If this is the first time you have picked up this wonderful monthly magazine and maybe stopped because you saw the photo of the horse (and you happen to love horses), let me introduce myself.
My name is Karen Thurman and I own and operate Rainhill Equine Facility. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization that gives life-long homes to disabled horses, with our main focus being horses with sight issues. We currently care for 53 horses. More than half are totally blind. A big undertaking – absolutely! Most of these horses are unwanted and are headed to a place no horse wants to go.
Let me go back a few years and explain how I ended up doing this important work. I moved to this 200-acre farm in 1984 with the plan to board horses and teach horseback riding. Ten years later I was offered a chance to rehab Standardbred racehorses. Nothing too difficult, just basically rest them. I jumped at the opportunity and loved helping the old and tired horses feel better.
This is probably where my desire came from to ease the pain and uncertainty that homeless animals of all kinds experience when everything they have known is gone. And then, out of the blue came calls about blind horses. Well, how hard could that be? (famous last words!)
It has been a really interesting journey, as I have learned so much about blind horses, horses in general, and myself.
Many of our horses are not blind but have arrived with all sorts of problems that would limit their usefulness as riding horses. They live a quiet life here. They are not worked nor ridden. I expect nothing of them. They just live out their lives in peace. It’s a very rewarding life for me to know I can make such a difference in the life of an animal I love so dearly.
Most of our horses live here for twenty years or longer. The photo is of Jacob. He has been here a little over 20 years. It does my heart good to see him run with his friends, free as the wind!
Thank you for reading our little stories. If you would like to make a donation, we would be so honored. No one here receives a salary. All money raised goes directly to feed and care for these precious horses.
Bless you for caring.
-by Karen Thurman
Rainhill Equine Facility
11125 Ky. Hwy. 185
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-777-3164
KRYSTAL, USE THE WORD JACOB AS THE CUTLINE UNDER THE PHOTO.
