I am Willow — born of the wild winds and rounded up at just a few days old. Though I lost my family, I never lost my spirit. I came to Queens Lane Sanctuary not to be broken, but to remain whole — wild, free, and fiercely myself. Here, I am not just a resident - I am the heart and soul of this land. I will never be ridden. I will never be tamed. I will always be loved.

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As Chief Executive Equine Officer, it is my solemn duty to ensure that every horse here - my fellow conspecifics - is protected, respected, and never compromised. This sanctuary is a place where wildness is honored, where healing happens on horse terms, and where freedom is forever. Welcome to my domain.

My passion for horses ignited at 5 years old when I moved onto Queens Lane in Petaluma, CA, in 1989. It was here that I met a little senior Shetland mare, called Christy, who laid the foundation for my love of horses. I was raised in the traditional methods of horsemanship and during my youth rode on the drill team with PRDC under my Arabian horse, called Peridom, and in the Parades under my quarter horse, called Cal. These two were my heart horses and fueled my passion for all equines. 

In 2019, I adopted C.J., a yearling colt whose mother had been saved from slaughter, while carrying him in her belly, by Pregnant Mare Rescue. I became educated on the dark underbelly of the horse world where the auction lots are pipelines to slaughter houses for tens of thousands of horses annually. Under the mentorship of the wonderful women at Pregnant Mare Rescue, the ranch on Queens Lane became a satellite location for rescue efforts. Notably, we rescued 22 horses from the slaughter pipeline and placed 9 into loving forever homes. In August 2023, I founded Queens Lane Sanctuary to offer the assurance of lifelong refuge to all of the horses in our care. We currently have 24 equine residents.

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When I became involved in rescue, I was introduced to philosophies and methods founded in mutual trust, partnership and respect that shifted my entire approach to horsemanship, miles away from the traditional methods in which I was raised. I found myself immersed in a world of equine companions, who soon became my closest friends, and the partnerships we forged changed my life forever. I have since given up riding and enjoy my time with horses on the ground, simply existing with them, in the present moment. 

Ever since I can remember, my passion has been helping those who cannot advocate for themselves and being their voice. I hold a Masters Degree in Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis. Since 2019, I have guided behavioral training programs for canines with anxieties, phobias and/or fears. At Queens Lane Sanctuary, my goal is to strengthen the human-horse connection through science-based behavior applications, with an emphasis on positive reinforcement strategies for long-term results.

As a person with Autism, who has struggled with anxiety, depression and PTSD, I can personally attest to the healing properties that our rescue horses possess. When our heartbeats sync with theirs, we are connected on a vibrational level. And, if we allow them to, they will grace us with tranquility and ease our minds of worldly troubles. Their capacity to heal from trauma, and trust humans again, is awe inspiring and it is my firm belief that we have much more to learn from our equine counterparts, than we have to teach.

Some of my earliest memories are as a 5 year old sitting astride my mother’s elegant Tennessee Walker bay, “Lady”.  Then there was her big black “Bob”, 16 hands of racing standardbred from the track who thought he was a pet.  My 13th birthday present was “Cry Havoc”, a bay 4 yr old standardbred from the track that we also trained to saddle, and who’s name was quite accurate. I spent my teenage years atop a horse, ah… those teenage angst years of burying my face in his warm body for solace.  I’m retired now from teaching, and loving being able to once again have those same simple conversations, warm caresses, and breathe in the unique scent of horse.  

I’ve always had a love of animals. I have experience as a volunteer at dog, cat and rabbit rescues and a raptor rescue/educational program. I worked with poultry in graduate school and was a teaching assistant for animal behavior courses. However, I did not have much experience working with horses when I started volunteering with Queens Lane Sanctuary in September 2022 and have learned so much about how horses communicate and how to care for horses. It’s been a wonderful experience for me, and I find being around the animals at Queens Lane to be very therapeutic. My job as a mental health nurse practitioner is often mentally and emotionally demanding, and it amazes me how every Friday when I spend time with the horses, my stress melts away and I leave the sanctuary feeling lighter and happier.

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Diana Avalos has over 20 years of experience in the Human Services field, specializing in addiction and recovery. She holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Spiritual Psychology and is a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Diana integrates healing practices such as meditation and mindfulness with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), positive thinking, trauma-informed care, and grief counseling  to support individuals on their journey to recovery.

Mother/daughter Bren & Quinn Warrenburg, Sonoma county residents since 2008, have a deep love for all horses and found Q.L.S. in October of 2023!