"He redeems your life from destruction,
He crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies."
Psalms 103:4
Our Rescue Team
Mariah, Alex, and Shep
Mariah is the founder of Sweet Mercies Rescue Ranch. Her husband Alex handles all heavy lifting, tractor tasks, hay hauls and any handy work needed on the ranch. Their son Shep is in charge of feeding treats and naturally desensitizing the horses and donkeys to loud sounds, running boys and fast moving objects.
Brook
Brook lives on the ranch and is in charge of hauling our equines, feeding routines, medical care, and day to day tasks such as feed runs and donkey ear scratchies. Brook is the sister of SMRR's founder and a dedicated board member. SMRR runs smoothly because of her energy and passion with the horses.
Lyndi
Lyndi joined our team in 2023. Lyndi is our amazing ranch hand. She does morning feedings, keeps our stalls and runs clean for the horses, and jumps in to help wherever she's needed. She also helps run our Equine Assisted Lessons Program!
Megan
Megan has adopted 2 donkeys from us and currently voluntarily fosters two senior horses for us. This year we are officially welcoming Megan onto our staff to run a Hospice/ Senior Center for SMRR! She will shower our seniors with love through their final months of retirement and provide them with a safe, loving home. This will open up more space for us to take on younger horses here at SMRR's main property.
Sheridan
Sheridan is our on site trainer. Sheridan comes out and helps us properly assess horses and find areas they enjoy, and areas they need more work/ confidence in. We're incredibly thankful for her and the work she's doing with the horses.
Our Story
April 20th, 2022 was the hardest, most eye opening day of rescue for me.
We walked the pens full of horses like we normally do. My sister stopped in her tracks and said, “There’s a dead one in there.” As we approached the pen my heart broke as I saw the shallow rising and falling of her chest. She was still breathing. No one cared. People came up, kicked her leg, and continued walking. Was this real life? Was this really the world we live in? I jumped the fence and moved the other horses away, as they were trampling her as she laid there, too weak to stand. I spent the next hour pleading with management hoping they’d let me buy her and get her out of there. HOW in the world did no one care? Once they allowed me to purchase her I realized the only way we’d be able to get her out would be to physically drag her.. it was the most intense anger and sadness mixed together as me, my sister, and a few Good Samaritans pulled her weak, emaciated body out of that place. We immediately met our vet who agreed, she deserved to be freed from her pain and suffering. As she was leaving this world, the name Mercy came to me so clearly.
The few hours I had with Mercy lit a fire underneath me. It was time to take this more seriously, these innocent creatures have no voice. We will try our best to honor Mercy with every rescue we take in. Sweet Mercies Rescue Ranch was born from her story, the Mercy she deserved, and the life she should have lived. I hope we make you proud, Mercy.