Give Health & Purpose to a Neglected Horse

Sound Equine Options (SEO) is proud to announce it received a $4,000 grant from the ASPCA Equine Fund to expand its VEEP (Volunteer Equine Education Program) training program.

 "This innovative program has dramatically reduced our training costs while successfully training more horses to a higher level--including walk, trot and canter under saddle--more quickly," said Elisabeth Wolff, SEO president. "It is a life insurance policy for the horses we rescue."

 To help ensure stronger matches with potential adopters, SEO has provided training for all adoptable horses since 2011. Training included ground manners, desensitizing, and whenever possible, riding. Training costs $400 per month per horse and SEO worked with 9 different professional trainers. It took anywhere from 90 days to more than a year, depending on the horse and trainer.

 "Saving a horse and refeeding it is the easy part," said Kim Mosiman, SEO executive director. "Good training makes our horses much more desirable and reliable partners, which leads to more successful adoptions."

 In June 2014, SEO began a pilot program called VEEP (Volunteer Equine Education Program) to teach select volunteers natural horsemanship techniques under the guidance of Stacey Riggs of Riggs Training, an award-winning trainer. VEEP horses are also boarded at her facility, Eagle Creek Equestrian Center, LLC. Volunteers attend 2-hour group lessons every other week and commit to working with their assigned horse a minimum of 3 days a week for a total of 6 hours per week.

 "Natural horsemanship focuses on creating a bond of respect and communication," said Stacey Riggs, SEO Director of Training. "The result is a solid partnership and connection between horse and rider. It builds a horse's confidence and is the fairest way to communicate with your horse."

 The training program has also resulted in several unforeseen benefits. Having SEO's horses at a professional trainer's facility allows volunteers access to one-on-one assistance when necessary. SEO horses are now getting handled and desensitized by a greater number of people, and volunteers assist and support each other.

 "Having several adoptable horses at one facility makes it easier to arrange meetings with potential adopters," said Kelly Burke, SEO vice president and head of SEO's adoption program. "We want people to see that well trained rescue horses can be just as successful in the ring and on the trail as any other horse."

 "We are deeply grateful for this generous grant from ASPCA, said Elisabeth Wolff. "It will allow us to give health and purpose to more horses in need."

 “The ASPCA Equine Fund awards life-saving grants and resources to nonprofit equine welfare organizations across the country,” said Jacque Schultz, senior director of the ASPCA Equine Fund. “We are pleased to award this grant to Sound Equine Options to assist their horse training efforts and increase adoptions so more horses can find homes.”

 Mister came from one of those situations we have a really hard time understanding.  We want answers to why a well-trained, mild mannered, seemingly healthy, (besides the obvious starvation), aged horse gets tossed to the curb. Those answers usually never come.

The reality is, he probably spent years doing as he was told and packing someone around on his back.  Then, at some point: his owner wanted a younger horse or they came upon some tough times, and could no longer afford to care for him.  So they sold or gave him away. 

Selling or giving away an older horse is not always a bad thing.  However, not thoroughly checking into the person your horse goes to is totally irresponsible. When you want to get rid of an older 1000 + pound animal, it’s easier to think their life will be filled with butterflies and rainbows instead of actually being responsible and doing your homework.

We don’t know Misters full story.  We do know he was given away to a new owner about a year ago.  That new owner thought he would be fine on a pasture without any other food supplementation. This new owner did not ask how to feed a horse when he saw Mister visibly losing hundreds of pounds.

We hope by reminding others of Misters Story, they will help spread the word to friends and family that are parting with their horses.  Check carefully into who your horse goes to.  Ask for references from perspective owner’s veterinarian, farrier or other horsemen friends. Do a site check of their new home.

They give us their hearts, let’s make sure they always get their meals.