Rough Start Annual Appeal

Once a year, Rough Start Horse Rescue reaches out and humbly asks you to help save lives in our communities with our annual appeal. I hope that you find our animal rescue programs, educational and outreach programs to be uplifting and inspirational!

We are kicking off our annual appeal this year on Giving Tuesday, with a goal of raising $50,000 dollars. That is a lot of money you may say, and you would be right. It is half of what it costs to run the rescue for one year. This last year with our countries political uncertainty adoptions have been down and horses needing a safe place has been increasingly on the rise. Your generous donation goes to hay, grain, vet, and farrier care, as well as supplies for fencing and shelters as the need arises. We have had an overwhelming response to our youth program where children come and learn how to care and handle horses, the hay program ‘Not a hand out but a hoof up’ has allowed over 22 horses to stay in their homes this past year, these are just a few of the free programs that would not be possible without your generous donations.

Before I let you go as I know you are busy I would like to share with you a story, Ariel came to us within the first 3 months of the rescue starting in 2010, she was one of 30 plus horses that were part of a USDA confiscation. When you look at Ariel you see a beautiful Quarter Horse, good confirmation, and scars. Scars from barbed wire being used as a bit, Scars from barbed wire being used as a breast collar, and Scars that you can’t see from being beat with a crow bar and a 2x4 with nails in it, and on top of it all the man would throw one 50lb bale of hay out and watch all the horses fight for even a mouth full. Why am I telling you this? I am sharing this story because Ariel is still with us. She has come a long way, she has learned that here with us she is safe, because Ariel suffered such abuse she has never been able to trust people enough to be ridden. Now we could have just put her down, as many would argue she is taking up a space another more trainable horse could benifit from. Instead we have trained her as an ambassador, every year she goes to the Spokane fair and eats cookies and teaches people about the horrors of abuse, she helps veterans with PTSD learn how to find that calm place within, she is able to do these amazing things because of you.

 Without your financial support horses like Ariel wouldn’t have the ability to teach the community about abuse and neglect, they wouldn’t be able to give veterans the tools to find peace, or give inner city kids the ability to work and learn about horses. You make all these things possible by your donation, and the most important thing your generous donation does is save lives. You may not be able to save a hundred horses alone but with your donation you can make the difference in 100’s of lives, or if you want to make a difference in that one special horses life consider becoming a horse angel and sponsor a horse for 50 dollars a month until they can find that perfect forever loving home. 

Without your continued support we would not have been able to save over 350 horses since we were founded, you make the difference.
Remember all donations are tax deductible. Rough Start Horse Rescue is a 501c3 non - profit charity. If you would perfer to make a contribution by check you can mail it to
20027 S. Harrison  Edwall, Wa 99008 .