Sunrise Horse Rescue fundraiser a boost to equine welfare
By Tim Carl
CALISTOGA, Calif. — In a show of community support, Sunrise Horse Rescue, a Napa Valley-based nonprofit organization, raised a record-breaking $196,000 at its annual Harvest of Hope for Horses gala, surpassing the previous record of $160,000 set in 2019. The event was held on Sept. 9 at the picturesque Blossom Creek Farm in Calistoga, marking a successful return after a three-year hiatus.
"We had to pause this live event for three years during the pandemic, and so we are absolutely thrilled to be back," said Lisa O'Connor, the organization's president. "The demand for our services has surged — over 100 distress calls have come in this year alone. However, we've faced these challenges head-on and have numerous uplifting stories to share that highlight the transformative impact of our work.”
Since its inception in 2007, Sunrise Horse Rescue has worked to provide comprehensive support for neglected and abandoned horses while also extending educational and economic assistance to their owners. The organization has cared for more than 500 at-risk horses and has actively engaged with community members in the rehabilitation process. They collaborate with numerous organizations and boast more than 100 volunteers, including 25 to 30 who are active on a weekly basis, O’Connor said.
This year's event drew a notable turnout of more than 150 attendees, each contributing a $225 ticket fee. Making his Napa Valley debut, auctioneer Steve Mittleman led both silent and live auctions. Providing the soundtrack for the gathering, Napa's own Noema, known for their eclectic mix of funk, reggae, R&B, world-beat, culture-rock and acid jazz, enhanced the festive atmosphere. In a unique twist that resonated with the event's equestrian focus, dinner was served inside a horse ring — offering a memorable thematic backdrop to the night's festivities.
After the silent auction ended, the guests gathered in the ring to begin dinner. Prepared by Chef Daniel Guillen of Elaine Bell Catering, the menu, which he said was like "Wine Country meets country,” featured passed appetizers such as grilled lamb on rosemary skewers and crab cakes. Entrees included grilled chicken with vegetables and mashed potatoes or vegan options such as roasted cauliflower. The event was generously supported by more than two dozen local wineries, including Joel Gott, Aileron, Duckhorn, Spottswoode and Picayune.
The live auction followed the meal.
In her opening remarks O'Connor outlined the immense and growing need.
“Between a slowing economy, a changing climate and ever-increasing costs, we are receiving more calls that horses are found starving or abandoned,” she said. “But we never turn away from any horse in need — either stepping in to help stabilize the situation with the owner or finding an alternative home.”
Financially, horse care is considerable, with annual costs estimated between $6,000 and $10,000 per horse, she said. The financial strain is exacerbated by a 60% surge in hay prices over the last few years, emphasizing the critical role for the night’s fundraising event.
In addition to discussing the challenges faced by Sunrise Horse Rescue, O'Connor highlighted several accomplishments. Notably, Sunrise Horse Rescue has recently secured a 50-year lease on a spacious 4-acre property located on Tubbs Lane in Calistoga. This long-term commitment will provide a sanctuary for more than 20 horses and provide space to build a permanent barn, creating a generous pasture for horses and a ring where they will hold “equine-assisted learning therapy programs” for the community.
They have also forged essential regional partnerships by collaborating with local Boys and Girls Clubs to engage youth in equine care and education and strengthened partnerships with Jameson Humane and the Halter Project, providing valuable emergency shelter, animal care and rescue operations, particularly during the wildfire seasons that recurrently afflict California.
Sunrise Horse Rescue has also engaged in academic collaborations with major universities such as UC Davis and Stanford. These research partnerships are targeted at pioneering equine-therapy programs and are part of broader studies aimed at understanding the potential benefits of human-animal interactions for conditions ranging from depression to memory loss.
"Securing this long-term lease allows us to concentrate fully on our mission without the constant concern of property searches or the trauma that comes with relocating animals," O’Connor said.
In addition, Sunrise Horse Rescue has been an advocate for saving horses from the grim fate of slaughter for meat, a controversial practice that sends approximately 140,000 horses each year from the United States to Mexico and Canada for slaughter, with the meat eventually finding its way to markets in France, Belgium and several Asian countries.
The organization has raised concerns about the practice, not just because of the unseemly slaughtering of an animal that holds an esteemed place in the American ethos but also because of the potential health risks associated with consuming horse meat, as many horses have been exposed to harmful chemicals during their lives, thereby putting consumers at risk.
Such concerns have helped fuel momentum behind federal legislation aimed at halting the international trade of horses for slaughter. The pending legislation, known as the Save America's Forgotten Equines Act, was introduced in May 2023 by U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan and Jan Schakowsky, co-chairs of the Animal Protection Caucus. The act aims to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption and prohibit the export of live horses to slaughterhouses.
For community members like Tessa Mini, co-owner of Bare Fitness in Napa and also a member of the Napa Sheriff Mounted Posse volunteer force, the reason for attending the auction was clearly centered around a love of horses and a deep desire to be a solution to a growing problem.
“I am here because there is a growing and real need to care for horses in distress,” she said. “I also love being a part of this strong, supportive community and an active advocate for animal welfare,” she added. “I also love 'smooching' horses every chance I can get!”
With its secured 50-year lease, a solid track record of effective community engagement and expanding research collaborations with academic institutions, Sunrise Horse Rescue has positioned itself as a local leader in equine welfare, dedicated not only to rescuing animals but also to advancing scientific understanding that could benefit both equine and human well-being for years to come.
While the newly raised funds from the Harvest of Hope for Horses will be used to facilitate immediate and long-term care for at-risk horses, they will also be used to foster the organization's ongoing community outreach, research partnerships and educational initiatives.
"Our multifaceted strategy aims to use this wonderful community's investment in a way that is not just impactful but also transformative,” she said, “empowering us to comprehensively tackle the complex challenges facing equine welfare and building a better, stronger and more compassionate community, too.”
Tim Carl is a Napa Valley-based photojournalist.