I interviewed Casey Montana, Founder of WarAngel Farms Rescue (www.warangelfarms.com)
Can you tell us a little bit about the mission of WarAngel Farms?
Our mission is to be good stewards of animals on earth. We rescue, rehabilitate and find homes for the animals in our care. We are a place of hope, healing and second chances for animals and people. We specialize in horses and donkeys from the slaughter pipeline especially the young, unhandled and sick. Most people don’t realize how many horses and donkeys go to slaughter.
How did you come up with WarAngel Farms as your name?
It is my mom’s nickname.
What type of animals do you help?
Mainly horses and donkeys. We also have tortoises, goats, sheep, Alpaca, pigs and cows.
What is your favorite animal?
Horses. I love sheep too. Sheep are cuddly and love their person. My beloved Frazier passed away in November. He was the best sheep that ever was. He acted like a dog, went in the car, walked on a leash. He was my first sheep and taught me so much about sheep and how to help them.
Where do most of your animals come from?
Kansas and Oklahoma kill pens.
How many animals have you saved so far?
Over 150. Currently we have over 60 animals on the farm. It is very hard to find good homes for horses and the adoption process is long.
What is a story that you like to tell?
There were two Mustang horses that were rounded up illegally on an Indian Reservation. They were no branded so were sent to a kill pen. Their names are Kaluha and Torero. Kaluha had a lipoma on her neck. It turns out she had been shot but it had not killed her. The bullet had lodged in her neck and the lipoma had grown around it. The bullet was removed when she went into rescue. The pair are being trained at the moment to be a cart-pair.
Another of our farm favorites is Dutton. He was an old-school Amish horse and scared of absolutely everything. He went from the Amish to living the high life here. If you walk him into the corn fields he gets so excited.
Have you always loved horses and what do you love most about them?
I have always loved horses and have grown up with them. I love how you feel with them. Your heart slows down when around them. They are very calming. You have to bond and use body language to build trust. Horses love to have a job.
We have 31 horses at the moment. Our most recent acquisition is a mare that had a baby in the kill pen. Rumor was a racehorse with a tattoo on her lip. He became a broodmare and went to a kill pen where she had her baby.
Can you tell us a little more about kill pens and how many horses get shipped to Canada and Mexico for slaughter?
Old and unhandled horses go to auction. Auctions have hundreds horses and just a few people there buying personally. All the horses that are left at the end of the day go to a kill-buyer who takes them to the kill pen. From there they go to slaughter in Mexico or Canada. You can still buy a horse from the kill pen and if I can help a horse I will help it. Horses that come from the kill pen are always broken down and invariably sick from being in crowded kill pen.
It is a wonderful thing about 2 to 3 months after rescue when the horse starts realizing it is safe. Their whole personality comes out and their eyes sparkle.
Can anyone rescue a horse from a kill pen and how do you do it?
Anyone can rescue a horse. You can look up any quarantine facility close to you. It is best, though, if you go through rescue as there are a lot of shady people.
Tell us about some of the horses you have rescued from the kill pen.
We have discussed (above) Rumor, Dutton and Kalhua.
Honey was a horse I got when I went to get Mystic. Honey had been a pack horse who had terrible arthritis. Often pack horses are treated quite well but it was assumed she might have fallen off a cliff because everything hurt. She has permanent scars from the straps where they packed her.
Mystic is missing an eye and has seizures. She will let you know when they are about to happen. It takes about 5 minutes then she gets up.
Freddie Mercury was absolutely wild. In the quarantine facility he busted out all the panels.
Journey gave birth at a kill pen, Nevada was severely abused. Doc was a horse that landed in a kill pen. His owners were aware of his plight but could not afford to get him out.
Charlie Brown is one of our miniature horses rescued from a kill pen when he was 6 months old. He had been kept in a tiny kennel. He is one of two miniature horses that are currently being trained to be support animals and will go into nursing homes.
Do all your animals get along?
The animals here have a lot of room to roam and have constant access to grain. They all get along. There is still a hierarchy of course.
How can the average person help horses in this country?
Support your local rescues.
If you personally own horses, when your old horse is at the end of their life let them go peacefully in their home and don’t send them to auction.
If you are going to sell a horse try to find an owner and don’t send to auction.
Spend time with your horse and don’t breed irresponsibly. Young, unhandled horses are mostly sent to kill pens as well as the old and pregnant.
Over 100 000 horses go to slaughter every year.
What do you look for in a horse when you rescue it?
I look in their eyes and find a connection. I remember Dutton so well, he was so sad and so broken.
Can you tell us something about horses that people may not be aware of?
Out of all mammals, horses eyes are the hardest eyes to heal. We have a lot of one eyed horses!
Horses are also very healing. In Cherokee County we partner with Veterans, Drug Court, DUI Court and Mental Health facilities. People that are part of the system can come do their therapy here. This is a calm and healing environment. These partnerships are a way we give back to the community.
How can the community help you?
We have been very blessed with sponsors. We would love the community to join us on Facebook and get educated about kill pens and the plight of horses and share awareness. We are a private farm but the public can schedule tours.
How can the community help you and learn more about what you do?
They can follow up on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. They can join our email list for special events. Any event we do we always keep it small so it’s an intimate experience.