Providing Sanctuary

There are a number of circumstances and situations that lead to horses ending up needing rescue. Some have abusive owners, some are used until they cannot work anymore and are discarded, and some are taken on by people who cannot afford to care for them. But Louis said there’s one underlying cause for all of these — a lack of responsibility. In some cases, she said it’s also a lack of compassion.

“I think animals are like children. They’re dependent on you. If you take on a dependency, you should see through it,” Louis said. “Life matters, regardless if you have four legs and a tail or two legs. It matters. So take care of it.”

Louis has been active in lobbying for a bill that would require those convicted of animal cruelty to pay for the animal’s care at a rescue center. An iteration of the bill has not been passed, but she spent a lot of time working on it with former Del. Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio. And Louis continues to campaign for it.

For Louis, and her friends who volunteer at Halo’s Haven, helping these horses is more than a hobby — it’s a way of life. Louis, originally from New Jersey, grew up breeding and showing horses. Though she still has a show horse or two, they’re penned right next to her rescue horses — which have become her true passion.

“Although winning and doing really well in the show ring is really satisfying, it’s satisfying knowing that you helped something that was defenseless ,” Louis said. “I prefer to save these animals than get my blue ribbons. I’ve already gotten them. I don’t need them.”

At the rescue, horses are nurtured back to health and socialized as much as possible. While it sometimes requires a more experienced handler, Louis tries to adopt out the horses once they are rehabbed, when possible. This isn’t always the case. Sometimes the horses require too much care or are too skittish to be sent back out to the general population. When that happens, the horses live at the rescue under Louis’ supervision. Currently, there are about 12 horses on the farm.

“I sacrifice and my family sacrifices to do what we do,” Louis said. “But it’s life lessons I’ve taught my children. They have a lot of respect for the rescue. They know what’s right and wrong. They see what people can do. It’s a lifestyle to live in a rescue. You have a good heart.”

Caring for these horses requires not only time and expertise, but money. The rescue has a website on which it accepts donations — though it’s a case-by-case figure, caring for the horses can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 in the first month alone. Louis said she also could use volunteers but only to work with the horses if they have expertise with the animals or the patience to learn it. Otherwise, she suggests people help with what they know; whether it’s taking pictures of the horses to help them get adopted or cleaning equipment, anything is appreciated.

“I love people that are passionate,” Louis said. “It’s a good thing to know that you can make a difference if your heart is in it.”