Zuma's Rescue Ranch Raises more than $4000 during ASPCA's Help a Horse Day

LITTLETON, Colo. - May 11, 2015 - PRLog -- On Saturday April 25th, 20 volunteers began the 24-hour Help A Horse Day campaign and joined dozens of others demonstrating on the steps of the Capitol building in downtown Denver to bring awareness to the wild horse and burro population in Colorado. At 6 a.m. Sunday morning, Help A Horse Day continued with sunrise grazing and walks around the property to enjoy the morning mist. And then, the rains came. The plans for Help A Horse Day quickly changed. Volunteers and staff members now had to tend to a herd of horses that had shed their winter coats, leaving them exposed to the elements.

Horses were brought indoors in rotations to be dried, blanketed and either returned to their paddock, or relocated to a warmer residence for the evening. Some horses had never worn a blanket before, and needed to be slowly and carefully introduced to the foreign object. Volunteers stood in six inches of water to remove outdoor fencing from paddocks to create additional pens in the hay barn for horses that could not return to the elements.

Throughout the unrelenting rain, mud and cold temperatures, volunteers continued to provide special attention to each of the 48 rescue horses. By 6 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, each horse had been crossed off the list. At the end of the 24-hour period, a total of 45 volunteers logged more than 200 volunteer hours and raised more than $4,000.

Help a Horse Day was designed by the ASPCA as a way for non-profit equine organizations to spread the word about the work they do on behalf of at-risk horses and how their respective communities can join in the effort. From California to Maine and 30 states in-between, April 26, 2014 - the ASPCA's second annual Help a Horse Day - was filled with events celebrating the work of equine rescue groups. More than 80 equine rescue groups held events in conjunction with the Help a Horse Day Celebration Contest. Contestants are judged on the creativity of their events, as well as their success engaging their local communities. The ASCPA awards $10,000 grants to the five finalists in the contest.

 About Zuma's Rescue Ranch:

Since 2008, Zuma's Rescue Ranch has been dedicated to providing a place of sanctuary and healing for the voiceless humans and animals in the metro Denver region. Zuma's Rescue Ranch rescues and rehabilitates abused and neglected horses, and provides Equine Assisted Learning and Therapy to struggling children and adults in the Denver Metro Area. Rescued horses are paired with at-risk youth and adults to create powerful bonds and incredible recoveries. Zuma's Rescue Ranch is mission is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. More information about the organization can be found at zumasrescueranch.com.