My Nonprofit Reviews

A quiet place…and a healing one.
I am so thankful to have discovered Patricia and her beautiful rescue. I have been privileged to see the incredible process of healing and loving care of horses, along with the sometimes lengthy journey of finding these precious creatures “forever homes”. I have learned so much from Patricia, and have been able to observe closely the painstaking individualized care that goes into each horse that has arrived there… some under terrible circumstances and near their end. One thing that I feel is important to note. Not only is this a place of healing for horses. It has also been a place of healing for me.
I lost my son in Afghanistan in January of 2012 in a negligent soldier on soldier homicide. My world was torn apart. There is really no describing here what the loss of a child is like and what it does to a family. I will say, though, that when I came as a volunteer almost a year ago…it was with uncertainty as to why I was even doing it. I knew in my heart, that I had to find some sort of place to start healing. I have always loved horses.
When I arrived and took Patricia’s horsemanship classes…I was a broken person. It was difficult to speak to anyone due to the fact that I had crawled into a black hole inside of myself for many months. Her classes were interesting and informative. Patricia was easy and approachable, and I felt welcome and valued from the start. I started volunteering four days a week and will say honestly, that from the beginning, it was purely for my own healing. Many mornings, I awoke with my heart so shattered that I could barely get up from my bed. I pushed myself to dress and get to my car and drive the 30 miles to Serenity. The horses, the rescue, never failed me. At first, it was a pure burning off of grief. Cleaning the barn and paddocks, laying out feed and soon bringing out the horses in the morning (after I had gained Patricia’s trust with them). I rarely spoke to other volunteers. It just hurt too much.
But the horses….
I felt peace and acceptance whenever they were near. Just a simple few minutes with “Dante”, and suddenly the world didn't look quite so harsh and scary. To observe their quiet simplicity, acceptance and trust of whatever lot or blow life had dealt them, this beautiful virtue I have learned from these horses. To see the perfection of these horses… helped me to remember the perfection of their creator. It has gone a long way in healing my relationship with God, one that had been wildly shattered by me at the death of my son. Dante… has seen me cry. And now… I know, when I head down to the lower fields after working for a few hours….Dante sees me and always heads over for some stroking and love. As I have touched, held and talked to the horses, grief has lifted, and purpose and value have entered into my spirit again..
Patricia originally bought and built the stable for her own horses and to take in a few boarders to help her in her retirement years. During the sudden event of a shutdown of an operation some years ago, she took in many horses and so the rescue began. The horses that are owned by Patricia were the original occupants. These horses, play an important role of providing stability to the rescues that come to the ranch. I find it amazing, that in all the skilled and heartfelt care that Patricia has put into the horses that have been fortunate enough to end up at her ranch, I don’t think she realizes the healing that is happening among-st some of us who are volunteers.
Serenity is a wonderful place to volunteer. Patricia has a genuine heart for the care of every horse that lands there. Coupled with her vast equine knowledge and willingness to teach, this truly is a worthy non-profit and a very special, healing place.
I gladly sign my name to this post. It is easy to criticize and hide behind the anonymity of the internet. Easy to stab quickly, and then retreat without giving the victim the benefit of a face to face discussion. It is easy for one to cause unwarranted damage and hurt to others when hidden in the vast frontier of those that post bitter blogs, but don’t have the courage to openly discuss and learn the truth before spewing irreversible, unwarranted “reviews”.
Charlotte Cox-Turner
Serenity Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation Volunteer

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