Horses find a happy home in Marysville

Published 12:50 am Wednesday, September 22, 2010

MARYSVILLE — Elsie and Morgan each have their own story about how they came to share their current home.

Both are relatively recent additions to All Breed Rez-Q at 2415 116th St. NE and are there because their previous owners could no longer care for them.

Elsie, a 19-year-old quarter horse, came to the nonprofit after her owner’s medical condition made it so she had to find another home, said Dale Brookes, executive director of the nonprofit. She can easily pay her own way at the nonprofit, Brookes added, by being part of the organization’s riding program.

The same isn’t so, Brookes said, for Morgan, a 28-year-old draft quarter horse who has retired at the nonprofit. His owner pays $275 a month to pay for his food and basic necessities.

“I have a new policy if you want to retire your old folks here: We’re happy to have them but you have to help support them and retire them with an income,” Brookes said. “This was at one time a dumping ground for pretty much everything.”

Brookes started as the executive director of All Breed Rez-Q in February. The nonprofit was formerly called the Equine Rescue Association. The name change occurred almost two months ago as part of a fresh start, Brookes said.

There have been positive changes to the property, including the repair of a grooming area in the past seven months, Brookes said, but it has also been a difficult time. There are constant worries about leaky roofs, the maintenance of old structures, hauling away manure and finding the funds to feed and pay the medical bills of the 21 horses currently on the property.

The nonprofit will occasionally receive a rush of support but it never lasts very long, Brookes said.

“People forget that we have to feed the horses every day,” she said.

The property is leased for a nominal fee from the Marysville School District. Brookes is constantly on the look out for good deals on supplies and donations for the organization.

Lately, she said, donations of time, labor, money and supplies have come from her group of 25 volunteers and one local family who will be recognized during a volunteer and donor appreciation party at noon Sunday.

Brookes hosts a party once a month to thank volunteers. This month she’ll open the event up to the public and offer banana splits in exchange for a donation. If the weather is nice, there may even be pony rides.

“We want to get people here to see what we’re doing and see how the place has been taken over by someone else and has improved and has been cleaned up,” she said.

Brookes and volunteer, Suzette Acey, who is the nonprofit’s treasurer, also hope those who attend the party will find it in their hearts to help keep All Breed Rez-Q running.

“Typically in the fall the donations diminish quite a bit,” Acey said. “We’re still here in the rain and the snow and the frozen ice buckets we have to chop through. We need the support year round.”

All Breed Rez-Q

People can build their own banana split sundaes for a donation at noon on Sunday at All Breed Rez-Q, 2415 116th St. NE in Marysville. For more information about All Breed Rez-Q or to volunteer call 425-263-6390 or e-mail allbreedrezq@gmail.com.

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.