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Zuma, a.k.a. Zoom Room, a.k.a. Wildfire

Who was Zuma, and what does Zuma’s Rescue Ranch do?

Zuma, or Wildfire, as she was known on the Show Circuit, was not just any horse. Zuma was a horse that touched the hearts and souls of her family of owners so much that they were inspired to create Zuma’s Rescue Ranch, a charitable organization devoted to the compassionate salvation of unwanted horses and children. It is the mission of Zuma’s Rescue Ranch to share Zuma’s unconditional love and the lessons of her life with people who need to learn them. We do this by pairing foster kids with rehabilitated horses that were rescued from slaughter or abusive homes, and then specially trained for use in equine-assisted experiential learning sessions. Through the guidance of a certified behavioral analyst, the horses and children form a bond that helps them both to heal and learn to trust and love again.The results from Experiential Learning happen much faster that in a traditional therapy setting.

In Jodi’s words…

Jodi Messenich

“Over the past years Zuma’s has a developed great sense of community; the beautiful iron gates remain open throughout the day welcoming all that enter. It is truly a place for the nurturing of souls.

Most of the horses arrive with a history tarnished by abuse and neglect, completely stripped of their trust. Over time, the horses we rescue regain their health while mending their broken faith in the kindness of human beings.

In 2004, my husband Paul and I decided it was time to repay the horses for all they have given us in love and memories over the years. We made the decision to take our corporation, American Sport Horses, and turn it into a non-profit experiential learning center and horse rescue. At that time Paul was working for a successful telecommunications company and we knew his income could provide for the rescue horses. Little did we know that just two years into our journey, Paul’s career, as countless others, had vanished. We were prepared to maintain ourselves with or without his salary… the countless at risk children and the 20+ hungry rescued horses were another story.

Needless to say, our undertaking has not come without a tremendous amount of effort. Often we are asked “how do you do it all with just the two of you?” My answer is, “I don’t know how not to do it.” The children and the  horses need us and we do what is needed to provide for them. Neither Paul or I ride at all any more; there is no time to ride when caring for at risk youth and 40 horses.

Being the eternal optimist, I could not and would not give up our commitment to rescuing horses from slaughter and pairing them with at risk youth. We continue to rescue horses and rehabilitate them on our life savings. After all, it is a labor of love and there is no turning back.

In 2008, we met Gail, a mother deeply rooted in the foster care system. Gail rescues children, much like we rescue horses. Together Gail and I began to pair our rescued horses with her at risk foster children. We molded this partnership into a therapeutic and healing environment and from this Zuma’s Rescue Ranch was born. Both the horse rescue and therapy are funded almost entirely by our savings and our unwavering determination to sacrifice everything to a vision we believe in with all of our hearts.

The re- birth of Zuma’s Rescue Ranch in September 2008 has allowed us to gain community awareness for the rescued horses and foster children. When a community comes together great things can happen for those less fortunate. Zuma’s would cease to exist without community donations and volunteers. We thank each and every one of you from the depths of our hearts for making Zuma’s a place for kids and horses to learn to love again.”

In Paul’s words…

Paul Messenich

“I run to honor our first horse, Zuma.  Her registered name with The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Registry was Zoom Room. You’ll find the name somewhere on me in race photos.  Zoom Room was unraced, but her spirit runs with me every step.  Why do I honor her in this way?  There are many answers to that question.  The main answer is because Zuma rescued me from being consumed with my career and helped me return to being in harmony with my family and our universe.  She was the catalyst, the inspiration for our ranch and ultimately so much more that would not have come to be without her helping us come into balance.  What does this have to do with running?  We found Zuma on November 24, 2004 around 6:30 am in the northeast pasture of our property with a compound fracture in her right front leg.  Jodi and I took turns helping her to stand for over an hour until the vet could arrive to put her to sleep.  I run because she is no longer able to run.  I run to know in some way what she endured that night/morning and give thanks for everything she did for me.  I run to keep her thoroughbred spirit alive.” It is Zuma’s spirit that touches the hearts of the countless children that come through our gates each year seeking an alternative to traditional approach to therapy.

Victoria Messenich

 

 

 

 

In Victoria’s Words…..

Some may find it hard to believe our fiery little thoroughbred could ignite such compassion, but Zuma’s soul provides the very foundation for our dream. Her unwavering heart and dedication to her loved ones courses through every vein of our program, and anyone involved with our cause can feel the strength of her pulse living on today. Her story while unique, offers insight to the depth of the bond between man and horse, and its ability to support and inspire us through the most difficult of times.

Looking back on my late childhood and teenage years now, I still find it difficult to put down in ink the seemingly infinite ways horses touched my heart, and molded me into who I am today. I will never find a medium with which I can thank my parents for connecting me with these animals. I only hope my life’s journey represents the profundity of gratitude and knowledge I gain from my experiences.

My memoirs of Zuma are tumultuous to say the least, but through the highs and the lows of our life together I acquired a profound respect for her intuition and earned a steadfast and loyal companion. She taught me how to earn respect and build a foundation of trust through hard work and honesty; something I do not think I could understand so completely and apply to all my relationships without her help. Zuma (and every horse after her) remind to take everything in stride, offering me sanctuary from a chaotic world while reminding me not to lose myself and my passions in the commotion.

The details of my decade of education from Zuma and her hoofed counterparts are numerous, covering more subject matter than I could draw from any classroom lesson.
Zuma taught me respect. If you do not ask for what you want kindly and respectfully, I will end up with dirt in my face, quite literally. This lesson transcends into every aspect of my life and while dirt may be a figure of speech here, the lack of respect holds true.

Zuma taught me patience and trust. If you force me to do something I am not ready to try, I will go back to the barn, with or without you. Her timorous nature showed me you cannot force any situation unless you take the time to let others view you as a place to lay their trust. Then and only then can you move forward.

Zuma taught me the power of unconditional love. I will stand by your side and dry your tears on my coat. I expect nothing more than for you to stay with me until I feel the relief in your embrace and see the happiness in your eyes return. Hug me closer, and stay as long as you want. I know the powerful bond of love between two souls can mend even the deepest wounds.
I want the world to feel the love I have in my heart for these animals. I want everyone to know they have someone out there, two legs or four, that will love them without question, if they just give them the chance. It is Zuma’s spirit that gives hope to children with no hope, gives courage for those with no courage and gives love for those needing to be loved. Touched by a horse is what you will find at Zuma’s.

“Get these hard times right out of our minds, riding Wildfire.”  (Zuma’s show name was wildfire)

Victoria Messenich

Zuma shattered her leg while turned out in her pasture in 2004. The weather was bitter cold and the snow was very deep when her owners found her standing awkwardly in the field. Due to the weather and location of the farm, it took the vet some time to make the drive to help her. Paul and Jodi took turns helping Zuma stand up and keeping the pressure off her catastrophically injured leg. Zuma was put down when the vet arrived, her leg tragically damaged, beyond repair. In death, as in life, Zuma taught them all something very special about unconditional love, life, loss, and family; something they each carry with them, still.

Zuma is the spirit and the inspiration behind the development of Zuma’s Rescue Ranch. She was the catalyst for a remarkable transformation in her family and the little girl who lost her. There are no words to express the positive impact she, and all of the horses who have come after her have had on their lives.

It is the desire of the Messenich Family to share the positive lessons of Zuma’s love, and Zuma’s life with more people through the development of Zuma’s Rescue Ranch.

Support Zuma’s mission of healing hearts and souls with unconditional love, trust, and respect. Lives are not disposable.