10 minute read
Horses Without Humans
Changing the Narrative, One Horse at a Time
By Jeweliana Curtis
If you have ever had the pleasure of interacting with a horse, you were likely met with kind eyes, a gentle demeanor and an incredible sense that this animal was strong and powerful. We would also venture to say that you may have left the interaction mesmerized after witnessing the beauty and magic that a horse exudes. This is all true for Yvonne Barteau, a horse enthusiast from a young age turned “unicorn” in the equine industry who has dedicated her life work to helping horses without humans. Yvonne Barteau grew up in Toronto, Canada, and has always described herself as an animal lover. Growing up, she had a fascination with dogs, leading her to become friends with all of the neighborhood dogs and reading every book she could nd about them. When she eventually ran out of dog-related books to explore at her local library at the age of ten, she checked out Walter Farley’s Black Stallion. After completing the read in less than 24 hours, Yvonne read it again, the animal she had come to love. That’s really where her love of horses began, and she knew that she wanted to be a horse trainer. Because her family members were not interested in horses, and due to the fact that she lived in the bustling city of Toronto, Yvonne shares that everyone in her life did not take her decision to work with horses seriously. Everyone from her friends to the school guidance counselor thought it was not a real career path she should pursue, but despite the odds, Yvonne never lost sight of her dream.
It was that determination that pushed Yvonne to achieve many accolades in her profession, from becoming a renowned horse trainer specializing in “di cult” horses to being long-listed for the Olympics team with a Dutch stallion named Liberty. This same passion pushed Yvonne to become one of the few trainers in the country that has trained more than 25 horses to the Grand Prix level, training hundreds to the level just below it. As Yvonne embarked on her career, she gained experience with horses and learned all about the horseracing industry at a racetrack. While she was grateful for her experience there, she felt that it was not actually a sport about horses, but rather a sport about making money with horses involved. Yvonne then moved to Florida where she would become a horse trainer and problem solver, working with the “di cult” horses in the stable. This is where she learned all about training before transitioning into show business and working for the Arabian Nights Dinner Theatre in Kissimmee, Florida. She worked as a horse trainer and actor in the show, learning the ins-and-outs of producing a great show, which is a skill she utilizes for the rescue today. After leaving the world of show business to raise her family, Yvonne continued to train horses in Illinois with her company, KYB Dressage, and she has published two books surrounding the topics of equine training and human and horse personalities. As an expert in her eld and a lifelong horse lover, you can imagine the shock and horror that she felt one evening when she discovered the horrors of equine welfare in the United States. “Somewhere along the line, we were making a movie about how to select and train horses for theater work, and the subject of equine welfare in the United States came across my computer,” Yvonne explains. “I feel so sad to say that as a lifetime horse trainer, I could peripherally understand that not all horses had great lives, but I did not know the actuality of it. As I started to research, I got more and more horri ed at how horses are treated in the United States. I started to weave the plot of unwanted horses into our documentaries immediately, and the Horses Without Humans rescue started shortly after that.” Through scholarly research and personal experiences, Yvonne began to seek out local rescues in Illinois to see how she could help the horses while keeping the rescue a oat. She found out that although they have passionate and good-hearted individuals seeking to help the horses in these rescues, none of them had horse trainers involved. Essentially, this lack of horse training kept the rescues at capacity and adoptions from happening after a horse’s rehabilitation back to health. Seeing this need, Yvonne began to partner with these rescues to train the horses to an impeccable standard, then marketing them to potential buyers. This enhanced the success rate of adoptions, matching these amazing horses with their caring humans for a happily-ever-after ending. With this incongruity in the process solved, Yvonne made it her mission to take in horses in need of care, nurse them back to health and train them to be great citizens in the equine world. Now the organization is based in Florida, occupying a beautiful 126-acre property in Bell, which is home to nearly 60 horses. In 2020, as the organization was preparing for its annual fundraising event, the (HWH) team came across The Oaks, a scenic horse community nestled in Lake City. This beautiful venue became the location for their holiday show, “The Spirit of the Horse,” which shares the heartwarming tale of one family’s love and redemption. The show features breathtaking horses and professional dancers, sure to ignite a passion for horses in all who attend. “I believe that it is so magical, and I’m hoping that we are bringing the magic of the horse to the next generation. I really want to bring up the next generation of horse lovers,” Yvonne states. “I think back to myself as a child, and if I had a show like this to see, it would have been enough to keep my dreams of horse training alive and well. I know there are more horse-crazy kids and people out there, so I hope to inspire them through this show.” Following the success of the holiday show in 2020, Yvonne worked out a partnership with The Oaks Equestrian Center to come onboard and breathe new life into their programs. Yvonne and her daughter began o ering lessons at The Oaks, which assists in keeping the rescue operating. There are also horses from the rescue in the barn at The Oaks, providing an excellent way for interested youth and adults to gain hands-on experience with horses. Many apprenticeship opportunities are also available through HWH. From o ering riding lessons to hosting trail rides and teaching equine care, the Horses Without Humans partnership has brought new passion and vision to The Oaks Equestrian Center, proving the partnership to be a great success.
About Horses Without Humans
Horses Without Humans 6191 US-129 Bell, FL 32619 horseswithouthumans.org 847-809-4093 Founded in 2016, Horses Without Humans is a 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on rehabilitating horses that have no humans, no voice of their own and no other options. The team of successful equine trainers provides exceptional care, compassion and training to these horses, rehabilitating them to be adoptable once again. The Horses Without Humans team is saving horses by giving them time, education and the conditioning necessary for them to be the best athletes and partners they can be, all while connecting the horses with their humans for the best happy ending. Located in Bell, Florida, this rescue is run completely by donations and support from horse lovers and activists. Whether you are searching for a way to learn more about equine welfare or are looking to get involved in a meaningful cause like this one, the Horses Without Humans team would love to have your support. For more information about the organization, and to nd ways to get involved, visit horseswithouthumans.org and follow along on their Facebook page at @horseswithouthumans.
The Horses Without Humans operation continues to thrive with the help of supporters, but it truly is a family a air. Yvonne’s four children; Jamie, Jessica, Kassie and Hudi (Kayla), are all horse lovers, which is a great source of pride for Yvonne. Kassie holds the title of the most awarded Young Rider in United States history! Kassie works part-time with the rescue and part-time training and competing horses. This year, Kassie took a rescue horse named Sky to three regional championships, receiving the title of First Level Horse of the Year in the United States and two national championships at the Invitational Finals in Kentucky. Hudi proudly travels all over the United States with her rescue horse, Dargon, participating in exhibitions as an ambassador for the rescue. Jessica, who is based in Michigan, directs the holiday show each year and is an integral piece to the production. Yvonne shares that without Jessica, the production would be nowhere near as grand and well-produced. While the goal of the organization is to provide help to horses in need, the mission goes well beyond just the horses it can physically handle. Equine welfare is at the top of Yvonne’s radar, and she hopes that by working with others in the industry and raising awareness for the cause, they can put a stop to the horrible acts within the industry that she learned about many years ago. “I want to continue to educate people and raise awareness for equine welfare in the United States. My huge goal would be to simply stop shipping horses o to slaughter. It’s a horrible, abominable thing, and we really need to, as a nation of equine lovers, put a stop to it,” Yvonne expresses. “There’s a Safe Equine Act that needs to be passed to protect these horses. It’s almost like a hidden secret, though.” Yvonne continues, saying, “In my mind, horses are man’s best friend. They have done so much for us over the years. Horses are the only animals that qualify to compete in the Olympics games as an athlete. They race for us, they have been our transportation, they have plowed our elds… And yet we still ship them to slaughter? It’s a huge goal of mine that this just stops.” With a team of incredible volunteers and the support of equine enthusiasts, Horses Without Humans has continued to grow, now serving between 50 and 60 horses at any given time. The demand for this organization is great, and it cannot be accomplished by one person or even a handful of people. To solve the equine welfare issues in the United States, it will take each person deciding to dive into the mission and help in whatever way they can. From fostering a horse to volunteering on-site or even just spreading the message, each and every person who supports this mission brings Horses Without Humans one step closer to their goals. Every horse deserves a loving human, and this organization is making strides to change the equine industry forever.
“We need more Cinderella stories of positive and great things that come through rescues,” Yvonne says. “Whether you take a horse that has lost its way, been injured, been neglected or even starved, and really turn them back into a superhero in the industry, I think it opens people’s eyes to what is possible.”
Horses Without Humans is an organization that is changing the lives and narratives of unwanted horses. If you are interested in getting involved with the mission at Horses Without Humans, or if you want to watch the journey unfold, visit horseswithouthumans.org, and follow the Horses Without Humans Rescue Organization Facebook page. ■
