Hi folks,

 

I am Maury Jones, “Jonesy” to my friends. Most of you know me, but you may not know that I wear several ‘hats’. One ‘hat’ is that I am Executive Director of Jackson Hole Horse Rescue. My wife, Linda, is on the Board of Directors and is a huge help in managing and running the Horse Rescue.

 

In 2008, Jackson Hole Regional Horse Rescue was founded. Why start a ‘horse rescue’? As an outfitter, I guided guests on horseback in the rugged mountains of Wyoming, in and near Jackson Hole, since 1983. I owned about 20 horses. But taking in old or sick/lame horses? You can’t ride them, so why?

 

My horse, Shadow, was the inspiration for Jackson Hole Horse Rescue. I got Shadow when he was four years old. He and I traveled some of the roughest country in the world together, literally thousands of miles, for 18 years, until his medical issue. Shadow was an Arabian with unequaled energy. When I pointed him at a mountain, he insisted on getting to the top as soon as possible. When I stopped to let him catch his breath, I often had to get off so he would quit prancing and rest a bit.

 

One day, in crossing a log, he drug his left hind foot over it rather than stepping over. The veterinarian said he had arthritis. But he’s only 22! The vet said horses—like people—can get arthritis young or old. I wondered what to do. He was an old friend with a lot of life left, but not for climbing mountains. A horse is an expensive pet. That inspired me and my wife at the time, Colleen Gillings, to start our “old folks’ home” for horses and apply for a 501(c)(3) non-profit Charitable Organization. We put up posters to advertise the new venture.

 

The first phone call we got, the guy said, “I'm out of hay. I'm out of a job. I'm out of money. Could you come get my two horses? I've tried to sell them, and I can't.” We took them in, and that's how Jackson Hole Horse Rescue started. Since that time, the Horse Rescue has taken in literally hundreds of horses, most of them old or with health issues. You find out quickly that horses have personalities just like people do. Some horses are kind of standoffish, whereas others are like a puppy dog: “Give me attention,” “Give me a hug.” We get mostly old horses, so some of them die each year and that’s always hard. We have to be mindful of their chronic pain and make difficult decisions. We work closely with our vet on that. It's sad sometimes, but mostly really happy and special to provide this place for them. It’s busy, but we get to work with horses. "Life always looks better from between the ears of a horse.” And you can quote me on that.

 

You can read some more about Shadow, and see some great pics of him, here.

One interesting thing on that page is Jonesy making his funeral plans. You might be surprised.

 

Jonesy