Red Wings Horse Sanctuary: Year in Review

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Redwing’s Ambassador horses Primo, Buck and Little Bit at Chesebrough Farm. Photo Credit: Deb Hofstetter Year in Review 2022

As 2022 draws to a close, Redwings Horse Sanctuary looks back on some of the Sanctuary’s highlights. Redwings welcomed a total of 20 new rescues throughout the year, with many equines seized from dire situations. Redwings works to restore these horses to their best possible health and condition, either finding them new forever homes through adoption, or, giving permanent sanctuary at Redwings for those unable to be adopted.

In May, Redwings headed to Thacher Winery with the Ambassador horses to take part in Thacher’s Kentucky Derby Party. This was the first time we participated in this event, and Primo and Little Bit had so much fun entertaining the crowd. Redwings was a nonprofit beneficiary of the event.

In August, the Sanctuary became the retirement home for military horse Buck, an equine Air Force veteran who served at Vandenberg Space Force Base for 12 years. Buck patrolled hundreds of inaccessible acres at the Air Force Base. He is now living the retired lifestyle, and has also begun a new career at Redwings as an Ambassador horse. He seems to feel right at home interacting with the local community. Redwings was fortunate to receive several retired California racing thoroughbreds through the CARMA and TAA programs. A number of these retired racehorses are now in the retraining program at the Sanctuary. They make wonderful additions to the equines available in Redwings’ signature Adoption Program.

Redwings hosted monthly level one volunteer training sessions throughout 2022, and our current volunteer participation is at an all-time high. Volunteers engage in hands-on grooming, as well as delivering lots of TLC (and carrot treats) to a host of extremely appreciative equines. Thank you to the many dedicated volunteers who constantly show up for the horses.

Fall brought participation in the Great Agventure for SLO County fourth graders at the Paso Robles Event Center, and a new partnership with Humanity Wine Project. Humanity Wines is a public benefit company based in Paso Robles that gives 50 percent of the profits from wine sales to charitable organizations in areas such as animal welfare. Go to Redwings’s website to learn more about how to order wine and also support the horses.

Redwings celebrated in September with their Second Annual Block Party Fundraising Event, and in November, the three Ambassador horses took part in a special holiday photo shoot at beautiful Chesebrough Farm in Templeton.

Redwings can’t wait for all the exciting opportunities coming their way during 2023.

Especially as a non-reader, I can’t thank Patricia and the Group enough. They have given me the confidence to work on my project and walked me through every step of the way. ~Kelli Gonzales, Paso Robles 7

Cabinet Refinishing, Wood Staining, and Specialty Projects