Shorty’s Safe Haven

Equine Rehabilitation & Rescue

Amber’s Heart for the Broken

Amber has a heart for the broken, whether foster kids, at-risk teens, veterans of our armed forces, or horses. Yes, Amber is deeply passionate about rescuing horses and using their rehabilitation to heal us humans simultaneously. I enjoyed hearing Amber’s story just before Horsey Hour on March 13, 2024, at her ranch, Shorty’s Safe Haven Rehab & Rescue.

The Beginning of a Mission

Amber began her story in 2020 when she adopted her daughter’s friend, Ayla, while a world pandemic continued. She had no idea she would be “adopting” another into the family a few months later. While on a transport haul, Amber was given a 20-year-old Mustang named Shorty. His owners were older and retiring from breeding horses.

Shorty didn’t have many skills other than to walk from his pen to the breeding barn and back to his pen. Amber knew his being rehomed didn’t look good, and he would likely end in a bad situation or, worse, a “kill lot.” (Kill lots will not be discussed in this article, but you can imagine their function from the name.) So she loaded him and headed for her home in Alabama, where she planned to geld him and find Shorty a forever home.

After arriving in Alabama, the barn manager where she was boarding her horses told Amber she would need to rehome Shorty sooner than later due to some unexpected changes. Amber placed an advertisement for Shorty and found what she thought was his forever home soon after.

The Unexpected Turn

Two and half months after rehoming Shorty, Amber received a phone call from a woman. The woman informed Amber that Shorty was on the “kill lot.” His adopting owner had starved him for 60 days and then dumped him and three others at the lot. Amber was on a transport haul from the Carolinas to California when told. She made an unplanned detour, unloaded her trailer, and was at the kill lot by 9 am the following day to pick up Shorty. Amber delivered Shorty to her veterinarian so he could be assessed, and then she loaded back up for her trip out west.

The Birth of a Haven

Continuing her trip out west, traveling across I-10 in south Arizona at 2 a.m., she had the idea to start Shorty’s Safe Haven. She wanted to bring rescue horses and foster/at-risk kids together for equine-assisted therapy. Shorty’s Safe Haven Horse Rehabilitation and Rescue was born at that moment.

Where Hope Lives

Amber acquired a lease on her current property in 2021 and was awarded 501-C3 non-profit status in March 2022. The ranch’s mission is “Where hope lives, providing a safe place of hope and healing for our community.” Currently, the ranch has 23 horses, one cow, several dogs and cats, and a pig named Polly.

The Care and Challenge of Rehabilitation

Amber stated during our interview that horses are 1200-pound toddlers. Each horse requires a grass, hay, oats, and vitamin diet. She said they were just like taking care of kids—big kids! Asked what the number one abuse towards horses was, she said starvation topped the list. Neglecting horses leads to many health issues (just like humans), like hoof diseases, anxiety trauma, and many stomach issues.

Community Engagement and Education

Starting Shorty’s Safe Haven is a way for Amber to give back to the community. Her goal is to rehabilitate people using rehabilitated horses. Foster kids, teens at risk, veterans, and people with disabilities can come and learn and care for the horses on the ranch. It is mutual therapy and a way to educate us humans as well. The Girl Scout Troop of South Alabama will be visiting soon; the girls are earning their equine badges, which consist of learning the basics of riding, caring for a horse, and being taught safety around these large animals.

Facing Challenges Head-On

When asked about the ranch’s immediate challenges, Amber said funding was the primary issue. The lease for the current location could not be renewed because the property had been sold to developers. Amber has secured 20 acres in Elberta to give the horses and other animals on the ranch a new place to recover, become healthy, and serve the community as a testament to how human lives can do the same in the sanctuary of God’s hands. They will own the new farm, giving Amber a permanent location for her horses and other animals, preventing further upheaval.

Volunteers: The Backbone of the Ranch

Another issue Amber presented was long-term volunteering. As you can imagine, rehabilitating horses takes a lot of effort, and volunteers help Amber tremendously. When volunteers work on the ranch caring for the horses, Amber can concentrate on high-priority items such as grant writing and fundraising. Other struggles are dealing with government regulations and those uneducated about non-profits. Conquering these issues is more doable when volunteers step forward.

Joining Hands for a Cause

My visit to Shorty’s Safe Haven Ranch was a great experience. Learning about Amber and her passion for broken animals and people taught me that God has a unique purpose for all of us. With the move to the new location looming, donations are most needed. No amount is too small, and if you’d rather donate your time, I’m sure Amber will extend a most humble invitation. You can contact Amber at 251-213-8526 or find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shortyssafehaven.