Across the country, equine rescues quietly do extraordinary work—rehabilitating, retraining, and rehoming horses that were previously in difficult situations through no fault of their own. These organizations run on passion, grit, and long hours, often stretching limited resources to meet the daily needs of the animals in their care. Supporting that effort is the mission behind A Home for Every Horse (AHFEH), a program of the Equine Network Foundation powered by corporate sponsors that has found forever homes for over 10,000 horses to date. 

Showing up for rescues is something Mike Jerina, Director of Ambassadors, Events & Sponsorships for Purina, is passionate about. “For years, we’ve seen firsthand how a single day of support can change the trajectory for a rescue,” Jerina said. “When people show up, when brands show up, it reminds these organizations that their work matters and that they’re not doing it alone.” 

Helping hands make hard work lighter 

That belief in the power of hands‑on involvement recently brought a team of Land O’Lakes employees to a broodmare sanctuary for a Rescue Rehab Day. These sponsor-supported events organized by AHFEH provide resources and volunteer labor to deserving rescue organizations and address a simple but pressing need: rescues don’t only need donations; they need on-the-ground support. Horses require daily feeding, grooming, training, and care. Infrastructure repairs? Barn improvements? Grounds upkeep? Fencing projects? Those can fall to the bottom of a never-ending list. 

“Rescues have a hard job. They cannot do it alone,” said Melissa Kitchens, President of the Equine Network Foundation. “Every day there’s a new challenge that comes up, and they need help.” 

Land O’Lakes employees took on maintenance projects that the team at River Falls, Wisconsin-based Abiding Sunday indicated would make an immediate, significant impact. Their work strengthened the sanctuary’s operations and delivered an emotional lift. 

“You guys coming out here has shown us that you've got our backs. There's somebody out there who understands and who cares about all of us and the horses,” said Dee Possin, Abiding Sunday’s manager. 

The heart behind Abiding Sunday began with a single, often overlooked question from founder Johanne Gentlebread: “What happens to the mother horses after they’re done and their foals go away?” 

These broodmares, who spend years contributing to the equine world, often have limited pathways once their breeding careers end. Abiding Sunday gives them a place to rest and simply be horses again. The sanctuary operates with deep compassion and, like many rescues, with limited hands. 

Having volunteer teams arrive with energy, tools, and eagerness to help offered a meaningful boost that extended beyond the physical tasks completed. 

A network of community support 

The volunteer work at Abiding Sunday is part of a broader pattern of support organized by AHFEH. These Rescue Rehab Days occur regularly, with teams of volunteers from Purina and the broader Land O’Lakes enterprise, Anheuser‑Busch, and other corporate sponsors donating their time to support rescue organizations in their communities. Purina, AHFEH’s title sponsor and a founding supporter, contributes not only labor but critical resources—having donated over a million dollars and nearly 1,700 tons of feed to rescues connected to the program.  

When corporate partners show up on-the-ground for horse rescues, they bring with them a message of solidarity and commitment. 

Chris Pearson, President of Purina Animal Nutrition and SVP of Land O’Lakes Inc., summed it up, “In rural communities there aren’t a ton of resources, so it’s important for us to stand with our farmers, owners, and customers and do what we can in support of what they do every single day.” 

At Bearfoot Ranch in Canton, Georgia, where Anheuser‑Busch volunteers recently led a Rescue Rehab Day, founder Darrith Russel spoke to how much that involvement matters. “It revitalizes you. You’re not alone in this.” She continued, “It is definitely a labor of love, but we’re not going to let any horse be left behind if we can help it.”  

Partnership—especially the kind that extends beyond the corporate office—creates momentum that rescues feel long after the volunteers head home. 

Deeper benefits of giving back 

For Land O’Lakes employees, the day at Abiding Sunday was a chance to connect with the cooperative spirit that guides the organization. It was an opportunity to serve a community rooted in agriculture and animal care—a community whose work can go unseen. 

Kitchens hopes that more people discover the meaning and joy found in supporting rescues firsthand. 
“Go visit a horse rescue or a therapeutic riding center. See how you can help. See how that horse can help you and what it brings to your life.” 

For the broodmares at Abiding Sunday, the horses at Bearfoot Ranch, and the many rescues supported across AHFEH’s network, the collective strength of volunteers and corporate partners is not just a contribution—it’s a lifeline. 

When companies show up, and when employee volunteers step forward with their time and effort, they help ensure that these rescues can keep doing what they do best: giving every horse a fighting chance at a better life. Because when animals thrive, everything grows stronger—farms, families, communities, and the future itself. 

To get involved, visit AHomeForEveryHorse.com.