Newsletter January 2023
It is our 20th anniversary this year -
20 years of helping horses, and the people who love them!
20 years of helping horses, and the people who love them!
The past year was a whirlwind of activity here at the Rescue. In addition to the day-to-day (HUGE) amount of work involved in looking after the horses and other animals, we had some major projects that took up a lot of our time:
- Thanks to some great fundraising by Karen and Linda, we were able to purchase and erect a 40 x 80 fabric building for a training arena in the fall of 2022.
- The repair shop move was completed, for the most part, by fall 2022.
- Our upcoming project for 2023 will be the expansion of the clinic, taking over the space in the barn that used to be the shop. Plans include: adding a proper set of vet stocks; better storage; constructing a foaling stall with a removable divider; and perhaps even adding a wash bay. Fundraising will be underway soon!
- Another project for 2023 will be replacing more of our wire fencing with wood fencing, especially in the winter paddock of the main herd.
Our statistics for 2022:
Intakes - 80 equine (including 1 mini-mule, 3 donkeys, 1 orphan foal, and 4 foals born to pregnant intakes) Adoptions - 30 equine (including 3 donkeys)
Assisted in directly placing into homes without intake - 2 cows, 18 ponies, 1 bunny, 1 pony, 1 mule, and 1 donkey
We currently care for:
Available for adoption - 50 equine
In Foster Homes - 46 equine
Permanent residents - 132 equine, 3 pigs, 1 goat, 1 llama, 12 cows, 2 ducks, 3 turkeys, 16 hens, 8 roosters, 20 cats, and 3 dogs
Each year takes a toll on us with the passing of some of our animals. We had quite a few dearly loved residents cross the rainbow bridge this year, including 24 horses, 3 cows, Sunny the goose, our precious Bean and Tinker the goats, and sweet little Trumpet the donkey, also Kitkat and Hocus, 2 of our kitties, both of which were diabetic. After twenty years in rescue, many of our residents have been here a long time and are aging, so that their passing becomes inevitable. We are also taking in more older animals that already have a fair bit of age on them, or animals with medical issues that have taken their toll. Despite having had to deal with so many losses over the years, it seems we are more heartbroken each time. We are grateful though, that we are able to provide such good care to them while they are here with us and, where possible, give the final kindness of an easy passing.
Remember, all of this is possible only because of the wonderful support of you, our donors!
These animals are here and have a good life because we all care. We care that they are safe and loved, that they have enough to eat, friends to live with, and help for illness or injury when it happens.
Every month we have costs such as vet ($5,000), hay ($15,000 average in winter), farrier ($1,800 per month), feed for the seniors ($5,000), plus maintenance costs such as fuel, equipment, repairs & maintenance, etc. so it really adds up!
- Thanks to some great fundraising by Karen and Linda, we were able to purchase and erect a 40 x 80 fabric building for a training arena in the fall of 2022.
- The repair shop move was completed, for the most part, by fall 2022.
- Our upcoming project for 2023 will be the expansion of the clinic, taking over the space in the barn that used to be the shop. Plans include: adding a proper set of vet stocks; better storage; constructing a foaling stall with a removable divider; and perhaps even adding a wash bay. Fundraising will be underway soon!
- Another project for 2023 will be replacing more of our wire fencing with wood fencing, especially in the winter paddock of the main herd.
Our statistics for 2022:
Intakes - 80 equine (including 1 mini-mule, 3 donkeys, 1 orphan foal, and 4 foals born to pregnant intakes) Adoptions - 30 equine (including 3 donkeys)
Assisted in directly placing into homes without intake - 2 cows, 18 ponies, 1 bunny, 1 pony, 1 mule, and 1 donkey
We currently care for:
Available for adoption - 50 equine
In Foster Homes - 46 equine
Permanent residents - 132 equine, 3 pigs, 1 goat, 1 llama, 12 cows, 2 ducks, 3 turkeys, 16 hens, 8 roosters, 20 cats, and 3 dogs
Each year takes a toll on us with the passing of some of our animals. We had quite a few dearly loved residents cross the rainbow bridge this year, including 24 horses, 3 cows, Sunny the goose, our precious Bean and Tinker the goats, and sweet little Trumpet the donkey, also Kitkat and Hocus, 2 of our kitties, both of which were diabetic. After twenty years in rescue, many of our residents have been here a long time and are aging, so that their passing becomes inevitable. We are also taking in more older animals that already have a fair bit of age on them, or animals with medical issues that have taken their toll. Despite having had to deal with so many losses over the years, it seems we are more heartbroken each time. We are grateful though, that we are able to provide such good care to them while they are here with us and, where possible, give the final kindness of an easy passing.
Remember, all of this is possible only because of the wonderful support of you, our donors!
These animals are here and have a good life because we all care. We care that they are safe and loved, that they have enough to eat, friends to live with, and help for illness or injury when it happens.
Every month we have costs such as vet ($5,000), hay ($15,000 average in winter), farrier ($1,800 per month), feed for the seniors ($5,000), plus maintenance costs such as fuel, equipment, repairs & maintenance, etc. so it really adds up!
 Orphan foal Major came into our care on May 1st, 2022. He was only about a day old and became quite ill within a few days as we don't believe he received any colostrum when he was born. He spent a week at Moore Equine vet clinic receiving a plasma transfusion and antibiotics and treatment. Thankfully we'd found him a nurse mare, Tia, who accepted him as her own, so he did very well! Our sincere appreciation goes out to Tia's owner for letting us borrow her to look after Major. Major was weaned in early fall and already has a new home lined up that he'll be going to in spring, along with Tampa's foal, Tallahassee! |  Major, growing like a weed! |
During 2022 we had several foals born to mares that were pregnant when they came into our care: Brownie's foal Pudding, Tiramisu's foal Cupcake, Opal's foal Garnet, and Tourmaline's foal Jade. Pudding, who was born late in the summer, is now available for adoption. The others have already gone on to new homes!
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 Dixie, a tall Quarter Horse mare born in 2011, was surrendered to the Rescue in July of 2022 because she would exhibit stallion-like behaviour around other horses. Dixie had to be isolated from other horses since the age of 2 because of the way she acted. We explored various options to deal with her behaviour and she was ultimately taken in for spay surgery in September, 2022. It turned out she is actually intersex and her ovaries were testicles! With her surgery completed her interaction with other horses has markedly improved. She is now living with the main herd and enjoying life. Dixie is available for adoption. |  Dixie running with the herd. |
Fundraising this past year was very successful. We had an AGLC casino at the beginning of January. Thank you to everyone who volunteered for that! We didn't have an open house this year but we did have a tack sale that raised over $2,000!. It seems like we're still getting up to speed after these last few covid years but, slowly and surely, we're getting there. We also have 2 very successful online auctions, one in spring and one in fall, raising almost $6,200!
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Our fundraising committee did a fantastic job raising money for our training arena, and with the help of 2 wonderful people, Sam and Mark, it went up in record time! Now we have a space to work with the horses even in inclement weather, or during the long evenings of winter. Thank you to all the donors, and to the following generous grantors: Lush Cosmetics, Saint-Gobain N.A., Nickle Family Foundation, and Eric S. Margolis Family Foundation, along with Walmart Stores, Moore Equine Veterinary Centre and Ken & Linda M. We really appreciate your support!
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 Archie at his new home, with another adoptee, Jett. | Archie, the 2-year-old racing Quarter Horse that came to the Rescue in 2021 with a sesamoid fracture, had surgery in later 2021 to repair the injury. By April, 2022 he had completed his rehabilitation and recovery and went on to a new home! Thank you so much to the very kind and generous donor who helped pay for his surgery and subsequent rehab. He has a new lease on life! |
Sika, a little mini-hinny, came to us unhandled and with badly neglected feet. With the help of one of our great farriers, her hooves are now back in shape and she is healthy and able to be handled.
 Sika when she arrived  Some of Sika's front hoof trimmings |  |
This year, for the first time, our *Sponsor a Horse for the Winter* fundraiser sold out! We also surpassed our goal by a LOT, raising almost $53,000! You, our donors, sponsors, supporters, came through in amazing fashion. Thank you!!
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