No Apologies Here.

The previous owner of one of our resident geldings is apparently uphappy that he received a visit from an Animal Control officer shortly after one of his horses was moved to TREES.

In seven years, TREES has asked law enforcement to look into only two situations.  For the most part, we feel owners respond better to advice concerning elder management than to any sort of "threat."  In addition, we don't want to have a reputation with local Animal Control officials as The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

However......when we take in a skinny lame horse, and when a sanctuary respresentative tells us she observed other thin horses on the property, we get concerned.  When a mutual acquaintence says the horse we accepted looked far worse when we got him than when she saw him only a few months before, the concern heightens.  And when, after being offered feeding advice, the owner himself tells us he "has no intention" of doing anything differently for the horse, that tips the cart. 

In this case, the advice was merely to change from a generic whole grain general livestock feed to any pelleted or extruded complete feed that could be softened for a dentally challenged senior.  No recommendations for a "top of the line" formula, just something that this particular horse could actually chew and digest to get some calories into him.

"I have no intention of getting a different feed for this one horse" was the wrong answer.  § 3.2-6570 of the Virginia Code states "A.  Any person who:............(ii) deprives any animal of necessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary treatment;......is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor."  Knowingly giving an animal something he cannot eat seems to be depriving him of food necessary to his survival.

We understand that horse owners run into hard times and sometimes need to ask for help. We do not understand the declaration "I have no intention" of doing anything different.

No apologies here. 

“Buy” Local!

The local newspaper recently ran a short article concerning the economy’s affect on horse owners. Like everyone else, horse owners are losing jobs, losing homes and spending savings intended for retirement. As a result more and more horses in Virginia are in need of new homes.

At the same time, many people now shop online for horses, as they do most everything else. We can view nation-wide classifieds, “visit” adoption programs in other states, and take advantage of bulletin boards and discussion forums.

However……..there are many hundreds of horses right here in Virginia with no place to go. Sound, healthy, trained horses are offered for sale at a fraction of the prices they would have commanded two years ago. Many are offered for free by owners desperate to find new homes when they can no longer afford feed or veterinary care. Equine rescue facilities and sanctuaries are operating at maximum capacity.

And yet, people still buy or adopt horses from other parts of the country and transport them to VA, making fewer homes available to those horses already in trouble in our own back yards. Granted, if you are looking for a high-level competition horse, you may have to go farther to find your mount, but the average horse owner should be able to find a new equine family member among Virginia’s ample horse population.

Here are a few resources to check out if you are thinking about adding another horse to your family (or if you hadn’t thought about it until now, but can care for a horse whose options are limited.)

http://www.virginiaequestrian.com/ -- A classified site focused on Virginia’s horse community

Chronicle of the Horse forum – visit the “Giveaway’s” folder. COTH is based in Virginia, and many local people frequent the forums.

Virginia Equine Rescue discussion group -- archives are public, but you'll need to join to post.

Visit a local horse welfare organization. Even if they don’t have the horse you are looking for, most network with other facilities or keep lists of horses that need new homes but are still with their owners. If you can’t adopt, contribute in any way you can, whether financially or by volunteering, to support farms who focus on local horses:
Equine Rescue League - Loudoun County
White Bird Appaloosa Horse Rescue - Burkeville
Gingersnap Girls Equine Education and Rescue Foundation - Hamilton

Blue Horse Mukwa Equine Retirement and Rescue Center - Chase City

Dream Catcher Farm Horse Sanctuary - Rocky Mount

Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue - Hardy

Winifred Grace Equine Retirement and Rescue

Rugby Creek Animal Rescue - Mouth of Wilson

Lost Fantasy Rescue and Sanctuary - Ceres

United States Equine Rescue League - various locations

Traveller's Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary! - Spotsylvania

Remember the Tourism Bureau's campaign of a few years ago? "Virginia Is For Horse Lovers." Its true. Virginia IS for Horse Lovers. Let's take care of Virginia's Horses.

Virginia - 25 y.o. Thoroughbred mare needs home

Stafford, VA. A 25 year old Thoroughbred mare is in search of a new home. Her owner, one of a growing number of horse owners in this position, is faced with this terrible decision to due a combination of finances and the ever increasing acres of farmland disappearing under housing "developments."

This former foxhunter is sound for flat work, but her owner does not feel she should do any more jumping, having some arthritis, as we all do at her age. She does better with a confident rider than with a nervous beginner, but will do okay as a lesson horse on lead- or longe-line. UTD on vaccinations. Barefoot now, but may need shoes if in regular work. Looking for new home by the end of September. Serious inquiries, contact Traveller's Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary for owner's info.

Rescue needs New Farm

Our apologies for the absence of Traveller's Rest News. We're back and will once again begin providing regular updates.

First though, an appeal on behalf of our sister organization, and mentor, the Equine Rescue League of Leesburg, VA

The Equine Rescue League needs your help.

Please contact the Equine Rescue League office at 703-771-1240 if you can help them continue to help horses like those mentioned below. We can't afford not to.

The Equine Rescue League, in Leesburg, Virginia is one of the oldest equine welfare groups in this part of the country, founded in 1990. ERL's founder, Pat Rogers, prior to opening this particular facility was the Farm Manager of the American Horse Protection Association's farm in Lucketts, VA before AHPA closed the farm and became more of a lobbying group. Pat had experience at this before most of the rest of us even heard of "horse rescue." She also attended auctions with Gail Eisnetz (author of Slaughterhouse) back in the 80's so was (and is) very committed to this mission.

ERL, in its first year of operation, took in a herd of 32 neglected Morgans from a case prosecuted in a nearby county. The owner received the harshest punishment ever given for a cruelty case at that time. The community rallied at that time, providing funds, supplies, and volunteer labor. If not for that support, caring for 32 starving (and many pregnant) horses would have been next to impossible.

In later cases, one involving 19 Appaloosas arriving at one time, one involving several starved foals only a few months old, and one case that inspired all who visited........The Gold One........the community again came together and helped ERL provide intensive care. At other times, arrivals were not as dramatic, one horse here, two there, but ERL was always there, plugging away feeding, watering, treating injuries and, sadly, offering peaceful ends to those for whom help came too late.

Goldie "before"

Goldie "After"

ERL set the stage for most of Virginia's other equine rescue operations. They've allowed many of us to adapt their contracts, for example, for our own use rather than making us reinvent the wheel. They've done more than most people realize to raise awareness of equine humane issues.

Now, Their occupation of Churchland Farm, which has always been a temporary arrangement, is coming to an end. Loudoun County, one of the fastest growing in the nation, must reclaim the property for landfill expansion. ERL has until September 22, 2007 to find a new home. In an area of such rapid development, land prices have skyrocketed over the last 5 years. The current market is not one easily entered by a charitable organization whose primary mission.....caring for neglected horses.......puts every donated dollar to immediate use. Saving the amount of money needed to purchase suitable acreage has been difficult.

Its time to rally the community again.

ERL and its residents need your help. The organization is asking for your assistance in procuring a property, raising funds, and soliciting donations or grants.

Please help them continue their work in Virginia. Losing this groundbreaking organization that led the way in the area would be a tragic occurrence. With no ERL, there would have been no Flower, no Bob, no Churchill, Goldie, or countless others.

From ERL's web site:

The Real Heroes

Although the Equine Rescue League depends on volunteers and private donations to help horses in need of our services and to maintain its farm shelter, the real heroes of our stories are the horses themselves.

Regardless of past mistreatments or abuses, these horses continue to trust, and even like, people. Each one seems to believe that the next stage in its life will be better than the last; that the next caregiver will treat him with kindness and respect.

It is always inspiring to see how quickly a horse can recover from total neglect once appropriate care is administered. The convalescent period is tackled with a "gusto" not seen in most human patients.

These pages are dedicated to those victims who would not resign themselves to an unpleasant fate.

How can we give up when they do not?