During the economic downturn of 2009, Wendy Digiorno was concerned to see horses shipped off to auction and commercial slaughterhouses, or worse, dying from abuse and abandonment. She decided to combat the growing issue by founding (and now executive director of) All About Equine Animal Rescue (AAE)—a nonprofit (of which she is the executive director) dedicated to rehabilitating and rehoming at-risk horses—and so far, its all-volunteer staff has helped more than 100 horses fully regain their health. Linda Lewis serves as the organization’s public relations coordinator and says that as a child, she always dreamed of owning a horse. Through her involvement with AAE, she was fortunate enough to realize that dream through Clayton, a once badly injured and orphaned bay roan. “After he arrived, he was cared for around the clock,” she says. “As he improved, he became well enough for adoption, [but] I couldn’t bear to have him leave.” According to Lewis, there are currently 32 horses (ranging in age from two months to 30-plus years) on AAE’s 15-acre property, and although roughly 75 percent of those rescued to date have been placed in loving homes, horses deemed unfit for adoption are free to live out their days under the facility’s care. “We have reached a point where the number of horses we are able to care for has been limited by the size of the property,” explains volunteer Richard Lawson. “I would love to see the opportunity present itself where we could relocate to a larger property and care for more horses.” To that end, community members are encouraged to make donations, volunteer their time, or simply share AAE’s vision with others. “The horses have helped me be a better listener; not of words but unspoken languages of movement, thoughts, direction,” Lewis shares. “[They] continue to help me be a better person, and I am grateful.” 

allaboutequine.org