WHO WE ARE

“Values are like fingerprints. Nobody’s are the same, but you leave them all over everything you do.”

-Elvis Presley

We want to highlight our core values , as they are our compass in every decision that we make in regards to the rescue. Not only our interactions with our rescues, but also every person we encounter along the way on this journey.

OUR CORE VALUES

LOVE

Every choice, every action, every step, every breath is with love. Love for the animals that we care for, love for the people we help, and love for one another. We have so much love, and passion for what we do, day in and day out. Above everything, is love, and we want nothing more than to share this love.

TRUST

Trust is built on moral integrity, and we must understand that trust is not freely given. It is mutually earned over time. We will always be true to our word and follow through on our actions. Predictability and consistency are key and our guiding influence with communication, energy, and emotion. We strive to make every interaction a sincere one.

PATIENCE

We have as much time as needed. This is not a race to the finish line, it is a steady work in progress. Baby steps forward, and even a step back every once in a while. A wise person said “work with the horse that you have on that day”. Meaning if the horse who was comfortable with what you worked on the day before isn’t comfortable with that same task today, you don’t move forward. You have to go back to where they are comfortable and slowly move forward again. The same can be said with working with people, we will work with ‘who we have’ on any given day. We aim for that steady perseverance, as that provides a positive environment to think, and grow, and work through our problems. Afterall, a problem is just a question raised to inspire thought; providing a way to reach understanding.

HONESTY

We will always be truthful. We will always be upfront. We will be sensitive to needs on how the truth is presented, but we will never intentionally lie or deceive. We feel there are too many times that people in the ‘horse world’ are deceptive and dishonest about what they know to be true. Deception doesn’t benefit anyone. Not people, and definitely not the horses. Actions speak louder than words, and we will practice what we preach.

RESPECT

We will always regard feelings, wishes, rights, and traditions. Much like trust, respect is earned, and we intend to give respect so that we may be respected. We will actively listen, seek understanding, show empathy for differences, and apologize when we are wrong.

INSPIRATION

Interestingly enough, one of the definitions of inspire is to breath in air. Taking a deep breath sends a signal to our brain telling us to calm down and relax which reduces tension, as well as relieves stress and anxious feelings. We want to help others achieve that goal. What is alluring, or intriguing, by helping horses we can help people and vice versa; by helping people we can help the horses. It all comes full circle in the end, we want to spread awareness to that fact. We intend for this to be a setting that we can find joy, in every day and help the community along the way.

LOYALTY

In the spirit of building meaningful relationships, it is not possible without all of the previously mentioned values. We want to incorporate our values when providing constant support. When you are with us, we will provide a solid grounding to stand on. We want to be that stable connection that provides an environment that promotes growth. We strive to be truly present during the good times, and the hard times.

OUR STORY

While this trip did not go completely smoothly, the good Lord had a plan for us, and it all worked out in his timing, as it usually does. I spent the coming days doing nothing but feeding Sarge, and sitting with him. I had always been told that the best way to gain a horses’ trust in the beginning is to just sit and get to know them. So that is where I started. Just sitting. I sat beside him and watched him eat, until he got curious enough to approach me. I would try to offer him treats, he sniffed them and ignored it. His favorite reward at that point, and honestly still is, were some petting and love. All he wanted was affection.

Fast forward a couple of weeks; we worked on walking nicely on a lead line, how to stand for fly spray, how to stand for the hose, how to stand for grooming, how you can NOT eat the grooming tools. The basics. We eventually reached a point where he had enough weight, and enough energy to start “working”.  Being young we started slow with short 10-15 minute sessions of liberty work. Sarge proved every time I did something new with him, that he was a trusting, and smart boy. Again I asked myself, how could this AMAZING horse end up in an auction and ultimately a kill pen? I know there are a lot of rescues out there, but not enough.  I decided I HAD to do more. I had to help more. But how?! Internally I said “I am going to start a rescue”.  I didn’t voice that to anyone for a hot minute. Could I really do it? I knew it would take a lot of time, effort, and other resources to make it happen. That would take another BIG leap of faith, did I have that in me?

I went to church that following week, and I was sitting there listening to a sermon on the Holy Spirit. How it is kind of like the wind, flowing around you and through you, to help us along the way. That little “voice in your head or your gut”… that Is the Holy Spirit talking to you, and through you. LIGHT BULB! Just maybe, it wasn’t just my head and my gut…  maybe this is something I am meant to do. Just maybe I was put on this path for a reason. I AM going to save more! I am going to start a rescue, and it is going to have the name “Wind” in it. “North” as well, because God is our true North.  There we have it, North Winds Rescue! But there was more, I wasn’t going to stop there.  If it weren’t for my horse Bunny, whom I got literally the day that the world stood still and shut down for Covid-19 Lockdowns in March 2020; I don’t know how I would have survived. I don’t know how our family would have otherwise passed the time. She provided an outlet to force us to get out of the house, but also, a sense of calm and connection that we lacked during those dark times. She was my happy place, and my kids seemed to really have that connection too. I wanted to give that to more people; connection. I want to use the horses that I rescue to also help others in my community. I could think of no better way to help, and share the gift that we have to offer each other. A second chance. I would start a horsemanship program with the foundation of trauma informed therapy, which could ultimately fund the rescue. People helping horses, and horses helping people! Here we are today, on our journey to making connections a part of our every day life. These rescues, and people teach me something new every day!

-Valorie Nyenhuis, President and Founder

That face. How could anyone send that sad, yearling, baby face to auction, let alone slaughter. I saw him online one day away from being sent to slaughter, as in the next day. I couldn’t let it happen. That little voice inside my head, and that little knot in my gut were speaking to me at the same exact time, both telling me I needed to save those sad eyes that looked like they could see into your soul. I took a leap of faith that day, with the help of a good friend encouraging me to help him. Unseen in person, without know much about him, I sent the money to save number 1664, whom we would later name Sergeant Trooper, or Sarge for short. I didn’t even ask my husband before I did it. It was a “Hey babe, how was your day” and a response of “Hey babe, what did you do?” I excitingly responded with “I may or may not have rescued a baby horse from slaughter!” A few days later, I set out on a journey that would forever change my life.

When I arrived at the facility where Sarge was located, my surroundings were exactly like you would expect. A holding facility with rusted metal everywhere. From a tin roof with no walls, to the stalls made out of round pen panels, and thin, sick looking horses around. I backed my trailer up to the fence so that we would essentially give him no room to go any other way BUT in the trailer. The lady that was there to help me load him, cornered him to put his halter on and proceeded to “push” him in. Sarge cautiously walked up to me, and I put out my hand so that he could smell me. He put his nose to my hand and calmly walked onto the trailer without hesitation. I secured him in with a hay bag and off to the vet we went for vaccinations and a health certificate, so we could legally travel across state lines.

NORTH WINDS RESCUE BOARD MEMBERS

  • Valorie Nyenhuis

    FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

  • Heather Singer

    CO- FOUNDER AND VICE PRESIDENT

  • Sarah Dunlap

    Sarah Dunlap

    SECRETARY

  • Nevaeh Harrison

    Volunteer Coordinator

  • Alexis Arnold

    Event Coordinator

  • Cassie Doney

    Cassie Doney

    Board Member

  • Susan May

    Board Member

  • Mikendra De Bruin

    Board Member

  • Camille Meier

    Camille Meier

    Board Member

  • Megan Berge

    Board Member