Dec
29

A word of caution for horse sellers

Horse owners beware: there are buyers seeking free & almost free horses in our region — but are not the good homes they claim to be.  I know for a fact there are people watching freebie ads and will promise the best home.  But two weeks later the same exact horse, verified by tattoo or unique markings, is confirmed to be in the pens of one of the “to slaughter” brokers in our region.      The scammer cashes in on caring peoples’ horses — getting the horses for free and taking them straight to a meat-horse dealer for quick cash.

draft horses in danger

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Dec
29

Joey’s progress

Joey at the trainer's 12-29-11

Joey at the trainer's 12-29-11

Joey is setting in nicely.   He’s been here for exactly 21 days now.   He seems much more trusting.

He loads in the trailer now with only one person.  He’s not to the point yet where he self-loads.  But it is so encouraging to see the improvement from one week to the next.

His favorite treat is a scoop of hay extender pellets.   They’re a low sugar way to give him something to munch on.     He will also happily take apple slices and horse cookies from your hand, if offered.

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Dec
28

Another great year

Hi, friends

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all.   Despite the challenges of this year, we made accomplished alot.  We look forward to 2012 and to another great year of service.

This fall we celebrated our 5th Anniversary.  It’s exciting for me to see what great things were accomplished through the generosity and compassion of friends — both local and nationwide.

And while it’s true that we “can’t save the world”, to the horses we did save, this was the world to them.    Also absent from the photos are the people we helped in the process: the desperate owners who fell on hard times or the concerned neighbor who spots an abandoned horse at the foreclosed farm next door.     And we don’t always get to share with you enough photos of the smiling faces of the families who eventually adopt the rescued horses.    Such as wonderful family who adopted both Jedi and Romeo from us over the summer, giving their kids horses to love on and giving dad a companion for trail riding.     Or to the sweet lady who welcomed her new partner, Mary Alyce; she seems to enjoy grooming MaryAlyce just as much as riding her.

From all of us at Equihab, we give a sincere thank you and wishes for a most joyous holiday season.

Sincerely,
May Snyder

    Executive Director

Dec
18

Horse owner outreach programs – FREE of charge

How to Market Your Horse (on Facebook)Equihab offers many owner outreach services.  Our services are FREE of charge, as part of our commitment to helping horses & the community:

Trying to find a home for your horse?

Marketing consultation: Equihab offers free help to horse owners, to assist them in improving their marketing.  We believe that homes do exist for your horses, and that the challenge is in getting the word out enough, until the right people see it.    For example, Equihab sponsors a “How to Market Your Horse” page on Facebook.     Or email your ad to us, if you’d like an outside opinion on what may or may not be working.

Advertising:  Once you fill out a “horse placement request” form, if your horse isn’t coming into the rescue program immediately, he/she can be cross-promoted.   We network with other rescue groups and individuals seeking horses, and if someone is seeking the type of horse you have, we can put them in contact with you.   Your horse’s information can also be posted to our online sites such as Facebook.

Referral:  If you urgently need to turn your horse over to a shelter, our reps can suggest other organizations for you to contact, if your horse is too far away or has to be added to the waiting list.    FYI: Equihab focuses on accepting horses in our region of the mid-Atlantic states, with priority given to horses in greatest distress and/or unmarketable elsewhere.  But we’re glad to try to help any horse owner, as much as our resources and geographic limitations allow us. Read the rest of this entry »

Dec
15

Joey’s first week here

Joey has been at Equihab a week now. As you may already know, he visited with the pro trainer for an evaluation the first day here (12/8).  He returned for a training session on Tuesday (12/13).   The trainer we used for this Sam Smucker of Harmony Hollow Farm in Quarryville, Pennsylvania.

Monday:  I let him settle in.  I offer him small, frequent meals throughout the day.    He is still unsure of people, so I try to condition him to associate us with good things.   I hang around while he eats his meals, not to distract him but just to get him used to my presence.   I cleaned his stall and yard area, and he didn’t seem to mind the noise of the tractor working nearby him. Read the rest of this entry »

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