“The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.” These words are etched on the very heart and soul of Melanie Sue Bowles and it is the philosophy by which she lives. The youngest of six children, Melanie and her siblings were raised to find something to be passionate about and give back to the world around them. Melanie has done just that. Along with her husband Jim, she is the founder of Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary, one of the most successful and longest-existing, privately-run facilities for horses in the United States.
Proud Spirit is not just any sanctuary. It is a place where horses are given back everything man and domestication has taken away and bonded herd mates are never torn apart. Having “given enough,” as Melanie says, the horses at Proud Spirit are never adopted out. They live as natural a life as the Bowles’ can give them; they have the freedom to roam and move and run, something they so desperately need to thrive. And they function as a herd, safe in the companionship of other horses, something they desperately need to be happy.
It all began in the late 80s when Melanie and Jim were living in Florida, entrenched in the stress of their jobs as professional firefighters and medics. They moved to the country in the hopes of finding a peaceful life away from work. At that time, Melanie knew very little about horses, but she decided there was room for one on their newly-purchased five acres. She bought a Thoroughbred who revealed behavioral problems and couldn't have been a worse match for a novice. But rather than giving up on the difficult mare, Melanie quickly came to understand that it was not the horse that was at fault; it was the long line of people in the horse’s former life. Melanie was driven to educate herself about communicating with horses. It changed her life, and ultimately the lives of hundreds of horses, on a very profound level. It was during that time when she made the life-altering decision to create this unique, award-winning sanctuary.
Melanie is the author of two books about her life with horses: "The Horses of Proud Spirit" and "Hoof Prints: Stories from Proud Spirit." Melanie’s writing has inspired thousands of people and has been praised by many well known figures in the equestrian community. They are an absolute must-read.
A producer for PBS read them and was so moved by the stories that she approached the Bowles’ about filming a documentary about their work. The special, entitled “The Horses of Proud Spirit,” cited the way Melanie regains the trust of hurting horses as “exemplary and deeply emotional” and the sanctuary itself as “a model for other organizations.” The documentary recently won an Emmy and is currently airing nationwide.
In the spring of 2005, Jim and Melanie relocated the sanctuary from Florida to 320 acres in Arkansas. The couple moved 40 horses, a monumental undertaking which is chronicled in "Hoof Prints: Stories from Proud Spirit." They are currently caring for 71 rescue horses. When asked why she does this, Melanie responds, “I know in my heart why I do this and although it may sound like a cliché, I get so much more from them than they get from me. But how do you explain that? How do you describe the extraordinary beauty of these sentient creatures to someone who is not able to walk among them? How do you relate the joy of providing them with a life many had never known before, a life of freedom and being treated with kindness? Why is the newfound peace and serenity in their eyes so powerful and uplifting? What can you compare to giving them the security of being immersed with their own kind and allowing them to live as nature intended rather than as man dictates? Jim and I have devoted nearly twenty years to caring for a herd of unwanted horses, a herd that has recently numbered in the seventies. We are tied to them and to this land by the commitment we have made. The responsibility of assuring their well being is unwavering and ever-present. In return we get to experience their exceptional grace and reap the joy of giving without expecting anything in return, to be uplifted when we look into their eyes. They spark our imagination and awaken the best of who we are; what an awesome gift they have given us.”
For more information about Melanie Sue Bowles and Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary go to: www.horsesofproudspirit.org And do yourself a favor: get a copy of Melanie’s two books. All the proceeds go to the sanctuary. Your life will be changed for the better and you’ll be helping the horses.
what a great story, we need more selfless people like that.