The Conquistador Equine Rescue & Advocacy Program

In 2001, a young Peruvian Paso stallion was found in Eastern Arizona almost dead from starvation & dehydration, blinded in one eye and lame.  With love and care combined with the chestnut stallion’s great heart, Conquistador recovered to become a multiple Champion Peruvian horse, advocate for his fellow equines, & inspiration for all who must overcome physical disabilities.  Thus began the Conquistador Program.  Since our beginning, the Conquistador Program has:

1)     Rescued & rehabilitated more than 300 horses in the US,

2)     Assisted in the rescue of 100 horses in Canada,

3)    Brought 11 Peruvian horses from a severe neglect case in Colorado to loving homes in Arizona,

4)     Rescued Liberty, a true wild colt who had been removed from the Tonto National Forest without a NEPA process, from auction,

5)     Provided information to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Maricopa County Attorney that led to the indictment of a “horse sanctuary” director on felony animal cruelty charges in a facility in which scores of horses had died under terrible conditions,

6)     Led an effort to keep wild horses safe on federal lands in Arizona that resulted in the retaining of attorney Anthony Merrill and an historic agreement with the US Forest Service to keep the Heber wild horse territory and create a management strategy for wild horses in the Territory and on the surrounding Sitgreaves National Forest in Eastern Arizona,

7)     Created a program for Conquistador to appear at therapeutic horsemanship programs for others, like himself, who face physical or emotional challenges,

8)     Continues to advocate for equine welfare.

The Conquistador program is a coalition of foster homes, rescues and sanctuaries dedicated to rehabilitating horses who are victims of cruelty and neglect or who are homeless and to advocating for equine welfare.