If You Build It They Will Come

Rasta’s Rescue Ranch is uniquely positioned on the scenic Turquoise Trail between the City Different and the historic mining town of Madrid.  When purchased in 2003, the L shaped property looked like little more than a lot of work.  Ramshackle run-in-sheds and thrown together fences speckled the back three acres in a haphazard fashion.  The barn at the very back, just beyond the corner of the L, looked as if ready to collapse, and still does.  The house, built sometime in the late 1950’s, sported obvious signs of neglect and oddly not thought out additions made over the years.  No, it did not look like much, but as the sun began to set and that peaceful orange glow stretched across the land a vision of something special began to formulate.  I didn’t know exactly what it was then, beyond a feeling, but that’s usually how most cool things begin. 

Photo: Benjamin Lucas

Over months an arena and horse pens were constructed under the guidance of two genuine southwestern cowboys.  They were real cowboys, the first I’d met in Santa Fe, Thomas Wingate and Frank.  They wore broken in hats, Levis or Wranglers, grew thick scruff on their cheeks, and Frank sported an elaborate mustache.  Both were veterans of the Vietnam era, loved the high desert, and understood the needs of horses.  Frank advised on the perfect arena, Thomas talked about pens with room, and then the two of them set to fixing railroad ties in the ground, stretching new wire at the back of the L, and securing horse panels about the arena.    

Over the course of several more months, I set to dismantling the old run-in sheds and fencing strewn about the property.  The sense of something special continued lingering, but I still didn’t know exactly what it would be. 

For a few years, as I continued cleaning up the property, we operated as a horse board and care, but that wasn’t the ultimate destiny, the vision that kept popping into my head as the sun would set and cast that incredible bold and golden glow across the land.  Seven years would pass before the vision clarified; sometimes visions take their time coming to fruition. 

Hints started in 2009 with two goats, Sergeant Pepper and Moon, and a horse named Brue.  Sgt. Pepper needed a new home and his best friend Moon and Brue, well into his thirties, needed a winter sanctuary away from pasture life.  Winters on the high desert can be harsh, a reality once unknown to a girl from southern California.  By this time two girls from sunny southern California were learning this lesson, but as a team they began refining the vision and by January of 2010 knew the destiny of this little L shaped ranch on the south side of Santa Fe.

Thomas Wingate, Lil, & Scarlet in the Arena

Rasta’s Rescue Ranch was born in honor of a Shetland pony and others who began to come in need.  After Rasta, came Chloe, then Savannah and Pirate, and two sheep.  If you build it they will come.  And still more came, Lily the goat, Maggie a wayward pit bull abandoned at a gas station, Sam, a silver miniature poodle, and Sadie a German shepherd dog mix and new pal for Rudy the guardian shepherd of the land. 

For the most part we’ve self-funded the operation with funds from a yome we rent out on the ranch, where some really terrific young people have stayed.  We’ve kept up as much as we can, but it’s been tough, financially and emotionally, one of the hardest undertakings ever, and truth is there is more to be done and many more in need of a rescue. 

We’ve outgrown the facilities built years ago, but there’s room for more as the vision grows and clarifies.  Looking across the land, I imagine a new barn and more spacious pens.  Closer to the house I see a dog park, where our rescues can run and play and friends from the neighborhood might join them.  In the future there is a space where the goats and the sheep can roam free.  I see children coming to meet the animals, to hear their stories and learn not just the ways of a ranch, but the difference we can all make in the world.  

It’s one step at a time, as it was in the beginning.  The new barn will be a little while yet, but a nice big fenced yard for dogs and additional pens are goals for summer.  Much depends on sponsors, every dollar coming into the ranch counts.  The Facebook “Like” campaign brought to life by a very generous sponsor raised $650.00.  That will feed the horses for the month of April.  Whew! 

There is so much potential, so many possibilities, and such a tremendous need.  During 2009 in New Mexico, out of desperation some people just released their horses to the wild to fend for themselves.  In this challenging economy unconscionable numbers of pets have been abandoned, some dropped at shelters, others simply left.  There is much to be done and a difference that can be made for the better.  Rasta’s looks forward to contributing to that difference one animal at a time.  We hope you’ll join our efforts. 

Photo: Benjamin Lucas

Again, every dollar counts.  $9.00 buys a bale of hay, $20.00 a bag of Equine Senior, heck, $ 4.00 buys a bag of cement for fence posts.  So you see, even the smallest of donations makes a difference on a rescue ranch.    Of course, we welcome larger donations too.  Those enable us to move faster and often we wish we could.  Sometimes a rescue needs to happen in an instant.

Thank you to our supporters for our page “likes,” your valuable encouragement, and for sharing us with family and friends.  Can’t wait to update everyone on where we are tomorrow. 

RASTA’S RESCUE RANCH, INC. is a 501(c)(3) public charity.  ALL DONATIONS ARE 100% TAX DEDUCTABLE (receipts are emailed to you or snail mailed if requested). 

DONATIONS CAN BE MAILED TO 3820 STATE HIGHWAY 14, SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO 87508

OR

NOW YOU CAN PAYPAL A DONATION TO: RASTASRESCUERANCH@GMAIL.COM