A Big Thank You to Chapter 14
Friday, May 5, 2006
Saddlebred Rescue would like to thank Chapter 14 for allowing us time during the Spring Premier Horse Show to introduce to those present what Saddlebred Rescue is all about and demonstrate the type of horses we are finding that were headed for slaughter. Management was wonderful and provided us everything we needed to make this effort a huge success. It is this type of forward thinking and cooperation that will help enable us to return useful horses to the Saddlebred Industry. Many of these horses will serve us all well by introducing young riders to our wonderful breed in lesson programs around the country. Yes, these horses are returning as useful citizens to the Saddlebred world that banished them early in their lives to often time hard life on the roads of Pennsylvania.
Many of the horses available for adoption, are in good shape but just too old to continue driving for miles at a time down the road. Often their owners feel they have no option but to send them to a sale knowing in their hearts they may well be purchased by a kill buyer. Many have stood at the consignor’s house for months before the decision to send them to the sale was made and then it was because there was no room to keep them because a replacement had to be purchased.
Saddlebred Rescue’s goal is, in part, to give the Amish and Mennonites an option as to what they can do with the horses that they can no longer use. Many of these people do not have pastures they can turn the horses out in to live out their lives. We have already received calls from the Amish wanting to donate their horses or have us purchase their horses directly rather than take the chance of them going to slaughter. Many of these people have a true love for their horses and do not want to see anything bad happen to them. They are thrilled to find out that we have purchased their horses and are finding them a new job. We have received many positive calls and letters attesting to that fact. Plans are in the works to help address these situations going forward.
The following is the presentation that was read during the 3 demonstrations:
Catch a Falling Star
Last year it became pain fully obvious that there was a need to stop Saddlebreds from going to slaughter. In November 2005 ASHA of NJ along with North Wind Stables made a trip to a sale in New Holland Pennsylvania which resulted in the purchase of two horses that were slaughter-bound. After arriving home we were trying to find a use for these horses and after riding one of them an idea was born to combine rescuing slaughter-bound horses and placing them in lesson programs. After all there is a huge need for inexpensive safe lesson horses.
At the same time, in Georgia, Christy Parker of Pine Haven Stables was establishing Saddlebred Rescue, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit program. These two efforts were combined along with help from Internet users on trot.org, a discussion form on the Internet which has a “rescue me” forum. With the combined efforts of Saddlebred Rescue, North Wind Stables and trot.org, the efforts have grown by leaps and bounds. From December 2005 to date we have successfully rescued approximately 30 horses from slaughter with most of them being already successfully placed in lesson programs throughout the country.
It has been noted that these horses that were discarded earlier in their lives from the Saddlebred show horse industry are now returning back into that industry not as freeloaders or welfare cases but as a vital part of rebuilding our breed from the grassroots up. Up to this point the funding has come from grassroots with people donating $5 & $10 when they can and we feel it is time for the people that will be benefiting and have been enjoying the show Saddlebreds – in other words the show horse world – to step up and stop American Saddlebreds from going to slaughter. Let’s stop the cycle - from the show ring to the dinner plate - now.
The black gelding is an 18 year old that was found at New Holland. After his owner lost her job and relinquished him to the stable owner his life changed from a loving home to becoming an extremely thin unwanted individual taken to New Holland to be disposed of. Thanks to trained eyes this emaciated and filthy horse was purchased with funds from ASHA of NJ and brought to North Wind Stables where he was sponsored by Karen McGee from Cricket Hill Stables who had learned of his plight on trot.org. Because of her generosity he has been evaluated, rehabbed, and now has been placed in a lesson program at Ingleside Farms in North Carolina. He will be leaving after the show for his new home.
 
The chestnut gelding is also an 18 year old that was found at New Holland. He was traded in along with another horse to a dealer so his owners could upgrade to a better show horse. Never in the trainer’s or owner’s wildest dreams did they ever imagine that he would end up standing at New Holland unwanted by the Amish because of his age, not fitting into a lesson program because he didn’t canter and considered useless. At the sale barn he stood out from rest looking very much the part of a show horse. He was standing there looking around wondering where he was and why he was there. He was purchased at a Friday sale by a Mennonite who was planning on making money on him by running him thru the Monday sale where the kill buyers are present. We saw him and negotiated to buy him prior to the sale. We found out where he came from and his history. The problem was he had never been taught to canter. Upon seeing him North Wind’s Jessie claimed him as her own and is using him as a project horse to teach him to canter and he has now been returned to the show ring. He is a grateful and happy horse. We need to continue looking for and saving horses like him from slaughter.
For the next few minutes please think about what these horses’ fate would have been if Saddlebred Rescue had not stepped in. Also think about what their future now is and how they can help our industry. We need everyone to step up and do what they can to help this program.
The effort at Spring Premier enabled us to not only raise $3300 but increase awareness of the program and provide numerous people opportunities to fill out applications to adopt horses into their lesson programs.
You can obtain more information at www.saddlebredrescue.com or by calling 1-888-Isaved1.
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