Can You Make A Horse Smile? You Bet! Here's How...

Thursday, June 22nd was a  sunny and hopeful day for adoptable horses of many types, shapes and sizes at the Fairfield Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show in Westport, Connecticut. The EQUUS Foundation organized the exhibition of rescued, adoptable horses on site from 4 local horse rescue organizations on the EQUUS Foundation Equine Charity Network. Spectators and competitors and their friends and families were invited to meet and greet the horses and their rescuers, learn the stories of each of the horses and interact with each horse, as well as take and post social media photos to help promote horse adoption. 

Adoptable Mustangs, Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTB), Miniature Horses and a Rocky Mountain Horse (pony) were present with their rescuers and handlers who demonstrated what these horses can do and amazed visitors with their rescue stories.

"Every single horse that joined us on Thursday was rescued from kill pens at various auctions throughout the United States," said Valerie Angeli, VP of Communications and Special Projects for the EQUUS Foundation who organized the event. "The purpose of these events is to not just to get these horses adopted but show the living, breathing examples of what horses at risk look like, and to educate people that ALL types of horses of all ages are at risk, not just old and infirm horses as many people think."

Many horses, like the ones that participate in our Equine Adoption Days, are in the prime of their lives and have so much potential; they simply fell on hard luck. Every horse is only one unfortunate sale away from being found like these horses were. These horses are lucky and will now have the future that all horses deserve. We encourage horse lovers to  be horse protectors - to consider horse adoption - and to support our network of horse welfare charities that are saving horses and finding them new purposes and safe, loving homes.

The EQUUS Foundation hosted two Equine Adoption days this Spring and will coordinate another coming up this August at the Hampton Classic Horse Show on Monday, August 28th. 

Can we make horses smile? You bet we can!

Links:

• EQUUS Foundation: Who We Are and What We Stand For!

When EQUUS Foundation EQUUSTAR Georgina Bloomberg learned that hard-working, long time New York City carriage horses, Sophia and Sultan were ready to retire this past winter and needed a loving and appropriate home to begin their next chapter of life, she stepped up and adopted them both. She brought them to her Gotham North Farm to live out the rest of their lives together to frolic and offer inspiration to others.

"For many years these horses thrilled tourists and the people of New York City and even appeared with the Radio City Rockettes on TV specials. They are iconic, hard-working New Yorkers and I was excited to meet them and spend time with them each day. They are huge and powerful and yet so wise, gentle and affectionate. We just make each other happy," says Georgina. "I realize that not everyone can adopt a carriage horse or any horse -- but everyone can be a friend and a hero to horses that need help."

The EQUUS Foundation applauds and supports those who step up to help horses in transition and we believe all horses deserve great homes, love, and purpose -- and ultimately a humane end of life with dignity. Sophia, unfortunately, recently had a sudden, bad case of colic and had to be euthanized. She was in her 20's and passed with compassionate care the way all horses should. Sultan continues to inspire awe and joy at Gotham North and enjoy his bucolic retirement.

Over 130,000 American horses are shipped across the borders each year to be slaughtered. Most are healthy and have untapped potential as athletes, teachers, companions and therapy horses. Whether you are a competing equestrian, a pleasure rider, or someone who loves horses ---- everyone can do something to help horses live the lives they deserve. Take our challenge at #RideForHorses!

Links:

• Everyone can #RideForHorses - You can too!