OROVILLE — “Tucker” is 15 with a sway-back and is frightened of cows. “Baby” is 23 with damaged lungs. “Little Guy” is 23 and blind in his left eye. “Max” is 31 and missing several teeth. “Sassy” is 29 and has arthritis. These are just some of the horses that call Wild West Horse Rescue home.
“We create a safe and loving place for horses to retire in a herd environment,” said Rachael McDonald, Wild West Horse Rescue owner. “We are dedicated to helping all our equines in their daily needs until the vet decides they will no longer have a good quality of life and need to cross over the last bridge with dignity and love.”
McDonald, who said she’s loved horses and been around them as much as possible her entire life, started taking in horses that could no longer be ridden due to age or medical issues in 2018 after meeting Deborah Larson, founder of Horses Healing Heroes — a Herald, California-based nonprofit that brings veterans together with horses for healing.
Rachael McDonald, owner of Wild West Horse Rescue, holds “Chad,” steady as Daisi Wymore of Western Equine Wellness fits him with a new pair of shoes on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 in Oroville, California. (Kyra Gottesman – Mercury-Register)
“I got to know her, and she got to me and felt like she could bring us three horses for care that weren’t able to be ridden,” said McDonald. “I feel like horses still have meaning to their lives, even when they can’t be ridden anymore. They can still be loved and connect with you in meaningful way.
McDonald said it was Larson who urged her to form a horse rescue nonprofit. It was 2020 before McDonald was able to complete the paperwork and pay the fees to establish Wild West Horse Rescue as a tax-exempt business.
The busy mother of three sons — Tyler, 13, Austin, 8, and Alexander, 3 — spends much of her time providing extra care for the two younger boys, one of whom is autistic and the other who is starting to “show signs of autism.” McDonald’s husband, Eric, struggles with mental illness.
“He’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety , paranoia and schizophrenia,” said McDonald. “He’s really bonded with one of the first horses, Max, we got, a 31-year-old gelding. Working with or just being around Max really calms him.”
Goal to grow
Her sons also benefit from being around the horses helping with feeding and grooming from time to time. The oldest, Tyler, “really enjoys the horses a lot”; Austin’s autism doesn’t get in his way of “loving on the horses,” while Alexander enjoys pulling grass and feeding the herd through the pasture fence.
Wild West Horse Rescue is currently located on less than 2 acres behind her sister’s home in Thermalito, but McDonald is working one getting grants and other financial resources so she can purchase property with a home for her family and enough acreage to take more horses; create a facility that boasts a “wild west town” complete with blacksmith and mercantile shops as well as “town folk” dressed in period costume; a petting zoo; and equine therapy programs.
“I get calls from people looking for a place to retire horses and I have to turn them away,” she said. “I just don’t have anymore room to add to the herd.”
In addition to searching for grants and accepting donations, from time to time McDonald hosts fundraisers and volunteer days at the rescue ranch for people who “just want to be with the horses.”
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“I love running this place. My husband and I love being around horses and so do my boys,” said McDonald. “We love to spend time with them, relaxing, just connecting with them, loving each one of them. And, we want to share our love of horses and our knowledge about caring for them with anybody else who loves horses. They bring meaning to life.”
To learn more about Wild Horse Rescue and any upcoming events, visit wildwesthorserescue.org.
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