Six years later, Alberta rescue group celebrates 320 horses saved

EDMONTON – An Alberta horse rescue organization is celebrating its sixth anniversary, and five years of hosting a successful local fundraising event.

In its six-year history, the Rescue 100 Foundation has helped 320 abused and neglected horses.

In 2008, the SPCA discovered 158 abused horses 65 kilometers northeast of Edmonton. Only 100 of the animals were still alive and in critical condition.

At that time, Rescue 100 founder Susan Fyfe had come back from a trip from New Mexico and heard the news from friends and family.

“Everyone was telling me that there were 100 horses that were in need of rescuing,” she recalls.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Everyone was telling me that there were 100 horses that were in need of rescuing," she recalls.

When the SPCA announced an auction for the horses, Fyfe was concerned that their sale would not guarantee the proper medical treatment that was needed.

“Here’s a young girl trying to save a horse and ends up killing it with too much TLC,” she explains.

After consulting her husband, her lawyer and a vet, Fyfe decided to take in the 100 horses, rehabilitate them, and find loving homes for each one.

“My husband said, ‘don’t do it. You’re going to lose your farm.’ I said ‘no, I know that this will work out, I know I can do this.'”

Within 24 hours of obtaining the horses, she had 75 volunteers ready to help, and donations started to pour in from around the world.

The mission was successful, and by June 2008, most of the horses had found their forever homes.

Fyfe and her team decided to use the remaining funds to continue rehabilitating horses in need.

“We thought, obviously the public must feel strongly about this, and we could see the lives that had been changed.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We thought, obviously the public must feel strongly about this, and we could see the lives that had been changed."

Over the foundation’s six-year history, hundreds of horses on the brink of death have been saved.

READ MORE: Neglected and abused horse adopted

Fyfe says that two of the horses have even won equestrian competitions.

“Here they are, bag of bones, to actually up in the competitions and winning. So that’s very cool for us to see.”

Rescue 100 will be hosting its fifth consecutive barn dance and auction at its ranch in Sherwood Park Saturday night, a fundraising event for its ongoing efforts.

An auction will feature art and Harley Davidson motorcycles, as well as a dinner and dance. Tickets can be purchased for $40 at the door.