b"WE'RE PROUD TO FEATURE NEVADA COUNTYS SUPER SENIORSNina Thompson, 63 do this without all his help. Eric has stepped up to help in Ardent horse rescuer, tranquilityevery aspect of the rescue, she said proudly. He is our hero.seeker, new entrepreneurTogether they maintain the shelters, a big pond and huge green pastures dotted with Black Oaks. Truly, it looks like By Heather Macdonald horse heaven.W hen you first come upThey also recently opened the Horses Honor Tack Store at 1511 Grass Valley Highway in North Auburn at Live Oak Plaza. the long drive of theFor years the nonprofit has partly been supported by an annual ranch, you notice theretack sale of donated tack. Now the nonprofit has its own store is something different about thefull of a huge variety of horse tack. Donations of tack and cash 30 plus horses in the huge greenare welcome.pasture. None of them lookNina Thompson looks at her acres with horses and the lines alike and most have white hairsof tack in the store in some awe that it has come so far since she mixed in their coats. Some havefounded it in 2006. She was always interested in animal rescue, deep sway backs, others move abut decided to specialize in senior horses.little slower than most. DoesntThere is a big plight in America today,she said. Too many appear these horses would behorses and not enough qualified homes and we fill a very small bred for sale. gap there.That is because this is a homeThompson tells of the horror stories many senior horses for senior horses, all put out to pasture you might say. experience. Many are thrown away by being sold to kill buyers Every horse has a story here, said Nina Thompson, ranchwho illegally send them to Mexico for slaughter for pet food.owner, her golden hair sparkling in the bright sun as she petsThere are so many horses in need. she said. About 137,000 the nose of a graying horse. horses go to slaughter every year to Mexico.Thompson is also the director of Horses Honor Senior HorseThe first senior rescue which inspired her was a horse named Sanctuary, a non-profit organization dedicated to assistingGrand Dame.horses in need. Her 83-acre-ranch is devoted to making theseShe was 38 years old and a walking skeleton, Thompson elder horses live in beauty and comfort for their last years. Shesaid. She had been alone for 25 years. To watch her blossom with joy and food and companionship was pure delight. THERE ARE SO MANY HORSES IN NEED. ABOUT 137,000Also helping her with the nonprofit is approximately 100 GO TO SLAUGHTER EVERY YEAR IN MEXICO. volunteer horse lovers. Some come out to shovel horse poop, others come to give companionship to the seniors and others volunteer now in the tack store. Thompson also encourages said some horses show up horrifically abused and in terriblevisitors to call the number on thehorseshonor.orgwebsite and shape. Others are beloved horses their owner can no longer caremake a date to come enjoy the horses.for. Unfortunately, the ranch is now full at this time. Thompson, 63, was a night janitor for several decades to The telephone rings almost every day, she said. It ismake a living for herself and her four daughters. One of her absolutely the hardest part of our job to say No to people andadult daughters is special needs and she spends time helping horses in need. her. She also loves cooking with the fruits and veggies she grows Helping her run the ranch is her husband Eric Thompson. Aherself. Thompson is known by her friends for her yummy large man in his signature overalls. Thompson said she couldntbaked goods. She is also known to reach out on Facebook encouraging her friends to help her take food to the legal homeless camp in Auburn.Her other hobbies include gardening, being creative, music, singing and word games. Also a variety of pets. However, at the top of her list of fun things to do is to go camp overnight by the lake-like pond. I love to sleep by the pond and listen to the frog chorus, she said.Out there she is surrounded by the rescue horses, who come up to nuzzle her. She knows each one as a trusted friend. Thompson just wishes she could rescue all the horses in need. Many call her to find a place for a senior horse with no home, but she cant accommodate them all. However, she said, she will try her best to find these needy seniors a place to live out their days. Ill do anything I can to find that horse a soft landing.2024 Western Nevada County Edition SENIOR DIRECTORY 19"