Dear Friends Of Happy Trails,
As mentioned in our January newsletter, Happy Trails is working together with Frogpond Draft Horse Rescue of Cambridge, Ohio, to support their rescue efforts of a large number of draft horses being pulled from the "kill-pens" at the Sugarcreek Auction in May, where these majestic creatures (mostly Belgians and Percherons) would normally sold to the meat-buyers.
Instead of being loaded onto a cramped trailer for a horrific and incredibly long journey to either a Mexican or Canadian slaughterhouse, ten draft horses will be trailered back to Frogpond Draft Horse Rescue where they will
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| Rob Willard, Happy Trails Board Member, assisted Frog Pond Draft Horse Rescue with the rescue of the this handsome Belgian gelding in February. Sadly, this wonderful horse didn't make it. |
experience medical care, safety, proper nutrition, will have their hooves trimmed, will be vaccinated, wormed, and will have any other health issues addressed. After a period of care and recovery, they will be made available for adoption.
Happy Trails own draft horse sanctuary representatives, Belgians Tony and Red, who retired from an Amish farm, are requesting your help to make this rescue possible. They are politely and respectfully asking this on behalf of the draft horses at Sugarcreek who are not fortunate enough to have caring owners who are willing to find them a home.
This combined rescue effort will have several goals:
1) to bring awareness to the public that since the since the stopping of processing at the three main horse slaughter plants in the United States this past year,
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| Happy Trails rescues draft horses regularly through our Amish Horse Retirement Program. Several years ago we welcomed Memphis Bell and Norma Jean at the sanctuary. They both enjoyed several years of peaceful retirement before we lost Bell due to severe arthritis and Jean due to a stroke. Their final resting place is in Heaven's Trail, Happy Trails Pet Cemetery. |
horses are still being purchased by meat buyers, but now they experience an even more twisted, longer and sickening journey to the slaughterhouses of either Mexico or Canada. Information regarding horse slaughter and current legislation will be made available on the Happy Trails website.
2) to make a difference in the lives of at least ten draft horses — so that instead of being thrown away like a piece of trash, they will experience peace, kindness, comfort and compassion. We are hopeful that enough funds will be raised to purchase and provide medical treatment, care and proper nutrition for at least ten rescued draft horses.
3) to set an example and encourage other rescue groups, regardless of what types of animals they rescue, to work together in cooperation to help spread kindness and compassion across our state regarding the humane treatment of all animals.
This rescue will take place on Friday, May 9th, the weekend of Mother's Day!
We are encouraging everyone to get involved in some way!
How can you participate?
A) SPONSOR AN AUCTION BID: Draft horses will normally be sold to a meat-buyer for somewhere between $250 and $475, depending upon their
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| Luke is another big draft that Happy Trails helped to rescue. He was diagnosed with Wobbles Syndrome, and has been adopted by a wonderful family in Southern Ohio and is doing fantastic! |
size and meat prices. You are welcome to donate any amount toward the auction bid to save a life, or you may wish to sponsor an entire bid and have "naming rights" to the rescued horse! Given a new lease on life, it will also need a new name which you can provide!
Lisa Gordon, President of Frog Pond Draft Horse Rescue, has put together a very special "Mother's Day" package. Anyone donating a minimum $25 donation in honor of their mother should send along mom's address — mom will receive a certificate of donation, a full-color photo of the rescued horse and a small braid from it's mane, tied with a pretty pink ribbon, to remind her of the life that was saved in her honor!
B) HELP COLLECT SUPPLIES: Consider donating (or request these donations from tack or feed stores in your area) the following supplies:
• 20 tubes of wormer (each of the ten draft horses will requires two tubes due to their size). An Ivermectin wormer is usually the vet's wormer of choice to start out with for a horse that may not have been wormed for while.
• 10 new draft-size halters (All horses come through the auction with halters on as required by state law. However, the condition of the ripped and torn halters are usually less than adequate.)
• Weight-builder or joint supplements — your choice of brands - any will be very much appreciated
• Gas cards will be appreciated, with the rising cost of fuel and the distance that we will be traveling to assist in this rescue. It is about an hour and a half trip hauling a horse trailer from Happy Trails to the auction, and then from the auction to Frogpond, and then back.
Donated items can be dropped off at Happy Trails on Sunday's between 1:00pm and 4:00pm, or mailed directly to Frog Pond Farm Drafts 64385 Larrick Ridge Road, Cambridge,, OH 43725.
C) SPONSOR THE FOLLOWING CARE NEEDS:
• $250 Hoof Trims — This will allow all ten horses to have their hooves trimmed at $25 each
• $250 Vaccination — This will cover the basic 5-way vaccines for all ten horses at $25 each
• $250 Vet Exam — This will cover a complete veterinarian field-service examination for each of the ten horses at $25 each
• $75 Teeth Floating — Will cover the cost for teeth floating for one horse (floating is filing sharp the sharpened edges of a horse's teeth — an important and necessary medical procedure normally required yearly for proper care of a horse's mouth). Or $750 will cover teeth floating for all ten horses.
D) ADOPT: Consider adopting a rescued draft horse! They make wonderful pets, companion animals and trail horses — here at Happy Trails we thoroughly enjoy riding our drafts on trail — it gives you a whole new perspective of trail atop your high seat! For adoption information, check out the website for Frog Pond Farm @ www.hometown.aol.com/frogpondfarmltd/homepage.html or e-mail them at FrogPondFarmLTD@aol.com . Please request applications via e-mail.
E) HELP WITH TRAILERING: Folks with a large enough truck and trailer
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| Rob Willard loves his 19.3 hands Belgian gelding named Thor. |
to haul draft horses will be welcome to join the caravan hauling the horses to safety on Friday, March 9th. If you are interested in participating in the rescue in this way, please give us a call at Happy Trails at (330) 296-5914.
F) DONATIONS in any amount toward any of the above needs can be made to Happy Trails and sent either through regular mail at 5623 New Milford Rd., Ravenna, Ohio 44266, or through our website through PayPal. Please indicate what you wish your donation to be used towards, and we will gladly honor and document that donation. All donations are tax deductible.
Many thanks for your support, compassion and caring!
Annette Fisher
Executive Director
Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary, Inc.
