Our Mission

In 1998 Robert Bruno rescued Wapello Road, a thoroughbred mare at the Les Bois racetrack in Boise, Idaho. She sustained injuries to her ligaments too severe to be corrected according to her owners, and was going to be euthanized at the track that day. 

Robert happened to be friends with one of the jockeys and was called to intervene. Robert provided Wapello with the rest and veterinary care she needed. In a short period of time, he found that she was sound enough to be a companion animal, and Robert ended up riding her for over 20 years.

 That incident inspired Robert to eventually start Horse Rescue Idaho, Inc. Wapello’s dramatic turnaround made Robert realize that an equine rescue organization was desperately needed in our area, thus propelling Idaho Horse Rescue into life.

In 2010 IHR became a federally recognized Non-Profit Organization. Since then we have provided rescue and refuge to over 150 horses in our area. Robert has been rescuing both wild & tame animals for as long as he can remember.  

Any distressed living creature that wanders near can count on Robert’s care. He treats mice, skunks, raccoons & songbirds with the same care and safe haven he provides to horses.  His dedication to these suffering animals has transformed Idaho Horse Rescue into the organization it is today.

IHR continually receives solicitations for rescue throughout the state of Idaho. With your donation, IHR will be able to provide quality care to our rescued horses, continue to rescue and rehabilitate more horses, and prevent cruelty to horses.

"No one can do everything, but everyone can do something."  ~ Unknown

 At Idaho Horse Rescue, we have a handful of dedicated and caring volunteers who aid us in fulfilling our mission.       

        They continue to make our programs possible. From marketing to fundraising to physical labor, our volunteers are the backbone of Idaho Horse Rescue and we couldn’t do it without them.

        When you submit your online application, we get a great feel for your interests, abilities & preferences.  When we have specific needs, we can pull from this list with ease because we already know your experience & availability!

How do I apply?

• Fill out an online application. to the best of your ability. You can find it on the Contact Us page of this site – We get tons of submissions so,
• Check your email! We will send you more information after we receive your application including links to join our volunteer community.
• Be patient. We get many submissions every week.  Also, we may just not have a specific need at the moment.  If you believe your application has gotten lost – you are welcome to either resubmit one or try contacting our Administrative Team at admin@idahohorserescue.org

TIME COMMITMENT

• We require no time commitments. We only request you track your time invested & report it. Volunteer tracking is expected by some corporate & foundation grant makers.

RESTRICTIONS

• Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age to work around the horses. (Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)
• Corporate and community volunteer groups are most welcome & simply need to arrange details through our administrative volunteer coordinator via email admin@idahohorserescue.org or call us at 208.938.2358

What can volunteers do?

• Grant-writing
• Online and social media marketing
• Event planning
• Administrative tasks
• Education and advocacy
• Corporate community relations
• Barn improvements & stable maintenance