Horses come first at Dare to Dream Horse Rescue

By Christine Foshaug Times Contributor

Midway between Strathmore and Calgary lies a small farm with a big heart.
Twelve years ago, Brenda and Henry Fehr started the Dare to Dream Horse Rescue where they save horses from neglect, abuse or slaughter and bring them back to health and happiness before re-homing them.
To date, they’ve rescued more than 350 horses. Many arrive at Dare to Dream with serious health issues, and Brenda and Henry do whatever it takes to get them healthy.
Today, Dare to Dream is home to 26 horses. Each horse has its feet trimmed regularly, and horse trainer Jessy Eickmeier works with the horses to ensure they’re well trained for their future owners. A number of the horses are permanent residents, while others are owned and kept at the rescue. The rest are waiting to be adopted.
“Having Jessy here has been a huge blessing for us,” said Brenda. “With my back being bad and Henry working, training the horses to be ridden was difficult. Now that Jessy trains for us, our horses are getting consistent training every week.”
Brenda keeps in contact with many of the people who have adopted horses, and enjoys hearing how they’re thriving at their new homes. Eickmeier herself recently has adopted two of the rescue horses, and is achieving barrel racing success already.
The Fehrs rely on a group of dedicated volunteers.
“If we didn’t have volunteers, we couldn’t possibly do this,” said Brenda. “They help with everything from fundraising, repairs, cleaning pens, and caring for the horses to helping new volunteers.”
Brenda and Henry have a youth program that teaches horsemanship and groundwork, and they also give riding lessons. They raise money through various fundraisers, such as an online auction, pop/milk bottle donations, and the sale of T-shirts and hoodies. People can also sponsor a horse of their choosing by making a monthly donation of whatever they can afford, and that money goes toward that horse’s food and care.
Strathmore resident Sara Holinaty is a volunteer and horse sponsor.
“I discovered Dare to Dream about three years ago, when I was looking for somewhere for my daughters and I to learn about and interact more with horses,” she said. “We couldn’t have found more knowledgeable people or a more kind and welcoming atmosphere to do just that.”
Holinaty also coordinates an annual garage sale in Strathmore in support of Dare to Dream. This year it’s being held on Friday, July 19 at the Kinsmen Park Amphitheatre from noon to 7 p.m.