Woman provides home for ‘throwaway’ horses

Ali was the first. A beautiful, much-loved quarterhorse/Arab mare, suffering from ringbone – a form of arthritis of the foot. She could no longer be ridden and was headed for the slaughterhouse.

“I didn’t know anything about the horse slaughter business until Ali,” says Debbie Richmond, the soft-spoken, driving force behind one of Idaho’s few horse sanctuaries. “Ali was with a family for 10 years and was very attached to the daughter. In fact, she didn’t really do anything for anyone else except the daughter – she was very devoted and loyal to her. The family still misses her, but the father had the last word … so Ali came into my life. She’s just a lovely, lovely mare.”

That was three years ago. Closely following on Ali’s hooves came Freedom, Willie, Rain, Teddy … and many others. Most of the 19 horses that now find a safe haven on the 40 acres near Priest River are old. Some have behavioral issues or a physical limitation that prevents them from being ridden or used.

“Most of the horses have been injured from improper use or improper tack,” Richmond says. “They’ve been overused, ridden into the ground. Most of them are arthritic but can still get around comfortably.”

So why put so much effort into saving these “throwaway” animals?

“Because they deserve a good home,” Richmond says. “And because they still have so much to offer in life.”

Take Rocky, for example, a chestnut quarterhorse, sporting a white blaze. Formerly used for cutting and reining, Rocky was being bid on by the canners because of a badly swollen sprained ankle. Richmond rescued him and nursed him back to health in just a few weeks.

“Rocky is so intelligent and well-trained,” she says. “And he’s a good teacher. I’ve got a couple of younger horses and he’s a very fatherly presence for them. He’s real good to them. But in our throwaway society everything is disposable. Even sound, healthy horses end up in slaughter.”

Richmond would like nothing better than to find good homes for her horses, but for the most part the effort has been an exercise in frustration.

“For two years I ran ads in the Nickel’s Worth, put up ads at the feed store, used word of mouth. But I was so disgusted with the calls I received. Most people were looking for a $2,000 horse for free. Or else, they had no experience at all with horses. But I’m very particular, because these animals deserve the best, especially after what they’ve been through. So basically, I got discouraged and gave up advertising.”

Richmond’s love for horses isn’t enough to make her unique. After all, there are a lot of horse lovers in the world. But the fact that she’s carrying the burden alone, while living in an unfinished cabin with no running water, and nursing an injured arm, sets her apart.

“It wasn’t a riding accident,” Richmond says, in reference to her arm. “I was bandaging a horse, and another horse came up and kicked. My arm was cast but not set, and now it’s crooked.”

The arm is semifunctional, but it does impose physical limitations and make the job of caring for the horses that much more challenging.

“I could use some help,” she admits with an embarrassed laugh.

Richmond realizes that most people are not in a position to provide a home for a horse that can serve only as a companion animal. But there are other ways to help.

“There’s a little fund set aside for me at Mary’s Feed and Farm in Oldtown,” she says. “What seems to work really well is for people to mail a donation directly to the store and mention that it’s for Debbie’s horse sanctuary.”

Because only about 10 of the sanctuary’s 40 acres are in pasture, hay is a year-round need. Donations of hay are always appreciated, along with grain and Senior Feed. Richmond is deeply appreciative of her two sponsors that give $25 a month. Still, that’s only half what it costs to feed each horse per month.

She invites people who are interested in helping, to come out and meet her and the horses.

“So they have a personal connection,” she explains. “And can see what they’re giving to and why.”

Richmond was recently asked by the Bonner County Homeless Task Force if she might volunteer to shelter horses that may be seized from domestic violence situations. She’s also fostering a dog for the Priest River Animal Rescue. “He’s a beautiful old collie,” she explains. “And so old he couldn’t stand. He was out in the rain. I said, ‘Let me take him home so he’s got a warm carpet to lay on.’ He’s just a lovely soul.”