Hello Everyone, and Welcome Back to Season 2 of Horse Tales. Today I speak with Diane Delano, owner and operator of Wild Horse Rescue Center and we get into all things Mustang!

I hope you enjoy the show!

Let's Saddle Up

 

Diane Delano Biography

Diane Delano was born in upstate New York.  She began riding horses at the age of three and has been an ardent horse lover ever since.  

Diane moved to Central Florida when she was eight years old.  Five years later on her 13th birthday in 1975, Diane received her first horse, a sweet mare named Raindrop, whom she owned for 34 years.  Raindrop became a beloved member of the family and was eventually ridden by her children and grandchildren.

Shortly after getting Raindrop, Diane met her first mustang, and she knew right away that she would devote her life to helping these beautiful and intelligent creatures.  For over fifty years, Diane has been making a difference in the lives of mustangs and other rescue animals on a daily basis. 

Diane has worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) since 1989 when she began adopting BLM mustangs for personal use.  In 1998, she was one of 20 people selected by the BLM to be a Volunteer Compliance Officer, and she has continued to work with the BLM to the present day.

In 2001, Diane started a small private rescue center for horse in Mims, Florida.  In 2007, as her rescue mission continued to grow, Diane became the founder and owner of Wild Horse Rescue Center, Inc. (WHRC), a non-profit organization, which is currently located on 40 acres in Webster, Florida.  The current head count of WHRC’s rescue animals is 61 horses, three donkeys, 17 dogs, two cows, two pigs, five ducks, one duck, and many chickens.

Diane has earned many awards and certifications over the years, including the BLM Pre-Adoption Facility Inspector, Horsemanship Safety Association Instructor, Four C’s Award, Making a Difference Award, and News 6 Getting Results Award.

Venture Stables is located in Freetown, Prince Edward Island.

It is owned and operated by horse enthusiasts, Jasmine and Marc Bastarache.

Venture Stables, which started up by the late Lawrence Banman, continues to run as it did 20 years ago.  Venture offers riders, new and old, beginner or novice, the opportunity to broaden their skills, ride in a safe environment, communicate with other like-minded people, participate in our various clinics and events, and so much more.

Facility features:

29 Deluxe Box Stalls

60 x 120 Indoor Arena

100 x 200 Outdoor Arena

Wash Stall

Tack Room

Feed Room

The Mare Hotel

The Fiddle Shop

On-Site The Stable Spa

Time to Saddle Up! We are having a chat with Zoe Lucas Naturalist & President of the Sable Island Institute who works on Sable Island. 

Sable Island is located just off the tip of South Western Nova Scotia. Sable Island translated literally means "Island of Sand". The unique landscape, history of shipwrecks, wildlife (especially the horses) has attracted considerable international following. 

Zoe Lucas

President, Sable Island Institute

Zoe received an MFA in 1977 from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and then taught part-time in the goldsmithing department. In 1974, while at NSCAD, she began working on Sable Island as a volunteer cook and field assistant with a Dalhousie University seal research team, and after a few seasons continued on the island as manager/technician for the terrain restoration program.

By 1982, Zoe was involved full-time with Sable projects, conducting various research and monitoring programs including studies of persistent litter in the marine environment, and shark predation on seals. Long-term projects include research on the island`s horses, beach surveys for oiled seabirds and stranded cetaceans, and biodiversity studies (mosses, lichens, fungi, and invertebrates). Results of research programs have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, as well as in newsletters and magazines.

In 2002 Zoe established the Green Horse Society, in 2004 became a Research Associate with the Nova Scotia Museum, and in 2008 received an Honorary Doctorate from Dalhousie University. For ten years, Zoe partnered with the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax to organize a series of annual public meetings about Sable Island.

Until now I have focused on Canadian content however sometimes a story just needs to be told and this one has been calling out to me for many years.

Join me as I speak to retired police officer Cindy Butierez who is now President of HEART of Tucson  a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, pro horse equine rescue organization run entirely by volunteers.

Our mission is two-fold. HEART rescues horses of all breeds that are in urgent need of care. We rescue horses that perhaps have been neglected, abandoned, or abused.

Secondly, our mission is to instruct and raise awareness to the general public about what it takes to own a horse including feeding, grooming, tack, training, boarding, veterinary care and all costs associated with owning a horse. 

A note of caution - This episode deals with sensitive subject matter (regarding abused animals) that may not be suitable for some people. Listener discretion is advised. 

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Judy Glore in hopes to shine a light on her legacy.

Wow! Can you believe it is Episode 10 already!? It seems like just yesterday I had this crazy idea to start my own podcast as a way to connect like minded people.

One of the people who has helped me on my journey is Heather Blouin, owner and operator of Grand River Ranch. She is my lovely guest on today's show.

Nestled just past Summerside here on Prince Edward Island is where you will find Grand River Ranch. A truly welcoming environment that helps participants feel empowered and provides a real sense of belonging. With a new facility being built under the guidance of the Council for Disability it's no wonder Grand River Ranch was voted in the top three Love Local businesses here on the Island. 

Grand River Ranch is a sole proprietorship in its fourth year as an approved NGO and vendor with the Province of Prince Edward Island. The Department of Social Development and Housing refers and supports clients of the Accessibility Support Program (former Disability Support Program) and Children in Care to life-skill based ranch/animal programs. The programs also host those supported by Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, Lennox Island Health Centre and the Jordan’s Principal Program. Programs are facilitated by Heather Blouin BPE, BSW RSW, an instructor with the Certified Horsemanship Association and an Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator. Memberships include: Prince Edward Island Association of Social Workers, Standardbred Canada, The American Quarter Horse Association and Island Horse Council. The strength based programs are farm focused with the goal of helping people succeed. Successful projects with the Province include Skills PEI and Rural Job Initiative where employees were offered continued employment beyond the programs. While being employed elsewhere as a full-time Social worker, Heather engaged two participants at the ranch. This unique niche resulted in growth of the participants to 45 participants weekly, 12 months of the year. Heather, along with four employees, now handle GRR’s responsibilities. Grand River Ranch’s team has a wide range of both formal education and practical experience in the Human Services and equine industry. Owner/operator Heather Blouin has a degree in Kinesiology and is a registered Social Worker. As a former program manager of a 100 bed youth facility and a former instructor of corrections at the community college level, Heather has the experience and knowledge, as well as the dynamic personality to be able to carry out projects to their completion with proven, measurable results. She has orchestrated a number of long term programming and large scale events. She and her team have over a century of combined experience in the horse industry supported by coaching levels and memberships, certifications, Animal Science at Olds College, Equine programs at the University of Guelph, and University Edinburgh. Staff members trained in Human Services, Project Management and Animal Science also support the successful outcome of the programs delivered. This ensures participants gain quality programming in a safe learning environment. A new accessible indoor facility equipped with kitchen, fully accessible washroom and classroom space to accommodate the Ranch’s popular programs is underway and the completion is prior to this project. Grand River Ranch is located at 113 Grand River Drive. Situated 14 Km west of Summerside, this picturesque location offers a sense of being removed. The Ranch is situated on a 190 acre estate that boarders the beautiful Grand River. Adaptations to both facilities include policies and signage to help ensure our facility follows practices in accordance with the recommendations regarding Covid-19. The budget allows for participants being supported for transportation. The rural location offers the ability to meet the needs of the west prince and Lennox Island locations as well as the North West shore

 

So much to talk about!

Let's Saddle up!

Today I take the show on the road and visit Handibear Hills Horse Sanctuary! Yogi Fell is the owner and operator. She has been helping humans & horses for over thirty years. Yogi is in her 70's and won Horse Canada's 'Hero's of the Horse' award for 2017.

Yogi runs the sanctuary on her pension and donations. This sanctuary is full of warmth and the animals are all very well cared for. If you know Yogi you will recognize her token phrase 'Love and Hugs'.

Let's Saddle Up!

I hope you all enjoy the show.

Angela Geddes, MBA, CPCC Owner of Soul on Fire Coaching and Equine Guided Wellness Center

Saddle up with me and let's chat with Angela Geddes, owner and creator of Soul on Fire Wellness Center. Soul on Fire Wellness Center is really about igniting that spark in you and helping to rekindle your passion for life and/or your career. Soul on Fire partners with horses, nature and you to connect holistically (emotionally, physically, and soulfully). Services offered are listed below:

Leadership/Personal Development through Coaching

Equine Guided Assisted Facilitation and Learning

Reflexology

Indian Head Massage

Guided Nature Tours

Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Nelson Mandela

I hope all the listeners live big and play big - let's be present in the moment, right here, right now.

Happy Trail riding!

Today my special guest is Hannah G Peters.

Hannah has 16 years of horse experience, 8 of which with a focus on Natural Horsemanship and Horse Agility. She has won the Horse Agility Youth World Championship in Online and Liberty divisions in 2015 and is now a Horse Agility Accredited Trainer. 

This young lady was lovely to chat with and I think she is well on her way to having continued success in the Horse Industy. So let's saddle up and I hope you enjoy the show!

Sharene Smith is a barefoot trimmer and has helped my horse and pony with their feet. She really looks at each animal from a holistic persepective in terms of physical balance. She works with many horses across Prince Edward Island and is from Austrailia where she started riding as a child.

Sherene always has a seed of knowledge whenever she visits our farm and has really inspired me to learn more this year. I hope you enjoy this trail ride and learn something too! 

"If you never go out on a limb, you'll never know where you can go" Matthew Mcconaughey

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change" Dr. Wayne Dyer

Thanks again to everyone who is listening for your support!