Southern Indiana's Best Kept Secret - Horse-Angels, Inc
by Kathy Rilo and Ann Belth
Hidden in the hills of southern Indiana is a sanctuary dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of over 30 unwanted horses that are recovering from abuse, starvation, disease, and injuries. It is named Horse-Angels, Inc. Horse Rescue and was founded by Sue A. Whitman, DVM, who is president of the corporation and is also on the board of directors. Because Horse-Angels is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, all donations are tax deductible.
Background
Dr. Whitman has wanted to rescue horses since childhood, and when she was only ten years old, her parents allowed her to adopt her first rescue. She decided to become a veterinarian as a result of her desire to start a horse rescue organization. After graduating from the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1983, she began her veterinary career specializing in horses. However, the number of hurt or sick horses she was asked to put down, simply because their owners didn’t want to invest the time and money necessary to save them, quickly caused her to become disenchanted with large animal practice. As a result, she limited her practice to small animals, and opened a clinic in Bloomington, Indiana in 1991. She began accepting horses in need of rescue in 2001 and incorporated Horse-Angels in 2003. Anyone who has met Dr. Whitman cannot help but be humbled by her devotion to the horses she loves. (Here is Sue below with resident horse Jessie.)

Horse-Angels occupies 120 acres and includes pastures and paddocks for the rescues, as well as a stall barn and indoor arena. All the horses have a stall available in times of bad weather, but those who are physically able are turned out as much as possible. The indoor arena is used as a turnout for the blind and handicapped horses, and for the occasional fund-raising clinic. There are 34 horses living on the ranch. About 23 of them are not really adoptable due to poor health and/or various ailments, except for the occasional one that is adopted as a pasture buddy, or for someone who just wants a horse as a pet. Another six or seven will be adoptable when they have been started under saddle.
Horse-Angels Inc.
Operated and Managed by
Sue A Whitman D.V.M.
8262 Switchboard Road
Spencer, Indiana 47460
812-876-0711
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a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization