How it all began
Riding Sunny, her dad’s big palomino workhorse, before she was old enough to walk, Deb was in love with horses right from the start.
As a young girl, she walked through every imaginable kind of weather each morning before school and again after school to feed and care for Lady, the pony her grandfather owned.
Then she would walk throughout the community to check on all the horses in the neighborhood. Lugging pails of water and flakes of hay to those that needed it.
The First Rescue
In her early teens Deb set out to rescue a Palomino named Shawn that was in a town 10 miles from her. He was being badly abused and kept outside tied to a tree in chain hobbles.
Shawn was deemed a ‘Mankiller’ because he would lunge out and try to attack any one who came near. Deb would ride her bicycle each day to check on him and somehow Shawn sensed Deb was safe. His whole body softened when she approached.
‘Horses can see into our heart and soul. They know our intent.’
Deb was on a mission….she babysat, washed dishes, cleaned houses and picked up returnable bottles to earn the money to convince the owner to sell Shawn to her.
Once safe and under Deb's care, they formed an incredible bond. That golden palomino would do anything Deb wanted without a word spoken. Not able to afford tack, all that was ever needed was a piece of baling twine as Deb rode Shawn bareback for miles through towns, dirt roads, woods and fields alike.
They were inseparable.
The Years without Horses
After graduating high school in a record 3 years, Deb married her sweetheart. Together they had 2 amazing children.
A son, Ryan and a daughter, Gina.
No longer in a position to have horses, Deb started her own sign art/airbrushing business. With a couple cans of paint and brushes, Deb set out on the road to go letter trucks. She was shaking in her shoes, a nervous wreck, but she did it any way.
As time passed, working long hard days, her fear was replaced with a comfortableness. They built a big building for her business and her work became her sanctuary.
As a teenager, Ryan, Deb’s son joined her in the business. Working many years together they kept the business up to date, adding computerized equipment and offering the latest products and services as well as keeping the traditional hand lettering and airbrushing.
The quality of their work became well known. People traveled from all over the US for their customized artwork.
Recognized as top National Airbrush Artists, their work was featured on a TV news show, in newspapers and magazines and on the cover of a popular graphics publication.
All the while Deb kept horses in her heart and held tight onto the dream that the day would come when horses would once again be in her life.
The Sanctuary Begins
After 25 years of not having the means to follow her heart, in 1995 Deb was finally able to bring horses back into her life.
She found a young palomino with eyes so swollen she could barely see and legs so swollen she struggled to walk.
Deb named the golden filly, Sunshine.
Ironically, after much testing and research it was discovered the filly was allergic to heat and sunlight.
Deb and her husband set up an extra large darkened stall with air conditioning. For the next 10 years Sunshine stayed in that cooling stall during the daylight and warm temperatures. During that time her immune system improved and she incredibly became allergy free. Sunshine could finally be a ‘real’ horse and go outside day or night, no matter the temperature . Sunshine was finally free to enjoy life!!
Deb also rescued 3 more horses along with Sunshine. (Thier stories will be told in blogs.)
Art for the Love of Horses
On July 1, 2017, Deb shut down her sign art/ airbrushing business to devote all her time and energy to the horses. As a young girl she had dreamed of owning a sanctuary to help horses. It was time to take that dream to the next level. More special needs horses would mean she needed to be available day and night, every single day.
They remodeled her business building into the sanctuary barn with a barn kitchen and jungle gym cat area for the rescue kitties that also live at the sanctuary.
To help support the horses and share her love for them, Deb does continue to create art with oil paintings and crochet creations but only when time allows.
If you’d like to check out more of Deb’s art go to her Facebook page;
‘Art for the Love of Horses'
Horse Nutrition
Deb lives and breathes horses. They are her passion, her drive, her life. With caring for the FHES special needs horses she is especially focused on specialized equine nutrition. She continuously researches and studies the latest college text-books, science journals and case studies on the subject. She takes courses and is an OCEN Member (On Course Equine Nutrition) to keep up with the newest findings.
She designs custom nutrition plans for each of the FHES horses to fit their individual needs. Deb shares in blogs what she learns to help horse owners save time and money while giving their own horses the best nutrition.
We all want Healthy Happy Horses
Sharing the Love
Deb shares the love and wisdom horses bring to us with social media posts, blogs, the Forever Home Equine Sanctuary Inspirational calendars and mugs, and her art. Her goal is to help us understand that all horses have value. Even when they can no longer work, run races, win ribbons or carry us around. Special needs and aged horses still have a lot to offer.
Their love for us runs deep.
“Horses inspire us to dream big, face our fears and love more “
Gina Lindsay
Help Our Horses
Your support and contributions will give these horses warmth, comfort and a full belly. Things they would not have if not for you.
You can make a difference 💜
Thank You!
