It took a curious change of circumstances that attracted this vibrant and energetic
Harvard graduate student to Red Bucket; oh what a fortuitous day for us!
Lights, camera, giddy-up! Meet Karen Maish, the volunteer behind the famous Red
Bucket video that helped launch our rescue to the next level!
“I received a call from a woman that wanted to make a video about Red Bucket,” recalls
Susan Peirce. “At the time I was travelling abroad; however we found the time to
connect, and she created a beautiful tribute to Red Bucket with her film which actually
went international! During the production of this video, Karen Maish fell in love with Red
Bucket and with the horses. She worked extremely hard and put her entire heart into
making the video. Karen has become an invaluable member of our team, and has such
a wonderful heart for rescue work. She inspires all of us to never lose our passion and
she has a way of picking you up when you are feeling down; she is such a strong and
supportive woman!”
Karen recalls that day, which began with frustration but ended up being a life changing
moment. “I was seeking out a case for a healing video project when my original subject
cancelled. At the very moment she cancelled, I heard this voice coming from the
television. It was Susan Peirce on Fox News talking about the need to raise funds to
find a new home for Red Bucket, and I immediately knew this would be my subject! I
called the number that I found online, and Susan answered. She was on a business trip
in China and it was 6 a.m. there but she took my call and said yes to my video request!”
In addition to Karen’s gift as a videographer, she is also an avid animal welfare
advocate and is involved with numerous humanitarian causes. She explains how she
was influenced at an early age, “My mother rescued Rocky from slaughter in 1981. I
was just 17 and that experience changed my life. He was a malnourished, starving fouryear-
old sorrel gelding who had been abandoned with a herd of horses that would not
let him eat. He was docile and weak. We took care of Rocky and grew with him,
watching him turn into a feisty, healthy horse once he ‘beefed up’. He quickly bonded
with the other horses in our barn, and he was a sweetheart.”
When Karen first visited the Huntington Beach Equestrian Center, she could feel the
stories of the horses. Hot Wheels and Sawyer in particular tugged at her heart strings. It
was at that moment she knew she was all the way in, that moment when she met Susan
and the horses.
After her video debuted and made an international splash, Karen continued to volunteer
with Red Bucket as the media outreach coordinator. Her role is to find new ways to
market and bring awareness to Red Bucket. This year Karen made a new connection
with Jory Rand at Channel 7 KABC – Los Angeles, and she has helped forge a strong
relationship with the City Council of Chino Hills. Her goal is to develop a program with
the city to help sponsor each and every Red Bucket horse.
“The most exciting aspect of belonging to this organization is seeing it in operation,”
Karen shares with me. “I am captivated when I watch a horse kick up its heels in the
turnout! This is the dream that many people have of saving horses. We are all making
this happen together, and it’s an incredibly empowering lesson for all of us. A dream is
not actualized by closing your eyes at night, or by staring at the ceiling hoping a million
dollars materializes. A dream is actualized by hard work, coordination and exceptional
leadership.”
Karen’s presence on the Ranch meshes perfectly with the Red Bucket spirit. Julie
Shields has this to say about our featured volunteer: “Karen is a great gal. She works
very hard in her supportive role at Red Bucket. Just ask, and whatever needs to be
done is done! What I love most about her is her wicked sense of humor; she is a hoot,
and any interaction with her is an adventure. We have many wonderful, hard-working,
and generous volunteers at the ranch that the horses own, and Karen is right at the top
of the list. Congratulations, Karen!”
For all of the accolades Karen receives from colleagues and fellow team members, she
has a few heroes of her own. “Susan Peirce is a tremendous inspiration,” Karen shares.
“I sound like a broken record each time I tell her I don’t know how she does it. I’ve
stopped saying that because I am seeing first hand EXACTLY how she does it! She
inspires me to better organize myself and to maximize every minute. I’ve learned a lot
about leadership by watching Susan make tough decisions, show compassion and just
be human. I’m amazed at her ability to see the big picture and handle the stress of the
day-to-day challenges.”
Karen continues with her praises: “I’m also inspired by Jenon Mathes who reached out
to me and shared my heartbreak when Hot Wheels left us. It still brings tears to my eyes
when I think about the day we stood together to honor him. Her quiet energy translates
to healing the horses of Red Bucket. And then there is Karen McGarrah who is such a
force! The time and resources she dedicates to the ranch are huge, yet it is her
personality and frankness that inspire me. AND she is a heck of a lot of fun! I must not
leave out Amy Knox. She spends many hours at the ranch, and it is obvious that this
young woman is a leader among her friends and peers and will help raise awareness for
horses, animals and Red Bucket in the years to come. When someone so young
becomes so involved and dedicated, I become doubly inspired.”
At her essence is a dedication to serve. Karen explains how Red Bucket aligns with her
own dedication to animals: “Commitment is an extremely important core value when it
comes to the life of an innocent being. Our mission statement not only commits to
rehabilitation, but to the entire life of the animal. Commitments are decisions and Red
Bucket makes the decision to care for the animals forever, ensuring that they will never
feel pain or fear again.”
It is this type of commitment that pumps the heart of Red Bucket, and for her dedication
to our cause, we are eternally grateful to Karen Maish!