Just a little note to say thank you for all the love you show our horses and AAE throughout the year. We are so grateful for You!!
Marshy sends lots of love and hearts to say
“Thank you for being there for all of the horses and lil’ ol’ me”!!
Get your tickets now!
Tickets for AAE’s 5th Annual Boots and Bling fundraising event on May 5th are now on sale. You don’t want to miss this! Get your tickets early before they sell out!
Many thanks to our past sponsors for helping make this a successful event.
Lees’ Feed & Western Wear
We also need LIVE and SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS!
For more information or to make a donation, please contact dani@allaboutequine.org. All donation are needed by 4/8/18
Most importantly, we need VOLUNTEERS to help with the event. If you can help with set-up, clean-up, dinner prep or service, auction support, or anywhere needed, please contact wendy@allaboutequine.org.
We can’t wait for our fun-filled night raising funds to support horses and AAE ! We hope you’ll join us!!
AAE’s 2018-19 Calendars are Here!
These are high quality, 16-month calendars that feature AAE horses, volunteers, and even a few adopters. The calendars can be purchased at All About Equine Used Tack Store for $20. We also have a few available at the barn. Purchasing one is a great way to show your support for AAE.
(Please note in “special instructions” that you are purchasing a calendar, and
if you need us to mail yours, kindly add $3 for shipping.)
Daily Horse Care, especially pm shifts
Used Tack Store Support, all areas
Barn/Facility Maintenance
Foster Homes, Long-Term Foster/Sanctuary Homes
Capital Campaign Support
Board Members
Fundraising/Events
Grants – Writing and Research
Volunteer, Project, and Activity Coordinators
Outreach Activities
Youth Programs
Therapy Programs
Veteran Programs
Special Projects
Admin Support
Marketing
Graphics
Social Media
Bloggers
Photographers
Media and/or Photo Librarian
Thanks to YOUR input in 2017, AAE is once again a Top-Rate nonprofit!
If you love our work, then tell the world! Stories about us from people like you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community in the future.
GreatNonprofits is the #1 source of nonprofit stories and feedback, and it honors highly regarded nonprofits each year with their Top-Rated List.
Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story of your experience with us? All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers.
Did you know YOU could earn grant money for AAE from your employer just by volunteering?
Many Employers offer money when their employees volunteer. Here are a few examples:
Intel provides a $10 grant to a nonprofit per every volunteer hour by an employee, and matches funds dollar for dollar up to $5,000 per employee or retiree.
Microsoft provides a $17 grant to a nonprofit per every hour volunteered by an employee.
Apple provides a $25 grant to a nonprofit per every volunteer hour by an employee, and matches funds dollar for dollar up to $10,000 per employee.
Verizon provides a $750 grant to a nonprofit when an employee volunteers for 50+ hours.
State Farm provides a $500 grant nonprofit when an employee volunteers for+ 40 hours.
Others top 20 matching gift and/or volunteer grant companies include
Starbucks
CarMax
Home Depot
JP Morgan
Chevron
Soros Fund Management
BP (British Petroleum)
Gap Corporation
State Street Corporation
ExxonMobil
Johnson & Johnson
Boeing
Disney
Google
Merck
Aetna
Dell
Outerwall (CoinStar and RedBox)
ConocoPhillips
RealNetworks
Time Warner and subsidiaries
AllState
and more
Check with your employer. You could help purchase our next load of hay!
I don’t know about you folks but January presented enough challenges to do me just fine for the rest of the winter. I am enjoying looking out at the falling snow as I write this, but enough already with the ice and subzero temperatures. It’s wonderful having the light changing and lasting longer day by day. I need the encouragement from Mother Nature!
We have a lot to look forward to at Save Your Ass…the birth of Zelda’s foal for one thing. No, she has still not had it! We have no idea of when she was bred, but to the best of our knowledge her baby “should” come this month. I sleep with my iPad under my pillow so every time she moves the barn camera sends me a message letting me know. No, I haven’t been getting much sleep for the last month or so, but hopefully I will be aware of the foaling when the time does finally come. We are still accepting name suggestions in our “Help Zelda Name Her Foal!!” contest…
For each $5. donation to SYA, please make a name suggestion. We will keep the boy’s names and gril’s names separate and after birth Zelda will pull an entry from whichever collection is appropriate. If your name suggestion is chosen, Zelda will be sending you a plush “Borden” from our merchandise herd.
If you choose to make your donation by check, please note your name suggestion in the memo field and mail the check to:
Ann Firestone
Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue
Broomtail Farm 23 Saw Mill Road
South Acworth, NH 03607
If you choose to make your donation by PayPal, use our donate button below, and just note your name suggestion in the comments area.
Zelda thanks you in advance for your participation!!
Annie & Zelda
We are excited to announce that the 2018 Cabin Fever online auction is scheduled for the end of March, dates to be announced soon!
Would you please consider supporting the rescue with a donation of an item or service? Past donations (which do not have to be donkey or animal related) have included gift certificates of all kinds, antiques, hand-made items, vacations, food, farm produce, jewelry, books, art, animal training, musical instruments, tack, and much more. They all add to the fun and excitement of the bidding, and the proceeds help to cover the rehabilitation, medical, and nutritional needs of the mules and donkeys that are in our care. The value of your donation plus shipping costs is tax deductible, and we will send a receipt for your tax records.
If you are interested in donating an auction item or service this year–thank you! All you need to do is send us the following info by March 5, to syaauction2018@gmail.com
1. Item Name
2. Item Description
3. Photo or logo
4. Link to URL, if you’d like.
5. Value (include estimated shipping, please)
6. Suggested Starting Price
7. Contact information
We ask that you be willing to ship your item to the winning bidder.
If you have any questions you can also call Joan at 413-559-8414.
Thank you so very much for your support of our auction and the SYA rescue!
We all need something to look forward to in order to keep our wits about us while making it through the winter so mark your calendars for the auction and our Clicker Training Clinic with Jessica Gonzalez of Empowered Equines on April 14th, rain date April 15th. This promises to be a great day. See more info on SYA’s facebook page and on the website. Please send me an email to register:awfirestone@gmail.com
Please keep the up-dates on the animals you have adopted coming, as well as photos and testimonials. I love hearing from you all.
Tickets for AAE’s 5th Annual Boots and Bling fundraising event are now on sale. Get your tickets early before they sell out! We are expecting over 350 guests. Don’t miss out!!!
Please join us in celebrating nine years of helping horses.
Saturday, May 5
This is a super fun event that includes
a BBQ dinner, Live and Silent Auctions, Music and Dancing!
This is our biggest, most important (and most exciting) fundraiser of the year. This event funds a large portion of our annual budget that keeps us saving and serving horses and humans throughout the year.
WE LOVE WHEN YOUR GROUP JOINS US FOR BOOTS!! PLEASE BUY TOGETHER TO SIT TOGETHER
Boots & Bling tickets are on sale for $35 per person. Get them before the price goes up to $40 on April 1st!
Many thanks to our past sponsors for helping make this a successful event.
Lees’ Feed & Western Wear
We also need LIVE and SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS!
For more information or to make a donation, please contact dani@allaboutequine.org. All donation are needed by 4/8/18
Most importantly, we need VOLUNTEERS to help with the event. If you can help with set-up, clean-up, dinner prep or service, auction support, or anywhere needed, please contact wendy@allaboutequine.org.
We can’t wait for our fun-filled night raising funds to support horses and AAE ! We hope you’ll join us!!
AAE’s 2018-19 Calendars are Here!
These are high quality, 16-month calendars that feature AAE horses, volunteers, and even a few adopters. The calendars can be purchased at All About Equine Used Tack Store for $20. We also have a few available at the barn. Purchasing one is a great way to show your support for AAE.
(Please note in “special instructions” that you are purchasing a calendar, and
if you need us to mail yours, kindly add $3 for shipping.)
Daily Horse Care, especially pm shifts
Used Tack Store Support, all areas
Barn/Facility Maintenance
Foster Homes, Long-Term Foster/Sanctuary Homes
Capital Campaign Support
Board Members
Fundraising/Events
Grants – Writing and Research
Volunteer, Project, and Activity Coordinators
Outreach Activities
Youth Programs
Therapy Programs
Veteran Programs
Special Projects
Admin Support
Marketing
Graphics
Social Media
Bloggers
Photographers
Media and/or Photo Librarian
Thanks to YOUR input in 2017, AAE is once again a Top-Rate nonprofit!
If you love our work, then tell the world! Stories about us from people like you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community in the future.
GreatNonprofits is the #1 source of nonprofit stories and feedback, and it honors highly regarded nonprofits each year with their Top-Rated List.
Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story of your experience with us? All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers.
Did you know YOU could earn grant money for AAE from your employer just by volunteering?
Many Employers offer money when their employees volunteer. Here are a few examples:
Intel provides a $10 grant to a nonprofit per every volunteer hour by an employee, and matches funds dollar for dollar up to $5,000 per employee or retiree.
Microsoft provides a $17 grant to a nonprofit per every hour volunteered by an employee.
Apple provides a $25 grant to a nonprofit per every volunteer hour by an employee, and matches funds dollar for dollar up to $10,000 per employee.
Verizon provides a $750 grant to a nonprofit when an employee volunteers for 50+ hours.
State Farm provides a $500 grant nonprofit when an employee volunteers for+ 40 hours.
Others top 20 matching gift and/or volunteer grant companies include
Starbucks
CarMax
Home Depot
JP Morgan
Chevron
Soros Fund Management
BP (British Petroleum)
Gap Corporation
State Street Corporation
ExxonMobil
Johnson & Johnson
Boeing
Disney
Google
Merck
Aetna
Dell
Outerwall (CoinStar and RedBox)
ConocoPhillips
RealNetworks
Time Warner and subsidiaries
AllState
and more
Check with your employer. You could help purchase our next load of hay!
We finished 2017 recapping many of our horse stories from the year, and along came 2018. We’ve been quiet but we haven’t been idle. AAE has been busy, and sadly, we have several new horses that joined us in January. We have the beginnings of many new stories to tell, and we are hopeful we can share in just as many happy endings to come.
Many thanks to you for your continued support.
Without it, we couldn’t help horses like the ones below.
New Arrivals at AAE
To say January was a busy month at AAE is an understatement. We took in seven horses; four were not anticipated, and we had to rearrange some paddocks to accommodate everyone. Our volunteers worked diligently through winter weather in an expanded quarantine area. It was a long few weeks, but everyone stepped up for the horses. A huge thank you to everyone for their dedication to our horsey friends. We are all very thankful to have a break in the weather, and we are looking forward to daylight savings in about a month!!
We have a long update, but we hope you will take time to read about each horse and get to know them. They all need a sponsor. If you’d like to contribute toward the monthly costs for a specific horse to support our work as we rehabilitate these horses and search for forever homes, please consider sponsoring one of these special souls. Visit our website for more info.
If you would like to be a monthly sponsor,
please click the “Sponsor” link below the horse.
No doubt, these horses have already put a dent in our vet budget. After reading each horse’s story, if you’d like to make a donation to help with the costs we’re incurring (and will incur) as these horses make their journey back to health, please click the link below to donate.
Sandi came to AAE on Janaury 7, 2018, after her owner was experiencing a family health and financial crisis. Sandi is a 5 year old Arabian mare. We picked her up from her boarding facility in the midst of winter weather.
The facility owner said she had been moved to the roundpen because she ran right through electric fencing, “very hot” electric fencing. Sadly, we found a very cute, but skinny lil’ mare enduring the elements with no shelter, no wind break, and no food. We can’t help but wonder if she was in the roundpen because her owner was months behind in rent, or maybe she braved the “hot” fence because she was cold and needed food.
Sandi loaded quietly, but she didn’t travel well. She danced in the trailer the entire ride to AAE.
Once at AAE, she had a difficult time settling into a paddock alone.
With a little time and some rearranging, she calmed and focused on food.
She’s making steady progress and is looking great. This was only a week after arrival.
Thankfully, her vet check went well fairly well. Besides her lack of weight, she has a few melanomas under/around her tail, not uncommon for white (gray) horses. Fortunately, none are creating any issues that require removal. Sandi needs dental work, which is scheduled in a few weeks to give her time to get strong and healthy. She was a bit naughty for the farrier; she needs some extra work with handling her hind hooves, and she needs a bit of confidence. She tends to rely on another horse for confidence and gets very stressed and reactive when no other horse is around. We’ll work on building her confidence before we ask much more of her.
We were told Sandi has been ridden in the past, and she was described as “green, very green”.
Once her dental is done, wolf teeth removed, and her body condition improves, she’ll be evaluated more before she becomes available for adoption.
In the meantime, Sandi needs a sponsor.
If you would like to be her sponsor, please click the link below to set up a recurring monthly donation.
Dia came to AAE with her buddy Noche on Janaury 14, 2018. Her owner lived alone and was experiencing a major health issue. She was unable manage the physical requirements of caring for her two horses. These two girls were delivered to AAE, and they unloaded from the trailer like it was just another day. Ho hum!
Dia is a super cute little (~14.0hh), 21 year old Arabian mare. She has a history of showing successfuly in halter, and her easy going temperament occasionally allowed someone to hop on and head down the trail, even though she had no formal training. Her prior owner indicated she had not been ridden a lot, but she took it all in stride and did quite well.
Dia’s vet check went pretty well. She has multiple melanomas under/around/on her tail and a few in other areas. Two around in her rectal area need to be removed. One is ulcerated and could be painful, and flies will be a nuisance. The other is internal, on or near her anal sphincter, and it is golf ball sized. It is pushing her rectum to the side. If not removed, it will likely continue to grow and push more into the rectum and block the passage of manure. She also has one in the corner of her mouth on the left side. This one should be removed so she can comfortably wear a bit, should she be ridden with a bit in the future. Dia needs dental work, and she’s scheduled in a few weeks. So far, Dia has been easy to handle; she is good with the farrier; and she enjoys grooming and attention. She’s a bit bossy around food, but otherwise, a really nice little gal. Once her dental is done and her melanomas are removed, she will be further evaluated before she is available for adoption.
Dia’s melanoma removal surgery costs are estimated to $550-800.
If you would like help with the cost of Dia’s surgery,
Noche came to AAE with her buddy Dia on Janaury 14, 2018.
Noche is a super cute little (13.2hh), 20 year old Quarter Horse/Paso Fino mare. She has a riding history, and an easy going temperament.
Noche appears to be in good health. She is in good condition, but she’s also scheduled for dental work in a few weeks. So far, Noche has been very easy to handle, good with the farrier, and she enjoys grooming and attention. Once her dental is done, she’ll be further evaluated before she becomes available for adoption.
If you would like to be a sponsor for this lil gal, Noche,
please click the link below to set up a recurring monthly donation.
Amigo came to AAE with two of his buddies, Rudy and Gunner, on January 17, 2018. They were reliquished by a private party. A picture speaks a thousand words. I need not say more.
Amigo is a big, ol’ teddy bear with a huge heart. You can tell he is so thankful to have food and TLC because he smiles at you with his eyes when he hangs his head out of his stall “window”. He’s about 29 years old stands about 15.2 hands, and he weighed only about 840 pounds. His body condition is worse than it looks; he has a thick (dead) winter coat that really hides his bony frame, almost as good as a blanket. So far we’ve pulled off a good 250 to 300 ticks that are embedded under his “body rug” hair.
About a week after arriving, he suffered a bout of colic. It was mild, but scary nonetheless knowing how weak and deprived his body is. He was on a slow refeeding program consistent with UCD’s protocol for refeeding starving horses, but still had a little struggle. Thankfully, thanks to some compassionate veterinary care from our docs at LBEMC, he rebounded quickly.
While he was down, you could see the sad condition he’s in. Fortunately, as sensitive as horses are, it was a reminder of how resilient they can be. This guy is a fighter! We did a happy dance when we heard his bloodwork looked good, all things considered. Surprisingly, he was also negative for Cushing’s.
Amigo is making slow, steady progress, and you can already see some improvement. We’re hopeful he continues on to a smooth path to recovery. This past weekend, several of our volunteers showered him with love…a good bath and more tick picking. Though we have tried to removed them all, more are discovered with each grooming session. Thank goodness for the warm, sunny weather!
A wet coat is a flat coat, and you can really see the gravity of his condition, even nearly three weeks into his refeeding program.
So far, Amigo has been very easy to handle, he is very patient with handling his hooves, he thoroughly enjoys grooming and attention, and he water/bathing were not an issue. He has a visit with the farrier this week, and if his body condition improves enough over the next several weeks, he’ll also have dental work done in about a month. Once his weight normalizes, he’ll be evaluated more before he becomes available for adoption. Love, love, love this ol’ guy.
We were told he has been ridden, but bucks if the the ride is too long. Beyond that, little is known about his past. We’re simply looking forward a quick recovery so this guy can move on to a bright future in a forever loving home.
In the meantime, Amigo needs a sponsor.
If you would like to be a sponsor for this ol’ guy, Amigo,
please click the link below to set up a recurring monthly donation.
Thank you to Ms. B for being a voice for these guys and bravely facilitating their relinquishment by their owner. More thanks to John and Buckaroo Leather for providing some leads and halters to help on rescue day.
Meet Rudy
Rudy came to AAE with Amigo and Gunner on January 17, 2018. Like Amigo, pictures speak a thousand words.
Rudy is a big, love, too. He’s about 23 years old, stands about 16.1 hands, and weighed only about 875 pounds. His photos are more representative of his body condition than Amigo’s, as his coat is not nearly as thick, heavy, dead. So far we’ve pulled a lot of ticks off Rudy, too, but not close to the number from Amigo.
Rudy is doing well on his refeeding program, similarly, consistent with UCD’s protocol for refeeding starving horses. It was a surprise though, as his teeth are in dire need of dental work. His front teeth are in much worse condition than those visible in the back.
His hooves are also in need of a trim, and he’s scheduled this week. Hoof neglect takes many forms. Rudy has some gnarly heel cracks with deep thrush in all four hooves.
So we found some soaking “boots” (a little big for him, but they worked) and soaked all four feet.
Sadly, beneath all of the crust and crud are some pretty angry sores. They’ll take some time and effort to heal his heels, but they should be on the right track path now.
So far, Rudy has also been very easy to handle, he is very patient with handling his hooves, and he enjoys grooming and attention. He has a visit with the farrier this week, and if his body condition improves enough over the next several weeks, he’ll also have dental work done in about a month. Once his weight normalizes, he’ll be evaluated more before he becomes available for adoption.
We were told he was been ridden quite a bit and had been used for barrel racing. Beyond that, little is known about his past. We’re looking forward a quick recovery for Rudy, too, so we can find a forever loving home for him, too.
In the meantime, Rudy needs a sponsor.
If you would like to be a sponsor for Rudy,
please click the link below to set up a recurring monthly donation.
Thank you to Ms. B for being a voice for these guys and bravely facilitating their relinquishment by their owner. More thanks to John and Buckaroo Leather for providing some leads and halters to help on rescue day.
Meet Gunner
Gunner is the third muskateer. He came to AAE with Amigo and Rudy on January 17, 2018.
Thankfully, Gunner is in much better condition than his pals.
Gunner is about 19 years old, stands about 15.0 hands. He has some trust issues and we’re slowly earning his trust. So far, we haven’ identified any major issues. We’ve found some ticks on Gunner, too, but he’s not infested like his buddies. He likely needs dental care, and his hoofs are in need of a trim.
Gunner is a handsome guy, and we’re looking forward to breaking through the surface of this guy and earning his trust.
So far, Gunner tends to be evasive for haltering, is fairly good leading, but needs more confidence; he seems to feel vulnerable with leg and hoof handling; and he is quite connected to Amigo. That being said, he’s made regular progress, and he’s becoming more willing to interact with humans. He’ll also have dental work done in about a month, and hopefully, we can help him be more confident with leg and hoof handling soon, so he can have a good experience with the farrier. Once we earn his trust, he’ll be evaluated more before he becomes available for adoption.
We were told he was “broke” but regressed after not being ridden for some time. Beyond that, little is known about his past. We’re looking forward earning Gunner’s trust so we can find a forever loving home for him, too.
In the meantime, Gunner needs a sponsor.
If you would like to be a sponsor for Gunner,
please click the link below to set up a recurring monthly donation.
Thank you to Ms. B for being a voice for these guys and bravely facilitating their relinquishment by their owner. More thanks to John and Buckaroo Leather for providing some leads and halters to help on rescue day.
Remember Red?
Red came back to AAE in January after his adopter faced a financial crisis. He was working two jobs to make ends meet and found he had no time for Red. He knew it wasn’t good for Red considering his needs.
If you remember Red, you’ll remember he had severe trust issues and found it hard simply being in the presence of unfamiliar humans. He was high maintenance in terms of needing continuous interaction to sustain a trusting relationship. Red has come a long way, but now has to learn to trust new people again. Before rehoming again, we’ll take time to expose Red to new people on a regular basis until he can readily accept anyone.
In the meantime, Red needs a sponsor.
If you would like to be a sponsor for Red,
please click the link below to set up a recurring monthly donation.
No pun intended. She has a stone, but not that kind of stone. Kaya is a long time resident of AAE, and she is one of our most trusted, dependable, reliable, and beloved horses. She is calm, quiet, confident, and willing to do just about anything, seemlessly. She helps new volunteers learn about horses, and she’s filled a lot of children’s dreams, not to mention the love she bestows on our volunteers on a daily basis.
A few weeks ago, she suffered a rough bout of colic that had the vet out two days in a row, then she ended up at Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center for a few days. Thankfully, she’s home now and doing fine. It turns out, we’re not certain what caused her discomfort, but we discovered she has a golf ball-sized stone in her small colon (like a kidney stone, not really a rock). The size of the stone is in one of those gray areas: it’s small enough that it might pass, but it’s big enough that it might not pass. She also had a little bit of sand in her gut. Neither was severe enough to be an obvious cause of her pain, and it could have even been something completely different. Fortunately, it resolved, and she was able to come home.
The stone still hasn’t passed, and it may not….or maybe it will? We’re hopeful, it will rest quietly where it is for the rest of her life! Needless to say, her veterinary costs for two visits to AAE, a couple nights at the clinic, and all of the diagnostics were extensive.
If you’re able to contribute to Kaya’s veterinary costs to help “replenish” our veterinary fund, it will help support future veterinary care for other horses throughout the year.
As you can see, it’s been a very busy January, and we’ve already put that dent in our veterinary budget for the year. Please help us continue our efforts on behalf of horses in need.
Help replenish our veterinary fund by donating now.
We’ve had a huge influx of calls from people needing help with senior horses, but we don’t have enough space/resources for more senior horses without foster homes. We have a waiting list. Can you help? Do you have a lonely horse?….an empty stall or pasture?..or simply a love for senior horses?
If you don’t want to adopt, we offer a long term foster program for some senior/companion horses to help support additional space needs for senior horses. There are potential tax benefits.
We received an urgent call for a baby mustang who is fighting for his life, but at this point barely hanging on. I apologize for the photo, but it is what we have and it clearly shows he is starving to death and in extremely critical shape. If you look closely, you can see his top line is completely exposed and simply skin over bones.
His coat is ragged and he is obviously wormy and most likely has ticks. When babies get this thin (adults too), the body starts eating itself to survive. (Honeybandit’s blood work showed his body was in that mode). That is when you start getting organ damage internally. He has been getting good food, but he obviously needs immediate attention to his health issues. As he is in urgent need of critical care, Matt will be leaving tomorrow to go get him.
We are delivering 3 horse kids on the way to WA, so although we will have a couple spaces here, Racoon needs to go immediately to the quarantine nursery. Thankfully, Matt just finished the inside stall this morning. (They say timing is everything lol).
We need to purchase stall mats and some panels for an exercise pen so he can begin his rehab once we get him home.
We need help with expenses for fuel, Coggins, vet care and special groceries for this baby. We are not sure if he will be ok but we are going to give it our all. We do have to finish his nursery prior to his arrival and we would really appreciate any help you can give this baby.
Please help us give “Racoon” a chance to live a long and healthy life. He needs immediate care so he won’t have to suffer anymore and we also need prayers that too much damage to his internal organs has not occurred. He was not expected to live this long, so it is obvious he is a fighter.
We are already in contact with the vet in his area so we will be working closely together to give him the best chance possible. Please help if you can!
Baby season is coming early this year.
I am still on crutches but will have to stay home to feed and take care of the critters.The timing isn’t convenient, but when God puts a “baby in need”, in front of you, you just “git ‘er done”. Babies can’t wait. Please say a prayer for Raccoon and help us save him if you can.
Thank you for all the love and support and all the lives you’ve saved! We could not do this without you!
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
JANUARY 2018
The UHC Roundup is an online publication that compiles news articles and events related to unwanted horses. It highlights UHC member programs and success stories spanning all breeds, disciplines, and regions.If you wish to share your story of unwanted horses becoming wanted again, contact the UHC at afurst@horsecouncil.org.
UHC NEWS
UHC Announces New Program ‘Operation Chip’
Starting in 2018, the Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC) will be offering a new service to its popular Operation Gelding program called “Operation Chip.”
“My horse dream did not come true as a child. My family situation just didn’t allow for the luxury of horse ownership. So I grew up, got married, raised a family, and got to see the world thanks to Uncle Sam, …. but I always held onto my dream.”
It was in 2009 at the Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale that bloodstock agent Mike McMahon first laid eyes on a dark bay colt that would eventually be named Believe In You.
2,341 stallions gelded $154,275 in funding provided 186 gelding clinics supported
Clinics offered in 33 states 306 vouchers distributedUPCOMING CLINICS January 17, 22, 24, 2018
KSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, KS January 27, 2018
Edisto Equine Clinic, Yonges Island, SC February 13, 2018
Waller Equine Hospital, Waller, TX April 11, 2018
VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA April 28, 2018
Horse Haven of Tennessee/University of Tennessee Vet Med, Lancing, TNClick HERE to see full list of clinics.
We received an urgent call for a baby mustang who is fighting for his life, but at this point barely hanging on. I apologize for the photo, but it is what we have and it clearly shows he is starving to death and in extremely critical shape. If you look closely, you can see his top line is completely exposed and simply skin over bones.
His coat is ragged and he is obviously wormy and most likely has ticks. When babies get this thin (adults too), the body starts eating itself to survive. (Honeybandit’s blood work showed his body was in that mode). That is when you start getting organ damage internally. He has been getting good food, but he obviously needs immediate attention to his health issues. As he is in urgent need of critical care, Matt will be leaving tomorrow to go get him.
We are delivering 3 horse kids on the way to WA, so although we will have a couple spaces here, Racoon needs to go immediately to the quarantine nursery. Thankfully, Matt just finished the inside stall this morning. (They say timing is everything lol).
We need to purchase stall mats and some panels for an exercise pen so he can begin his rehab once we get him home.
We need help with expenses for fuel, Coggins, vet care and special groceries for this baby. We are not sure if he will be ok but we are going to give it our all. We do have to finish his nursery prior to his arrival and we would really appreciate any help you can give this baby.
Please help us give “Racoon” a chance to live a long and healthy life. He needs immediate care so he won’t have to suffer anymore and we also need prayers that too much damage to his internal organs has not occurred. He was not expected to live this long, so it is obvious he is a fighter.
We are already in contact with the vet in his area so we will be working closely together to give him the best chance possible. Please help if you can!
Baby season is coming early this year.
I am still on crutches but will have to stay home to feed and take care of the critters.The timing isn’t convenient, but when God puts a “baby in need”, in front of you, you just “git ‘er done”. Babies can’t wait. Please say a prayer for Raccoon and help us save him if you can.
Thank you for all the love and support and all the lives you’ve saved! We could not do this without you!
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
What we have all accomplished in 2017 is beyond amazing. Y’all have made it possible to save so many lives. Please remember, every single horse that was saved in South Dakota was partially due to the love and support you continue to show. Our rescue spent a great deal of money on that situation. Although it was only a drop in the bucket compared to the hundreds of thousands donated by the big organizations, for us the thousands plus that we spent was mind blowing. YOU DID THAT!You made it possible for Matt and I to do what we had to do. In turn, we made it possible for FOA to do what they did. Elaine Nash and Barbara Jo Rasmussen also are partially responsible for the hundreds that we saved this year. If they hadn’t stepped up and taken on the re-homing of the horses at ISPMB, we wouldn’t have been able to save all those orphans and all the families that you helped us save his year. So by working together, the affects reach further and further down the line without us even realizing it.
I wanted to share this. As one of our favorite “family members” so eloquently said,
“Hi Lauri! My name is Tina. I am the mother of the young girl you are referring to in your post above. I have to THANK YOU for bringing Frosty into my daughter’s life. Frosty lights up her world! Your rescue efforts trickle down to giving a young girl the ability to use her determination, compassion, and love to pour into this sweet and gentle boy! She absolutely loves him. Thank you!
I am going to post a few pictures of Madelyn and Frosty’s growing relationship. Enjoy! :)
As you can see, kindness and love trickle down and keep on going. ALL OF YOU MADE THIS HAPPEN! An old blind stallion who most likely would have not had much of a chance because he was “too old to geld” as well as being blind, now is in the perfect place. THANK YOU!!!
I know it seems that sometimes we take on a lot of the “lost causes”. But these are the ones who need the most help. Lots of people can help with the “easy ones”, but at Chilly Pepper we have seen more miracles than even seems possible. I don’t believe in killing a horse because it is inconvenient. I truly believe God puts them in front of us so we can do what is best for them.
I am sorry it has taken so long to do this update, but we started the Christmas Holidays with some heartbreak. We lost my lil brother Tim, 4 days before Christmas. His passing was a complete shock and like everyone who loses family, we simply needed some quiet time.
So many folks have been asking for a leg update. Well the good news is that the Doc said it looks great as far as the break healing. The scary news is that Doc also wants me to start seeing his joint specialist. He is afraid I will end up with a Catastrophic Failure of my total knee. (I guess once they are over 10 years old they can fail?) Of course I haven’t told him yet that it’s baby season and that means we will most likely be crazy busy again. I can say I am not looking forward to them taking the rod out of my leg.
So we are back on the proverbial horse, and working like crazy to get the kids their new homes and figure out where our new “permanent residences” fit in with the other kids.
So I am still on crutches but hoping to keep healing quickly. It has been really hard not being able to do much with the horses, especially with so many critters here.
We have a couple of guys who need to be gelded, and lots and lots of hoofers to get trimmed. We think that Kyle (our long yearling draft) is starting to stand a bit higher on those front legs. The vet said if he doesn’t improve he may only be comfy for 3-4 years? So we are praying that with special feed he will be another miracle. It’s go time now, and we need to be ready for the upcoming foals, so we are getting the new quarantine area ready to go.
Thank you and God bless you for sharing this wonderful journey with us and for making the Chilly Pepper family so amazing.
Thank you for all the love and support and all the lives you’ve saved! We could not do this without you! Another one of our “too old to geld, blind stallions“. The day he walked up and said hi I swear he knew it was a life saving moment.
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
2017 was a very special year, and we are glad we got to share it with you.
We hope you enjoyed the stories and thank you for your continuing support during
the Deck the Stalls campaign. Although we haven’t reached our goal, we are in a much better position to get ready for another year of horse rescue.
In 2017, AAE started the year with 35 horses in our care. We took in 36 horses, and we adopted 33. That’s an intake to adoption ratio of about 92 percent!! Intakes were due to a variety of reasons including two orphan foals (Rascal and Cowboy), Blue – the mustang with the large mass on its leg, an abandoned horse with a rope around it’s neck, a neglected and emaciated horse, several senior horses in need, and many wild horses and burros in need. Sadly but compassionately, we helped four of our horses cross the Rainbow Bridge due to severe colic and pain/quality of life issues.
With 2017 in the books we are now focusing on the great stories we will be creating in 2018. Our goal is for each of these adoptable horses to find permanent homes this year!
(Please note in “special instructions” that you are purchasing a calendar and if you need us to mail yours, kindly add $3 for shipping.)
Save The Date!!
Our 5th Annual Boots and Bling Event is on May 5, 2018.
Tickets are available now, get them while they last! Buy Tickets Here
Event sponsorship options are available or you can donate items for the event’s silent and live auctions?
For more information contact dani@allaboutequine.org
Daily Horse Care, especially pm shifts
Used Tack Store Support, all areas
Barn/Facility Maintenance
Foster Homes, Long-Term Foster/Sanctuary Homes
Capital Campaign Support
Board Members
Fundraising/Events
Grants – Writing and Research
Volunteer, Project, and Activity Coordinators
Outreach Activities
Youth Programs
Therapy Programs
Veteran Programs
Special Projects
Admin Support
Marketing
Graphics
Social Media
Bloggers
Photographers
Media and/or Photo Librarian
Thanks to YOUR input in 2017, AAE is once again a Top-Rate nonprofit!
If you love our work, then tell the world! Stories about us from people like you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community in the future.
GreatNonprofits is the #1 source of nonprofit stories and feedback, and it honors highly regarded nonprofits each year with their Top-Rated List.
Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story of your experience with us? All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers.
Did you know YOU could earn grant money for AAE from your employer just by volunteering?
Many Employers offer money when their employees volunteer. Here are a few examples:
Intel provides a $10 grant to a nonprofit per every volunteer hour by an employee, and matches funds dollar for dollar up to $5,000 per employee or retiree.
Microsoft provides a $17 grant to a nonprofit per every hour volunteered by an employee.
Apple provides a $25 grant to a nonprofit per every volunteer hour by an employee, and matches funds dollar for dollar up to $10,000 per employee.
Verizon provides a $750 grant to a nonprofit when an employee volunteers for 50+ hours.
State Farm provides a $500 grant nonprofit when an employee volunteers for+ 40 hours.
Others top 20 matching gift and/or volunteer grant companies include
Starbucks
CarMax
Home Depot
JP Morgan
Chevron
Soros Fund Management
BP (British Petroleum)
Gap Corporation
State Street Corporation
ExxonMobil
Johnson & Johnson
Boeing
Disney
Google
Merck
Aetna
Dell
Outerwall (CoinStar and RedBox)
ConocoPhillips
RealNetworks
Time Warner and subsidiaries
AllState
and more
Check with your employer. You could help purchase our next load of hay!
Let’s Deck the Stalls with Boughs of Plenty for 2018
1 Day Left, AAE Residents!
The heart of our volunteer activities begin with our residents. it all begins with our minis, ponies, and our full-sized horses. Our new volunteers learn about basic care and handling with our most reliable, trustworthy, and dependable horses. They have their stories, too, but we don’t often talk about them because their story came and went. Let’s revisit….
RUSTY
Rusty is our 31, soon to be 32-year old Arabian gelding that came to us in 2010 due to a financial distress and an impending deployment situation. Rusty was loved beyond words, but his mom knew she couldn’t give him what he needed, and she worried that when she was deployed, there wouldn’t be anyone experienced enough to provide the care he needed for as long as it might be. So she made the difficult decision to find a safe home for him.
Shortly after he arrived, we discovered some really nasty summer sores on his “private parts”. Sadly, they were well hidden, and they were discovered during his vet exam. It took several vet visits for cleaning with sedation before he healed. A while later, we found a sarcoid in his ear that started getting irritated and growing. Ear sarcoids are challenging to treat because the meds can spread into the ear canal and damage the inner ear. Once again, Rusty had several rounds of treatment with Dr. Stolba until his ear finally healed. Fortunately, it has been several years, and the sarcoid has not returned.
Rusty has been an AAE steady since he got here. Early on, he gave lessons. Then he became our go to guy for birthday parties and kids programs. He has given many a child their first horseback ride! He’s also one of our favorites for new volunteers. Many of our new volunteers come to AAE with no horse experience. Some haven’t been around horses since they were a child. Rusty is one we can count on to take good care of the newbies. They love him, and so do our veteran volunteers.
Some call him Grandpa Rusty or Uncle Rusty, too. He loves the youngsters. When Rusty is turned out with the herd, you might find him acting like Rico Suave, as he swaggers up to the girls. Or, you might see him acting like a young buck, rearing and playing with the boys. He’s the best. We love this ol’ guy to the moon and back! Typical of a older horse, he’s worth his weight in gold!
KAYA
Kaya came to AAE in 2014. She was rescued by another group at auction in Nevada after outbidding the slaughter-buyer, then placed with AAE. Kaya was a 20-something ranch horse that had been neglected. She was lame in front when she unloaded, but it shouldn’t have been a surprise. Her hooves were excessively long, and she had on an old pair of shoes. It looked like she was months past due for a trim and new shoes. It took considerable time to work through her hoof issues. Initially, you could see she was sore if you asked her to move any faster than a walk. She would trot, barely, and surely couldn’t lope. Fortunately, we stuck with it and when we finally got her hooves “unjammed”, we noticed her running with the herd. This girl could gallop!
Kaya is a true gem. She was a diamond in the rough. She IS the most dependable, trustworthy, reliable, and safe horse we have at AAE. Ask her for anything, and she’ll give you everything. She’s a party girl, too. The kids love her. She loves the kids. They could dress her like a doll, if they tried.
Kaya is another senior horse worth her weight in gold.
KASEY
Kasey came to AAE in Spring 2016 with his big buddy, Angus, and his little pal, Daisy after a family health issue. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Angus earlier this year. Kasey is a 21-ish Clydesdale. A gentle giant is truly what he is. Kasey has a working history as a driving horse. We were told he has a tremendous amount of experience working anywhere from a team of two to a team of eight. Prior to retirement, he competed at the Draft Horse Classic.
Kasey is a big, handsome, lovely hunk of horse. He loves attention. He loves being groomed. He’s simply a big happy guy that enjoys every moment of every interaction. Well, maybe not every, like standing patiently for all four of his big heavy hooves to be trimmed or shod. He’s got some arthritis so sometimes it’s hard for him to stand on any one leg for an extended period. As big as he is, he’s pretty agreeable to most anything you ask, but beware of the head. You don’t want to be on that side when he turns to see what the heck that noise was. Big head meeting little head: big head wins!
Kasey and Angus were the first drafts to come through AAE, and we hope they won’t be the last. If you’ve never had the pleasure of meeting one of these big guys, you must. Be sure to visit sometime or get out to the Draft Horse Classic. They are special. Kasey is special!!!
SIERRA
Sierra was one of the founding horses of AAE. She was a feedlot rescue that came to AAE with her two boys, Dayton and Clayton, in July 2009. She’s gotta be getting close to 20 by now. Clayton’s mom had shipped to slaughter, and he was left behind at the feedlot to fend for himself. We can all imagine the horror that must have been for him. Sierra and Dayton adopted him. Actually, Clayton nursed on Sierra, and neither Sierra nor Dayton objected. Reality, they were probably too weak to care. The trio came to AAE in such sad condition. Sierra was depleted. She was skin and bones, and the boys were thin and pretty banged up. Sierra’s body was working overtime feeding two lil guys, and she had little energy left for herself. Her eyes were weepy, as if teary, and her head hung low. Her hooves long, her hair falling out, and her mane dead. Poor mare, but she fought so hard to live.
At AAE, we were only able to halter her because she was literally too tired to resist. It wasn’t until a little later that we realized she probably hadn’t been haltered before, and she surely didn’t know how to lead. Thankfully, she was willing to learn. She took such amazing care of the boys, watching over them with her wisdom, always. Slowly, she gained weight and started looking like a horse again. Much to our shock one day after she had been here a month or so, we looked over, and she had a long, bloody strand hanging from her vulva. My heart sank. We had only been in the horse rescue world for a couple months, and we hadn’t established with a vet yet. We called all the nearby vets, but none could come on an emergency call. After hanging up from the last one, much to my horror, there was the reason in the distance. Sierra lost a baby. Sierra had passed a stillborn fetus that looked to be about about four months along. It was horribly sad. Not only for the loss of baby and mom’s loss of baby, but for mom. What she must have been through. It sheds some light on how hard her body had been fighting for life. Not only her life, but she was supporting her lil’ guy and another mama’s little guy, and baby, too.
That IS Sierra. She takes care of everyone at the sacrifice of herself. That has been Sierra from day one. In 2009/2010, we had 12 foals at AAE. Our focus was mare/foal pairs and pregnant mares. Sierra was like Grandma to all, even some of the moms. You’d look out in pasture, and you would see Sierra eating from a tub, and she would be surrounded by five or six foals and another mom or two. Always!
Even today! Sierra has since been the matriarch of the herd. No matter how many horses come and go, she is queen bee. Everyone looks to her. She has that presence; she has the look. She’s had several mares challenge her along the way, but in the end, Sierra it is!
Sierra has not been an easy mare to handle. She has some deep seated trust issues, and no doubt someone did her seriously wrong at some point. She’s got a strong spirit; it’s palpable. She’s one you recognize the privilege it is to be in her presence, to touch her, to feel her. Sierra is a very special mare.
DANNY
We shared Danny’s story earlier, but he’s so special and now a resident, he’s worth sharing again for anyone that may have missed it. Danny‘s story isn’t one of neglect, abandonment, abuse, or poor care. Sadly, it’s one of human health and aging. Danny was loved beyond words. So much, his former owner considered euthanizing him rather than risk him having difficulties transitioning to a new home, ending up in a bad home, or worse, the fear of auctions and the slaughter pipeline.
Fortunately, the timing was right and Danny has a couple special people in his life that paved the way for him to get to AAE. Danny is the most kind, mellow, and affectionate horse we have known, and we are grateful he landed with us. Danny‘s owner’s health was failing, and she was unable to provide ongoing care for him any longer. Danny is 27. He knew no other owner, as he was born to her mare. Mama rejected him for four days, and on the 5th day, she finally accepted him. Danny spent those four days with his surrogate mom while she held mom and made sure he was able to nurse. It was a rocky start, but Danny and his other mom grew a bond like no other. She trained him; she rode him; they competed together. They spent 27 years together until they had to say good bye, and not because of death. To say it was a sad day when we loaded Danny in the trailer is an understatement. We all shed tears.
Danny will stay on with AAE as a resident, helping new volunteers learn about horses. He will also participate in youth activities and any other related equine programs where we need a most trustworthy and dependable horse. We are lucky to have this ol’ guy, and I think he’s enjoying befriending volunteers and visitors, alike. Danny, you are loved!
FINN
Finn was born at AAE in April 2014. Finn’s mom, Kai, was one of a group of mares rescued from one of the Nevada auction’s. Mom had been here about seven weeks when she delivered Finn. He was this precious little palomino package.
Sadly, mom had dripped milk for a week before a difficult delivery, and Finn didn’t get any colostrum. He and mom were examined after delivery, and poor little Finn had no antibodies. He got a plasma transfusion to boost his immunity. It wasn’t enough though. At about three weeks, he contracted some “bug”, and he was passing neon green diarrhea. It was really bad diarrhea, and we all know how susceptible our little guys are when diarrhea strikes. Finn was given fluids and antibiotics, but his condition worsened. We ended up administering fluids and meds, and we were with him pretty much 24/7 for about 10 days before he stabilized and we could breathe a sigh of relief.
Finn grew to be a handsome young lad, but trouble he was! He was adopted when he was bout 14 months old, but it wasn’t long lasted. He came back about six months later because he was a bit of a trouble-maker. Must be why we love him so much! He’s been a volunteer favorite ever since, and since Uncle Dayton left for Colorado, Finn was the perfect guy to take his place. Hoping to start Finn under saddle in 2018. He’s ready! He has some time to grow into one of our dependable, trusty steeds, and look forward to his journey to a “dopey” old man.
So, many of our good stories involve senior horses. Senior horses! Senior horses are worth their weight in gold. Sadly, so many people think an old horse is a throw away horse. More sadly, so many more people won’t consider an old horse when looking for a new horse because they are an “old” horse. My biggest wish for 2018 is that more people open their eyes and hearts to everything an “old” horse has to offer….the joys, the wonder, the wisdom, and the love of an old horse. Old horses may be old. They may not have a lot of years left to give, but they give you everything they’ve got. They’ve been there, they’ve done it. They’ve lived it, they’ve learned it. When you consider pairing a 1,000 pound horse next with a child, consider a wise old horse over a young inexperienced horse any day! For a small child that wants to learn, a few good years with an old horse is so much better than a few years with a “bad” horse or worse, a few moments with a young, not so wise horse.
If you are enjoying our stories and
would like to help more horses get the help they need,
1 day to 2018, YOUR donation means more horses can be helped!
Join AAE as we Deck the Stalls with Boughs of Plenty. As the year comes to an end, we are sharing stories straight from the barn to show how your support has helped horses in 2017. This year was very special, and there are so many stories to be thankful for!
As we count down to 2018, please help us as we prepare for another year of helping horses. Your donations will assure we have ample funding for unexpected veterinary needs as we move into our next year.
We want to thank everyone for their love and support!
We hope you enjoy these stories as much as we do!
Have a great holiday season!
Save The Date!!
Our 5th Annual Boots and Bling Event is on May 5, 2018.
Tickets are available now, get them while they last! Buy Tickets Here
Event sponsorship options are available or you can donate items for the event’s silent and live auctions?
For more information contact dani@allaboutequine.org
Daily Horse Care, especially pm shifts
Used Tack Store Support, all areas
Barn/Facility Maintenance
Foster Homes, Long-Term Foster/Sanctuary Homes
Capital Campaign Support
Board Members
Fundraising/Events
Grants – Writing and Research
Volunteer, Project, and Activity Coordinators
Outreach Activities
Youth Programs
Therapy Programs
Veteran Programs
Special Projects
Admin Support
Marketing
Graphics
Social Media
Bloggers
Photographers
Media and/or Photo Librarian
Thanks to YOUR input in 2017, AAE is once again a Top-Rate nonprofit!
If you love our work, then tell the world! Stories about us from people like you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community in the future.
GreatNonprofits is the #1 source of nonprofit stories and feedback, and it honors highly regarded nonprofits each year with their Top-Rated List.
Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story of your experience with us? All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers.
Did you know YOU could earn grant money for AAE from your employer just by volunteering?
Many Employers offer money when their employees volunteer. Here are a few examples:
Intel provides a $10 grant to a nonprofit per every volunteer hour by an employee, and matches funds dollar for dollar up to $5,000 per employee or retiree.
Microsoft provides a $17 grant to a nonprofit per every hour volunteered by an employee.
Apple provides a $25 grant to a nonprofit per every volunteer hour by an employee, and matches funds dollar for dollar up to $10,000 per employee.
Verizon provides a $750 grant to a nonprofit when an employee volunteers for 50+ hours.
State Farm provides a $500 grant nonprofit when an employee volunteers for+ 40 hours.
Others top 20 matching gift and/or volunteer grant companies include
Starbucks
CarMax
Home Depot
JP Morgan
Chevron
Soros Fund Management
BP (British Petroleum)
Gap Corporation
State Street Corporation
ExxonMobil
Johnson & Johnson
Boeing
Disney
Google
Merck
Aetna
Dell
Outerwall (CoinStar and RedBox)
ConocoPhillips
RealNetworks
Time Warner and subsidiaries
AllState
and more
Check with your employer. You could help purchase our next load of hay!
It’s another cold one today but I am feeling very grateful… I’m not living on Mt. Washington, in Northern NH where the temperature was MINUS 78 degrees this morning!!! I’m also very grateful for all our wonderful supporters who have already helped us get closer to our end of the year fund raising goal of $35,000.
I’m writing to encourage any of you reading this who have not yet made a donation to please do what you can to help. Reach underneath those couch cushions and send what you find! Every bit really does make a difference. Our supporters are the best. I have become friends with so many who have adopted from us, who donate to us and even those who just call for advice in dealing with issues they may be having with their donkey or mule. Making these friends is a huge bonus of the job.
We currently have one, fantastic, full time paid employee. But we have reached the point in our growth that in order to sustain the level of care the animals require and deserve, another part time employee is needed. With the new tax laws taking effect donation write offs will be subject to change. So NOW is the time!
Every penny we receive goes toward the care of the animals. Again, I am very, very grateful for the funds raised thus far. Please, on this last day of the year, do whatever you can do to help us continue our mission.
I wish everyone all good things in the coming year. May we see more peace, love, and kindness toward each other as well as our animal friends.
Let’s Deck the Stalls with Boughs of Plenty for 2018
2 Days Left, Mighty Mini Ones!
Every day throughout the year, our mini herd is here to put smiles on the faces of our volunteers and visitors. Our little guys are some of the best ambassadors for AAE and horses alike. Each has his or her own story of how they came to AAE.
PATCHES
Patches, the little princess, ha ha! Patches is an older mini (20-something) that came to AAE from a dog rescue in Fall 2012. She was on the thin side and a bit lonely. We thought she’d be perfect for the kids around AAE. Little did we know, kids weren’t her forte. She tolerated them at best. Patches idea of a job is eating. Eating hay, eating grass, eating pellets, eating anything. Really, eating everything. If Patches isn’t eating, she isn’t happy, haha. Patches is cutest when she trots down to the barn for her morning treat. She bounces, she smiles, excitement exudes from the tips of her hair. The trail back to the “farm”, on the other hand, is a slow, dreary trip. Ho hum! Really, Patches is adorable. She’s a little sass, and a little sweet. She’s the perfect Thelwell pony that needs a story written after her.
MARSHMALLOW
You met Marshmallow earlier this month, but now you can hear the rest of the story. Marshy-man came to AAE in March 2014. He was quite sickly. He had been at another rescue, and they were unable to solve his problems. He had been rescued once by this rescue, gone to a therapy home, and returned to be rescued again. The back story isn’t entirely clear, but what we know is that Marshy was a sick guy when he came to AAE. This was not long after he arrived.
He was bony. He lacked muscle tone. His eyes said it all. Marshy was eating but wasn’t holding weight and he wasn’t feeling good at all. He’d stand parked out and wait for discomfort to pass. We tried a variety of things from diet to meds. He would have short periods of relief, but nothing helped for any length of time. Nothing stuck.
With the help of Dr. Stolba and Dr. Fielding throughout and an array of diagnostics one step at a time, we finally learned Marshy had an intestinal issue. His intestinal walls were much thicker than normal, so he wasn’t absorbing nutrients like a normal intestine. Fortunately, once the issue was identified, we were able to help him with medication. Thank goodness!! This little guy is truly a remarkable horse. Unlike Patches (hehe), he LOVES kids. He LOVES activity. He LOVES people. He LOVES working. He LOVES life! He’s a kind, curious, gentle old soul. And he is old (at least 20-something, probably more), but he would say “PTHHH, no I’m not!” Marshy has put smiles on so many faces at AAE. We were so saddened when he developed rapid onset cataracts last year. BUT, we were so thrilled last year when you all came to the rescue and helped Marshy regain sight in one eye. Marshy is a gift to everyone that meets him, and our AAE community has been such a gift to him. Marshy thanks you, we all thank you!!
DAISY
Daisy is a little (not) mini donk that came to AAE in 2016 with her gentle giants, Kasey and Angus, after a family health crisis. Daisy ruled the roost with her massive counterparts, and it was quite evident in her waistline. She’s lost quite a bit of weight since coming to AAE, and she could still benefit from losing a bit more. Check out that neck. Gotta love those ears!
Daisy is one of our teachers at AAE. All the new volunteers are privileged to meet this girl, and no doubt most would like to call her a three letter word (*ss) before the day is done. She teaches many of the volunteers what persistence and stubborn go together. She teaches many that not all hooved creatures are like all others. Daisy has a subtle way of teaching many what “humble pie” is. Truly, she is the sweetest, cutest, and most stubborn lil’ critter around AAE. That being said, treat her with kindness, and she will oblige. We LOVE her to pieces.
ROBBIE & FLAME
These two special boys came to AAE in 2016, not because they weren’t lavished with love or not cared for. Theirs was a downsizing effort, and we’re so thankful we had the opportunity to welcome these “mature” gents to our herd. They came at just the right time. Marshy had lost his vision and we did not think he would be able to “entertain” kids and teach new volunteers. Robbie is a handsome and talented guy. He enjoys working with the kids, celebrating birthday parties, walking in parades, and being a bossy guy in the mini herd. Really, he has a secret crush on Patches, but wants everyone to think he’s just the big man on the block. Go get ’em Robbie, you’re da’ man!
Flame is more the gent of the two. He’s loves attention, he loves working, he loves to entertain, and like Marshy, he loves life. He’s a happy-go-lucky little one. He and Marshy make a great team, now only if they’d like each other! PTHHHH!!! These two are the perfect blend of perfect, but they’re like oil and water when together. For now, they have paddocks next door to each other and they are like grumpy old men when it comes to the “two” of them. Maybe they’ll become the “Odd Couple”, bicker, bicker, bicker but hate to be apart. ‘Til then, the four minis and the donk get playtime in the arena together, and some days, it’s really a great show.
SPARKY
Sparky isn’t a mini, but he’s part of our little’s crew. Sparky was one of the first arrivals at AAE in 2009. He came from a backyard breeder that raised ponies on a small lot in a mobile home development. There were about 8-10 adult ponies, including a stallion, and a few youngsters. Sparky was with his mom, and he was only a few weeks old. They were kept in small pens and had no real turnout. Their hooves were long, and they were sad. Loading onto the trailer and coming to AAE was an adventure!
Sparky is another entertainer. He’s an absolute character. Give him an inch, he’ll take it a mile. Treat him with kindness, and he’ll do the same in return, usually. He’s another teacher in the bunch.
There are lots of Sparky stories here, but he tells ’em best in person.
HOLLI
One more for fun…our favorite little four-legged friend around here!
If you are enjoying our stories and
would like to help more horses get the help they need,
2 days to 2018, YOUR donation means more horses can be helped!
Join AAE as we Deck the Stalls with Boughs of Plenty. As the year comes to an end, we are sharing stories straight from the barn to show how your support has helped horses in 2017. This year was very special, and there are so many stories to be thankful for!
As we count down to 2018, please help us as we prepare for another year of helping horses. Your donations will assure we have ample funding for unexpected veterinary needs as we move into our next year.
We want to thank everyone for their love and support!
We hope you enjoy these stories as much as we do!
Have a great holiday season!
Save The Date!!
Our 5th Annual Boots and Bling Event is on May 5, 2018.
Tickets are available now, get them while they last! Buy Tickets Here
Event sponsorship options are available or you can donate items for the event’s silent and live auctions?
For more information contact dani@allaboutequine.org
Daily Horse Care, especially pm shifts
Used Tack Store Support, all areas
Barn/Facility Maintenance
Foster Homes, Long-Term Foster/Sanctuary Homes
Capital Campaign Support
Board Members
Fundraising/Events
Grants – Writing and Research
Volunteer, Project, and Activity Coordinators
Outreach Activities
Youth Programs
Therapy Programs
Veteran Programs
Special Projects
Admin Support
Marketing
Graphics
Social Media
Bloggers
Photographers
Media and/or Photo Librarian
Thanks to YOUR input in 2017, AAE is once again a Top-Rate nonprofit!
If you love our work, then tell the world! Stories about us from people like you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community in the future.
GreatNonprofits is the #1 source of nonprofit stories and feedback, and it honors highly regarded nonprofits each year with their Top-Rated List.
Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story of your experience with us? All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers.
Did you know YOU could earn grant money for AAE from your employer just by volunteering?
Many Employers offer money when their employees volunteer. Here are a few examples:
Intel provides a $10 grant to a nonprofit per every volunteer hour by an employee, and matches funds dollar for dollar up to $5,000 per employee or retiree.
Microsoft provides a $17 grant to a nonprofit per every hour volunteered by an employee.
Apple provides a $25 grant to a nonprofit per every volunteer hour by an employee, and matches funds dollar for dollar up to $10,000 per employee.
Verizon provides a $750 grant to a nonprofit when an employee volunteers for 50+ hours.
State Farm provides a $500 grant nonprofit when an employee volunteers for+ 40 hours.
Others top 20 matching gift and/or volunteer grant companies include
Starbucks
CarMax
Home Depot
JP Morgan
Chevron
Soros Fund Management
BP (British Petroleum)
Gap Corporation
State Street Corporation
ExxonMobil
Johnson & Johnson
Boeing
Disney
Google
Merck
Aetna
Dell
Outerwall (CoinStar and RedBox)
ConocoPhillips
RealNetworks
Time Warner and subsidiaries
AllState
and more
Check with your employer. You could help purchase our next load of hay!
Mother Nature has offered us the splendor of a snow-covered landscape and the glinting beauty of ice-coated trees this final week of 2017. But she is also challenging us with these continued days of sub-zero temperatures.
Doing anything outdoors right now is difficult if not dangerous. Seeing to the daily needs of numerous rescue donkeys and mules in this extreme cold is downright dreadful.
There is good reason to worry more about the herd as this bitter cold can cause colic among other things. Ann must venture out regularly to make sure the heated water troughs are always topped off. She maintains separate heated water sources containing electrolytes and in these brutal, arctic days keeps hay in front of every animal 24 hours a day. Just the three draft mules alone are going through half a dozen bales of hay a day at $5.50 each!
Ann and Hannah have also been making hot mashes for the long ears consisting of herbal-tea-soaked hay stretcher pellets and a handful of black oil sunflower seeds. All of this plus the usual chores requires Ann and her help to be outside more often for long stints and it is NOT easy.
On top of the cold and extra weather-related tasks, yesterday the farm tractor seized up and is currently awaiting pick up by the “tractor ambulance.” Who knows what THAT will cost??! Then one of the big water heaters died with a nearly full tank of water, the barn camera kicked the bucket and the “bad ass” mules ripped the big, heavy door off of the tack room! In warmer weather these things would be annoying, maybe even somewhat humorous. When you’re working outdoors on a windy 12 degrees below zero day, they are a nightmare.
Suffice it to say that this severe weather is sapping the Save Your Ass coffers and sucking the life out of Ann and her workers. We REALLY need your financial help right now!
I know that Ann is sick with worry about the animals in these severely cold conditions. Knowing that donations are coming in so there will be enough hay in the barn and enough money in the budget to fix the tractor will help the animals, help Ann worry less, and help ALL of us who care about these noble long-ears great and small.
You still have TWO days to make a tax deductible donation to ensure we can provide the SYALER rescue animals with what they need as well as what the humans need to keep things running smoothly.
Let’s shoot for the Hay-O-Meter to reach $20,000 by midnight tomorrow! Pitch in whatever you can. It all makes a difference.
Thank you and a hearty Happy New Year 2018 to each of you.
Program Highlight
Success Story
