Animal Welfare Puerto Rico Project #53972

Support 5 Rescued Horses Who Help People in Need

by Horses of Hope/Caballos de Esperanza Inc.

Project Report | Dec 12, 2022
Update: Meeting new challenges

By Elaine Cosby | Executive Director

Kaleb & Yunque

YOUR gift has helped in unexpected ways!

A new set of challenges has recently entered our journey. And it is your support that has provided hope for our horses, our clients, our future in the community. This is what has happened.

We were told we must find a new location within a year. And we know this one must be permanent – a place where we are and can stay always. Ownership of the land appears to be the answer, because the expense of moving – horses, infrastructure, equipment, personnel – is huge. So, we are developing strategy to raise money while we are being very conservative about expenses.

The other challenges are no less daunting. Hurricane Fiona’s wrath resulted in $30,000 in loss and damages. We are in the process of recovery from those. And, we are working to re-shape our leadership of Horses of Hope to include more members of the community in which we live and serve, and to overcome some errors in judgment that have resulted in uncertainty for our volunteers and supporters.

Your donations have enabled us to continue to serve clients through 2022 and march forward with resilience and determination through these challenges. We must postpone – as may be obvious – building any new structures on our current property. So, building shelters for the horses is on hold for now.

However, your support has helped create miracles for people in need. People like Kaleb, who came to us six months ago with depression, anger, anxiety in the form of panic attacks, and self-hate. Yesterday she arrived with a smile, a letter of self-love which she read to me, and enjoyed a day of celebration where she connected with Yunque, the horse she credits with her renewal and healing of self, in a way that was both tender and beautiful to see. These are her words:

“Mi friend Yunque. I never thought that I would find so much wisdom, love, understanding and support from a horse. God truly works in mysterious and wonderful ways. Thank you God for my friend Yunque, for he has taught me so much about self-love. Thank you Yunque and Thank you Horses of Hope in Isabela!”

So, we thank YOU, our patron and friend. Because of you the journey forward not only appears possible, it shines with the potential for Horses of Hope to be an even bigger force for good in the lives of people who need it most.

With gratitude and joy,

Elaine and the entire team at Horses of Hope/Caballos de Esperanza

P.S. This will be our final project report on GlobalGiving. But we don’t want it to be our final communication with you. Please visit our webpage horsesofhopepr.org, find us on Facebook, or contact us via email horsesofhopepr@gmail.com to schedule a call or visit. We welcome you and want to stay in touch!

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Aug 24, 2022
You did it... what happens now?

By Elaine Cosby | Executive Director

Jun 21, 2022
283 Times Your Support Mattered

By Elaine Cosby | Executive Director

Boo & Lara

283 is the number of sessions our rescued horses have done with clients since you started supporting us through our project on GlobalGiving. And the number gets bigger every week. But each one is not a number, it's a horse and it's a person - a person who is being empowered through the therapeutic interaction with our rescued horses.

One such person is Lara, age 5, who works with Boo, our youngest and smallest horse. Lara has global developmental delays and a smile that brightens everyone's day each time she sees Boo! In our latest satisfaction survey, her parents reported big improvements in all areas we focused on: balance and posture, focus and ability to follow directions, willingness to try new things, empathy, independence, and her ability to ride and be safe around the horse. They also observed progress in her fine and gross motor abilities and communication skills. Her mom stated: We are thrilled to see her "excitement and commitment for something she loves. We love the services and the results we see in our daughter. It does feel like family taking good care of family...services provided were above and beyond my expectations."

And how did your gift make this possible? You have supported the physical and emotional wellbeing of our horses so that they can willingly and happily help empower people in need. This support has included services such as training sessions for horses and volunteers ($700), nutritious feed and supplements ($3,100), medical supplies and treatments (approx. $900), regular hoof and dental care from professionals ($2,200), veterinary visits, chiropractic care, and vaccinations ($2,500), and adaptive equipment ($2,100) to add to their comfort as well as that of our clients. Our total expenses since we started this project have been $30,800. Of this, more than $10,000 has been for the direct care and rehabilitation of our horses.

As for our individual horses, 4 of the 5 - KTJ, Jibaron, Yunque, and Boo - are now living their best lives as therapy horses. As with any job, however, not every horse finds this to be their true calling. Since the start of our project, two horses - Rio and Che - have shown us that while capable, they are not happy working with people of varying abilities and behaviors. For them, it creates stressors, in addition to those they brought to us as rescues. As a result, we have found a new home with a wonderful animal rescue leader for Rio, and are in the process of finding a forever home for Che. And soon, we will need to add another horse to our program, while also starting to build our run-in shelters for the herd.

The journey continues and YOU are with us every step. THANK YOU from humans and horses alike!

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