THE VALLEY NEWS
Stockpile of hay stolen from horse rescue ranch
Courtesy photo.Friday, January 1st, 2010.
Issue 53, Volume 14.
Donations for a horse rescue ranch are needed so the animals can make it through the winter.
Some time during the night of Nov. 13, on the property of Golden Hills Ranch Equine Rescue, approximately three
month’s worth of hay was stolen.
The rescue is home to 35 horses in various stages of rehabilitation, some of whom have come to the ranch because of
severe abuse, injury, neglect or even abandonment.
While donations from the public play an important part in the upkeep of the ranch, the majority of the overhead is
funded by its founder, C. C. Hotchkiss.
Hotchkiss was surprised and grateful for the response of some of her neighbors who quickly shared their winter hay.
And there have been donations from strangers, "It’s a wonderful blessing," she said.
"But the theft was so large, we need even more help," she said. "I’m not a person to ask for help, ask anyone who
knows me. But so much hay was stolen that getting the money together to buy more to get through the winter will be a
challenge."
In spite of the anxiety following the theft, the routine of the ranch has expanded.
Just two weeks ago, the ranch welcomed a group of 21 autistic kids from UHS Schools Hemet Campus.
They are members of the workability program just beginning at the ranch for on-the-job training.
The plan was for the students to help with the animals or learn other skills that would increase their confidence.
And the first meeting met with everyone’s approval.
"The first day was a wonderful learning experience for my self and others involved," said Hotchkiss. "The kids had a
great time. They loved the horses, and they really loved the two little pigs we just rescued."
Thelma and Louise, two Chester White runt piglets, are the newest addition to the rescue. Right now cute and tiny, in
the future they may grow to be big enough to saddle.
"The kids asked ‘where’s the cow? All farms have a cow?" laughed Hotchkiss. "Well I’ll be looking for two female calves
to add to our little zoo. Anyone who has two they Advertisement
would like to donate, they will be taken care of and these kids will go crazy over them."
Also on the ranch’s schedule is a new therapy riding program which begins next year.
"We badly need any donations, but we also need volunteers," emphasized Hotchkiss. "Our staff here are all volunteers
and without them I think it would be nuts trying to do this by myself. Because of them, miracles happen daily."
"But now with the new workability program and the therapy riding, we need even more people, and we need fundraising
ideas, or people to host fundraising events to help us help the horses and the humans that need us.
"Also, we need people who can work hard. We need fencing and help putting in the fencing, also run in shelters to get
them out of the weather. We are always in need of feed, pipe corrals, tack, anything for the horses and other critters.
Bring your muck boots we have plenty of road apples to pick...we are a small army with muck rakes in hand."
The mission of Golden Hills Ranch Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc., a nonprofit, is to improve the quality of life
for all horses.
They also aim to improve public awareness and knowledge of the standards of care necessary for horses both
financially and physically through education of proper care, responsible horse ownership and all related issues
involving equines.
Each year countless numbers of equines are euthanized or sold at auction and some owners can no longer take care of
their horse for unforeseen reasons, or prior to buying a horse did not think of the expense, time and energy it takes to
care for these animals. There are also those who buy more horse than they can handle at their level of riding ability.
The horse rescue group would love to give all needy horses a second chance and find them new, proper homes.
Golden Hills Ranch Equine Rescue is at 43945 Golden Hills Drive in Aguanga. They can be reached at (951) 767-9331.
For additional information, visit www.ghrequinerescue.com or email ghrequinerescue@yahoo.com.
The Following was in the HIGH COUNTRY JOURNAL December 15, 2009
Dear Editor,
We recently had events happen here that we feel needs to get out to the public and through you we are hoping you can
help us and others in our shoes. Tis the holiday season and the theme of giving in these bad economic times can be
pushed to the back burner, in these times that could be a necessity...your family comes first.
Now the theme of taking seems to be active in most communities, I know it is here. Late in the evening, hay was stolen
from our horse rescue facility. Normally this ranch houses up to 35 horses, I myself have been paying for everything
feed, farrier and vet bills. I purchase my hay by the semi load. So much hay was stolen and getting the money together
to buy more hay to get through the winter will be a challenge. We need help, and im normally not a person to ask, I am
a giver not a taker ask anyone who knows me.
If someone was in trouble all they had to do was ask and I would have helped them or found someone who could help
them. Stealing isn’t the answer to solve peoples problems, you may be taken from someone who needs it more than
you do.
The number of horses that have passed through our gates has been mind boggling. We have a highly successful rate
of adoptions and these horses are placed with great people. Thank you to them for opening their hearts and homes to
these horses. At the present time we are full but we’re more than willing to help you find placement for your horses, this
is a free service we offer. We will have a few horses available soon they are in rehab and not available till they are
100%.
There are a lot of ways one can give to help another. Your time is a precious gift, giving of oneself is worth more than
money can buy. We need volunteers here also. The UHS School several days a week will be bring up kids for a
workability program. This is an on-the-job training for these kids to learn a skill. These kids are mentally and physically
challenged. I am willing to volunteer my time to help these kids. I’m hoping there are others out there willing to give
theirs. The rescue gets nothing to for this money wise other then the satisfaction of helping another human being, I
cannot express in words how this makes one feel inside.
If not our rescue, please help someone else, there are a lot of worthy organizations out there. but do your research,
make sure who you give to is doing the right thing. Our staff here are all volunteers and without them I think I would be
nuts trying to do this by myself, with them miracles happen daily.
We need fundraising ideas, or people to host fundraising events to help us help the horses and the humans that need
us. So many horses have come in and out of here and we have several we have given sanctuary to, they are
unadoptable for one reason or another. We would like to fence in 5 acres so these types can spend their days like a
horse should free to run and well taken care of. This will allow us to also take in more of these types that would normally
be put down because they are no longer rideable. We need fencing and help putting in the fencing, also run in shelters
to get them out of the weather. We are always in need of feed, pipe corrals, tack, anything for the horses and other
critters.
We are also looking for a large mobile trailer to use as a class room. We would like to offer our ranch as a way for kids
who may have problems, a place to be safe to call home even if its for a few hours. This is not a day care, everyone will
pull their own weight, maybe they need help with homework, maybe they just need someone to talk to. We are here to
help and they must be willing to help us also. We also need adults, lots of adults, hopefully with some horse
experience that can share what they know with the kids.
Our mission at Golden Hills Ranch Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc. is to improve the quality of life for all horses.
We are a non profit 501(c)(3) publicly funded horse rescue and our mission is to save as many horses as we can. We
are committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of horse and equine suffering from abuse or neglect and to find homes
for those best suited to be with someone else. We also aim to improve the public awareness and knowledge of the
standards of care necessary to take care of the horse both financially and physically through educating the public on
the proper care, responsible horse ownership and all related issues involving equines. Each year countless numbers of
equines are euthanized or sold at auction, there are those who for unforeseen circumstances as owners they can no
longer take care of their equine friends, or prior to buying a horse did not think of the expense, time and energy it took
to care for these animals, and there are also those who buy more horse than they can handle at their level of riding
ability. We would love for the chance to give these horses a second chance at life and to find them homes where they
will be taken care of properly. We take every step humanly possible to insure the new homes our horses go to have the
proper facilities, proper care, the understanding and knowledge it takes to care for a horse for the remainder of their life
.
C.C. Hotchkiss, Founder/President
Golden Hills Ranch Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc
43945 Golden Hills Drive, Aguanga CA 92536
951-767-9331 www.ghrequinerescue.com
ghrequinerescue@yahoo.com