‘Tis the Season, time to join AAE every day this month as we share stories straight from the barn to show how your support has helped horses in 2018. This year was very special, and there are so many stories to be thankful for!
As we count down to 2019, please help us prepare for another year of helping horses. Your donations will assure we have ample funding for veterinary care to
help horses in need as we move into a new 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!
It’s AAE story-time! Horses of 2018:
Gentry and Foley
AAE welcomed Gentry, a pretty young mare, and Foley, her little “red” colt from the DreamCatcher Wild Horse and Burro Sanctuary in September 2017. AAE has been supporting the DreamCatcher Wild Horse and Burro Sanctuary’s recovery and herd reduction efforts since April 2017. DreamCatcher has been in a recovery period after the long illness and passing of their Executive Director, Barbara Clarke in November of 2016.
What a cute “little” pair they were. Gentry was an attentive mom, but also a kid herself. When they arrived, young Foley seemed a bit lethargic and small for his age, but mom was small, too. They were vet checked shortly after arrival, and no issues found.
After a few weeks at AAE, Foley’s energy level increased, and he was finally running and bucking through his paddock, like baby boys do. That being said, he was still a super calm, easy-going gentleman for such a young squirt. Gentry had only recently been introduced to humans when she arrived, so she was a bit shy and unsure about the new humans that were caring for her.
She learned quickly that humans were not so scary, and she knew they were the ones with the good stuff. She always waited patiently at feeding time. Thankfully, she learned good manners early on. Her dental exam indicated she was only about 2-1/2 years old. A baby with a baby, but she was such a good mama.
It was easy to see Gentry and Foley quickly become lovely young horses. Gentry found her forever home in January 2018, and she is on a path to becoming a wonderful lil’ riding partner.
Of course, there was trouble in paradise! At the vet exam, we discovered Foley had an undescended testicle (crypt orchid), and it wasn’t going to be a simple process to make him an adoptable gelding. He had to have a more complicated surgery in the hospital in sterile conditions in case his little “gem” was up in his abdomen. We decided to wait a few months to see if gravity would take it’s course and encourage the little gem to drop. Unfortunately, no such luck. Foley was castrated in the hospital, and he has been waiting for his forever home since he recovered.
This little guy is one of the nicest, sweetest, respectful most of the time little gents, and we can’t believe he is STILL here. Any experienced horse peeps out there looking for a super fun, straight forward little project pony will not be disappointed! He is handsome and well built to boot. He stands about 13.0 hh.
Foley halters and leads easily, he enjoys grooming and attention, he is good with his hooves, and he stands fairly quietly for the farrier. Foley is a handsome, level-headed youngster, and he is a very social, “meet you at the gate” kind of guy. He is a quick learner that is eager to please and a quick learner. Foley stands about 13.0 hh, and he will likely mature to a pony-sized, 13.2 to 14.0hh. Mom was about 14.0 hh. Foley is ready for his new home. He is an uncomplicated guy with a clean slate.
Might you be his Christmas gift of a forever home??
Foley is up to date w/vaccines, deworming, and hoof care. His DNA show results included Turkoman, Mangalarga Marchador and Icelandic Horse, and he has a microchip in place.
Foley needs a sponsor.
For more information on sponsoring a horse click here!
29 days until 2019, YOUR donation means more horses can be helped! Donate Today!
‘Tis the Season, time to join AAE every day this month as we share stories straight from the barn to show how your support has helped horses in 2018. This year was very special, and there are so many stories to be thankful for!
As we count down to 2019, please help us prepare for another year of helping horses. Your donations will assure we have ample funding for veterinary care to
help horses in need as we move into a new 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!
It’s AAE story-time! Horses of 2018:
Sandi
Sandi came to AAE on January 7, 2018, after her family was experiencing a family health and financial crisis. Sandi was a 5 year old Arabian mare that had some training but was considered a green horse.
We picked Sandi up from her boarding facility in the midst of winter stormy weather. The facility owner said she had been moved to the round pen because she ran right through electric fencing, “very hot” electric fencing. Sadly, we found this very cute, but skinny lil’ mare enduring the winter elements with no shelter, no wind break, and no food. We can’t help but wonder if she was in the round pen 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 around in the trailer the entire ride to AAE, and graceful she was not.
Once at AAE, she had a difficult time settling into a paddock, alone. She paced the fence lines creating ditches along her path, but with a little time and some rearranging, she calmed some and focused on food. Thankfully, her vet check went well fairly well. Besides her lack of weight, she had a few melanomas under/around her tail, not uncommon for white (gray) horses. Fortunately, none were creating any issues that required removal. Sandi’s teeth were floated. She had two large wolf teeth; no wonder her prior owner said she was unmanageable with a bit in her mouth. Her hooves were trimmed and maintained, and she was dewormed and brought up to date with vaccines.
She made steady progress and began looking so beautiful. She was a bit naughty for the farrier. She needed some extra work with handling her hind hooves, and she needed a bit of confidence. Sandi tended to rely on another horse for confidence, and she got very stressed and reactive when no other horse was around. We worked on building her confidence before we asked much more of her. Before long, she had gained weight, her coat grew in, and she looked like a princess horse. Her confidence grew, and her stress diminished. Next thing we knew, she started to glow.
Her forever person came to meet her and fell in love. Sandi was adopted, and she is now a trail horse and partner to her best friend.
‘Tis the Season, time to join AAE every day this month as we share stories straight from the barn to show how your support has helped horses in 2018. This year was very special, and there are so many stories to be thankful for!
As we count down to 2019, please help us prepare for another year of helping horses. Your donations will assure we have ample funding for veterinary care to
help horses in need as we move into a new 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!
It’s AAE story-time! Horses of 2018:
RED
Red is an incredibly handsome 9 year old-ish grade gelding that initially came to AAE from another rescue situation after spending several months at the Monty Roberts International Learning Center (MRILC). Red participated as a project horse for students during MRILC courses. He was feral with limited human interaction when he arrived at MRILC, and it took tremendous time and effort overcoming fear and accepting humans. He was socialized, learned basic groundwork and long-lining, and
he was introduced to a saddle (no rider).
Red was adopted by a youth adopter and family in Fall of 2016, but due to the realities of work and finances that come with adulthood, his young adopter was unable to continue to meet Red’s needs. Red continued building trust and learning about saddle work, even carrying a rider a few times.
Red returned to AAE the beginning of January 2018. His vet care was updated including floating teeth, vaccines, and deworming. Not long after returning to AAE, Red suffered a pasture injury. Veterinary exam indicated he ruptured his peroneus tertius tendon. This usually happens when the hock is hyperextended, likely in a quick turn or change of direction. Thankfully, it was a soft tissue injury, and not the ghastly fracture it appeared to be. Red has been on stall rest the bulk of the year in hopes the tendon will heal. Studies show a good percentage of horses recover to the same level of exercise, so we’re hoping for the best. So far, he is recovering nicely, but still has another month or two before re-evaluation.
Red is a super kind and willing guy, but still has considerable difficulty accepting human interaction and trusting that no harm will come to him. First contact with him is like 50 first dates. Once he’s been touched, he is relatively easy to halter, and he seems to enjoy grooming. Red does best with a very calm, confident, and patient person experienced with trust-building in feral/wild horses to help him achieve his potential. For now, until he has completed stall rest, and we can resume working with him, his status will remain “In-Rehab”. He’ll be re-evaluated for adoption as we move forward.
Your support helps horses like Red stay safe with AAE while they recover from injury and get the veterinary care they need. Sadly, we hear of so many horses that are euthanized due to injuries and owners that have no interest in giving them the time needed to heal.
Today we put Thanks and Giving together for this global movement! This global day of giving is designed to give back to our communities and help those around us! Be the change you want to see in the world and help make a difference for the horses at AAE! We hope you can join us . This year our goal is $5000. This will help support the veterinary costs we incur for our horses throughout the year.
Your support helps provide needed veterinary care to assure the horses we take in are on a path to good health, and each horse’s health is understood.
Johnny’s are welcomed to the world.
Your support assures the horses at AAE are properly evaluated, receive appropriate care and treatment of health issues, and are properly addressed and/or maintained throughout the year. This assures all suspect health issues are characterized appropriately and considered prior to adoption.
Proper maintenance means providing annual vaccines, annual dental exams and floating/treatment, as needed (some more than once a year), hoof care about every eight weeks, and rotational deworming, usually every two to three months. Additionally, all horses taken in at AAE are now microchipped, and DNA testing completed.
8 foals became weanlings looking for forever homes
as many as 54 horses have been fed and cared for during the year
hoof care, $50 per trim
over 50 horses have been vaccinated – nearly $100 a set
nearly 60 dentals have been completed with additional exams – dental costs ranging from $100-$272
15 geldings had sheath cleanings during while sedated (after dentals) – add $58
five colts were castrated – four normal procedures $190 each (plus antibiotics) and one a crypt orchid, $915
various lab work costs through the year exceeded $4500
emergency care, surgery, radiographs exceeded $2o,000 (e.g. colics, hospitalization, wound care, growth removals, biopsies, laminitis evaluations, medication, etc.)
AAE’s costs for veterinary care through October 2018 have been close to $45,000, not including medications, first aid supplies
and similar items stocked at the barn.
Only with your support can we continue helping horses in need. Your support will assure AAE has the funding to provide needed veterinary care to horses in need.
“By saving the life of one horse, we may not be changing the world, but we are changing the world for that one horse.” – Author Unknown
The giving doesn’t stop there.
Can’t give money, then give time! AAE is a volunteer-based organization, and we always need volunteers. Click here to see some areas to consider, we have many volunteer needs!
If you are interested in volunteering please email us at volunteer@allaboutequine.org. Our new volunteer orientation dates are typically every other Saturday and can be found on our Calendar.
We hope to see you at the barn!
Giving has never been so easy!! GIVE THANKS this season and GIVE BACK!
AAE is so thankful for you! Without the support of our community, volunteers and donors like you, we would not be able to continue our mission to Rescue, Rehabilitate and Rehome. Thank you for all you do!
PLEASE join us, in our “BELLA’S LEGACY – Got Hay”? fund raiser for the displaced horses and critters from the Camp Fire in CA & CPMM. The fire is about an hour from our place in CA, and is hitting close to home. There is so much heartbreak and sadness it is truly unimaginable, and the number of lost lives goes up every day.
We were asked to offer assistance, but due to one of our babies having substantial injuries, and also having so many special needs kids right now, we are hoping to offer assistance by helping provide some much needed hay. We were told that as the animals come out of the mountains in the coming weeks we might be needed to help with critical care at that time. But right now, feed and hay is desperately needed, and that is something we hope to help with.
So any donations made in the next 5 days, starting today, 11-15-18 and ending 11-20-18, at midnight, will be used equally for the horses at Chilly Pepper and the horses and critters that are being cared for from the Camp Fire. We will post the total amount raised and we will use half of the funds to purchase and deliver the “gold” to California.
As of this morning, we are sitting on 41 horses at Chilly Pepper. Y’all have come through and made it possible to save so many lives this year. We simply cannot express our appreciation and gratitude for your love and support. We have been playing catch up on paperwork, tax stuff etc. and been swamped with all of our special needs kids and taking care of 41+ horses. Hopefully I will catch up and be able to get all your personal “thank you’s” out. We so appreciate all you do!
On an extremely sad note, we had to set Bella free from her pain. As always, it is devastating to get a horse “too late” to save it. She was only 4 and knew nothing but pain, starvation and abuse prior to y’all making it possible to rescue her. We had those horrible lil hoofers fixed, but she was in so much pain, clear through her body, that even with large doses of pain meds the fight became too much. The more weight she gained, the harder it was. I stayed with her as always, and through the tears streaming down my face, I could see her relax for the first time, as the pain gradually subsided.
So to honor our beautiful Bella, let’s help those horses who are hungry, in pain, scared and suffering from the Camp Fire. Please support “BELLA’S LEGACY – GOT HAY?”
THANK YOU FOR SAVING THE KIDS SHOWN BELOW! They are precious and every single one of their lives matter!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:
Yesterday was a somber day at AAE, to say the least. We said our last goodbye to one of the greatest ol’ guys that ever graced the barn at AAE. Kasey was one of the most kind, gentle, brave, and stoic souls you could ever know.
Sadly, he reminded us how quickly things can change. This past year was a long one as we battled an enormous hoof abscess. He was winning! Though the abscess invaded a huge amount of his hoof, he remained comfortable and sound once the abscess broke through his coronary band. Unfortunately, the integrity of his hoof was compromised. Enormous shoes to support his enormous weight and a hospital plate did the trick, until recently.
He was sound one day, and very uncomfortable the next. Initially thinking another recurrence, we tried pain meds, but even at a high dose, we couldn’t manage the pain. New radiographs showed his coffin bone had rotated severely.
…and he was truly a big goofball. He thoroughly entertained us playing right along with all of our antics and dress up games for the holidays.
He was a man of all seasons…
He defined “gentle giant” and calmed the fears of so many people, and he loved attention and royal treatment.
He lost his buddy, Angus last year. Angus lost some of his vision, and Kasey became his sight.
They were two peas in pod.
When Angus was gone, a new gal came a knockin’. They met…and I wouldn’t say it was “love at first sight”, but they ended up gettin’ hitched. It was a really formal affair.
His hoof care management was an enormous task, as you might imagine. Kasey and everyone at AAE is forever grateful for the love and dedication of his pal, Michelle. She was diligent in caring for his hoof….picking, flushing, wrapping, rewrapping, and making sure he got everything he needed.
Kase…as you and Angus, together again, are running over those green pastures, remember how much everyone loved you!
Be sure to check back with us now and then, there’s always a place for you here in the barn.
We all want one more hug, big guy.
Love ya’ and miss ya forever, all of you’re friends at AAE
AAE support of DreamCatcher herd reduction efforts:
During 2017 and 2018, AAE has supported the herd reduction efforts of DreamCatcher Wild Horse and Burro Sanctuary after the long illness and passing of their Executive Director, Barbara Clarke in November of 2016. Though preservation of genetic lines were part of DC’s mission, none of the boys were castrated, the horses lived in a free range environment, and overpopulation became an issue. In May and July 2017, with a new director in place, over 90 colts and stallions were gelded. Though tremendous efforts were made to keep mares and stallions separate, sadly, some mares were impregnated for 2018 foals.
For AAE, it all started with an orphan foal, that little Rascal, in April 2017! We continued to support and adopt. We had another orphan colt, Cowboy, arrive in May, and June brought three young geldings, Waylon, Whitley and Walker. Then came the first three burros, followed by Ford, Gentry and her colt, Foley. Two more burros topped off the year.
The following horses/burros were ADOPTED in 2017 and 2018:
COWBOY
WAYLON, WHITLEY, & WALKER
BURRO ZAC,
BURRO ZAC, &
BURRO JOE
BURRO BROWN &
BURRO GRAY
GENTRY &
FORD (ADOPTION PENDING)
The new year brought five young girls the end of February: June, Kitty, Dixie, Dolly, and Patsy. An unexpected delivery the beginning of March brought mom, Martina, and wee little filly, Valentine. More babies and more urgency to get them out of the winter weather brought Tegan and colt, Austin, Gypsy and filly, Calico Girl, and Kelsea and days old colt, Rucker.
Unexpectedly, we learned June was pregnant, and along came Johnny in April. One more call for help came in early May when travel plans were complicated by a mom that wouldn’t let little one nurse. Tae and days old filly, Maddie, came and thankfully worked through their challenges. That filled our barn and paddocks for most of the year, and we are happy to be able to support DC’s efforts.
Because of your support, AAE has been able to continue to support horses in need.
The following horses are (or will soon be) AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. Click their name to visit their page for more information.
Interested in any of these horses? Click on their name to visit their pages or visit our horse page, and you can learn more about our adoption process here.
If you can’t adopt, SPONSOR a horse and
help support AAE’s efforts while homes are found.
There are many more older mustangs at DreamCatcher that are in need of soft landings at sanctuary-type homes, ideally keeping family bands together. Do you have space where older mustangs can live out their lives?? If so, contact us or visit the DreamCatcher website:http://www.dreamcatcherhorsesanctuary.org/
TheraPlate & All About Equine Work Together To Improve Equine Lives:
Since its inception, TheraPlate has been committed to helping our equine friends live their best lives. Now the lucky horses at AAE are getting to live their best lives courtesy of the caretakers and time on the TheraPlate. Click here to read more!
Thanks to YOU we did it!!!
AAE has been honored with one of the first Top-Rated Awards of 2018 from GreatNonprofits!!
GreatNonprofits is the #1 source of nonprofit stories and feedback, and it honors highly regarded nonprofits each year with their Top-Rated List.
We’ve earned this year’s award, but that doesn’t mean we want to stop hearing your stories! 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.
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.
911 ANOTHER URGENT CALL… As Matt was driving me home from surgery, we received an emergency call from the Shipper in WA. 4 babies need your help!
Aswe are the ONLY rescue he works with, it is up to us to save their lives. They literally have NO WHERE ELSE to go. They are possibly 5 or 6 months old, and it only takes 400 pounds to get them on the slaughter truck (or at least that is what I have been told).
So instead of staying home taking care of me for the next 5 days or so, Matt will be dropping me off tomorrow, picking up his truck from the shop and heading to WA to save these babies, (IF we can raise funds to bail, vet and bring them home to safety).
We so appreciate the donations y’all have sent to save the horses we were already working on, and thanks to your generosity we were able to secure the safety of 4 of them. Thankfully the palomino and the heavily bred mare were saved by someone else, so we were able to save a gelding ready to ship, the badly beat up horse, one of the donkeys and the branded mustang mare. We are hoping to save more, but it will depend on funding.
But that rescue is on hold, as this is truly a “now” emergency and we have to make sure we do what we can to keep these guys safe.
These babies desperately need your help to save them, and that requires funding, as WE ARE THE ONLY THING BETWEEN THEM AND THE DEADLY TRUCK. Once again, we will be running on faith, as I know that God put them in front of us and it certainly was not to let them die.
So please help us once again, and let’s bring these kids to safety.
Thank you as always, for your love and support for these horses.
BELOW:
Three of the kids safe and waiting to be picked up. Luckily the Palomino and the heavily bred mare were saved by others.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:
MINUTES LEFT – Shipper is holding the truck. These 3 mares and foals are loading within the next half hour if we can’t raise funds.
We are going on Faith, as Always, and have an extraordinary Angel who is helping save these. But we can’t save all of them without your help!!!
This is an unusual situation for us, but for some reason God put these in front of us and made it clear we need to save them.
PLEASE HELP! Matt will have to drive to Texas and pick them up, and he is willing. So, please help asap if you can, and if you get this a bit later, please help because we are going on Faith!
The bail is approximately $2600 with bail, health and coggins certificates. Then we need to get them home.
Thank you!!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:
Maya came to AAE when her owner was facing a terminal health condition and would no longer be able to care for Maya or work with her. Maya was initially rescued by her former owner from an extreme neglect and abuse case, and one of her former owner’s priorities was assuring Maya would never have to face abuse again. She knew AAE would work to find a safe and loving home.
Maya was transferred to AAE at the end of September 2016. She unloaded from the trailer after a marathon haul from near the Oregon border, and she was a tad lame. Maya had some challenging trust issues and physical limitations resulting from a past hip injury from her abuser. She also had DSLD, further limiting her adoption potential.
While at AAE, she was given time and space to settle in. She was showered with love and kindness by her many special volunteer friends, and she was housed on flat ground to minimize the stress on her body. Thankfully, her old hip injury and DSLD maintained very well, and she never showed any discomfort. With the help of her special friends at AAE, Maya learned that humans weren’t all bad. She started to really enjoy grooming and all the pampering showered upon her.
Cahill came to AAE in March 2018 when his family was unable to provide the care he needed. He had also been rescued from a previous neglect situation where he had been living alone in a pasture and not cared for for years. The family that rescued him was told he was a former sheriff’s horse. He was emaciated and in poor condition when they offered to take him in. They tried to provide the care he needed, but they were unable to help him. They had a family crisis of their own. They reached out to AAE and asked for help.
When Cahill arrived at AAE, he was very thin. He also had substantial skin issues, a thick coat that helped hide his bones. He needed dental work, and he was very depressed. After starting him on a refeeding program and his vet evaluation, he had a much needed spa-day. He had caked on dirt on his limbs, and he was given a medicated bath. He enjoyed the water and the relief that seemed to come from treating his skin and getting rid of all the dry, caked on dirt. There was hope in his eyes.
Cahill began to improve and put on much needed weight. His skin cleared, but not before he lost nearly every ounce of hair on his body. His head and trunk were practically bald in the cold of winter, but he was grateful for blankets and the hair that remained on his legs. His eyes brightened, and he started acting with more interest in the horses and world around him. He enjoyed his daily luvin’ from his volunteers, and day by day, he evolved into such a good ol’ boy.
We are happy to share that our long-timer, Maya, and our short-timer, Cahill, recently found their “golden pond” with their dream family in Nevada City. When Maya met her new mom, it was obvious they were both experiencing a “love at first sight” moment. Maya is not one to approach just anyone, but when she met her mom, there was no hesitation. She walked up to her and there was instant pleasure in their exchange. Cahill, on the other hand, took it all in and drew mom AND dad in as he relished in their attention.
These two lucky souls got their soft landing in the perfect forever home where they are lavished with daily love and attention, and in return, their new mom and dad are say their lives have been so enriched by these two, and they have been fulfilled in being able to make such a big difference in the lives of Maya and Cahill.
It’s so gratifying to see the transitions horses make when they’re given the love and care they need, not only the physical transition, but the new hope they share with humans. They hold no grudges, and they become such a reminder of foregiveness, resilience, and unconditional living. Rescue horses are such a gift.
Thank YOU for supporting AAE and making possible happy endings for horses like Maya and Cahill!!
If you are considering adoption, please visit our website to learn about our horses!
Featured Intake: Beau
Beau came to AAE in mid-July when his aging owner was no longer able to care for him, and his caretaker was moving out of state. Beau is a 28 year old Arabian gelding. He was a truly beloved companion to the family, he had been with them his entire life, and he had carried many a rider on his back. Still, his condition was saddening.
It was a bit eye-opening when Beau arrived. He was a bit on the emaciated side, and he was “empty”. Dr Stolba came to check him out and drew blood to evaluate his “systems”. His diet had been four scoops of senior pellets (AM and PM), about 20-25 pounds a day. You would think plenty for this lil guy, right? You could tell immediately simply eating was a challenge. He chewed very gingerly, and food fell all over around the trough.
Sadly, when Dr. Stolba opened his mouth, the exasperated sigh was palpable. Beau did not have many teeth, but the ones he had were much overgrown, some loose and one so long it was pressing into the roof of his mouth causing an ulcer. He could not close his mouth to chew. It’s no wonder the poor ol’ guy looked like he did; he couldn’t eat. Four larger teeth were extracted, one so sharp it could cut paper. The few remaining teeth were floated, and he was finally able to eat comfortably. Boy, did he enjoy it. Now it seems he’s eating for two.
Moving on to the end, Beau sheath got some much needed attention, and he was beyond relief when a rock sized bean was removed. It didn’t take long to see the brightness return to Beau’s eyes and a little pep in his step. For now, Beau is doing very well, and he is slowly redeveloping his svelte lil’ bod!
Beau needs a sponsor! Would you like to sponsor Beau or one of our other horses? Please click here to sponsor. To learn about our horse sponsor program visit our website.
YOUR support helps horses like Beau!
We’re so close to our 5th consecutive Top-Rated award!
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.
Just got an urgent call from the Shipper. Normally we get a day’s notice? But NOT today. There are 3 orphaned foals sitting at the shipper’s. They have already been pulled off their moms. Moms have shipped and babies are sitting in 100+ degree heat waiting for me to get there. One of them is supposed to be very young.
Time is of the essence and I need to leave now! However, we need some help to get up there and save those babies, get Coggins etc., buy some groceries for them, and bring them home to safety.
Appreciate any help y’all can give. Matt is heading home from CA but I can’t wait to leave.
PLEASE help if you can. Thank you from all the babies, but especially the ones sitting in the pens, scared, alone and crying for their mama’s.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:
It’s been awhile, and Matt and I have been running like crazy.We sorted once again this morning and he has 6 of our beautiful horses in the trailer on the way to their new homes at this moment. Last week we placed 6 of the babies and have more folks coming to pick up on Monday. THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS! THANK YOU for making that possible!
DESPERATE NEED – We need to raise funds for gates, panels and a nursery building so we can keep saving the orphaned and injured foals that are currently coming off the range in mass numbers. We need funds for vetting, milk replacer, hay, munchies etc. and to keep purchasing and saving these babies, and we have to do it now!
URGENT SITUATION #1
The “Orphanage” which was operated by another rescue in WA has officially been closed and what equipment was there has been removed. This is the ONLY PLACE where the trappers can drop off severely injured or ill foals so they have a chance for immediate and urgent care. “Mama Mel” is the one who lets us live for months on end in her driveway, and it was her place the babies were dropped at when there were life threatening emergencies”. She is the one who received the orphaned foals day or night and would take care of the ones needing critical care until we could get up there. Chilly Pepper has always taken the severely injured, critically ill and newborn foals, but as of now there is no place for them to be cared for in the meantime. I received a call that there are babies coming in and we need to have a place for them now!
These babies are run up to 100 miles in 100+ degree weather, often time left in the traps for 48 hours with no food or water, can have life threatening injuries and are then left by the other rescue for up to 2 days or more before they are picked up and driven 4? hours. They are then put into a large round pen where it takes additional time (days or more) to be caught and sorted. This is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
We need to set up at Mel’s again, and her place will be a satellite of Chilly Pepper as we already spend months out of the year their rescuing these orphans anyway. We have more babies waiting for us (and adults too) at this moment.
MANY OF THE INJURIES ARE FROM THE BARB WIRE TRAPS. I was horrified to find out that they are not pens using barb wire fencing, it is barb wire strung through the trees and bushes where the horses cannot see it and run straight into or through it. We saw many of these injuries and they need IMMEDIATE TREATMENT! Tetanus can set in quickly, and it can be life threatening.
Thankfully MOST OF THE TRAPPERS DO NOT USE this method, but unfortunately a few do, and we saw many injuries with these last foals.
URGENT SITUATION #2
This is personal, and difficult to share, but it directly affects our rescue. It is not for pity, but just the plain truth so we can continue with our rescue. We need to raise at least $2500 for gates etc. for our place and for doing the foals in WA. I went to the Doc and found out some really horrible news about my leg. Instead of doing my 4th knee replacement and 45th plus?? something surgery, I was told there is basically no hope.
Doc said he can’t believe I am even walking on it, albeit it only sometimes. I use my crutches and my wheelchair as little as possible, but I have been ordered to wear a brace and use a cane every single day, if I want to have a chance of staying mobile. (I have seen specialists from one end of the country to the other, but I did have a tiny bit of hope that there might be some help.)
My leg feels like it will break again, just like it did before I took that fateful step and my femur snapped in half. Basically my knee and entire leg is on beyond borrowed time, so that means I need to make sure I am as safe as possible. That means putting in gates as I am not allowed to climb over panels anymore. Mama Mel was also badly injured this spring when she was climbing over a panel due to a lack of gates. If we are going to continue doing this work, we HAVE to make sure we are as careful as humanly possible.
What is really scary is that one wrong step could be the end of my leg, or it would be much worse, and with my nerve disease it could mean no prosthetic. I do this work on crutches a lot of the time, but the Doc is extremely worried about what is going to happen and would like it if I stopped doing what I have to do every day to take care of these kids.
I told him I want to ride my horse and he basically said I have nothing to lose. Apparently the danger of me getting “broken” walking is no less than falling off my horse. Of course I was feeling all sorry for myself (now I have to cut my boots because of my dumb brace), and immediately saw people who made me so ashamed. So I am going to put on my Big Girl Panties and do what we do, although very carefully, and appreciate all the blessings that God has given us.
So the choice is to stop rescuing these horses, or do it better in a much safer manner as long as I can. Something as simple as having enough money to buy gates can literally make the difference between our rescue surviving and saving more lives, or for me to end up in the hospital and my wheel chair permanently.
Sorry for the long post, but we absolutely HAVE to get the new nursery up and running immediately, and I had to be honest about the possibility of things changing at our rescue. (And y’all know I would be out there in my wheel chair LOL, but it would so not be as effective as what we do now.)
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
It’s hard to believe that July is nearly over. Time flies!
I’m happy to report that adoptions have FINALLY started picking up. It was slow going for a while. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to when an animal will be chosen. I am pretty fussy about where the animals go and will not adopt out a singleton donkey unless they will be going to a home with an existing donkey. I will not adopt donkeys or mules to be used as guardian’s so I am sure both of those policies eliminate a fair number of potential adopters.
Our little Esme’ went to her new home this last week as did Zelda and Sassy. John Henry, our big, beautiful clown of a mule has found a SUPER home with a donkey and a horse as companions. Luke & Nelly and Oliver & Nellie have moved to their new homes recently too. Hope and Ivy’s new home is almost ready for them.
Our annual calendar photo contest has begun!
Submit your photos of your favorite Long Ears for the 2019 Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue Calendar Photo Contest!
New for 2019–No entry fee! You may submit three photos per email address, free of charge, but if you can, please consider donating a bale of hay –only $5.00– to our longear friends at the rescue when you submit your entries. Entries close August 20.
Click here for Entry requirements and instructions.
All photos that fit the requirements for content, quality, and size will be included in the calendar, and the favorites of our volunteer judges will win the coveted month and cover locations!
We can’t wait to see your best shots of your long ear friends! We hope to have the calendar available at our annual show, which will be held on October 13th at the usual spot, Millot Green in Alstead, NH.
Volunteerism takes on many forms. I am very grateful to friend, and volunteer Andria Elliot for being my travel buddy on transport missions. I do not feel safe transporting alone, “just in case”. It’s great to have a co-pilot to help spot wildlife crossing, work with GPS, and generally oversee my driving! We are on the same drink coffee, find restroom schedule, so it works out great!
Mike Dunham deserves another shout out as well as he continues to work patiently with the animals, teaching them new skills to make them more adoptable. I would be remiss to leave Hannah Exel out of my thanks as she has been studying hard and has become such a wonderful trainer. I am so proud of her and the work she is doing. SYA is so lucky to have her. Annie Kellam is still spoiling the animals rotten…thankfully! I am grateful to all who help.
If anyone locally wants to help out we sure could use help with “manure management” a few days a week. Yeah, I mean scooping poop! It’s really quite contemplative work and gives one a bit of a work out! If you are interested please contact hannahexel@icloud.com if you would like to help.
A huge thank you to all who are members of our Take A Long Ear to Lunch program. Your support is so very important and helps us enormously. We are grateful!!!
Enjoy the duration of the sauna like conditions and remember to hug your long ears…
Although it looks like the same horses, look at the fencing and you can tell it is not the same kids. * *
Wow, This is one of the craziest rescues we have ever been on. Please remember, the Chilly Pepper “organization” consists of just myself and Matt assisting. One of the reasons why my Thank You notes are always late. :(
We are really struggling on this rescue, as there has been a great deal of loss and we are literally sitting on so many horses.
We do this because God puts it in front of us, and for the folks who can’t do it themselves, and who are always asking us to save the horses. BUT WE SIMPLY CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT YOUR HELP. We will do the work if we have the funds.
We do not have enough funds right now to keep buying this much feed and save the new kids that we were called about yesterday. There are more to be paid for, vetted and gotten to safety as I type this.
The horses would have all been moved within the next couple of days if things had gone according to our plan. However, although I don’t always understand God’s plans, I do ALWAYS TRUST that there is a reason. (Boy would I like to know what it is lol). Because our plans to have them all out of here and be back home went right out the window due to a paperwork issue.
Out of the 46 horses, there are 30+ orphaned babies who were still nursing and need milk. Luckily some of them will be transitioning over to pellets which are not quite as expensive. These kids are in rough shape, and full of parasites and just exhausted. They NEED GOOD GROCERIES to get them back to where they should be.
We have been dealing with a lot of injuries, and sadly have seen more loss of life than anyone should ever see. The heartbreak just keeps on coming. We have 4 in the “hospital pen” who are in extremely rough shape at this point and who require expensive medication and constant care.
Milk for ONE BABY is about $300 per month. We are currently going through that much EVERY SINGLE DAY – , and this is not including the additional milk pellets, grain, hay or supplements etc. There are MORE BABIES needing a commitment today, and not all of the babies here have been paid for, so the “floaters” in all reality still belong to the catcher.
It is heartbreaking and overwhelming. Everyone here is exhausted and there is no choice but to just “git ‘er done”. How do you look in their eyes and not help? This is why we are their voice and ask you for help to save their lives.
We never could have guessed we would be stuck here with so many horses to feed, and these babies need your help today. It is simply out of our control. We have not gotten “clean paperwork” so we are simply stuck. Hopefully the issue will be resolved tomorrow, but for now we have to feed everyone that has been saved. (We still have to have someone feeding and caring for the horses at home every single day we are here.)
Out of the 46, 14 are heading to Texas, 3 mares & foals are headed to CA, 2 or 3 should be going to Wyoming and 2 are tentatively scheduled for Utah. Thankfully the other 5 mares and 2 of the yearlings are headed to southern Idaho. We have so many amazing folks willing to help place them, ONCE we have paid for all the initial costs. So again, we are not ‘hoarding”, but saving their lives and getting them to safety. The stallion and 15? orphans will be coming to Chilly Pepper until we find them a good home.
Please keep these babies safe.Step one was getting them here. But now we have to actually feed and take care of them. Thank you for taking a quick minute and sending whatever you can. These kids have been through heck. They were run for 100 +/- miles, left in the trap with no feed or water for 24-48 hours, and then they were stripped away from their families. It is heartbreaking listening to them cry for their mama’s. We need to AT LEAST be able to provide proper feed for them.
So the babies are counting on you once again. Thank you for your help!
Taking a nap after filling up their bellies.
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
Update on the orphans – THANK YOU everyone who donated for the first group of kids. Y’all came through and we were able to pick up all the babies yesterday. Some of them are camera shy lol…. Only showing a few here.
THE PHONE RANG YET AGAIN….. WHILE we were getting these kids settled in, we received word that one of the catchers has another 80 horses he caught yesterday.
At this time we have been put on standby to share 30 ADDITIONAL FOALS, unless the catcher allows some of the mare/foal pairs to be adopted together.
WE HAVE A PLACE FOR 30+ ORPHANS, BUT ANOTHER 20 WILL TAKE AN ADDITIONAL $4,000.
We have been working with Dannielle Dustin for a couple of years and she is amazing. All her babies are halter trained etc. before being adopted and one of her adopters is now also working with us. They can each comfortably handle 10 orphans, and we can take as many as we need to. So that is the good news.
BUT EVERY 10 ORPHANS IS approximately $2000 just for bail, & get health certs on and buy enough milk for a couple of days, SO WE NEED ANOTHER $4,000 to pay for and take on an additional 20. This doesn’t even cover transportation costs or any additional vetting.
The 2nd CATCHER has another 14 babies at his place. Both plan to ship soon, and we are told that up to 30 could be pulled off Mama and need rescued today!!.
So worst case scenario as of this minute – there could be more than 45 ADDITIONAL orphans in need of rescue. Some of these may run through the feedlot and others will be available directly from the catcher once they are stripped off their mamas.
PLEASE HELP IF YOU HAVEN’T HAD A CHANCE TO DO SO YET!
This is Pixie, one of the first 9.
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
SHORT UPDATE – 911 – THE NEW BABIES NEED YOUR HELP NOW!
Hi,
We are on the road to WA. We have until 5 o’clock to raise more funds to save these orphans.It will take close to $2,000 JUST to purchase, get the blood work for Coggins with their health certificates, and get enough milk for a couple of days for the 10 orphans that we know of.
The cost for milk averages $300 per baby per month, and that does not include hay and their grain.
From what I have been told, there are other babies in need at the catcher’s, and we need the funds to bring these kids home to safety. Sadly there have been some serious injury and even death due to the large number of horses going in and out of the catcher’s. We need to get any additional orphans out of there asap!
PLEASE HELP NOW IF YOU WANT US TO SAVE THESE 10 BABIES, (plus any others.) Their mom’s and dads will have already shipped to slaughter by the time we get their this afternoon. Let’s AT LEAST save them.
Thank you for helping us save these babies NOW, and thank you for saving all of the lives you have! Each and every single life matters!
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
URGENT update from Chilly Pepper. As of this minute there are 3 babies waiting for me in Yakima, NOT counting the many at the shipper’s. (Thankfully our wonderful friend Kari Robi picked them up for me and Mama Mel is currently caring for them as I prepare to head back up.)
The news is NOT GOOD. The trappers just pulled in another 200 horses and I was told there are lots of babies at the shipper’s. As y’all know, it could be 5, it could be 25. I never know until we arrive on scene.
However, Matt is leaving today to deliver horses and within the next two weeks we should have 12 leaving from here.
Matt is also picking up 12 horses in Yakima, after taking 13 to Bend OR, but thankfully most of them will be placed with the folks we work with.
Y’all have saved many lives and y’all have been amazing. However, the funds have dwindled with every horse saved.
To finance the rescue of the upcoming horses we still need your help. Just within the last month or so, we spent OVER $3,740 JUST ON COGGINS AND HEALTH CERTFICATES. This is frustrating beyond belief, but that is what is required to transport these horses to safety. (Coggins is a blood test required by law.) THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE BAIL, FUEL, OR ANY OTHER COSTS.
So PLEASE UNDERSTAND when I say that the funds are dwindling. It is costly to save these precious lives, which makes it even more amazing that we do not have to keep them all on our books. Thanks to the amazing folks we work with, once y’all have saved them, they go to new homes and then we can put new donations to saving more lives.
THE HORSES NEED YOUR HELP TODAY! You decide WHICH TRAILER they will be loaded on. Matt is heading out today and I will be heading out in a couple of days. But we can’t save more if we don’t have funding. The catcher also has 100 horses at his place right now.
WE CAN’T SAVE THEM ALL, BUT LET’S SAVE AS MANY AS WE CAN. EVERY LIFE MATTERS!
The photos at the bottom are some of the ones we just brought home. I am so proud of our Chilly Pepper Family. Y’all are amazing and your love and emotional / financial support is what keeps us going. This is hard and what we see is devastating. Please help if you can (and I am working on Thank You’s as fast as I can.)
If you want to help You can go to You Caring – to help us keep saving lives..
Starting midnight tonight, we are asking you to participate in another huge and historic event for our region, the BIG Day of Giving. This event starts at midnight and you have 24 hours to join us. Once this starts, All About Equine Animal Rescue, Inc. (AAE) will join with over 600 other nonprofits working to make our region #1 as the most generous community in the country on this national day of giving!
As many of you know, AAE strives to support and further our mission of rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming abused, neglected and/or abandoned horses and other animals, as well as those in the auction/slaughter pipeline.
This year, our goal is to engage at least 200 donors and raise $10,000 to help us FILL THE BARN to support our feed and care costs!
Your donation of any amount will help feed a horse or offset the cost of veterinary care, farrier care or dental care. $25 helps to provide feed to a horse for about two weeks , $50 helps provide feed for a horse for about a month, and $100 helps with provide feed and basic care to a horse for about a month.
Help Us Make a Difference!
How you can help:
Schedule a Donation Now (starting as small as $15) to All About Equine Animal Rescue by clicking Donate: Big Day of Giving – AAE
Spread the word. Tell your family and friends, post on Facebook, and tweet about it. This is an opportunity to be part of something really big. Help us get there. #BDOG2018
***Golden 1 Credit Union Members-donations made using yourGolden 1 debit or credit card are eligible for matching funds from Golden 1!
THIS WEEKEND!!
AAE’s 5th Annual Boots and Bling happens this Saturday, May 5, 2018!
Will you be joining us??
There are only a handful of tickets remaining, so grab your tickets today!!
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!