Today we’d like to introduce you to Tinia Creamer.
Hi Tinia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was a very casual horse girl growing up. I collected Breyer models, enjoyed the horses my grandfather purchased, and took some riding lessons for a few years.
My grandfather depended on horses greatly for farming and transportation in the ’40s. He took me along to horse auctions across Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky from the time I was very little. I saw shows in rural counties where soring and abuse was prevalent. And growing up in one of the poorest counties in the USA, I knew starvation better than most. He also took me to races from a young age. I didn’t know what happened behind the scenes, and I imagine he had no idea, either. I even dreamed of being a jockey when I grew up as a young child.
I ended up almost 5′ 9” and of no particular gift in the seat. I became an animal advocate, vegetarian and free thinker. A bit (or a lot) of an activist. I still had no thought to actually found a rescue organization.
In 2007, I lost my younger brothers and sister in an apartment fire in Huntington, WV. I stood outside the building, arriving too late to save them, and watched a large part of all I loved go down in flames. I was only 24. 2 years later, my dad died, as well.
I felt rather broken and without direction.
Right before my father passed, I moved to a small farm, and I noticed the horse market was falling apart; I said, “Someone needs to do something about this.” I said it when I was pregnant with pre-eclampsia. I said, still trying to piece life together following the death of most of my family. I said at the wrong time, but when I spoke those words out loud. . .I knew what it meant. I couldn’t say them and leave them as only words.
I started using out-of-pocket money at a time when we had little to spare to pick up a horse here and there listed for free on Craigslist and in poor shape. I will be honest; I didn’t know how to rehab a horse. I have a lifetime of animal husbandry, but I didn’t know enough. I reached out to groups I didn’t know were doing terrible things behind the scenes for advice. I kept finding myself disappointed. I found no one knew anything, and ethics were in short supply locally.
Eventually, I found one particular mare in 2010. She was tied up in Lincoln County, WV. She had no hope, but I wasn’t realistic back at that time. And I tried. I tried so hard, and I failed. I didn’t fail because she didn’t make it. I failed because I tried to make her live when I was too late for her.
I named her, once buried, Phoenix. . . rising from the ashes anew. I think of her in all the horses that have been saved since. Hundreds of success stories. Phoenix after Phoenix, I believe.
I posted a blog almost 6 years ago to this day. I laid
her to rest. I didn’t know rescue meant then. It means hard choices, realistic mindsets, and ending suffering.
Suddenly, after her story, I found I wasn’t as alone in my hope for something better here. There were people looking, hoping for something for our in-need horses.
The three of us built a small support base. We tried and learned and failed and accomplished.
That seems a lifetime ago, and some 250 horses have come after. What a legacy Phoenix has, though her name does often beg the question, “Are you all in Arizona?”
We are all thankful each day for the lessons we’ve learned. We all had a heart for making sure we built something of tremendous value. Being willing to learn and improve and move forward is so vital to making sure rescue (and most anything) works in the long term.
These days, we’ve are one of the largest equine rescues in the world. We have receive national recognition time and again. We have hundreds of volunteers and operate in multiple state.
Most importantly, we’ve saved over 1,100 equine lives, and we’ve positively impacted a number of human lives I cannot even number.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Founding an equine non-profit in an area of the USA that has significant human challenges and economic concerns has been daunting. Appalachia is the poorest part of America; we often see the highest rates of opioid abuse, children in foster care, below-poverty-level incomes, combat veterans with PTSD or physical injury, and educational challenges. Because of that, creating a successful equine advocacy organization, especially during the recession of 2008-2009, seemed impossible. But our message has resonated with people across the world, and the horses in this region needed more help than anywhere else in America. So, we have had to and continue to work hard to find a donor base for this work. We are succeeding, but since 2021, it has become more difficult with the new challenges the world faces with costs. Nevertheless, we persist.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue: Founder and President
Tinia established, grew, and continues to oversee a successful, large multi-state non-profit based in West Virginia. With an expertise in business, marketing, public relations, and equine welfare, Tinia has developed Heart of Phoenix into one of the world’s most respected equine advocacy organizations through strong inspiration leadership and substantial business understanding. From a self-funded vision to a $600,000 a year non-profit in 10 years, she oversees over 250 volunteers in 10 states, as well as staff at the organization’s main facility in Lesage, WV.
CERTIFICATIONS:
2013
Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER TM), Awareness Level Certification, Level I. Lexington, Ky.
PUBLICATIONS:
The People’s Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. “A Tragedy in Appalachia: OxyContin and Opportunities.”
The People’s Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. “Appalachian Addicts: Creating addicts and ‘treating,’ reviving and securing the next generation of addicts.”
Open Invitation to Submit, Goldenseal Magazine: “Persisting in Appalachia: Opposition and Opportunities.”
LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE:
2017-2020
Invited by HSUS and the ASPCA yearly to advocate on specific federal legislation relating to small farming, food safety, and animal welfare in Washington, D.C.
2009 – 2016
Authored and lobbied for successful legislation with former Del. Sobonya, Miller, and Senator Karnes relating to food freedom at the West Virginia state legislature
2015 – 2019
Frequent Volunteer Lobbyist in the West Virginia State Capitol on issues such a child welfare, animal welfare, and small farmer expanded opportunities
2017-2018
Collaborated with Del. Kelli Sobonya on Child Advocacy Legislation
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
2013:
West Virginia Department of Agriculture. Charleston, WV. Presenting on Humane Farming practices, economic impact and local food production.
2013-2016:
WV Urban Agriculture Conference, hosted by West Virginia State University Extension Service in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of West Virginia. Charleston, WV. Presenting livestock care and expansion of successful homesteads in West Virginia.
2014:
Pardee Resources Company, National Stake Holder Annual Meeting, Charleston, WV. Presenting on economic and environmental impact of feral horses on former and active mine lands paired with immediate and long-term solutions for West Virginia.
2015-2019:
Great American Homesteading Conference. Cookeville, TN. Presenting on small farming sustainability, ethics of livestock care, growing a small homestead, legalities of cottage foods and raw milk.
2019:
Animal Care Expo. Humane Society of the United States. New Orleans, LA. Presenting on the role of equine rescues at the county and state level in the USA, as well as working with county and state animal control officials in the Non-profit world.
The Right Horse Summit. Arnall Family Foundation and the American Society of Prevention of Cruelty for Animals. Lexington, Ky. Presenting on equine care and nonprofit administration.
2020:
The Right Horse Summit. Arnall Family Foundation and the American Society of Prevention of Cruelty for Animals Presenting on non-profit best practices for increasing marketing and adoption of equines.
American Horse Council. Washington, DC. National Conference. Denver, Colorado. Presenting on Equine nonprofits and equine training.
2022:
American Horse Council. Washington, DC. National Conference. Denver, Colorado. Presenting on Equine nonprofits and equine training. Presenting on Equine non-profits, market trends, and the future market.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Lead Instructor, West Virginia State Approved Annual Course, In Hours, and CLE Service training for Animal Control Officers, Law Enforcement, and State Bar.
2014-2022 Instruction offered yearly to state officials and employees. Emphasis on seizure protocol, statute/legality, equine care, and safe handling, evidence acquisition, funding.
HONORS / AWARDS:
2023: Volunteer Recognition from West Virginia Governor
2019: ASPCA International Award for Equine Welfare. American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. New York, New York.
2019: Hometown Hero. WSAZ. Non-profit equine advocacy. Huntington, WV. 2017: Herald-Dispatch: Leadership of Wayne County feature. Huntington, WV
2016: US Health Freedom Congress Awardee. National Health Freedom Coalition. Agricultural advocacy. St Paul, MN.
MEMBERSHIPS / AFFILIATIONS / SERVICE:
2017-2022
Homes for Horses Coalition, National Advisory Council Member.
2008-2020
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Area Coordinator
2008-2020
Weston A Price Chapter Leader
2008
State Republican Presidential Convention Delegate
2004-2016
Poll Clerk (Lincoln / Wayne Counties)
What’s next?
We are always planning and growing: As long as there are horses that need help and a way to do that while helping people, we move forward. We hold as many as 160 horses in our foster homes across WV, Ohio, and Kentucky. We adopt horses our nationwide. We continue to expand with foster homes and adoptions. We have a newer program for boys in foster group homes that allows them to interact with the horses as they recover, and we hope to continue to grow this because we believe a massive impact can be made on troubled, displaced children through partnership with horses.
Pricing:
- $250 a month to sponsor the care of a horse
- $30,000-month operation costs
- $400 for intake vetting for a rescued horse
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wvhorserescue.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heart_of_phoenix_equine_rescue/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeartofPhoenixEquinerescue
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinia-creamer-993a168a
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WVHorseRescue
