by Kristin Kruse
Thirty plus horses have found safety and sanctuary in Corvallis on a 23-acre horse property that is called The Wings Program. The program has been operating as a nonprofit since 2015, and has been serving the community’s equine population since 2014. Debora Lay, who is the founder, executive director and treasurer of Wings, has a long history with horses. Some of her many specialties and qualifications include being an Advanced Certified Natural Hoof Care Professional and Equine Nutritional Consultant. The program not only takes in horses that have been neglected or abused, but offers a safety net to senior citizens that can’t care for their animals any longer. After assessment and observation of a new animal, it is then decided if the horse is a good candidate for adoption, or if they will live in the sanctuary for the rest of their lives. There are currently 36 active volunteers that keep the ranch running smoothly, along with a few paid staff members that take care of daily feeding and mucking.
Board President and Volunteer Coordinator Laura Weise joined the program in 2021 as someone new to horses.
Youth volunteer participants Claire Cambre, Avalon Potter, Laura Weise with “Honey and “Essie”, Bexley Brooks and Elise Jessop. Photo by Kristin Kruse.
“I fell in love with the horses and became excited to learn and help,” said Weise. She spearheaded a youth volunteer pilot program that launched this spring. “We’ve had five regulars in the program since May. The youth volunteers come out every other Saturday and muck stalls and do any other chores needed at the ranch. Once chores are done the rest of the day is spent learning basic horsemanship, horse safety and behavior, hoof care basics, understanding facial expressions, basic horse handling and lead rope tying. We also cover horse feeding and nutrition and plant toxins. Some of these girls are real horsewomen and know more than I do. I think the first year went really well.”
The sanctuary currently houses a variety of horses, everything from mini horses to Arabian and Quarter horses. The mini horses are particularly popular at events such as the Celtic Festival, Tammany Trot and the Sapphire Lutheran Homes concert series, and these appearances help raise funds and awareness of the program. They are also available for private parties. Currently the property that the ranch is located on is up for sale, and the board is trying to find a way to purchase it.
Wings founder and Executive Director, Debora Lay. Photo courtesy Debora Lay.
Weise commented, “This property is perfectly set up for us. There are two big barns and three rental houses that would generate enough income to pay the mortgage. We just need to come up with a down payment.”
Wings offers many ways to get involved, whether you are curious about horses and want to volunteer your time at the ranch, or help them reach their goal of raising a down payment through a donation. For more information visit their website: www.wingsprograms.org or call 403-363-3346.
Wings was one of several recipients of the Spring Grant from the Stevensville Community Foundation. The awarded grant money helped fund the Youth Volunteer Program run by Weise. The Foundation has two grant cycles per year, in the spring and fall. To learn more about the foundation and how it serves the community, or to apply for this year’s upcoming grants, visit www.stevensvillecommunityfoundation.org