​Mckenna Myers - Essay

“Rescue animals aren’t broken, they’ve simply experienced more life than other animals. If they were human, we would call them wise. They would be the ones with tales to tell and stories to write, the ones dealt a bad hand who responded with courage. Don’t pity them. Do something. Help to rescue. Donate. Volunteer. Foster. Adopt. And be proud to have their greatness by your side.” [Author unknown] I, McKenna Myers, rescue horses within a 501c3 equine rescue called A and A Horse Haven. A and A Horse Haven was founded by April Pearson, a mother of three, who has a dream to save as many horses as she possibly can. The rescue has been active for just a few years, but has already made an extreme impact on so many of our equine friends. 

    Many horses brought into the rescue are extremely scared of everything because of the harm caused by previous owners. Horses come in emotionally and oftentimes physically harmed. Gashes, scars, and broken bones are all common when a horse gets brought into the rescue barns. After A and A Horse Haven founder, April Pearson, examines them personally, we get them examined by a veterinarian as well. After we determine all the physical issues, we decide the care that the horses will need in the future whether that be medical or behavioral care.

 All horses received by the rescue stay in the quarantine barn for a minimum of 30 days. After they are released they are posted on facebook as well as their webpage, aahorsehaven.com, so that interest for each horse begins to gather. Once interest is shown on a specific horse, the potential owner has to go through a fairly lengthy adoption application process. Once that is done, we invite the future equine owner to meet their future equine friend to decide if they are compatible for each other. After that decision is made, we either load up the horse for the owner to take home for a trial period or we find a horse more suited for the hopeful owner.

A and A Horse Haven is a non-profit organization. This  basically means that we rely on the good will of God to provide funds needed for buying horse supplies, as well as funds needed to get horses from sale barns or slaughter. Each horse adopted is put under a contract that states that you can not sell, breed, etc. the horse that you adopted. Each horse also has an adoption fee that must be paid in order to pick up your horse. Adoption fees are based on the behavioral issues of the horse, the medical bills that have been paid on the horse, as well as previous supplies used to care for the horse upon adoption. 

Speaking, writing, or typing about the importance of rescues, especially one that I hold so near to my heart, is one thing that I could talk about for hours. The dedication of each worker within the rescue is unmatched to anything I have ever witnessed. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to get to work with them!

​Mckenna Myers - Kentucky
Nomination & Photography by Mark H Herron PhotoArtistry
Issue 63 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

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