Rehabilitation is the Key to Success

at Tearsong Rescue

 

By Regina Elling 01.NOV.09

 

When you combine a love of horses, an ability to train them and a desire to see each individual animal reach its full potential, you may well end up with equine athletes. When you add in a commitment to each of these horses that extends to their entire lives, you end up with Tearsong’s Equine Athletes, Rescue and Sanctuary.

 

Karina Benish founded the rescue, along with Kevin Cousineau, the rescue’s treasurer. Her total and unwavering belief in equine rehabilitation makes her different than the majority of currently operating horse rescue organizations.“This isn’t about hoarding horses or buying horses for resell,” she says.“Originally, many of the rescues I took in were more honestly just misused horses. Now, I take in more abused animals. But I limit myself and the rescue; after all, we only have so much space. And I try to only take in those horses that really need me.” And those horses that Benish felt really needed her apparently did, as their turnarounds have been remarkable.

“My first rescue was back in 1986,” she says. “She was a Morgan-crossmare who literally tried to kill the people who worked with her. Eight months and a lot of work later, I placed her with a beginning rider and they were terrific together. The mare just needed someone who understood her needs.”Benish has since taken on other horses deemed dangerous and vicious, and all have responded to her positive training techniques. She explains that when she takes on a new rescue prospect, the horse is “given time to decompress, relearn trust, gain weight and recover from any injuries or pain prior to being placed in the adoption pool.

The horses are given full veterinary care, massage therapy or chiropractic adjustments if needed, and are often placed with another horse or in the herd to help them settle in.“Our primary goal for each horse is to find them new homes where they can be healthy, happy reliable partners to their human companions,” she says.

“Between myself and the volunteers, we keep our ridable horses in training so that they remain safe mounts.”As a registered veterinary technician, Benish is well-equipped to handle the special care many of her equine charges demand. As a sport horse breeder and trainer “for everything from dressage to trail,” her diverse background has prepared her for the many challenges abused or simply untrained horses have given her. But after more than 20 years of rescuing horses, it was her move to Ramona in 1996 that actually enabled her to do even more with horses.

“And, about a year and half ago, I met a lady who encouraged me to go for my nonprofit status.  This year we have our California State tax exempt status, which is retroactive to last year, Dec. 17, 2008.  Our federal status paperwork is also complete, and we plan on filing that just as soon as we raise the money,” she explains. Currently, five horses at Tearsong are considered permanent residents, as either age or previous injuries prevent them from being ridden. “These horses live in a herd and will stay with us the rest of their lives.

But if any horse we take into the rescue can’t be placed, that animal has a forever home here,” she says.Tearsong has numerous opportunities for volunteers, ranging from the need for an electrician, plumber and mason to those willing to help put up a barn and dig trenches, to others who simply want to brush and talk to the horses. 

Of course, supplies ranging from a much-needed pressure regulator to wheelbarrows and hoof picks are always appreciated. “In the future, we’d love to be able to have clinics and seminars educating the public about the plight of unwanted horses and the need for responsible horse ownership,” Benish says. In the meantime, she is content to grow the rescue slowly and responsibly, turning unwanted, broken horses into safe and beautiful equine athletes.