks cleaning, and then at the end of the day, you can look at all that was done and think, Teamwork is great, the whole farm has been taken care of! 

  I now feed all the horses 2 days a week, and love listening to them slurping up or crunching their morning breakfast. Along with cleaning paddocks, filling water tanks, and doing whatever I can to help out and keep the horses happy. I honestly believe I will be a volunteer at Ages until I physically can't anymore. Ages is my home away from home, and I always feel welcome there. 

  I would like to thank Erin and John for making this girl's life complete again and bringing horses back into my life once more, as well as all the other volunteers who make Ages feel like home.

Volunteer Orientation is the second Saturday of the month.

Click here for more information.

Meet our Blind Mustang – Frosty!

Frosty was saved in the fall of 2016 from a wild horse sanctuary gone bad in South Dakota. He was one of over 900 wild mustangs that lived on a government-run facility. As the facility failed financially, a group of women got together to save these horses from being herded to auction and, likely, slaughter houses.

Six years ago, we accepted Frosty, whose blind Mustang buddy sadly passed away before he could also come to us. Frosty came solo, and at first had a few difficulties settling in and getting acclimated to fencing as a blind, feral horse. Luckily, he met sweet donkey Johnnie, who showed him the ropes!



Frosty has made huge improvements in his journey to trust humans, and currently resides with his two donkey BFFS, Johnnie and Jack. Frosty is still learning to trust but has such a gentle heart and can be found with his head out the shelter window when he’s feeling brave! Frosty is available for sponsorship.

Hello AGES supporters!

I awoke this morning, acknowledging in my mind that it is the day before my 64th (WHAT) birthday. Kind of a rude awakening if you will! 



Aging, not for the faint of heart for sure! I've been dealing with health issues this past year, culminating finally with an ankle transplant this coming Monday. The 10th. 

Just one of several issues you get to experience when aging! I've also come to realize that I am having issues with dates and appointments even when staring at the calendar!! What the hell is that all about? I'm lucky if I have the correct month hanging on the wall. As I've struggled physically, I can't deny my sense of self-worth, self-image, ego and purpose have been affected greatly. Who am I anymore? Certainly not a leader!!

My goal over the past fifteen years, more than helping horses in need - was to surround myself and my husband John - with volunteers and board members that would stay heavily involved and carry the torch in our later years. I was adamant that what John and I created would continue well past "us". That the homestead and farm/land continue to be AGES for as long as others care to do so! This past year I have been shown in hundreds of actions that this AGES community has and is doing just that!  

While I've been chastising myself for "not being able to do this or that” the beloved group of others have done it all, just like I've always dreamed! "Be careful what you wish for"??  I wasn't aware my dream would come along with some angst about feelings of worthlessness!!

For the life of me, I will never fully comprehend...why awesome people.... come to clean manure....and keep coming back!  I am pretty sure it has something to do with Amazing Grace!  

I can never express the deep love, respect and admiration for these awesome souls of Team Ages!  God has answered my prayers tenfold! I am humbled by this life experience - and that they all still let me hang out with them!!!

Alright 64! Come and get me! (I dislike even numbers in my age) I am odd.  

I hope and pray by our next newsletter - that I will be able to work again with our horses and make magic happen for those we find forever loving homes!!!

Thank you everyone for being a great asset to this mission and dream!

Yours,

Erin                    

New Rescues at AGES

Need Extra Care!

 Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuary recently brought in 4 horses from Kentucky for the Standardbred Rescue, these horses all came off of a kill lot. There are 2 mares and 2 geldings, upon arrival here we found that the younger gelding was actually a stallion with only one descended testicle and the other still in his abdomen. His prior Quarantine provider was unaware of this and QT'd him with one of the mares that we also have, Enya. Enya has been experiencing nasal/breathing issues as well.

Seamus - the stallion and Enya, the mare, will both be going to the UW Veterinary Hospital for evaluation and possible surgery. As you might guess we are looking at a very large Veterinary bill to cover these procedures, so we are asking for donations to be used specifically for Seamus and Enya. We want our horses to be as healthy as possible for them to find their forever homes and live out their lives with purpose and joy!!!

These 4 horses were all pulled from kill pens, where they were labeled for slaughter. Your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps. Thank you for your support.

You can donate via PayPal, or send it to: Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuary, INC – W4985 Hwy FF – Elkhart Lake, WI 53020

EVENTS

About Us

We are a horse rescue and adoption facility located in Elkhart Lake, WI. We have been rescuing and adopting horses within Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest since 2008. 

We provide a loving home for all of the animals we accept, whether we are able to adopt them to a pre-approved adoptive family or find their end place with us. 

Our plan for each horse that is available to adopt, is to find them a permanent, proficient and loving home.

Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuary | 262-627-0582 | info@rescuehorses.org