Willie Nelson Rescued 70 Horses From a Slaughterhouse and Let Them Roam Free on His Ranch
Willie Nelson, the renowned musician has another reason to be loved, he is also a devoted horse lover. In fact, he went to great lengths to rescue 70 horses from being slaughtered. These fortunate horses now roam freely on his expnsive 700-acre ranch in Texas.
When he’s not on tour, Nelson spends most of his time at Luck Ranch, which he considers his true home. The name “Luck” holds a special meaning for him in more ways than one. In an interview with Paul Venema from KSAT 12 News, Nelson expressed, “When you’re here, you’re in Luck, and when you’re not, you’re out of Luck.”
Undoubtedly, the horses are incredibly fortunate, and Nelson agrees. He shared with Venema, “My horses are probably the luckiest horses in the world. They get hand-fed twice a day, and they were just ready to go to slaughter, which is probably the last thing they remembered. So, they’re happy horses.”
Nelson has always had a deep affection for horses. His song “Ride Me Back Home” is a testament to his love for these majestic creaturs. In 2015, Nelson even received an award for the music video of his song “The Love of Horses.” The video showcases Nelson meeting with members of Habtats for Horses, who were actively working to end horse slaughter through legislative efforts.
The love for horses runs in the family as well. Nelson’s son, Lukas, supports organizations like Saving America’s Horses and Habitat for Horses. Lukas Nelson & Promise, the younger Nelson’s band, have also expressed their admiration for horses through their music.
At nearly 90 years old, Nelson shows no signs of slowing down or shying away from issues he feels strongly about. (Who can forget his album against Monsanto?) When asked about retirement, Nelson simply replied, “I retire after every show. I say, ‘That’s it, I’m not goin’ no more,’ but then we hang out awhile and people [the band] feel like playing, and so we go play again.”
Credit to the respective owner ✍️