ARVADA —The stories of how horses end up at in Arvada are as varied as the animals themselves.
Ranger, his body covered in cuts, scars, abscesses and infections from running through barbed wire, was found this spring seeking companionship with four horses on private property.
A concerned resident called animal control in August after seeing Maggie and Maya confined in small pens nearly starved to death on an elderly neighbor’s property.
For 20 years, the Horse Protection League has been taking these animals and giving them a second lease on life on a 46-acre ranch at 17999 W. 60th Ave.
“The main goal with these animals is we’re a support group,” said ranch manager Emie O’Neill. “Our goal is to get these horses rehabilitated and get them into a loving home.”
O’Neill said the need for placement for abandoned horses has grown exponentially the last six years, with most people pointing to the economic downturn,
“Equines have always been seen as livestock and property; they don’t have the safety net of say, canines,” said Duane Adams, president of the Colorado Unwanted Horse Alliance.
“We’re at capacity,” said Protection League board president Annie Oden. “We have 30 horses right now and it’s the most we’ve ever had.”
Once a horse arrives, it’s given full medical attention and brought back to health. Then the process of rehabilitation, resocialization and, hopefully, training gets started. One of the goals is showing the horses they do not need to be afraid of humans and building trust, O’Neill said.
Some are sent to a trainer in Conifer who saddle-trains and prepares the horses for adoption. Many no longer can be ridden and are used as companion animals, such as Hobbs, who was adopted to keep a lonely goat company.
Oden said the nonprofit organization runs entirely on volunteers, grants and donations.
“We’ve also become more focused on getting the education out there, that there is support for people who have maybe gotten themselves in trouble and they’re afraid to come forward,” Oden said.
She added the majority of the horses come in from owner surrender, impounds or Humane Society intervention.
“We can’t stress enough; if you see neglect with horses or dogs, speak up,” Oden said.
For all the situations volunteers and members encounter,
Thirteen-year-old Alix Bailey is a member of the Westernaires equestrian drill club and fell in love with Clover when her family visited the Horse Protection League in 2011.
The horse is boarded on site, and Bailey is there seven days a week grooming, riding and training Clover.
“The minute I saw her I knew she was meant for me,” Bailey said. “I had never seen anything like her — she’s a gray paint and there’s not many like her out there.”
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abriggs
Horse protection league
Info: call 303-216-0141 or visit
