Judy Glore is convinced that we can learn a lot from horses.
"Horses have shown me that each day is a new day with a new start where you can see what good things will come if you have a brand-new attitude. If we all lived like that, can you just imagine?" said Glore, founder and president of HEART of Tucson.
The all-volunteer organization is dedicated to rescuing horses in urgent need of care and educating the public about the responsibilities and expenses associated with owning a horse.
Glore, 52, has a long history with horses - as a teen she rode her horse to and from Amphitheater High School.
She began rescuing horses five years ago. Since HEART - the name stands for Happy Equine Acres Rescue & Therapy of Tucson - attained nonprofit status in March 2009, it has rescued more than 50 abandoned, abused or neglected horses.
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Other services include Pay It Forward with HEART, a food bank partnership with local feed stores that provides horse owners in need with hay in an effort to keep the animals in their homes.
The east-side organization is also establishing a euthanasia fund for animals in distress.
Glore said she believes the downturn in the economy, coupled with the proliferation of horses, has diminished the value of animals and contributed to the need for HEART's services.
The general public lacks awareness about the ongoing costs - aside from just food and tack - involved with keeping a horse healthy, including care of hooves and teeth, deworming, vaccinations and other veterinary needs.
HEART is raising awareness about those responsibilities by holding First-Time Horse Ownership Seminars and a basic horsemanship summer camp program for children ages six to 14 in conjunction with Lazy Bear Ranch.
"The purchase price is the cheapest part of owning a horse. People don't realize that having a horse is an expensive undertaking; you can't just put it in your backyard like a dog," she said. "Horses need room and facilities and time and attention; they are not meant to stand in their stall 24 hours a day."
More than 30 volunteers care for and feed the animals and provide administrative assistance and foster care.
The organization also accepts donations toward the $3,000-plus in monthly expenses (excluding veterinary bills) of caring for rescued horses.
Miranda Brown, 12, is a new volunteer and sponsor of Lazarus, a 9-year-old recovering from injuries acquired during abuse and illegal racing.
"Lazarus is a sweetheart. When I first saw him, he was very sad looking, but now he is much happier. I can tell he likes his new home," said the Flowing Wells Junior High School student.
Brown enjoys seeing how horses interact with her and is looking forward to feeding and grooming rescued animals and learning other skills that will help in her quest to become a veterinarian.
"I am happy to be helping with a good cause and helping these horses to get better," she said.
If You Go
• What: H.O.T. August Nights: An Evening of Fine Art and Music to benefit HEART of Tucson.
• When: 7 p.m. Aug. 21.
• Where: Steinway Piano Gallery of Tucson, 3001 E. Skyline Drive.
• Cost: $75 per person; tickets must be purchased by Aug. 14.
Festivities include a concert by the piano quartet Ostromencki & Friends, wine, gourmet cheeses and desserts by Dakota Cafe and a silent auction. The auction will feature original art by local artists, jewelry, dinner at local restaurants, a two-night luxury stay in downtown Los Angeles and a private flight for two to three people to the city of your choice (limit 600 roundtrip miles) from the Tucson airport.
For more information go to heartoftucson.org or call 445-1510. To reserve tickets, call Steinway Piano Gallery at 1-888-325-9797.
This article also was published Sunday in the Star. Contact freelance writer Loni Nannini at ninch2@comcast.net
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