About Heart of the Wild

Our story

A promise that began with a five-year-old girl and her aunt.

Heart of the Wild was born from a lifelong love of horses and a legacy that began when our founder was just five years old. Inspired by her aunt — her best friend, mentor, and a passionate advocate for animal welfare — she learned early that every horse deserves compassion, safety, and a second chance.

After losing her aunt to suicide nearly 33 years ago, that love never disappeared. Instead, it became the foundation for this rescue. Today we carry her legacy forward for wild mustangs, burros, and other equines who have been abandoned, failed, or caught in the slaughter pipeline.

As a young, volunteer-led rescue, our work reaches beyond intake. We help horses decompress, recover, build trust, receive training, and prepare for the right next step — whether that means adoption or ongoing sanctuary support.

Leadership

• Nicole Scholl

  Founder, CEO, Director & President

• Bill Patterson

  Chief Financial Officer

• Ellen Nelson

  Secretary

• Cynthia Spano

  Administrative Assistant

• Cyndee Hayward

  Mustang & Burro Data & Outreach Coordinator

• Danica Gomez

  Volunteer

• Sidera Blackwell

  Volunteer