Despite death of Equine Rescue Association's founder, nonprofit agency to continue

For the past four months, the volunteers at Marysville's Equine Rescue Association have been trying to figure out how to run the day-to-day operations without Vel Moore, the founder of the nonprofit horse rescue.

Moore, who fell and broke her leg in February, was later diagnosed with cancer. She died last week at the age of 77. But supporters say the rescue organization will keep going without her.

"She was totally given over to the care of these horses, and the care of them at any cost," said Suzette Acey, president of the board of directors of the association. The organization takes in horses that are lame, blind, unrideable or unwanted and tries to either rehabilitate them or just give them a comfortable home.

Acey said Moore sometimes used her Social Security check to pay for food and veterinary bills for the horses. She was the association's leader and office manager, juggling bills and contributions on a shoestring budget while caring for about 30 horses with the help of volunteers.

Equine Rescue, about a mile north of the Tulalip Resort Casino off Interstate 5, works with teens assigned to do volunteer work by Marysville's municipal court after they've been in trouble with the law.

Acey said Moore had a special connection with horses. "She could read each horse really well — she could read the character inside them."

And Moore seemed to have that same skill with the troubled teens assigned to volunteer, Acey said.

Sara Losey, who was one of those teens when she started working at Equine Rescue at the age of 12, will step into Moore's shoes as vice president of the association and will run the day-to-day operations.

Moore began Equine Rescue Association in 1997, when she moved to Snohomish County from California, where she had taught recreation and leisure-studies courses at the college level.

The rescue operation moved to its present site when the Marysville School District offered property near Marysville-Pilchuck High School for a token rent.

The association is planning a memorial service and fundraiser, including pony rides and a sale of used riding equipment, from 1-5 p.m. on June 28 at the Equine Rescue Association, 2415 116th St. N.E., Marysville.

Katherine Long: 206-464-2219

or klong@seattletimes.com