Circle F Horse Rescue
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- EPNet General Member
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- Real Name (first and last name): Kevan Garecki
- Location: Langley, BC
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Circle F Horse Rescue
I've been involved in one capacity or another in rescue & rehab for over 25 years now, and have known Circle F for over 10 of those. I began by donating some hauling for them on occasion, helping out with the odd challenge & holding clinics on their behalf to aid in fundraising. A little over 2 years ago, the head of the horse team, Sandy Forward, approached me to say that their current manager, Walter Paetkau, had announced he would like to step down & retire. Long story mercifully shortened, the board at Circle F offered my the position, and I jumped at the chance!
The last year & a half have seen some significant changes on the charitable front here in Canada, most notably in BC. Several grants that charities such as Circle F have come to rely on are now simply not available, while the applications for others have become so convoluted as to make them almost unattainable. Hence, we have had to restructure, reviewing virtually all of our operating habits & procedures; in the process, we have rediscovered the old adage that when one door closes, others open in their wake ...
I have been able to take the first small steps towards my own personal dream by forging a comfortable working arrangement with a few key folks in the Restorative Justice program here in BC. This has allowed us to begin to integrate teens who would have been previously considered "at risk" (to re-offend), introduce & actively include them into our rehabilitation schemes,working hands on with our horses, in various stages of need & development. The result has been more than gratifying, and I'm not the least bit ashamed to admit we've shed a few tears of happiness over what we've seen from these kids.
Some have come in with a chip on their shoulder bigger than a dump truck, while others were so self-absorbed & withdrawn we wondered if anything or anyone could ever break through such a crust of resistance. But breakthroughs did indeed happen, and repeatedly! This year I am making contacts & plans to expand this program, and lay the groundwork for the final phase, a residential program where the kids spend 6-9 months on site, immersed in a working ranch environment learning teamwork & life skills.
www.circlef.ca
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Last edited by Kevang on Mon Feb 15, 2016 12:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
"We are responsible forever for that which we tame."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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- Real Name (first and last name): Kevan Garecki
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Re: Circle F Horse Rescue
This is what we do. We take hearts & put them back together, even if we have to use the remains from two different hearts to do it.
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Last edited by Kevang on Mon Feb 15, 2016 12:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
"We are responsible forever for that which we tame."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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- EPNet General Member
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2005 10:48 am
- Real Name (first and last name): Kevan Garecki
- Location: Langley, BC
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Re: Circle F Horse Rescue
Tao proved to be one of the most challenging horses we'd ever had at Circle F. We pondered more than a few times if he just might not find that special human . Then, one day ....
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"We are responsible forever for that which we tame."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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- EPNet General Member
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2005 10:48 am
- Real Name (first and last name): Kevan Garecki
- Location: Langley, BC
- Contact:
Re: Circle F Horse Rescue
Nearly two years this journey plodded along until one day, as I walked past the barn to photograph some of the local eagles, I heard a small nicker & turned to see this look from Baby.
And that little voice in the back of my head whispered "Paid In Full" ...
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"We are responsible forever for that which we tame."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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- EPNet General Member
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Wed Jan 12, 2005 10:48 am
- Real Name (first and last name): Kevan Garecki
- Location: Langley, BC
- Contact:
Re: Circle F Horse Rescue
If there's a better reason for doing this, I haven't found it yet ...
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"We are responsible forever for that which we tame."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
- BarbYoung
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Re: Circle F Horse Rescue
You made me cry, Kevan! This is so sweet and so fulfilling and so wonderful! Good on you and the folks you were with for the horses and the kids!!! Lovely story.
"If we're ever gonna see a rainbow,
We have to stand a little rain"
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