Darlene Supnick (left), founder of Forgotten Angels Equine Rescue; Kathleen Van Stine of the SpectraCare Foundation; Micke Stafford, licensed psychotherapist and board-certified diplomate; and MaryAnn Brewer (not pictured), Eagala certified therapist, were recently recognized for their collaborative efforts involving the Forgotten Angels’ Equine Therapy Program for Veterans.
Forgotten Angels Equine Rescue in Medford and the SpectraCare Foundation in Lindenwold received the award for Best Collaborative Effort of the Year for their veterans with horses program at the 11th annual Nonprofit Organizations Awards Celebration on Sept. 24. Presented by the Non-Profit Development Center of Southern New Jersey (NPDCSNJ), the ceremony recognized Southern New Jersey’s 2023 nonprofit leaders and organizations.
“We’re really proud because we save the horses – who in my opinion also have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) – they know they were saved and they’re very grateful and then when we started to work with the veterans – who some also have PTSD – it’s almost like the horses know and the veterans know and the horses go right to the veterans,” said Darlene Supnick, founder of Forgotten Angels Equine Rescue. “It’s almost like a miracle what happens. I can’t believe it.”
Supnick started Forgotten Angels Equine Rescue in 2015 after learning about horse slaughter when a guest on her radio show, Let’s Talk, brought the subject up. Although Supnick had been an animal advocate for years, she was not aware that hundreds of thousands of American horses are sent to slaughter in Canada and Mexico and served in fine restaurants overseas. Many of these horses were show horses, wild horses, racehorses, therapy horses and all breeds. She immediately began saving slaughter-bound horses and has saved over 350 to date. When she realized that the horses had PTSD and could help veterans who may also have the same issue, she connected with SpectraCare and two therapists, Micke Stafford, licensed psychotherapist and board-certified diplomate, and MaryAnn Brewer, Eagala (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) certified therapist.
The Equine Therapy Program for Veterans is conducted by Stafford and Brewer. Prior to working with the horses, a therapist will assess the veteran to determine their needs and develop a course of action. Five of Forgotten Angels’ sanctuary horses participate in equine therapy. Two are former racehorses and the others were found in kill pens ready to ship to slaughter. For more information on the equine therapy program, visit www.forgottenangelsequine.com.
The Spectracare Foundation is a proud grant recipient of the Patriot Fund. Their mission is to provide funding for the critical services veterans deserve to ensure their lifelong needs are sustained. For more information about the Patriot Fund, visit www.patriotfundinc.org. The SpectraCare Foundation engages in public fundraising and in the design and implementation of its own program initiatives, as well as supporting those of like-minded organizations to accomplish shared quality impact. For more information, visit www.spectracarefoundation.org.
