I have volunteered at spring creek horse rescue a few times and every time I visit I am amazed at the level of care and dedication that everyone evolved incorporates into the everyday lives of each animal.

Our family found a wonderful horse to adopt at the Spring Creek Horse Rescue (SCHR) just last month and had a wonderful experience from beginning to end. Diane was honest and careful about matching the right horse with the right home/owners. She looks out for the horses with a tremendous knowledge, a deep heart of love for the horses, and an informed, protective eye for who is taking them to a new home. We appreciate the processes and procedures developed for the sake of the horses, which then helped us know more about the responsibility of adopting a SCHR horse. We also benefitted by meeting a skilled volunteer trainer, Laura, who continues to give us lessons. All around, full circle, this nonprofit organization goes above and beyond its mission and vision to rescue horses and find homes for the ones that can be adopted out.

I recently moved to Durango after retiring with 38 years of service in law enforcement. I have always had a tremendous love of horses and a passion for working with them and wanted to find a volunteer opportunity where I could give back and have a sense of purpose. While searching for a Horse Rescue or Equine Therapy opportunity in the area, I found Spring Creek Horse Rescue. From the minute I first spoke with the Director at SCHR, Diane McCracken, I knew that I had found a Rescue where the mission and motivation is 100% dedication to providing a second chance for all breeds of equines. Diane's unwavering love and commitment to every horse, pony, mule, or donkey that comes to the Rescue is second to none. She has dedicated much of her life to providing a safe, healthy and loving environment and strives to rehabilitate the "equine residents" so they can either be adopted into a loving home that is safe and free of abuse or neglect, or they will live out the rest of their life with her and the other permanent "residents" at the Rescue. The amount of work to maintain the facilities, care for the horses and spend the amount of time necessary to build trust and rehabilitate the horses is tremendous. Next to Diane, volunteers are the backbone that keeps the Rescue going. The facilities are well maintained and very clean. There are so many ways that anyone wanting to be part of the mission at Spring Creek Horse Rescue can contribute. Big or small, donations or volunteering at Spring Creek Horse Rescue is a worthy cause. Seeing the transformation in the body and spirit of the horses who have come the SCHR has been one of the greatest personal rewards I have ever known.

I have known Diane since the beginning of this non-profit. She always puts herself last in taking care of the horses, donkey and the property. There have been many struggles over the years and difficult locations. At last the current location is well located. I am not sure how she does it but she always pushes forward past many obstacles. I am still in business so I don't have volunteer hours but do give financial support whenever I can. My son & his company, Carll Construction put in a road last year to access part of the property that had been unusable before. I make sure that new people moving to the area hear about Spring Creek and the wonderful atmosphere for the horses. When I retire I will become a volunteer and until then pray that others step up with help and funding. God Bless Diane and her critters

Since I started volunteering with Diane and the horses (and donkey!), I have loved every bit of it. Diane has an endless passion for her work. The rescue is clean and organized and is a welcoming home for horses of all ages. Horses that have been rehabilitated look like they have new found life in them, and they do!

I am not a writer by any means but I need to try to get my heart and admiration out for Spring Creek Horse Rescue. The amazing tough and endless work Diana and her crew do is beyond me. The saving of horses from slaughter (yes it still goes on, they are just trucked further without water), taking in abandoned, neglected and left behind (because the owner dies, they can't afford the ongoing expense of these sweet animals etc.)horses to heal and rehabilitate them. Finding new homes, giving riding lessons or allowing these guys to be in a safe loving place for their golden years. So much good stuff here. They deserve all the support they can get. Thank you for reading this

I've been volunteering at the rescue for well over a year. Being there is a mixture
of give and take for me. Diane is incredibly dedicated to caring for her horses.
She does everything in her power to make their lives safe and comfortable.
The 24hr care of 20+ horses, 2 active dogs and a couple of stray cats
is an impossible load for one person and a few volunteers. Diane is fastidious
about keeping the horses pens as clean as possible and giving the horses time
in the pasture each day. She welcomes anyone who wants to help and makes
sure that we know how to treat each and every horse.
I know there are many deserving non-profits out there, but I hope and pray
that this rescue shines through as a very special cause that desperately
needs support. Diane does everything in her power to care for these animals
who have suffered abuse and neglect, but she desperately needs more support.
To me there is no more satisfying cause than helping innocent animals who
can't defend themselves. These horses know Diane loves them and that she
cares about them. I see this for myself every time I'm there. Spring Creek
Horse Rescue is truly a great non-profit.

When I began volunteering at Spring Creek Horse Rescue I had little to no experience with horses. I've only been volunteering for a few months but much of what I've learned and experienced has been invaluable to me. Volunteering at Spring Creek has been one of the most rewarding and gratifying adventures of my life. Diane is a great teacher and she really cares for all of the horses. The amount of work and effort she puts in on a daily basis is truly mind blowing. I'm just grateful I can help out and share some of the load.
A lot of the horses at Spring Creek have had rough pasts, but spend one day at the rescue and it's apparent that they're all happy as can be. Spring Creek is a wonderful and worthwhile operation, I couldn't speak higher of it!

My oldest daughter Kyleigh had an interest in horses. I wanted to encourage her to follow that passion but we couldn't afford formal lessons. I contacted Spring Creek Horse Rescue to see if she could volunteer, Diane was excited to have her. Kyleigh has now been with the rescue for over a year and has learned more than I ever imagined she would. The horses at the rescue are extremely well cared for and I know Kyleigh is learning valuable lessons about horsemanship.

After retiring as a teacher nine years ago, I began to volunteer at Spring Creek Horse Rescue. Many horses that arrive at the Rescue are in poor health from neglect or abuse. I have seen time and time again how these sad, but courageous animals gain their health and trust slowly through unbelievable efforts, special diets, daily exercise and loving hands. These horses have served people as competitive show horses, ranch horses, training and lesson horses and brood mares. They receive the care they deserve with honor and love. A very tender day for the staff at the Rescue is when a horse is adopted to a new, caring owner. Then Spring Creek has done it's job, a job well done. Becca

Being a volunteer at Spring Creek Horse Rescue has been an awesome experience. The horses are incredibly well cared for and loved and Diane is about as hard a worker as I know! I am so impressed with this organization.

I'm a volunteer at Spring Creek Horse Rescue. I can't say enough wonderful things
about this non-profit. The horses are very well cared for, the ranch is kept clean
and comfortable for the horses and most important of all Diane McCracken has
dedicated her life to care for these special animals. She works day and night to
give them a good life. Her knowledge and obvious love for each and every horse
is truly amazing. It is a very special place and I feel proud and fortunate to be a
part of it.

I am currently training one of the rescues and from my experience with Diane, I can confidently say she knows what she's doing and does it well! The horses that come in that are emaciated and have been neglected look like new animals after a short time with Diane rehabilitating them. There is such a high need for what she is doing in La Plata County, let's keep it going!!!

My daughter has been volunteering at Spring Creek Horse Rescue since we moved to the area in June. She found a wonderful group of people who have dedicated themselves to caring for horses who might, without Spring Creek Horse Rescue, not have a home where they can be cared for unti lthey are adopted. My daughter has had the opportunity to learn about caring for horses with a variety of problems from physical ailments to fear of humans. As the animals are cared for, she has been able to watch them learn to trust people and heal.
Spring Creek Horse Rescue provides many horses with the care they previously have not had. It is a place where the animals are put first. Without Spring Creek Horse Rescue many of the horses that go on to be adopted may not have otherwise survived. Now many thrive with the dedicated care that Spring Creek Horse Rescue provides.

Spring Creek Horse Rescue has provided care for countless animals since 1976, almost 40 years. All horses are treated as individuals with specific care and feeding for each. Her wealth of knowledge has brought seemingly incurable animals back from the brink. Diane provides everything she can for the horses, going without many things for herself. She does not take a salary although she is allowed one, believing instead that the horses come first. I have seen amazing changes in many of the horses firsthand, and I learn something every time I am there. I have volunteered for over a year and in that time have seen many instances of horses learning to trust for the first time. Diane truly loves every horse there and wants the best for all of them.

I learned about Spring Creek Horse Rescue when I first moved to the Durango, Colorado area in 2009. I was having a problem with some 30 horses running free around the ranch I live on with no apparent owners. So I called Spring Creek Horse Rescue straight from the phone book. They were in the next town so what could be better? I chatted a bit with the owner/operator of SPHR and after learning what a "Brand Inspector" was, not the kind of "Brands" I was used to living in New York City, the extremely knowledgable and helpful woman I had been speaking with; Diane McCracken offered to come out to the ranch to help me with my problem. As it turned out it was neighbors with horses who found a hole in our fence and evidently liked what we were growing on our ranch a little better than at their place.

I learned so much working with Diane about the problems of horses being dumped on peoples ranches when their rightful owners couldn't afford vet bills or to feed them any longer. The issues of The BLM wild mustangs; how people will buy groups of horses at local auctions only to turn around and ship them, pregnant mares and little colts included to be slaughtered in Mexico or Canada or in illegal slaughterhouses here in the United States.

We need more organizations like Spring Creek Horse Rescue with people like Diane running them. These animals are such natural healers themselves, that Horse Therapy is now being recognized by the medical community. Doctors, psychologists have been getting great results from prescribing for their patients therapy time with horses. Spring Creek needs to continue to do the good work they do 24/7 year after year. Helping horses to help people.

Thank you for the opportunity to let me write this review.

Sharon A. Brady

I met Diane over 3 years ago, the work she does for the horses is amazing.... She is concerned about their welfare for LIFE..... Her dedication is like no other!