About Willing Servants

Willing Servants, Inc. was born out of the need to preserve the welfare of horses while assisting owners with temporary or permanent placement as an alternative to criminal neglect. The idea for this organization was one woman’s positive response to a tragic case of horse abuse. Theresa Manzella, trainer, breeder and competitor, enlisted community help to put together an auction as the first fundraising event. With the proceeds from the auction and the groundswell of support from community members willing to step up to the plate for the good (and the love) of the horse, Willing Servants became an organization in October 2008. This coalition of community members joins in the effort to stand between hard economic times or lack of knowledge and the severe consequences for horses by providing support in the form of emergency hay assistance

an adoption network for horses that can no longer be cared for by their owners, euthanasia service for debilitated or elderly horses where appropriate, and information, support and education for owners who can benefit from it. The organization has a motto that celebrates the sense of community it embodies: Together We Are Able.

Board of Directors

Theresa Manzella, President/Founder

As an only child I grew up completed entertained and enthralled with my animals. They were my friends. My love, respect and bond with my animals runs very deep. "Speaking horse" comes pretty naturally for me. My parents expected me to grow up and outgrow my love for horses. I tried to be practical. I really did. After graduating from high school I moved to the city and got a really good job with EDS at Pontiac Motors. I advanced quickly to the position of supervisor in the Customer Service Department, where I was responsible for the productivity, morale and evaluation of 18 consumer advisors. It was a wonderful learning experience and I'm very thankful for the lessons learned while there. However, my love of horses and the outdoors was every present, begging my return. Since 1992 I've been honing and purifying a fine line of Paint Horses.

I believe that is my faith that has led me to this place I now find myself…this place where I have virtually “given up” my financially healthy, ego driven, horse training and breeding business and have replaced it with a non paying, volunteer organization that is trying to help the species as a whole … instead of myself as an independent owner. It is my faith that had led me down this path. I believe that God has me where He wants me and I am expected to honor the position. For some reason, I have been taken off my previously charted course and “put here.” I will find a way to make a difference for the horses and the people who own them

Dave Hedley, Saunders County PPO

Dave is a police officer for the city of Thompson Falls, and Deputy for Sanders County Sheriff's Dept, specializing in animal cruelty investigations. He has been the spokesperson for two high profile media cases within the past two years (one being the "Camas Prairie 13" horses, and another involving almost fifty abandoned dogs). He and his partner Cocoa, the county's K-9 go to the Special Olympic games each spring to award medals. And he is the Law Enforcement Torch Run Coordinator for Sanders County, inventing the "Pony Express" leg to cover more miles of the county that day.

Dave's knowledge of Montana law and his experience with animal welfare cases and investigations, as well as his can-do commitment have made him an invaluable addition to the Willing Servants Board.