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According to founder/president Anouk Busch, “It all started when I saw two old Standardbreds, who I dubbed the two old men, at an auction house in an online post. Nobody else was interested in buying or helping them. As a Standardbred trainer, I am always drawn to Standardbreds in need and decided to ask for pledges to purchase them, as long as I could convince a home or rescue to take them from there.”
Anouk continued, “By pure luck, Bright Futures Farm, a rescue in Pennsylvania, agreed to take the old men if I could secure purchase and a quarantine facility. I drove around my neighborhood, knocking on doors of properties that had empty fields with horse sheds. With a place for quarantine and purchase secured, I picked of Phoenix and Bronson and cared for them for a few weeks until they left for Bright Futures Farm. They went on to live for several years in an adoptive home together before passing away six months apart from each other. I still have one of the horseshoes that one of the old men came with as a keepsake to our first rescue effort.”
Within weeks of assisting the two old Standardbreds, Anouk decided to help a young Standardbred at auction. The horse went on to be adopted, but before Anouk knew it, the auction house had five more discarded Standardbred broodmares in need of help. Anouk found homes for two of them right away, but took in three, having secured funds for one month of board and care.
Thanks to Anouk’s efforts with starting the mares under saddle and taking daily videos and photos, each found a home. “That was when Horse Rescue United really started,” Anouk said. “I realized that I wanted to help more horses but had to better prepare so they would have someplace stable to go.”
It was around this time that Diana Tuorto, who had befriended Anouk through Facebook earlier that spring, began to help Anouk operate the horse rescue. “I now live in Western New York, but back in 2010 I still lived two hours from Anouk,” Diana recalled. “I wasn’t able to help care for the horses, but my background in marketing and volunteering for animal rescues gave me the skills needed to build up our online presence through a website and Facebook. I also took on fundraising and promoting the horses for adoption. I’m typically the first person our adopters speak with and I walk them through our application process.”
“Diana had the same vision as me,” Anouk added. “Her writing and internet skills are truly the key to our success. From our labor of love, we created Horse Rescue United, which became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Along the way, Susankelly Thompson of Mylestone Equine Rescue has mentored us. Susankelly started her rescue back in 1995 and now has over 30 horses. Her knowledge and advice are invaluable.”
By
Anouk Busch and Diana Tuorto
Horse Rescue United (HRU) is an all-breeds horse and animal rescue located in Howell, NJ. Since March 2010, the rescue has assisted nearly 70 horses, and one cat. As of January 2018, HRU has 11 horses under their care and most are in need of adoptive homes.