4
Project reviews of WHRC
Project Details
Wild Horse Rescue Center (WHRC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare, rescue and preservation of America’s wild horses – the Mustangs.
About the Project
Founded by Diane Delano in 2000, WHRC receive mustangs who have been taken from the wild and from there, ended up in neglectful or abusive situations. WHRC rehabilitates these wild horses so they have a chance at getting adopted in to good homes and have a dignified life after being taken from the wild. Diane Delano has been an ardent horse lover all her life. She found her greatest passion in helping America’s wild horses, the Mustang. Diane’s desire to make a difference in the lives of these beautiful and intelligent wild spirits led her to create the Wild Horse Rescue Center in Mims, Florida. Another important part of the team is Mary Alice "Malice" Smith. Malice Smith has been a vital part of WHRC since 2004. With veterinary technician and wildlife management experience, Malice’s skills, experience, and dedication (and her sense of humor) make her a vital part of WHRC. A strong advocate for the preservation of Mustangs in the wild, we feel fortunate to have her on our team.
In June 2014, Wild Horse Rescue Center relocated to a 38.9 acre property. The new location for the Center is right next to beautiful Lake Harney with a barn that has a tack room and feed room. There is a big house and pool for our International Volunteers from all over the world to use. We are continually working on clearing the property and building more pens and stalls for our wild and abused mustangs and burros.
The Problem
Mustangs were introduced to the US as domestic horses in the early 1500’s by the Spaniards. These horses later formed a large wild population and came to play a critical role in the building of America. The United States is virtually built on their backs. Now, when they are not needed for labor and transport anymore, they are sadly being mistreated and exploited at the hands of man. In the early 1900’s, the wild mustang population was estimated to be over 2 million. Today, there are only 40,000 left in the wild and about as many in captivity in need of rescue. Caring for a wild horse is drastically different than caring for a tame one, sadly, this is often leads to mistreatment and neglect of wild Mustangs in captivity.
Verified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries
The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries, awarded Verified status to Wild Horse Rescue Center as of April 15, 2013.
Verification means that Wild Horse Rescue Center meets the criteria of a true equine sanctuary/rescue and is providing humane and responsible care of the animals. To be awarded Verified status, an organization must meet GFAS’s rigorous and peer-reviewed animal care standards which are confirmed by a site visit and they must also adhere to a demanding set of ethical and operational principles.
The main focus of the project is on
NPO Status
Yes, registered non-profit organization
Foundation Year
2000
Contact Person
Spoken Languages
Social Impact
When we rescue horses from abusive and neglectful environments, they are often at the brink of death. The goal is to nurse them back to health, tame and train them so they have a chance at being adopted in to a loving home. The majority of them can indeed be tamed, trained and adopted – others cannot. Diane, the founder of WHRC refers to these horses as “wild at heart” and says she “will never force them to work with her and be tame if they don’t want to”. These wild horses live out their days at the center because their chances of being adopted are minimal.
We strive to create greater awareness and understanding of the wild Mustang. We offer mentoring for Mustang owners; hold workshops on care and gentling of Mustangs; give educational seminars on Mustangs in American History, and bring Mustangs to wildlife festivals and other community events.
Pursued Sustainable Development Goals
Webster, FL , United States
Social Impact