A Home for the Broken-Hearted

Horse rescue finds homes for discarded animals

by Brittany Brauer, Nebraska News Writer

According Val Hinderlider, co-founder of <a href=" http://www.breakheartranch.com&quot; target="_blank"> Break Heart Ranch</a>, “some horses are born under a dark star.” Horses may be discarded because they have physical or emotional issues while others are discarded because their owners simply lost interest. There are many reasons why people give up their horses, but it is <a href=" http://www.breakheartranch.com&quot; target="_blank"> The Break Heart Ranch’s</a> mission to give those animals a second chance.

<a href=" http://www.breakheartranch.com&quot; target="_blank"> The Break Heart Ranch</a> was first established in 2002 when it gave shelter to an abused horse. From that point, the rescue effort snowballed as people from the community learned about <a href=" http://www.breakheartranch.com&quot; target="_blank"> The Break Heart Ranch</a>. Now the rescue ranch shelters over 35 horses and has found homes for hundreds more, but Val Hinderlider believes there’s much more that can be done. “There’s a big need,” she says, “we don’t even touch the tip of the iceberg.”

The horses find their way to <a href=" http://www.breakheartranch.com&quot; target="_blank"> The Break Heart Ranch</a> from many different directions. In some cases, horse owners give up their horses or lose custody of them. In other cases, Val and John rescue the horses from auctions where their fate would surely have been dire. A horse’s value can decline quickly, especially if the animal has physical or emotional issues. In some cases, the Hinderlider’s can purchase a horse for a mere $7.50 – saving it from the slaughter house.

<a href=" http://www.breakheartranch.com&quot; target="_blank"> The Break Heart Ranch</a> sheltered over 40 new horses last year and re-homed over 100. Sometimes the horses need to be rehabilitated before going to another home. In other cases, the Hinderlider’s simply act as a liaison between old and new horse owner.

<a href=" http://www.breakheartranch.com&quot; target="_blank"> The Break Heart Ranch’s</a> goal is to shelter and rehabilitate their animals. Ideally, Val says someone visits the ranch, falls in love with one of the horses and takes it home with them. If all goes well, she watches them drive away with tears of joy in her eyes. Maybe that’s where <a href=" http://www.breakheartranch.com&quot; target="_blank"> The Break Heart Ranch</a> gets its name.

How you can help
<a href=" http://www.breakheartranch.com&quot; target="_blank"> The Break Heart Ranch</a> welcomes donations of any kind, visit their website to view their current “wish list”. You can also be an Angel by sponsoring one of the rescued animals. Contact <a href=" http://www.breakheartranch.com&quot; target="_blank"> The Break Heart Ranch</a> to learn more.