Lana Hubler believes her life’s purpose is to rescue animals.
As owner of the nonprofit Forgotten Hearts Horse Sanctuary in Morrisdale, Hubler has been rescuing horses, dogs, cats and bunnies for more than 30 years.
After receiving negative press coverage following her traffic stop and lawsuit against state police Trooper Austin Woolcock, however, she said she “wanted it done and her name cleared.”
She hopes the sanctuary can “move forward” and continue to educate people on animal cruelty and compassion.
Big dreams
As a kid, Hubler said she was “crazy” about horses.
Her father bought her a pony and had a three-stall barn built for her. She consistently had to haul buckets of water to her barn for her animals.
She said she was “so happy” when she got to be inside of her barn because it was “nice and cozy.”
As an animal lover, Hubler also rejected meat and animal slaughter at a young age, thus starting her lifelong commitment to veganism.
She said her father understood her wishes, so he would make sure she didn’t see pictures of dead animals when they were shown after family hunting trips.
As time went on, Hubler had two children — Chantelle and Jesse — who were “super good kids.”
Having a degree in business from Lock Haven University, she became a licensed cosmetologist, manicurist, master dog groomer, teacher and kennel owner. To support her kids, she said she had to work three jobs while divorcing her husband.
Bob Wyre, a friend and owner of Wyre Landscape supply, said any mother who raises two children successfully “should have a medal.”
Hubler eventually opened her own sanctuary that rescues neglected and unwanted horses, ponies and donkeys sent to be slaughtered in Mexico or Canada.
Inside the barn, she has seven stalls for her rescued animals. Even though the barn is 30 years old, she said the animals “know they’re loved.”
Yet, her barn is not equipped for machinery, Wyre said, making Hubler’s job more difficult. Instead of using machines, she opts for shovels and pitchforks.
When a horse collapses, Wyre said Hubler calls him for backup, helping the creature back onto its feet again. One time, Wyre created a contraption that helped a floor-bound horse walk again.
“Never in horse history” has an animal recovered from that state of illness, according to Wyre.
Throughout Hubler’s career, she said she has saved about 100 animals, opening multiple rescues including cat, dog and rabbit programs at her sanctuary.
Goldie’s Golden Heart — another program designed to supply people with emergency feed, hay and straw for their animals — was named after her “beloved” golden palomino Tennessee walker.
Before 2023, Hubler said her sanctuary was doing “really good,” while they were beginning to add more horses and add a covered pavilion for events.
She hosted Wild West festivals along with another event that acknowledged veterans by hosting a dinner event, noting that they had over 100 people at the function.
Yet, her progress came to a screeching halt June 14, 2023.
Traffic stop mayhem
Woolcock pulled over Hubler’s truck — loaded with a 750-pound bale of hay — for a traffic stop in the middle of a “wet and foggy” night, according to previous reports.
Hubler said Woolcock told her that her headlight was out, which she denied that night.
Woolcock asked Hubler to get out of her vehicle to take a walk. Then, she said he began to go through her things without a warrant, asking where she was keeping her drugs.
“I’ve never been in a bar in my life,” she said.
After taking Hubler to the Penn Highlands Clearfield Hospital for a blood draw, they went back to the police barracks, where she called her son, Jesse.
When Jesse showed up along with Wyre, Woolcock intercepted the men in the parking lot and interrogated them, Wyre said.
The state trooper yelled at Jesse, asking him where “his mom was getting her meth,” Hubler said.
Wyre said he was “stunned” that night by Woolcock’s actions, but he thought Woolcock approached Jesse to intimidate him.
“I told him ‘you’re making a big mistake,’” Wyre said. “She would be near dead before she took an aspirin.”
Wyre and Jesse drove Hubler home that night.
“It was a horrible thing, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” she said.
Keep on surviving
Although she was not charged because her test came back as negative, she was a popular topic of local news.
“She is one of those people who have a genuinely kind heart,” said close friend Anita Askey. “She would help anyone, and for her, it was very hard to believe what was done to her.”
Another friend said Hubler was on the television “for a solid month,” while Hubler’s aunt advised her to “shut down” the sanctuary.
Because their region relies on word of mouth, Askey noted that “it really hurt (Hubler’s) business.”
As a result, customers stopped going to Hubler for animal care, childhood friend Diane Diviney said.
Meanwhile, Hubler experienced distress following her media coverage. She said she was “so sick” while on a protein powder diet, causing her to lose half of her hair and 20 pounds.
The situation “nearly killed her,” Wyre said.
She received help from attorney Dylan Hastings of Altoona, who told her that Woolcock “‘knew from the beginning you weren’t on something,’” she said.
Individuals reached out to Hubler through phone, email and letters to express their support.
“Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” true crime podcast host Lindsay Ann also featured Hubler on an episode, speaking about her experience.
After feeling support from others, Hubler said, “I knew God was going to flip this around.”
Over two years, Hubler filed a lawsuit against Woolcock and was settled out of court in October 2024.
To pay for Hastings, she said she was forced to sell many of her trees. After she received her check, however, she was able to buy them back.
She said the situation was one of “the most horrible things that has happened” to her.
Aftermath
To this day, Hubler said people still congratulate her on the lawsuit.
“It’s been two years, and people will still come up and tell me they’re glad I won,” she said.
She said that she still receives complaints about Woolcock from others in the community.
Hastings suggested continuing the case in an attempt to formally punish the officer, but she rejected the proposal because she “could not have gone another two and a half years without an answer.”
Looking forward, Hubler said she hopes to “go bigger” with her business by hosting events at the sanctuary, such as riding lessons, open classes and opportunities to meet the animals.
On weekends, music groups can come to the residence to perform, she said.
She said she wants people to come to the sanctuary and “spend the day if they want.”
Although Hubler feels fine about the state of her barn, Wyre hopes she raises enough money to build one accustomed to machinery.
She does an “unthinkable job down there,” he said, adding that she puts in many hours of hard work to upkeep the barn for her animals.
“I’d love to see a new barn down there so she’s not shoveling to death,” he said.
Diviney said that she is looking forward to Hubler starting a therapy riding stable so Diviney’s daughter, Tori, can take part in lessons.
She said she hopes people realize that what happened to Hubler can “happen to any one of us.”
According to her friends, Hubler has remained dedicated to her animals throughout trying times.
Wyre said there is not another person that puts in that much time taking care of her animals, giving them the personal attention they need.
The sanctuary will “grow” because it is what Hubler is supposed to be doing, Askey said.
“That’s just how things work …. What she is doing will flourish, and it’s going to grow in spite of what was done to her.”
Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.
