"Feature Friday – Central Virginia Horse Rescue -Cindy Smith"

Howdy Folks

All across our great nation, and in fact the world, there are folks who give of their time, their money, their hearts, and emotions to save and heal unwanted, neglected and abused horses. It's hard work, financially, physically and of course emotionally. The work these wonderful folks do with unending love is not always noticed, and not often enough celebrated. Here, in our Coffee Clutch Feature Fridays, we like to celebrate "People & Horses Helping Horses & People," and today let's celebrate, Cindy Smith and Central Virginia Horse Rescue (CVHR).

Cindy has been a horse lover since she was four years old, and has been involved with horses on many different levels her entire life. She's volunteered at numerous rescues over the years. For reasons deeply held, she's always wanted to create a horse rescue of her on. In 2010 she, and a few friends, founded CVHA, the realization of a fifty year long dream. CVHR is a 501(c)3 corporation, dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of needy horses.

When first opening the rescue they expected to save 3-4 horses per year, and were taken completely by surprise at the overwhelming need for horse rescue. CVHR went from 2 rescue horses to 20 in its first year and to 30 by the end of its second year.  By the end of 2011, CVHR was working on becoming verified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and received that verification in 2012.

Doug had been tied to a stake in an abandoned mine, left to starve ... Doug is now living in a loving happy home - As he recovered he adopted a little girl who spoke to him - She had suffered severe emotional and physical trauma - She began speaking to Doug- They are now partners in healing each other.

To date CVHR has rescued over 200 horses, and placed 175 in good adoptive homes. They have also achieved Verified status by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. And were a Top Rated Non Profit for 2012 AND 2013.

CVHR is proud to be a member of the Wounded Warrior Equestrian Project. They also conduct youth education programs and outreach.

It's not the horse's fault that they become unwanted, abused or discarded. But sadly far too many suffer and languish. Thank God for folks like Cindy and her team at CVHR, who dedicate themselves to easing that suffering, and turning it into happiness for not only the horses, but the happy families who learn of the most powerful love. The love given by a rescued horse.

Visit CVHR on FACEBOOK and on their WEBSITE.

Thanks Cindy, for all you and your team do to help others. Horses and people.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Feature Friday-"Karen Pomroy – Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuary"- "Noticing the Unnoticed"

Howdy Folks,

I hope you'll read, share and even print and hand out today's Feature Friday.

There is a very real horror out there for tens of thousands of pregnant mares standing tethered in stalls, unable to lie down, for up to 6 months, in "pee-lines," with catheters attached and deprived of sufficient water so as to produce rich urine used to make dangerous hormone replacement drugs for women. The cancer risks and other dangers of these drugs to the women who use them have been known since the '40s. The fate of the innocent tiny foals born is most often slaughter. They and their mothers are the "unnoticed" byproducts of a horrible industry ... Karen Pomroy and  Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuaryare doing all they can to help and rescue the unnoticed - and spread the word of the horrors and dangers of pregnant mare urine farms and the drugs produced. - My story "Noticing The Unnoticed" was published in my Heatbeats Column in Trail Blazer last June. This is the story of folks trying to help ... Thank you Karen and Equine Voices.

 "Noticing the Unnoticed"

Gulliver is 9 years old and frolics with other happy horses at Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuary in  Southern AZ. But he, and they, are a few of the lucky ones.  Born on a pregnant mare urine (PMU) farm he was a byproduct of the industry that produces hormone replacement products. Sweet Gulliver was destined for slaughter and had Karen Pomroy not discovered his and his 3 herd mates' plight, that destiny would have been fulfilled. As it is for thousands of unnoticed, unwanted foals born each year to thousands of mares forced to stand months and years on end in what has come to be known as, "Pee-Lines." Pregnant mares tethered standing in stalls, unable to lie down, for up to 6 months, with catheters continually attached to collect their urine, made rich by water deprivation. This was the birth place of sweet Gulliver. And is the birthplace of tens of thousands of sweet Gullivers each year.

The year was 2004 and Karen was working at a wild horse rescue in CA when one day she learned more than she wanted to know about PMU farms. That very night she searched the internet for more information and discovered a PMU farm in North Dakota that had lost its contract to produce pregnant mare urine and the horses needed to go. Anywhere. Gulliver was not the most handsome horse, and his destiny was slaughter. Karen's heart immediately connected with young Gulliver and she made arrangements to rescue him. Even though they had not yet met in person, Gulliver touched her so profoundly she knew, from him, she'd found her purpose.

She'd already been on the search for a place to relocate her 2 rescue horses and now the additional 4 PMU foals. She found the perfect location tucked in the foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains in Southern AZ. She settled in, had Gulliver and his 3 herd mates trucked to their new home. Once they were all relocated she realized she could do more, and charted her mission. She would begin to do all she could to help save these foals and their mommas, who are forced to live a nightmare, while at the same time try to raise awareness of this practice. She would devote herself to finding ways to not only raise awareness, but also to educating about alternatives to the drugs produced with pregnant mare urine. The cancer risks and other dangers of these drugs to the women who use them have been known since the '40s. Karen wondered if the women prescribed these drugs knew not only of the potential dangers to themselves, but what the horses endured to produce those drugs.

Karen's inner being wrestled with the idea of such a huge but necessary commitment. She sat with Gulliver and discussed with him the reality of saving more of his friends. Karen had spent years in the corporate world and knew of risk taking, the disappointment of failures and the exhilaration of success. She set out for success. She incorporated Equine Voices in '04 and became a Non-profit 501 c-3 in Feb of '05, with a dedicated focus on PMU foals and mares. Since Gulliver found Karen, and raised his plea for help, Equine Voices has helped rescue over 400 mares, foals and other horses. Mostly PMU mares and foals but Equine Voices is there to help any horse in desperate need.

During the height of the PMU experiment there were reported to be 450 PMU farms in the US and Canada and each farm could have as many as 1,000 horses. So you can imagine how many darling foals were born each year just to be unnoticed, unwanted and discarded. Many are/were shipped overseas for slaughter for human consumption. These darling babies are born just to die, to produce a product that is potentially harmful to the millions of women who use it daily. There is suffering on both ends. The suffering of the women who may realize the very negative side effects of breast and ovarian cancer, blood clots, diabetes, and other harmful medical conditions. Courts have awarded millions to women who have been harmed.

In China today there are tens of thousands of mares forced to stand for more than 6 months at a time , catheters inserted,deprived of the ability to lay down or even enough water, they want the urine rich. Their feet grow long, their muscles atrophy, their babies slaughtered. It's not only china, there are PMU farms still in the US and Canada and many other countries, just to produce a faux medicine that has been proven to kill women.

And there is suffering on the beginning end in the PMU farms. Not only are those tens of thousands of sweet little foals born each year just to die, unnoticed. But their mommas, too. The poor suffering mares forced to stand in the "Pee-Lines" for years. Every mare Karen has rescued, or helped someone adopt, was in the same tortured condition. Feet that had lost their natural shape, legs that hardly worked, and a blank look in their eyes. The look of a once noble horse who had lost its soul. The empty eyed look of the standing dead. She wonders if the doctors who prescribe this type of hormone replacement drug ever looked into the eye of a sad and broken mare. Or touched an unnoticed foal who was born just to die … She wonders if the women prescribed these drugs are made fully aware of the suffering that's part of producing them, or the potential harmful side effects of using them. Were they ever told of the natural and synthetic alternatives to pregnant mare urine therapy?

Karen and the 150 volunteers, at Equine Voices, who last year racked up over 16,000 volunteer hours saving and rehabilitating mares and foals, have as their mission to inform as many women as possible  about not only the suffering, but the alternative treatments for hormone replacement products, natural and synthetic. Alternatives such as, Bio Identical hormone replacement therapy which is natural hormone replacement, and many natural herbal treatments used and found effective for hundreds of years. There are also new synthetic drugs made without pregnant mare urine. Karen suggests women ask their Doctors about alternative treatments. Equine Voices has many alternatives, and much more helpful information, listed on their website http://www.equinevoices.org/horses/.

At Equine Voices, Karen has designed wonderful programs where folks who have always wanted to know horses, but never had the chance, can meet horses and learn basic, and even not so basic, horsemanship skills from qualified staff and once discarded horses.

Their volunteer program is specifically designed to not only rehabilitate the unnoticed horses, but to teach horsemanship to anyone who would like to learn about life with horses. Volunteers also learn important life skills by helping to fund raise, handling the adoption process for rehabilitated horses, and pitching in to help the never-ending list of chores that are part of a busy horse sanctuary.

Another wonderful program is the Youth Corral. Each summer dozens of youths come and take part in activities designed to enlighten young people to the plight of the American horse, provide physical activity away from computers and television, and teach responsibility, teamwork, compassion and the innate connection between humans, horses and nature in a way that will change their lives forever.

Equine Voices also partners with The Youth Center of Southern AZ, allowing young people of all ages to spend time at the farm, learning by helping. They discover new skills and ambitions inside themselves by interacting with other volunteers and the horses. Friendships that will last a lifetime are formed and the thread that connects them is the love of life that cradles Equine Voices.

These and other programs at Equine Voices create fun and exciting adventures and learning opportunities for children and adults. And the teachers are those once unnoticed, unwanted horses who are happy and grateful for the chance to help.

Endless suffering ...

Rescuing, feeding, and rehabilitating these wonderful horses is rewarding on so many levels, but expensive, too. Fund raising is an ongoing effort to meet operating costs. One of the opportunities for volunteers is learning how to fund raise and write grants.

There are fun ways you can contribute to Equine Voices efforts to help Gulliver spread the word about PMU farms, their suffering mares and foals … Did you know Gulliver has a fan club? He does. You can join his fan club for just $10 a month. You'll get newsletters, a cool sticker and be part of something wonderful helping to change lives, animal and human. To find Gulliver's fan club go to www.equinevoices.org . While you're there check out all of Equine Voices terrific programs, success stories and links. Check out their horses and foals ready for adoption.

You can rest assured your support, contributions and gifts will be going to a well run and respected organization. In March 2010 Equine Voices became the first equine rescue and sanctuary in AZ to be recognized and certified by the "Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries" (GFAS), the nation's premier organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries.  "Equine Voices is exemplary in so many areas, it is hard to choose just one to highlight," said Patty Finch executive director of GFAS. "But clearly laudable is their work to help pregnant mares and their cast-off foals, cruelly exploited for urine collection, used in the production of estrogen-replacement drugs. And their efforts to educate the public and medical community about the cruelty inherent in procuring them."

Karen and Gulliver Enjoying the day

Gulliver, we thank you and Karen for helping so many to notice the unnoticed.

Gitty Up

Dutch Henry

Feature Friday - SOKY Equine Development Center – Jeff Mohser

Howdy Folks,

 

Seeing too many horses needing help because their owners have fallen on hard times tore at Jeff Mosher's heart. Especially recently. It seemed to Jeff that too many folks today are just one bill away from not being able to keep their horse. Often a partnership of many years is torn apart by circumstances not in anyone's control. After meeting one too many owner and horse team in this heartbreaking situation, he could no longer just go along and do nothing to help.

Part of the herd relaxing at SOKY

Jeff founded SOKY Equine Development Center with a mission to rescue, rehap, train and rehome horses. A lifelong horseman, and long time trainer, Jeff devotes himself to the well being, and restarting lives of horses who might otherwise not have much of a future. In 2012, Jeff was personally involved with almost 100 horses being placed into adoptive homes across the United States and Canada from the farm in Glasgow, KY.

Having over 20 years of experience handling and training horses, and with a centralized location, Jeff wants to provide a conduit to help horses who are abandoned or unwanted, while rehabbing horses that have been neglected or abused.  Realizing that many potential adopters and buyers are looking for a trained horse, Jeff has decided to utilize his experience handling and training horses to make training a priority for horses going through SOKY's adoption/sales program. He currently specializes in the Arabian breed, but is willing to work with all breeds as circumstances may dictate.

Teema - 13 Yr old SE/AK Arabian available for adoption

Jeff made the decision to fund SOKY solely with adoption/sales fees for the horses passing through the SOKY program.  Because of this, there is both a physical and financial limitation to the number of horses that can be supported at any given time. SOKY maintains between 20 and 50 horses depending on the day, and the various stages of rehab.

Jeff exercising a good boy

Jeff's goal with SOKY is to be a resource for individuals to call upon for help, to provide a solution for horses who find themselves in dire circumstances, and to provide training for horses so that they are better able to fit into their current, new or future owners' home.

Jeff and Elation ERA greeting visitors to the rescue

Jeff's dream is to work himself out of a job so there isn’t a need to help abandoned, unwanted, abused or neglected horses. Until then, he will do all he can to help as many as he can. You can help too, by spreading the word. And perhaps even adopting.

You can reach Jeff at - SOKY Equine Development Center, 1909 Carden RD., Glasgow, KY 42141 or And on their FaceBook Page (HERE)

Thanks Jeff and everyone a SOKY for all you do to help restart lives!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Feature Friday - Teresa Paradis- Live and Let Live Farm Rescue -"Carrots For The Horses."

 Howdy Folks,

Since I'm here this weekend doing my, "Therapy For Therapy Horses" clinics I thought it appropriate for Theresa and Live & Let Live Farm Rescue be our Feature Friday today. How better to tell the tale of how this wonderful woman came to create the largest shelter, rescue, and sanctuary in NH and all the good that is done there, than to share here the story I wrote for Trail Blazer. "Carrots For The Horses" was published in the July 2012 issue of Trail Blazer. 

 "Carrots For The Horses."

Just outside Chichester NH there are 70 acres of peace, love, healing and restarting for animals great and small who have, through no fault of their own, lost their homes, families and loved ones. This place is called, "Live and Let Live Farm Rescue (LLLF)." Teresa Paradis founded LLLF in 1997 with the love and support of her husband, Jerry, daughter Heather, and 5 horses, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a parrot she had already rescued. The only way to tell the story of LLLF and the healing that happens there is to let you know, who is Teresa Paradis, and perhaps just a bit about the journey that brought her here.

Teresa getting love ...

Teresa, coming from a troubled childhood herself, always looked to animals for her own healing, love and support. Her first recollection of how deeply animals can care for us was her little beagle, Tippy. Twice as a young girl Tippy intervened when Teresa's safety was threatened. Once when a pack of free running dogs came charging at her, Tippy, a tiny dog with a huge heart, disregarded his own safety and plowed right into the pack. Teeth gnashing and barking fiercely he drove the dogs away. Another time, as Teresa was walking alone a man stopped his car and tried to harm her. Tippy attacked with the viciousness of a dog three times his size and the man sped away. Teresa knew it was that love and connection between her heart and Tippy's spirit that forged the foundation within her to somehow, someday, find a way to help as many animals in need as possible.

Mooney trimming the grass at the entrance

As a young girl she lived within walking distance of a horse farm that raised and trained Thoroughbred race horses. She had always been drawn to horses, even though she never knew any. From a distance she loved and watched the beautiful horses graze, prance and play. She hatched a plan to do babysitting and use that money to buy a bag of carrots for the horses. 

Only one problem stood in her way. She had no way of getting the carrots to the horses. She decided she would sneak to the farm's mailbox and put the carrots inside with a note, "Carrots for the Horses." Her system worked flawlessly. For weeks she would sneak to the mailbox and tuck a bag of carrots inside, and then sit at her favorite vantage spot and watch the horses.

One day as she approached the mailbox she was startled by a man's voice. "Are you the young lady who's been leaving carrots for the horses?" Sheepishly Teresa whispered she was. The man replied, "I'm Morris Vallee, would you like to give your carrots to the horses in person?"

For the next few years Teresa lived a young girl's dream. She had a series of fun jobs that allowed her to live within the horses' spirit. Morris was a kind and gentle man who had a special way with horses. Because of his gentle ways, his horses often did well in the races, and lived a happy life on the farm. Through him Teresa learned a happy and good side of the racing industry. His teachings helped Teresa learn to love horses even more. Too soon, while traveling, Morris died in a truck accident. The farm soon closed.

Teresa found work at Suffolk Downs Race Track in East  Boston MA as a groom, walker and handy person. What a very different world this proved to be than the peaceful, wonderful world with her old friend Morris. It was while working there that Teresa was introduced to the other side of the racing industry. It was while working there that she realized that one day she would work at a rescue. She just knew she had to be a part of helping horses in a big way.

Rehabilitation can sometimes require a little song

Time and life marched on; Teresa married, raised a family, and divorced. "Life has its ups and downs and nobody knows what crooked roads bring us to the fields we settle on." Teresa said. 

Teresa and Jerry knew each other for years, but each had their own lives. Then one day Teresa got word Jerry was very ill. Teresa had already been rescuing horses and other animals and it was that inner spirit that reached out and told her to go to Jerry. Through the illness and healing they formed a bond that would mold them together each filling a void in the other.

Jerry had the land, Teresa had 5 rescued horses and a passion. Together they set out to save, heal and restart precious lives.

Jerry does most of the construction and road building, yes the road building. One of the beauties of LLLF is the way Teresa and Jerry uses the land and nature to help heal the broken lives of horses, ponies, dogs, cats, goats, pigs, chickens, parrots and any animal who needs help. The farm is laid out along a wonderful meandering trail through the sheltering trees. 

Paddocks along the winding way ... This is the corner of Sanctuary & Rescue

Along the trail Jerry built a series of spacious corrals each with run-ins that are home to 2 or 3 horses. Plenty of room to run, plenty to eat, a place of shelter, and an abundance of loving care and attention provided by the farm's several hundred volunteers.

Puppies getting baths after arriving at LLLF

The entire farm embraces visitors with the feeling of love, care and security. It's part of the healing magic of LLLF. Just walking the tour along the dirt road through the trees by the horse paddocks makes a person feel welcome and happy. That's exactly the feeling Teresa set out to create with the park like layout of the dirt road system on the farm.

 

Socializing PMU babies - The offspring of mares from Pregant Mare Urine Farms - 2 years ago LLLF rescued 104 "Premerians" ... 40 were pregnant mares ...

You see at LLLF they not only heal animal's hearts and lives, but people too. With no formal program, in fact nothing at LLLF is formal, everything is relaxed and free. There are many human hearts healed here too. Not only the hearts of the adopters, but many of the volunteers who care for the horses and other animals come for healing, too.

Early on Teresa recognized that many of the volunteers came from broken homes or were far too often victims of domestic violence, or other forms of life changing stress and challenges. 

She also noticed how these volunteers began to heal as they did some of the hundreds of things that needed to be done each day to care for the horses. She began to set up loose guidelines, and she structures the teams and chores to allow each volunteer to receive the most healing that they might need as well. Each volunteer is allowed to proceed with their duties at their own pace, providing the time and atmosphere for them to absorb the healing that even an abandon and neglected horse can give the human heart.

While all the necessary veterinarian care is provided without hesitation, the farm practices natural and holistic approach to healing and care. All horses are barefoot and hooves well trimmed. On a regular basis clinicians are brought in to teach volunteers and adopters basic natural horsemanship skills. Patty Sanborn, a Quantumbio feedback specialist comes by weekly, and as often as needed, to administer care for horses and other animals as they recover from their ordeal. Because of their excellent care LLLF has an excellent recovery rate for the horses and other animals they rescue, but the few who can never be adopted can live out their lives in happiness and peace in the LLLF sanctuary.

Since 2002, when they became a 501(c) 3 Non-Profit, they have rescued and found forever loving homes for 50-60 horses a year with a 95% success rate. How do they do that?

Teresa has a program that is very unique and highly successful.  She says she is not trying to just adopt out horses, but matching horses to the right people for forever homes. She lets the horses choose. The first step to adoption at LLLF is, "Sponsorship." An adopter signs up for 30 days as a horse's sponsor, which places the horse on hold, while the adopter visits and gets to know the horse, and the horse can bond with the adopter. During this time Teresa participates in the visits and activities and monitors the progress. If all goes well at the end of the sponsorship the adopter may take the horse home, or sign up for another 30 days. If she feels it is not quite the best fit, Teresa will suggest another horse or, as often happens, another horse may choose this human, and the "Sponsorship," will start again with a new horse.

LLLF has several more programs to help horses and other animals. One of those is their, "Outreach Feedbank Program." This program is designed to keep horses and other pets in their loving homes if their owners come upon temporary hard times. LLLF can provide hay, feed, limited veterinarian care and other support to those people who might come upon such hardships as layoffs, illness or other conditions that may otherwise force them to give up loved pets or horses. It is in the, "Help Thy Neighbor," spirit that Teresa and the volunteers work in an outreach manner to keep as many horses and pets and their loving families together, and prevent once cherished horses from a one way ticket to the auction barn.

Each Sunday afternoon the enchanted roads and trails are opened to the public for guided tours for folks to feel the love and meet volunteers and visit the horses. As the visitors stroll along the guides introduce each horse to the visitors. They stop at each of the 28 paddocks and enjoy the moment. It is often during these visits that new friendships that last a lifetime begin. 

And many folks feel the tug on their hearts to become part of the loving family of volunteers who help re-start lives.

LLLF is run entirely by volunteers and survives on your generous donations.

To learn more about LLLF and their programs Visit their website, (HERE) 

Please join them on Facebook (HERE) 

And if you visit, please take carrots for the horses.

Gitty Up,

Dutch Henry

Powder says, "Thank You."