The Clark County Executive Horse Council (CCEHC) is continuing to operate Ripley’s Horse Aid, a voucher program designed to help horse owners care for their animals during difficult times.
Pat Brown and Janna Brown, no relation, say the program is about providing practical support before horse owners reach a crisis.
“This is the same story that we hear over and over. People want to do the right thing, but they’re in economic hardship. We’re all going through this time of inflation. Horses are very expensive to take care of, and with the economy and COVID-19 hitting, and everything going on in the world, people are struggling,” Pat said.
The program provides vouchers that cover core equine care, mainly dental, castration, euthanasia and body removal, farrier, hay and grain. Additional services, such as veterinary treatment or farrier work, can also be vouchered on a case-by-case basis.
Based in Mount Vernon, Washington, Ripley’s Horse Aid Foundation was founded by three horse lovers, Michelle Miner, Wilma Tronstad and Pika Stratton. The organization gets its name from Ripley, a horse that Miner shared a period of her life with before she was forced to have him put down due to persistent and painful health issues.
Pat managed the Clark County branch after the founders retired and was entrusted with it. CCEHC has been running the program since 2014.
Tyler Castle, president of CCEHC, said Ripley’s Horse Aid fills a critical gap in equine welfare. Maintaining the service continues to be one of the council’s biggest goals.
“It’s an amazing program, very unique in the nation,” Castle said. “We're definitely continuing that and trying to have that available.”
Janna Brown, who helps administer the program, explained that the goal is to prevent neglect through financial aid and education, keeping horses with their owners.
“It’s better to leave an animal with its owner than rip it away,” she said. “This is preventative care. Instead of having animal control calls that end with horses being relinquished, we help owners bridge the gap.”
Castle said funding remains the biggest hurdle for Ripley’s Horse Aid.
“We're always looking for more funding to keep it going. [We’re] letting people know that it exists and that it's valuable to the county [for] that mitigation and preventative care,” Castle said.
Readers interested in donating can send checks CCEHC, 7720 NE Hwy 99, Ste D#325, Vancouver, WA 98665, Payable to CCEHC and noted in memo "Ripley's Horse Aid".
While Ripley’s Horse Aid continues, CCEHC’s Adopt-a-Horse program has scaled back. The council now serves mainly in a reserve role, as Clark County Animal Control partners with another organization to manage adoptions when intervention is necessary.
In October, the council will launch its survey, which collects data on horse ownership and equine economics in Southwest Washington every five years. Organizers say the survey will be especially important for understanding post-COVID challenges faced by horse owners. Readers can stay up to date at ccehc.org or facebook.com/CCEHCouncil.
