Longmont's Colorado Horse Rescue nets grant to boost disaster preparedness

Feb. 12—Last year's devastating wildfires that swept across the county and state prompted Longmont's Colorado Horse Rescue to ask what they could do to be more prepared for disaster.

After receiving a $75,000 grant in January from The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the nonprofit's leaders say they will now be better equipped to help their Colorado horse community prepare for the unexpected.

The evacuation

For the first time in its history in October, Colorado Horse Rescue had to evacuate its roughly 65 horses from the 50-acre refuge, as the fast-moving Calwood Fire burned within miles of the nonprofit. The rescue is located on Longmont's west side and about 3 1/2 miles from the foothills.

Alexandra Hansen, Colorado Horse Rescue development associate and grant writer, said that fortunately, the Boulder County community stepped up to help, providing trailers to transport the horses to safety at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. Between a six-horse stock trailer and a volunteer's trailer, the nonprofit only has the capacity to move nine horses.

"Last summer with Calwood proved how close to home (disaster) could potentially be," Hansen said. "In years prior, it's been more of (Colorado Horse Rescue) helping to evacuate and house horses temporarily."

Grant funding will go toward the purchase of a three-horse capacity trailer, adept at navigating mountain roads and the hiring on of two additional horse trainers. The funds also helped the nonprofit to buy a new truck, which will be used to tow the trailer.

Helping the Colorado horse community

Grace Degnan, Colorado Horse Rescue marketing associate, said the grant has given the nonprofit more tools.

"Being able to more independently evacuate our herd is definitely vital for us," Degnan said. "These funds are definitely going to increase the ways in which we can be a resource for our horse community."

When Colorado Horse Rescue helped to evacuate horses from the Cameron Peak Fire in Larimer County,the organization relied on a volunteer's horse trailer.

"Now, we won't have to rely on a volunteer trailer to assist our community in that way," Hansen said. "There might be times and locations where someone is in need and we might have to say 'no,' if we are relying on our six-horse stock trailer, just by sheer size of it. This really allows us to say 'yes.'"

Between the Cameron Peak, Lefthand Canyon and Calwood fires, Colorado Horse Rescue helped evacuate and provide temporary refuge for roughly eight horses. The nonprofit helped to transport three of those horses, in addition to evacuating its 60 plus herd, during the Calwood Fire.

For horses, getting on a trailer can be an anxiety-provoking situation. Teaching them how to be loaded onto a trailer takes training. Hiring two additional horse trainers, bringing the nonprofit's total to four trainers, will help the rescue better prepare its animals to quickly be loaded onto a trailer.

The nonprofit also works with the Boulder County's animal control. Hansen said the plan is to have the trainers provide education to animal control officers and the Colorado horse community on how to safely load a horse onto a trailer, in case of emergency. Hansen said they hope to hire on the additional trainers by the middle of the year.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a nonprofit that works to save animals from cruel situations. Emily Weiss, vice president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Equine Welfare program, said in a news release that the Colorado Horse Rescue is a proud partner with the nonprofit.

"We are pleased to support the enhancement of their emergency response capabilities so they can further assist the horses in their community moving forward," Weiss said.

In more ways than one, 2020 showed that what people thought was impossible can still occur, Hansen said.

"These wildfires are a direct impact of the changing impact of our climate," Hansen said. "We have a responsibility to be proactive and help our community that needs to adapt as well."

To learn more about Colorado Horse Rescue or donate, visit its website at: chr.org.

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