Fall News from the Sunrise Herd

Sunrays

News for friends of Sunrise Horse Rescue

Getting Ready for Winter

Warm shelters, clean blankets, and a clean, organized barn -- the focus is on the basics as we enjoy the mellow fall weather and prepare for a wet winter. After a year of taking in some severely neglected horses such as Sugar and Spice, we are making sure that all the basics are in place and that every horse has all they need.

As we reflect on basics, the dedicated volunteers and staff of Sunrise come to mind as the most important foundation of our organization, those serving at present as well as those who have helped build the organization over the years. Look for a letter in appreciation of them by Sunrise board member Dean Tannewitz during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

We've got a team of enthusiastic volunteers working on a fabulous float for the tractor parade. Look for their fun and creative invention in the parade -- we'll see you in Calistoga on the evening of December 2nd.

Send in your favorite picture of the Sunrise Horse Rescue float and your photo could be featured in our winter newsletter!

$10,000 Matching Gift!

Sunrise is a proud member of Napa Valley Cando's Give!Guide for the 9th year in a row, and is one of 8 participating animal organizations in Give!Guide this year. A generous donor has offered $10,000 in matching funds!

Visit our Give!Guide page and help us reach our matching goal! There are opportunities to win Vella cheese and Picayune wine, as well.

A Special Gift

Spark some holiday magic when you donate to honor someone special this Holiday Season! When you donate to Sunrise as a gift, the honoree will receive a card of thanks to let them know about the donation, and all proceeds will go directly to support our Sunrise herd.

Choose a Heartfelt Gift That Gives Back!

Napa County’s Sunrise Horse Rescue raises almost $200,000

Sunrise Horse Rescue raised almost $200,000 at its Harvest of Hope for Horses fundraiser, its first in three years.

The event was held Sept. 9 at Bob and Valerie Fish’s Blossom Creek Farm outside Calistoga. It featured dinner from Elaine Bell Catering, music by Noema, and appearances by rescued horses like Wailer, a former wild mustang from Wild Heart Restart Ranch.

Board president Lisa O’Connor announced that Sunrise is finalizing a 50-year land lease at its current location on Tubbs Lane. The nonprofit plans to build a barn and create a covered arena that will host equine-assisted learning and therapy programs for the community.

For example, the Connected Horse program is a research-backed program for people experiencing memory loss and their care partners.

“We are raising people and horses up at the same time,” O’Connor said. “And we continue to raise awareness of just how great the need is. Because the number of at-risk horses is rising, the need for rescue and sanctuary now and in the future will only increase.”

O’Connor cited the threat of wildfire and floods, the increasing price of feed and hay, and economic pressures that make it harder for people to afford and maintain their land.

Between late December 2022 and June 2023, Sunrise rescued eight horses from extreme neglect. In 2023, Sunrise has responded to more than 100 calls for help.

Harvest of Hope 2023 a Huge Success!

With Gratitude!

We are thrilled to announce that this year's annual Harvest of Hope was our biggest one yet. We raised almost $200,000 at the sold out event!! 

Once again, Blossom Creek Farm provided the most picturesque backdrop for the event, further beautified by floral arrangements by Aimee Lomeli Floral Designs. The Elaine Bell Catering Team hit it out of the park with incredible food and stellar service, the band, Noema, rocked the courtyard as guests mingled with friends and horses, including some of our rescued horses as well as Wailer, the formerly wild Mustang from Wild Heart Restart Ranch. The SHR staff, board members, and volunteers kept everything running smoothly, from parking assistance, to the silent auction management, to pouring wine, and everything in between and beyond!

A special thank you to all who attended, raised their paddles high, and gave so generously to our Fund-A-Need portion of the auction.

These funds raised will help us continue to rescue and provide sanctuary for abused and neglected horses in Napa and surrounding counties, educate the public about current issues affecting horse welfare, and provide community members the unique benefit of equine assisted learning and therapy.

We feel so fortunate to belong to a community who has been supporting us since our founding in 2007. We have made a huge impact on horses and humans in need since then, and look forward to serving those needs well into the future! 

With deep gratitude,

All of the Horses and Humans of Sunrise Horse Rescue

Aileron Estates

Alpha Omega Winery

Anne V Spalding

Arietta Wine

Atwood Ranch Winery

B Cellars Vineyards and Winery

Blackbird

Blossom Creek Farm

Bodkin Wines

Cal Mart

Calistoga Fire Department

Carey Shirley

Castello di Amorosa Winery

Chateau Montelena

Chris Finley

Chris Smith

Clif Family Winery

Compline Restaurant & Wine Shop

Copperfield Books

Dalla Valle Vineyards

D. Smith Garden Consultation

Evangeline Restaurant

Flamingo Resort and Spa

Garden Party

Grove 45

Halter Project

Hendry Ranch Winery

Heritage School Vineyards

Hunnicutt Wines

Jane Sinclaire

Jennifer Bennett, Lovina

Joel Gott Wines

Josh and Heather Clark

Kate Neligan - Awakening With Equines

Kirk Venge & Venge Vineyards

Kristin Knight

Krymylda (Kym) MacDonald

Mary Ann & David Moffitt

Merryvale Vineyards

Michael Haddad

Miner Family Winery

Napa Valley Olive Oil Manufacturing Co.

Neyers Vineyards

Nickel & Nickel Winery

Oakville Grocery Napa Healdsburg

O'Brien Estate Winery

Pam Ingalls

Papa Lou's Wine & Spirits

Paula and Billy Soekland

Picayune Cellars

Progeny Winery

Quivira Vineyards

Rachel Davies

Sam's General Store

Sandra Barros

Sharon Hedlund

Sidecar Memories

Smith Madrone Winery

Solage, an Auberge Resort

Sonoma Valley Trail Rides

Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery

Stacia Brady

Sugar Daddy's Consignment

T+ Designs

Tamber Bey Winery

The Duckhorn Portfolio

Tom Scheibel

Trinitas Cellars

Valerie Jespersen-Wheat

Vineyard Dog Grooming

Woran & Debbie Deckard

Matching Grant Challenge! Donate Today!

$5,000 Matching Grant Challenge!

We are incredibly fortunate that we have been issued a matching grant challenge by the Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation for $5,000. And it could not have come at a better time!

 As many of you know, just this last month we have taken in 2 starvation cases that desperately needed our help. These sweet mares, now named Sugar & Spice, are recovering slowly with carefully guided veterinary care and are under the constant watch of the dedicated Sunrise staff and volunteers. 

Sugar and Spice were out of options, and needed the specialized care of a sanctuary like Sunrise Horse Rescue that is experienced in guiding horses through recovery from starvation to give them the best chance of survival. The mares specialized refeeding, veterinary and farrier care for the first year with Sunrise will exceed $6,500 each. 

Please help us meet the challenges these horses face and donate today! 

Taj and Pace at Pasture - Donate Today!

Taj and Pace at Pasture
Photo by Sally Seymour

Shortly after the arrival of the mares, a long-time beloved herd member, Taj, developed a severe corneal ulcer, a painful eye injury that can be difficult to heal as Taj is now at the advanced age of 30. Taj is our youthfully spirited Arabian who is the sentinel of the elder herd at the Sharpsteen pasture. Most have trouble believing he’s 30 years old. Taj spent a month going back and forth between UC Davis and Napa for examinations and treatments, while receiving medication for the fungal infection of his eye 5-6 times per day as well as pain medication. Unfortunately, his eye was not able to heal, and it was determined that the eye needed to be removed to alleviate the pain he was experiencing. Taj is recovering well with his buddy Pace by his side, and our hope is that they will be able to return to their herd mates in the pasture soon. Costs for Taj's care will exceed $10,000.

The combined costs of treatment and care for both the mares and Taj were not anticipated in our annual budget and so we are reaching out to you, our amazing supporters, to help us meet our $5,000 matching grant.

Harvest of Hope is BACK! 🐴🤩

Please join us for our annual dinner and auction, Harvest of Hope!

After three long years without this event, we are so excited to celebrate with you our 16th anniversary of serving the Napa Valley and surrounding areas by helping horses in need and providing Equine Assisted Learning & Therapy programs for all ages & groups within our Community.
 
The event will be held on September 9 at the picturesque Blossom Creek Farm in Calistoga, CA. Guests will be greeted with sparkling wine as they peruse the bountiful offerings of the silent auction and mingle in the courtyard as a live band plays in the background. Before the seated full-course dinner, expertly prepared by Elaine Bell Catering, guests will enjoy a special presentation featuring Wild Heart Restart Ranch and some of their formerly Wild Mustangs! And then the real fun begins with an exciting live auction, where you will have the opportunity to bid on some fabulous items and experiences, and help the horses while doing it! 

The afternoon will include:

  • Live Music

  • Horse Activities for kids of all ages

  • Silent & Live Auctions

  • Mustang Demonstration by Wild Heart Restart Ranch

  • Seated Dinner featuring Napa Valley fine wines

  • Special appearances by equine beneficiaries

                                                  ... and more!

$225 per person
$175 for kids 18 and under
$2,000 for a table of ten (of any age)
For more information, go to www.sunrisehorserescue.org

Do you have an item or experience you'd like to donate for the Silent or Live Auction, or know someone who does? Great! Click the link below to fill out the online donation form: 

All proceeds benefit Sunrise Horse Rescue, a California 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization, #42-1746834

SF Chronicle: Innovative approaches fight chronic conditions

SF Chronicle: Innovative approaches fight chronic conditions

In spring 2022, Community Health Napa Valley/Collabria Care’s Adult Day Health Program, Jameson Humane animal sanctuary and Sunrise Horse Rescue all joined together for a new series of pilot workshops testing those points. They partnered with a local equine ­assisted healing program, Connected Horse, which provides human ­horse connection programs for people living with early ­stage dementia and for their care partners.

 

Sunrise Horse Rescue

PO Box 143

St. Helena, ca 94574

+1 (707) 320-3120

info@sunrisehorserescue.org

Sunrise Horse Rescue is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization, # 42-1746834