Authors/Writers

This page is dedicated to giving you, the reader, an insider’s glimpse into the lives of the people who attempt to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.

But it is important to remember that we are not here to either promote ourselves or each other as there is just one creed that we all live by;

“It’s all about the Horses!’

R.T. Fitch

R.T. Fitch at the botched round-up of Cloud's Herd

Author of “Straight from the Horse’s Heart” and freelance writer, R.T. Fitch is a jack-of-all-trades.

In the past, he has worked with whales, dolphins, sea lions, and penguins at Sea Life Park in Hawaii.

First introduced to horses by his wife, Terry, his fondness for all things equine has become an obsession. They spent several years in Brazil where they met Terry’s current equine companion, Apache.

Once back in the US with Apache, their herd of rescued horses grew as they donated their time to support equine rescue efforts in Texas and Louisiana. The highlight of their rescue career came during the equine rescue efforts after hurricanes Katrina and Rita as outlined in Ky Mortensen’s book, Horses of the Storm.

An outspoken equine advocate, R. T. currently sits on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Horses.

He and Terry live on a small farm outside of Houston Texas where they care for and enjoy their rescued horses, two German Shepherds, cat, and resident deer.

Jerry Finch

Jerry and baby mustang, Audi

Jerry Finch, President of Habitat for Horses- Jerry served in the US Navy and is a former youth crisis intervention counselor with a BA in Psychology, a member of the Texas Animal Control Association and a Level 3 Equine Abuse Investigator.

He has attended numerous classes in equine abuse investigations, equine nutrition and stable management. Certified as a horse professional in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy by EAGALA, and a court approved equine abuse expert witness, Jerry is now active in bringing youth and horses together in a positive, healing environment.

Habitat for Horses maintains a foster home network throughout three states housing an average of 250 equine, plus a ranch housing an average of 50 equine, providing nutritional, physical and mental rehabilitation and adoption services.

Perhaps a more in depth and personal description of Jerry lies within the  pages of the introduction to R.T.’s book “Straight from the Horse’s Heart“:

“I almost don’t know where to begin when it comes to talking about Jerry; there aren’t too many people who walk on this earth that are like this man.  Perhaps the jury is still out if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but this I can say and confirm in print;  I have rarely, if ever, said “I love you” to another man, but I can speak those words to Jerry for I love him like a brother.  If there was a law requiring that you had to list an individual’s ingredients on the underside of your right forearm his would read something like this:

20% Magic, 15% Nurturing Mother, 10% Salesman, 5% Politician, 50% BS

And I mean that 50% BS in terms of not only being able to dish it out but the ability to take it in return.  You just cannot take yourself too seriously if you’re one and only 24/7 activity for the past 10 years has been exclusively horse rescue.  You need to have pretty thick skin if you hope to survive, and Jerry flourishes.

Mr. Finch is the illustrious Founder and President of Habitat for Horses.  Jerry is not only the blood and guts of the group but he is the heart that pumps the life into every human and horse that comes into contact with him.  Making sure that a horse does not suffer is Jerry’s passion in life and his fire has lit the candle of many people across the globe, including mine.

It was several years ago when Jerry Finch sat across a table from me, while we calmly sipped on ice cold beer, and told me that I should write.  He said that I should commit to paper what I had experienced with my mother’s death and how it not only affected me but how the power of the horses ran through that entire period in time.  He said that others would take heart from hearing such a story; so I did and the tale in question is the second story in this collection.

To have Jerry Finch tell me to write was a great honor as Jerry is an astoundingly profuse and passionate writer himself.  He moves me and those who know him…so I could not let him down.

I owe a lot to Jerry and hope that we can grow old, or older, together as I just can’t imagine a world without my “Older Brother” in it.  Nor can many other people and horses alike.  Thanks Jerry….”

Simone Netherlands

Simone is a 38 year old horse advocate of many years. Originally a business woman, she became a natural horsemanship trainer about 10 years ago. She says this did not do her bank account any favors, since she does not manage to make much profit this way. She trains mostly unwanted horses so they may find new owners. She trains wild horses at BLM adoptions so they are more likely to get adopted, and she performs Freedom Training shows with her own Friesians to show audiences that you do not need a halter, bridle or even a crop, to make a horse do what you want him to do. Simone also has her own small horse rescue facility on 15 acres, where she rehabilitates emaciated horses, wild horses and slaughter bound horses of any kind.

As of lately Simone has switched her gears to 6th to make a stand for ALL horses. She has been  relentless in her lobbying efforts for all horse related bills, S 727, S 1579, H.R. 503 and H.R.305. With her efforts of trying to raise awareness, she has become an accidental writer as her passion to end horse suffering in this country seeps from every paragraph she writes. She seems to know how to keep things tactful while at the same time certainly not beating around the bush.

You can read her very important article on the issues currently facing our wild horses and our domestic horses, including solutions here:  www.Respect4horses.com

She was recently on the front cover of  Prescott Woman Magazine, with an article about her horse rescue. (which was written about her, not by her) You can read the article here: CLICK

You may also become her friend on Facebook by looking up Simone Netherlands.