COWBOY COUNTRY: Riding for rescues

Cowboy Bud Kingston, along with his three-year-old quarter horse, Roja, is preparing for an extraordinary 400-mile journey across New Mexico in August. The goal? Raise crucial funds for the abandoned, abused and neglected equine of Walkin N Circles Ranch, a horse rescue non-profit in Stanley, New Mexico.

"It's a good cause because those horses didn't ask to be abandoned or starved or anything, just like with dogs, you know? These animals don't ask to be treated that way. And we need to help them all out," Kingston said.

The Riding for Rescues fundraiser will take Kingston and Roja, border to border, through Quemado, Pie Town Magdalena, Socorro, Mountainair, Vaughn, Fort Sumner and Clovis. Alongside the duo will be a small volunteer team in a support vehicle that will put up signage to alert drivers, provide water, and set up camp along the way.

"It's a ride that I started years ago, and then I didn't get to complete; I had to come off for work. And I've always wanted to come back and complete that ride. And so, it's like 25 years later now, I'm finally getting to do it. So, I figured I’d do it and raise money for the rescue at the same time," Kingston said.

He welcomes riders to join along the way for part or all of the trek. Sponsorship, donations, places to stay and meals are accepted. He is excited that he has some people who have already signed up to join in.

"Our longest day is 41 miles. That's the second day of our ride. Most of our days are 28 to 34 miles depending on, you know, the distance between towns where we wanted to stop at night," Kingston said.

He said they plan to take a dirt road between Socorro and Bernardo to avoid the interstate for safety reasons.

He said they'd be open to talking to people for a few minutes but must ensure they put in their daily miles to make the distance they need. "If you see us coming through this, honk and wave, and you know, we'll wave back."

Kingston's lifelong love of horses made his involvement with Walking Circles Ranch a natural. He grew up working on ranches and feedlots in eastern New Mexico and West Texas. He can't remember a time when he wasn't riding a horse.

"I remember I was maybe two or three years old the first time I fell off a horse. My granddad, you know, worked on a ranch, and I would go with him way before I was even in school. I'd be riding a horse and go with him to check cattle or check fences," Kingston said.

Kingston said he got involved with the non-profit as a volunteer, helping to train horses and increase their adoptability.

"It's a joy; things can be going wrong everywhere, and just take off and go and spend some time with your horse and everything good," Kingston said.

Walkin N Circles Ranch was founded in 2002 with a mission to rehabilitate and rehome horses, donkeys, and mules. It is inspected and licensed by the New Mexico Livestock Board, which means most of the animals that come to them are seized by NMLB.

"I've been volunteering since 2017. And I just thought I could never do this. I could never see the tragic situations. Well, guess what? You can and, you know, the before and after for these horses; it's just a miraculous thing. And not only do they heal physically, but they somehow learn to trust you again," Lauri Michael, Walkin N Circles board president said.

Michael said the non-profit is unique in that it has a successful adoption rate and an average stay of about six months.

Since its inception in 2002, the equine rescue has saved more than 500 horses and currently has 50 animals on its thirty-acre ranch that it is working to rehome. Last year, it took in a record number of 41 horses and donkeys and found homes for 26.

She said they rely on a small staff and about 100 volunteers, half of whom are a core group, including Kingston. Walkin N Circles Ranch Thrift store in Edgewood provides them with nearly 40% of their budget, but they also rely on grants and donations to keep the operation going. They don't get any federal funding.

"Fundraisers like what Bud's doing really helps keep us going. It costs us about around $3,500 a year per horse on average and that's if they're healthy," Michael said.

For those curious about what Walkin N Circles is all about, Michael encourages folks to come out for the June 29 Adopt-a Thon that will be held in Albuquerque. It's an opportunity for the rescue to show some off their horses and the training they've done with them.

"It's a kind of a challenge each horse that will be participating goes through an enhanced obstacle course, so it's really fun. People can meet them and get put on an adoption interest list, and then we can go from there," Michaels said.

They do not adopt out at the event, but those interested can start the vetting process. She said the rescue conducts site visits and does everything it can to ensure a good fit before adopting out.

"It's important for folks to be comfortable with the horse they're adopting and that the horse is comfortable with them. We very rarely get returned horses because we really do a pretty thorough job of vetting," Michael said.

For more information on joining Bud on his journey, please call him at 505-288-9724; for sponsoring opportunities or donating to the Walkin N Circles, please visit their website at www.wncr.org