True Innocents Equine Rescue
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It appears that TIER is but another of the plethora of horse rescues who think they can ignore the accounting and live off of the public's donations. This rescue is based at the director's own personal property and she is behind on her mortgage. How can they ask the public to bail them out? Why is the rescue mixed with personal property?
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
None
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
I met Gail over 6 years ago at the Horse Expo. I admired her from the start. All donations go straight to the horses, donkeys, etc. She loves and cares for the animals. Love ya Gail.... Ellen
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
True Innocents Equine Rescue is heaven on earth. Not because it is luxurious, but because it is spare. Not because there is no hardship, but because the hardship is being overcome—one day at a time, one horse at a time. When the abused mustang “Chino” finally allowed a human to touch him, that was a victory. When Annabelle the donkey was able to walk again, after the farrier trimmed off eight inches from her overgrown hooves, that was a victory too.
Volunteering at TIER, knowing the stories of unspeakable abuse and inhuman neglect that the horses suffered at the hands of their prior “caretakers,” is sometimes almost too much to bear. I walk onto the TIER property, and my first emotion is blood-boiling anger when I see a new arrival that is so emaciated, it looks like a skeleton, or I see a mare that Animal Control just rejected and carted over, who has gaping, open wounds on her back.
But there is no time for the luxury of anger. There is work to be done; manure to be shoveled, fences to be mended, and horses to be loved. When I focus on these tasks, the hours slip away and my fury fades into a sense of satisfaction. At TIER, I can do more good in the space of an afternoon than I can ever do at my salaried work.
So in the end, I benefit from my labor at TIER far more than the horses do. My perspective shifts; the petty nuisances of the daily grind become meaningless. I am better at saving my worries for things that are actual problems, and I discovered that there are far fewer “problems” in my life when I think about those horses, and about Gail’s daily struggle for the very existence of TIER.
Photos
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
adopting and abandoned horse. Gail arranged the adoption of an elderly thoroughbred mare who was being boarded at a stable. The owner lost her job, moved out of state, and turned the mare over to the stable owner. The stable owner contacted Gail, who thought that the mare would be a good match for my son, and she was right. They are inseparable.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Make sure that Gail had steady, reliable, daily volunteer help. Gail is solely reponsible for the daily care, feeding, and watering of about twenty-five horses. This is a Herculean daily task that she does herself. Most volunteers work on the weekends, since that is when they are available, but there are simply not enough hands on deck.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
What a wonderful organization. They work with abused, sick, and unwanted horses. They provide them a safe enviroment while they heal. They work to find forever homes for these poor horses and give them a second chance for a decent life. They are an excellent organization. Thank you for all you do!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I read the stories of these horses. I see their pictures when the arrive. They are sad, skinny, and frighten. When they have spent a little time at Tiers, they look happier, have gained weight, and are healing from their wounds.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
More people donate to them.They are a very worthy organization.
I got my 1st horse from Gail on July 1999 - Majestic Spirit (Magic) and later a PMU baby May 2002 - Jypsi Treasure.
Gail helped me to live my dream of having a horse and I lost my heart to them very quickly. Magic was with me till 2006 when she passed over the rainbow bridge and I still have Jypsi.
I would be a different person - an unhappy one without my babies. Thank you Gail for being there when I needed you.
Judi Meade
Photos
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Gail was there when I needed her to save these beautiful creatures - Tha nk you Gail!
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
none - they are perfect - just need more money to care for the horses.
I have volunteered at TIER for nearly 10 years. It all started when my daughter went looking for a second horse. She found TIER and adopted a PMU baby and named her Gemma. We started helping TIER in whatever way we could. Since Gail does most of the feeding, etc. by herself we wanted to do what we could to help out. This rescue started because of the love for one horse and has grown to be the life saving place it is today. Everyone has one purpose and that is to care for & love these horses (and donkeys). Gail truely loves these horses & donkeys. She has a heart as big as all outdoors and does everything in her power to make life better for animals that have been shown little love in the past. God bless her and I pray for donations to help her help them.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have worked with each of the animals at TIER and know most of their stories. (Some very tragic.) I've witnessed the hard work it takes to care for the animals and the helplessness of not having enough money to help them when they are in need.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I would like to find a way to get regular donations or income so that it wouldn't be so stressful for Gail. I this ecomony, donations are very low. I'm sure there is help somewhere, but I don't know how to find it. Regular funding seems to be the only thing that would improve this small organization.
Gail works tirelessly with the volunteers to see that rescued horses are rehabbed and rehomed. In this economy, more and more horses are finding their way to TIER because their owners cannot cope.
Not only do more horses need help, the heat and cost of gas have created record hay prices in many areas. TIER has continued their tireless efforts one behalf of equines.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Following the updates of the individuals they've rescued.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Endow them.
What Gail and the volunteers that help her do is so wonderful and needed that it's hard to put into words. Horses are such beautiful animals and yet some of them are so badly neglected and desperately in need of a safe place where they will have food and shelter and someone who cares what happens to them. TIER provides this for many horses but some of them were in such rough shape that I cried when I saw how badly they'd been treated. I started volunteering there a couple years ago and a couple of their stories would break your heart. Poor Sugar Bear could barely stand when she came to TIER, I'd never seen a horse so thin! Now she's almost fat and sassy. And she'll have a home here and not be discarded like garbage because she's older or not rideable. It's so tough running a horse rescue, many horses aren't easily adoptable, and the vet and food bills can really add up. But Gail and her volunteers soldier on. They have real dedication. If there was one wish that I would have for this rescue, it would be to find, someway, a good avenue for getting the word out, to raise more funds, so that more horses can be saved.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Seeing what they can do, the little miracles like Mavis and her baby Dixie Courage, rescued from a neglect situation where Mavis was so skinny yet still feeding her baby. That baby is now growing up healthy and will make someone a great riding companion because of Gail and TIER.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Find ways to recruit people with fundraising and grant writing skills to help them get the money they need to be more financially secure and not scrambing beause of increases in feed costs and unexpected vet bills.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Quite well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
New friends and new skills in being around horses that have had negative experiences. It's given me a greater appreciation for their individual personalities and histories.
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
Very positive and it still does when I go out to help. It also makes me sad that there are so many horses in need, they're so dependent on us, I don't understand how someone can just abandon a horse to fend for itself. But every horse that is saved or adopted has made me feel great.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
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