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MENDON, ILL. -- A local animal rescue organization got a helping hand from area students.

The shop class at Unity High School in Mendon built this shed to house rescued horses being rehabilitated at the Quincy Equestrian Services and Therapy Stables.

It's called Quest Stables for short.

Senior Kelson Richmond gathered donations from local businesses and Lions Clubs in the area to raise money for this eagle scout project.

Then fellow students in his shop class pitched in to help construct it. He says he knew he wanted to help when he visited the Quest stables.

Quest Volunteers say donations like this are the lifeblood of the operation.

Echo is enjoying life and his friend and Quest Volunteer Terry Anderson these days. But it wasn't always green pastures for this former show horse.

Anderson said, "When he came to us he had stomach ulcers and abscessed hooves."

He's one of many unwanted, abused or neglected horses that have been lucky enough to find their way to Quest stables outside of Quincy.

The organization rescues horses, nurses them back to health.

Right now there are nine horses here at Quest stables. Some of them are therapy horses for children with mental and physical disabilities, others are just living out their lives as horses should.

Other horses are adopted out to good horse-friendly homes. Anderson says horse rescuers have seen an increase in horses suffering from neglect because of the tough economic times. Some owners can't afford to feed them or get them the attention they need.

Anderson said, "When we get to them they're starving, they haven't been wormed, they haven't had their shots, they just haven't been taken care of."

Others are just abused....

Anderson said, "Some of these horses hadn't seen the daylight in years before we got them they were living in manure up to their knees."

But when they come here Anderson says scared, sickly horses take on new life.

Anderson said, "To get them from where they were when they were afraid of everything to where they love life and love people...it's just so rewarding."

It's a new existance for horses like Echo who'll get his green pastures after all.

Therapy rides for disabled children begin again in June.

Quest depends solely on donations from the community to feed horses and give them veterinary care and medications.

Help by logging onto their website at www.queststables.com