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Photos © Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore

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January 2, 2013—Four-time Olympian Anne Kursinski wowed the crowd with her dressage flatwork demonstration on the opening day of the 2013 George Morris Horsemastership Training Session. As George Morris looked on from his seat in a golf cart, Anne put Udonnay Z, a 9-year-old chestnut mare owned by student Karen Polle, through her paces. She started with a little lateral work to judge the mare's reaction to the leg. Then she moved on to working, collected and extended trot and canter, lateral work at the trot including shoulder-in, haunches-in and half-pass, a "poor man's pirouette" as Anne described it, some tempi changes and even some half steps (which would lead to piaffe and passage). She would have been just as at home in a dressage arena as she was in the ring at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida.

Anne seemed to be having a blast, playing with the mare to see what she could get from her. The fiery redhead required a balanced approach—too much leg would evoke resistance. As Anne finessed her almost-invisible cues, the mare settled in and seemed to say, "Yes, ma'am," to each of her requests. Anne likened flatwork to going to the gym—and as she worked you could see the gymnasticizing effect the lateral work had on her horse. The collection would get more balanced and the extensions more elastic. But this wasn't just a dressage exhibition. Anne demonstrated how the increased lateral and longitudinal flexion translated to the jumper ring with tighter turns, more power and greater control.

Throughout her ride, Anne cites quotes and lessons from her mentor Jimmy Williams. If you read the classic article with Jimmy in our upcoming February issue, you will certainly recognize Jimmy's influence on Anne's riding and training philosophy.

That's all for today. Thursday's session will include the two riding sessions on flatwork and gymnastics, a seminar with Dr. Deb Bennett on the biomechanics of straightening and a veterinary session with Dr. Tim Ober. All of the sessions will be available to view live beginning at 8 a.m. ET (or on demand after) on www.usefnetwork.com. Or if you're in the Wellington area, spectators are invited for all public sessions at no cost, though a donation is appreciated. The clinic is being held in Ring 9.

Watch video on demand of Anne's ride as well as of the entire 2013 George Morris Horsemastership Training Session at www.usefnetwork.com.

The 2013 George Morris Horsemastership Training Session is sponsored by Adequan and the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association and presented by Practical Horseman, SmartPak and Equestrian Sport Production.

November 19, 2012--W.F. Young, Inc., makers of Absorbine® and Equine America® products, demonstrated a continued commitment to assisting with the rehabilitation and rehoming process for rescued horses by donating a product package worth $1500 to CANTER New England at Equine Affaire in West Springfield, Mass. as part of an ongoing partnership with A Home for Every Horse.

"CANTER is thrilled to have the support of W.F. Young and A Home for Every Horse,” said CANTER New England Executive Director Ellen O’Brien. “These donated products will help address a variety of issues, including muscle soreness, hoof issues and more. When these wonderful athletes retire we want to ensure that they are fit, healthy and look their best to prepare them for the right adoptive home--these products will get them there."

The donation includes 24 cases of Absorbine® and Equine America® products designed to promote horse health and comfort. Included in the donation are products like Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment, Hooflex® Therapeutic Conditioner and Flex+ Max®. The package also contains Equine America products such as Fungasol® Shampoo, GlucoFlex® and B-L® Comfort and Recovery Support.

Jaime McKinley, Vice President of Marketing and New Business Development at W. F. Young, said, “Joining forces with A Home For Every Horse was a natural partnership for W. F. Young, as we work together with rescue organizations to give every homeless horse the opportunity to feel healthy and look and feel better as they find their new homes.  For over 120 years, our company has been devoted to the good health and quality of life for horses and their families, beginning when my great, great grandfather, Wilbur F. Young, developed Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment to take care of his own horses.  We are honored to join the Equine Network and fellow sponsors of A Home For Every Horse in this important initiative for the equine industry.”

W.F. Young celebrated their 120^th anniversary during Equine Affaire to recognize the 1892 date when Wilbur F. and Mary Ida Young developed the formula for Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment for their own horses. At a party for employees, families and friends, W.F. Young toasted to 120 years with a reflection on the company’s history and an eye toward the exciting future.

A Home for Every Horse is a joint effort with The American Horse Council’s Unwanted Horse Coalition, which seeks to place, foster and sponsor America’s 170,000 unwanted horses. Partners of A Home for Every Horse include Tractor Supply Company, Purina Mills, WeatherBeeta, the Bureau of Land Management and W.F. Young. Nonprofit rescue organizations can post free listings on Equine.com, the industry’s largest website for buying and selling horses, trailers and farms. The Equine Network is using its connection with more than 1.5 million horse owners each month to promote the program.

Sad tales of neglected and abandoned horses seem to be everywhere---in the news, on Facebook, on flyers at your local feed store. Photos of thin horses with drooping ears and dull eyes tug at your heartstrings. You want to help, but it can be hard to know what to do.

I’ve been involved in the effort to help horses in need for more than 14 years, and I am currently executive director of Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society in College Station, Texas. When I started out, few equine rescues existed in the United States, but today there are hundreds across the country. Most are run by good people doing necessary work, but the rapid growth of the rescue industry has far outpaced regulations to govern operations, and we don’t yet have a formal trade association to provide direction and guidelines.

As a result, every so often reports appear about neglected horses discovered at “rescues” run by animal hoarders or by well-intentioned people who found themselves in over their heads. Even worse are the “rescuers” who are simply defrauding their donors. Although these people are the exceptions, their actions give rise to many misconceptions about equine rescues that may stop people from volunteering, donating money or even adopting a horse in need. Because good rescues provide vital services to their communities and the horse industry, it is time to debunk the most common myths and understand the truths behind them.

Myth #1: All rescues are the same
Reality: Each rescue is a unique organization with its own policies and procedures, fundraisers and management staff.

I hear this myth more than any other: When I ask for a donation, someone will tell me they already gave to us---at a fundraiser for a different rescue, or someone who wants to adopt a horse will tell us they have already been approved because they applied at a different organization. I’ve even been told that “you guys are all just part of one big organization.” This misconception becomes damaging anytime the authorities seize animals from a bad rescue for poor care or when adopters believe that a rescue treated them unfairly or misrepresented a horse they took home. Those people might then avoid all rescues under the mistaken belief that we are all the same.

Here are some ways in which rescues differ:

• Private versus 501(c)(3). If a nonprofit organization qualifies for 501(c)(3) designation from the Internal Revenue Service, it doesn’t pay income tax on the money it raises and your donations to it may be tax-deductible. 501(c)(3) organizations must have a board of directors and make their financial information available to the public.

Private rescues are often run by a single person or a very small group of people rather than a board of directors. Donations to these groups are not tax-deductible, and they’re not required to make their records public. They are required to pay income taxes on any money they receive from fundraisers, adoptions, etc.

• Sanctuaries versus rehoming organizations. Sanctuaries provide lifelong homes to horses in need; they do not offer any for adoption. This means that sanctuaries can help only a limited number of horses: Once a sanctuary is full, it must wait until a horse dies before bringing in another.

Rehoming organizations do place their horses with adopters, but many rescues of this type also offer a limited number of sanctuary spots to horses they deem unadoptable for physical or behavioral reasons.

• Intake methods. Horses can come to rescues from auctions, racetracks, owner donations or law enforcement impoundments in cases of abuse or neglect. Some rescues focus only on horses coming through one route---racetracks, for example---but many take in those from a variety of backgrounds.

Myth #2: My tax dollars support rescues, so they don’t need any more from me
Reality: Rescues do not receive local, state or federal funding.

The only exception might be when a city or county contracts with a rescue for assistance in handling neglect cases and stray horses, but most often rescues perform these services at no cost to their local communities. When owners are found guilty of neglect, the judge may order them to pay restitution to the organization for expenses incurred while assisting law enforcement and rehabilitating the horse or horses, but rescues rarely receive the funds they’re awarded.

Because we don’t receive government support, rescues must raise the funds necessary to care for their horses through adoption fees, fundraising events and direct-mail solicitations. Before you throw out the next invitation to a fundraiser or the letter asking for a donation, please remember that the rescue sending it doesn’t see a penny of your tax dollars and needs help for the horses in its care.

Myth #3: Rescues get services and items for free, so their expenses are minimal
Reality: Although many rescues receive some discounted services and donated items, no veterinarian or farrier is always able to work for free or even discount his or her services. And many expenses can’t be discounted or donated.

For example, here are some of the 2011 expenses for the organization I run: $5,178 for insurance, $1,968 for postage, $33,061 for veterinary care, $1,900 for burial expenses for deceased horses, $10,830 for gas or mileage reimbursements for trailering horses, $6,875 for training horses, $8,386 for advertising and $2,306 for mileage
reimbursement for volunteers.

Myth #4: Everyone who works at a rescue is on salary
Reality: Some rescues have paid staff, but many do not.

The majority of rescues rely solely on volunteers. The oldest and most established rescues have paid staff, but even they rely heavily on volunteers to get everything done.

This means that someone is probably not available immediately to answer your calls or e-mails, and you may have to wait a few days for a reply. It also means that volunteers are often performing their rescue job after work or on the weekends and aren’t available during weekdays.

Myth #5: Rescues never enforce their contracts, so I can do what I want with my adopted horse
Reality: The purpose of the adoption contract is to ensure that the horses are placed in good homes. Most rescues follow up on their contracts. Rescue personnel perform follow-up visits not only to see that the horses are cared for, but also to make sure that the adoptive owners are happy with the arrangement. If someone violates the terms of an adoption contract, he or she may lose the horse and be liable to the rescue for the cost of enforcing that contract.

Myth #6: Rescues are happy to take in my old/lame/unsuitable horse
Reality: Most rescues can’t take in owner-donated retirees.

Some people want to use rescues as free retirement centers for horses they no longer need while still directing their care and visiting them. Most rescues do not take owner-donated horses, and those that do often have little room or resources for animals with serious medical needs or behavior problems. When a rescue does take in a donated horse, the animal is signed over to the organization and the owner waives all rights, including the ability to visit.

In general, rescues help neglected horses, those whose owners can no longer care for them, and others in serious need. They are not there to take in horses whose owners simply have no further use for them.

Myth #7: Every horse at a rescue is kept until he dies of natural causes
Reality: Rescues have limited funds and must often euthanatize horses.

While answering the phones and e-mails for my rescue, I’ve often spoken with people who want us to take in their older, ill or injured horse. Often a veterinarian has suggested that they euthanatize the horse, but they don’t want to. They believe that the best solution is to turn the horse over to a rescue, which will keep him healthy and happy until he dies of old age. However, rescues don’t have unlimited funds, and we sometimes must euthanatize a horse because we can’t spend thousands of dollars to treat an illness or injury.

Donating a horse who needs to be put down is unkind. Not only is he ill or in pain, he is then also uprooted from his home and taken to an unfamiliar place full of strange people and horses. Many scared or nervous horses may never settle in and relax before their life ends, surrounded by strangers. It is also unkind to put rescue personnel into that position. We care for our horses as if they are our own, and every decision to end a life is emotionally draining.

One story remains fresh in my mind. Years ago, our organization took in any horse whose owner didn’t want him, and we often received those who should never have been put on a trailer: Moon was one such horse.

Moon developed laminitis, and her owners managed her for several weeks before donating her to us. I followed the care instructions they gave me, but the mare worsened. When my veterinarian arrived to examine Moon, she quickly recommended euthanasia. I knew she was right, but I still cried. I cared about Moon and had hoped for a pain-free future for her. We laid her to rest, and I avoided the barn for two days.

Several months later, Moon’s former owner arrived at my barn demanding to see the horse. When I told her we’d put Moon down, her reply was, “Oh, I knew she needed to be euthanized. But I didn’t have the heart to do it, so I brought her to you!” Years later, I still ache for the horse I couldn’t help and feel anger toward the owner who forced me to make the decision she wouldn’t face.

If your horse needs to be put down, please, take care of him at home, in comfortable surroundings. Don’t pass that decision on to another person who has had to make that call far too often.

Myth #8: Rescue horses are used up or worthless
Reality: Rescues have all kinds of horses. Some aren’t sound for riding, but many can do anything any other horse can do.

Often, when I suggest that someone consider adopting their next horse instead of buying or breeding, I’m told, “I don’t want to adopt a horse---they’re not good for anything!” The person may go on to tell me she once saw a rescue horse who was lame or blind or crazy. And then I’ll hear, “Besides, if no one else wants them, why should I?”

Just because a horse is unwanted or neglected doesn’t make him worthless. Many may be sound, well-bred animals who landed in our care after their owners fell on hard times. We have many horses who are young, sound and can be trained for anything.

Storm’s story illustrates that point. The courts placed Storm with Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society after removing him from negligent owners. He was emaciated when he arrived, but fortunately, Storm recovered quickly.

After he was trained to ride, he was adopted by a teenage girl who met him and fell in love. And that was the beginning of an awesome career for Storm. He and his rider joined a 4-H drill team, and their wins have included a first place at their district competition. They’re also showing in English pleasure, Western pleasure and sidesaddle in open shows, and Storm has made it to the state semi-finals in team penning. He helps athletes who compete in Special Olympics horse shows through the S.H.A.R.E. (Special Horses and Riders Excelling) organization, and he took his rider to the regional and chapter Special Olympics shows in Western equitation, English equitation, trail, barrels and showmanship.

And yet Storm is just one of thousands of rescue horses who are com-peting, trail riding and working across the country. So the next time you are looking for a new horse, don’t overlook your local rescue. You may find a diamond in the rough who can become your next champion and companion.

Myth #9: Donating money or fostering or adopting horses are the only ways I can help
Reality: Rescues need volunteers in many areas.

Running a rescue takes an enormous amount of work, and since most rely heavily on volunteers, there’s likely to be a job for you, no
matter what your skills. Here are just a few possibilities:

• Trailering. If you have a safe trailer and an appropriate tow vehicle, you may be able to help with picking up horses, taking them to veterinary clinics and transporting them to their foster homes.

• Visiting foster or adoptive homes. Most rescues will inspect potential homes before allowing their horses to go to them, and they may also schedule follow-up visits later. This is an easy job that is a good fit for someone with a camera who enjoys meeting other horsepeople.

• Investigating neglect complaints. The rescue may offer neglect/abuse- investigation training classes, or they may need experienced horsemen and horsewomen who can accompany local law enforcement out on calls.

• Doing routine horse care. Reliable, experienced horsepeople may be needed to do daily chores, such as feeding, cleaning pens or stalls, grooming, or showing horses to prospective adopters.

• Training. Many horses arrive with little or no training, so rescues appreciate help from professional trainers and experienced horsepeople who can help prepare them for adoption.

• Fundraising. Bringing in the money necessary to keep a rescue going is a nonstop concern. Volunteers are always needed to organize and participate in fundraising.

• Marketing, public relations, accounting, writing and more. In many ways running a rescue is like operating a business, and all the same professional skills are needed. If you have a skill you would like to use to help horses, a rescue can help you put your experience to work---and it looks good on a resume, too.

Whether you are looking for a new horse, have some time to give, or can donate money or equipment, I hope you’ll consider visiting a rescue and helping out. It really does take the horse community working together to improve the lives of the horses who need us.

About the author: Jennifer Williams, PhD, is the founder and president of Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society located in College Station, Texas, and the author of the book How to Start and Run a Rescue. Williams received her bachelor of science in psychology and minor in equine science from Truman State University, formerly known as Northeast Missouri State University. Later Williams earned her master’s and doctorate in animal science from Texas A&M, where she focused her studies on equine behavior, learning and welfare.

November 6, 2012--The rehabilitation and rehoming process for rescued horses takes an incredible amount of time and resources. To assist with this undertaking, W.F. Young, Inc. presented Lost and Found Horse Rescue of Germantown, MD and Omega Horse Rescue of Airville, PA with a donation of $1500 worth of Absorbine® and Equine America® products as part of an ongoing partnership with A Home for Every Horse.

Representatives of A Home for Every Horse presented the donation at two of the most prestigious horse shows in the country. Kelly Smith of Omega Horse Rescue was presented with the products at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA and Maria Anselmo, manager of Lost and Found Horse Rescue, received the donation at the Washington International Horse Show in Washington, DC.

“Lost and Found Horse Rescue is very grateful to have received this donation from W.F. Young and grateful that programs such as A Home for Every Horse exist to help equine rescues. Many of our animals arrive with their hooves and coats in poor condition and thus we are always in need of products to help rehabilitate them. Rehabilitating an equine is a very expensive undertaking. Thank you W.F. Young and A Home for Every Horse for helping us help them. We cannot do it alone!” said Maria Anselmo, manager of Lost and Found Horse Rescue.

The donation includes 24 cases of Absorbine® and Equine America® products designed to promote horse health and comfort. Included in the donation are products like Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment, Hooflex® Therapeutic Conditioner and Flex+ Max®. The package will also contain Equine America® products such as Fungasol® Shampoo, GlucoFlex® and B-L® Comfort and Recovery Support.

Jaime McKinley, vice president of Marketing & New Business Development, said, “We at W.F. Young strongly believe that every horse should have the opportunity for a caring and loving home. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to provide our products to rescue organizations on the front lines of helping homeless horses. These rescues are focused on bringing horses back to health so they can find their forever homes, and our Absorbine and Equine America products are designed to help horses feel and look their best.
“Participating in A Home For Every Horse allows us to honor the legacy of helping horses that was started by my great-great grandparents, who developed Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment to take care of their own horses. We’re honored to join the Equine Network and our fellow sponsors of A Home For Every Horse in this important initiative for the equine industry,” McKinley concluded.

Kelly Smith of Omega Horse Rescue receives a donation of W.F. Young products at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

A Home for Every Horse is a joint effort with The American Horse Council’s Unwanted Horse Coalition, which seeks to place, foster and sponsor America’s 170,000 unwanted horses. Partners of A Home for Every Horse include Tractor Supply Company, Purina Mills, WeatherBeeta, the Bureau of Land Management and W.F. Young. Nonprofit rescue organizations can post free listings on Equine.com, the industry’s largest website for buying and selling horses, trailers and farms. The Equine Network is using its connection with more than 1.5 million horse owners each month to promote the program.

To learn more about A Home for Every Horse and to view horses available for adoption, please go to www.ahomeforeveryhorse.com.

To learn how to sign up to list your shelter’s horses through A Home for Every Horse if you are a 501(c)(3), please go to http://www.equine.com/ahomeforeveryhorse_rescueadplacementguide.pdf.

To learn about sponsoring A Home for Every Horse on Equine.com, contact Dave Andrick: (717) 303-3790 ext. 1002, dave.andrick@equinetwork.com.

To learn more about Absorbine® and Equine America® products, please visit www.absorbine.com and www.equineamerica.com.

Idiopathic headshaking in horses in linked to an abnormality in the trigeminal nerve, which serves the face. ©EQUUS Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

Our 28-year-old Appaloosa, an otherwise happy, retired gelding, is suffering from what appears to be headshaking. Several months ago, he started bobbing his head in the pasture, sometimes rhythmically and sometimes in jerking, spasm-like movements. He began dragging his nose across the ground and pushing one of his pasturemates around the field, burying his head in the horse’s flank. The condition interferes with his ability to graze and, I’m sure, tires him out from the constant head movement.

His behavior was initially diagnosed by our veterinarian as photosensitization and later as photic headshaking. We were told there is no remedy for this affliction, but we could try a fly mask with ears and a nosepiece. He’d always worn a mask or a headpiece with tassels for fly control, and when we purchased an ultraviolet-blocking mask with ears, it significantly diminished his behavior. Still, though, he sporadically rubs his nose on the ground, jerks his head in spasms, and when he is really stressed, makes it clear he wants to come into his dark stall. When brought in he simmers down but doesn’t stop bobbing. We learned that the spasm behavior relates to the trigeminal nerve in his face.

We wondered if the intense sun of central Florida triggered the condition, but leaving him in his stall during the day, although diminishing the bobbing, doesn’t stop it. We also thought it might be heat related, but he continues to bob even in cool winter temperatures.

A combination of cyproheptadine, carbamazepine and acupuncture was one treatment recommendation; however if possible, I’d like to find a remedy not requiring prescription drugs.

A:I am sorry to hear about your horse having this difficulty. From your description, itappears to be a case of trigeminal-mediated headshaking. That is, an abnormality in the trigeminal nerve, which transmits sensation over the face, causes the horse to feel neuropathic pain, which can include burning, tingling, itching or electric-like sensations. The horse responds with a variety of behaviors, including quick jerks of the head, rubbing his nose on objects, snorting and lip licking. As in your case, it is common for the affected horse to bury his nose underneath the tail of a pasturemate and to favor shaded areas.

There are many suggested causes of headshaking, but when most of those are corrected, the horse may still show signs. It is similar to migraines in people: What causes migraines is different for each person, and treatments that are effective for one may not work for another. Triggers for headshaking include light (photic headshaking), exercise, loud sounds, smell, certain long-stem hay and other stimuli. Recent papers describe various sinus or fungal infections, but all those horses have a nasal discharge; this is obvious and uncommon as a cause.

Nevertheless, your veterinarian needs to start with a complete physical examination, which includes watching the behavior or a videotape of it, an endoscopy of the nose and airway, head radiographs and standard blood work to rule out any obvious underlying physical cause. But with most headshakers, an extensive exam will turn up no physical abnormalities. Instead, our recent studies indicate the problem stems from a physiological abnormality in the trigeminal nerve itself that causes it to “fire” repeatedly.

Treatments that lessen or stop the signs include physical, dietary, drug and combination therapies. Physical methods include using ultraviolet-blocking masks, if sunlight is the trigger, or “nose net” devices that touch the lower part of the horse’s head and face. Chiropractic treatments and acupuncture have not been very useful in this condition to date. If the horse is too heavy, increasing exercise and modest dietary changes for weight loss may help. A number of horses respond to oral magnesium supplementation and melatonin. Consult with your veterinarian before changing a horse’s dietary regimen; magnesium supplements in particular need to be monitored to avoid potentially serious side effects.

A number of drugs have been used to control neuropathic pain, including cyproheptadine, carbamazepine and Atarax (hydroxyzine). All of these drugs also have potential side effects, so consult with your veterinarian for signs to watch for when starting the medication.

Part of the dilemma in determining what treatments are effective is that many horses will spontaneously cease headshaking at a particular time of year, and the last substance administered gets credit for the “cure.” You really need to wait a year or two to gauge the worth of a treatment. Still, we have found a great deal of success with melatonin and magnesium supplementation and, if severe enough, the use of cyproheptadine with or without carbamazepine. Another product that shows some promise is Top Stock Headshaking formula, from New Zealand; in one uncontrolled study, seven out of 10 horses improved somewhat while using this supplement, but more studies are needed to prove its effectiveness. Surgical approaches have been attempted that include cutting or sclerosing a part of the trigeminal nerve. This is not recommended by me, and I have ceased performing the procedure because of the low percentage of horses who improve and the severe pain and suffering I have observed afterward in some horses.

Because I receive so many requests for information about headshaking, I created a website, www.headshakerinfo.org, with information for both owners and veterinarians, including research results and assessments of various treatment options. [Note: a cyproheptadine dosage recently reported for this condition was in error (not ours), so please consult our website for additional information.] With your veterinarian’s assistance, I suspect you will find an approach that helps. Don’t give up.

I believe there is hope for the future of headshakers. Most pathology studies have found no lesions or other physical problems with the trigeminal nerve, so it must be a chemical instability that causes it to fire inappropriately. With enough research support, we may be able to identify this tweak in the trigeminal nerve and, we hope, correct it. This work may also help us gain insight into the painful condition of human trigeminal neuralgia. We are happy to accept donations to support our research into headshaking syndrome. Visit my website or contact the UC-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine for information.

John E. Madigan, DVM, DACVIM
University of California–Davis,
School of Veterinary Medicine
Davis, California

New owners of horses adopted through A Home for Every Horse will have the opportunity to select a blanket based on the horse’s needs and will choose from a wide range of sizes and styles. “WeatherBeeta’s collection of full season sheets and blankets cover all types of horses and dogs through every season of the year –and, into every stage of their life—much like A Home For Every Horse. Our support of this worthy cause is simply a natural fit.” said Gabriel Sperber, Director of Marketing for WeatherBeeta USA. “Thanks in large part to the loyal support of our caring customers, WeatherBeeta will donate new blankets and contribute funding associated with the shipping and handling costs to each new adopter. We then look forward to continuing our relationship with the owner and their new horse with on-going special offers. We are truly excited to help give in a sustainable way with an eye toward a brighter future for horses and horse owners.”

In addition to providing protection and comfort for newly rescued horses, the donated blankets will also increase awareness about A Home for Every Horse and unwanted horses. WeatherBeeta has pledged to introduce over 2,000,000 horse lovers to A Home For Every Horse over the next 18 months by including the program’s logo on every blanket package, sending informational forms through national retail partnerships, and by creating awareness through nontraditional marketing and advertising. A portion of all proceeds from every WeatherBeeta product will enable the long-term support of horses that are part of A Home for Every Horse.

A Home for Every Horse is a joint effort with The American Horse Council’s Unwanted Horse Coalition, which seeks to place, foster and sponsor America’s 170,000 unwanted horses. Partners of A Home for Every Horse include Tractor Supply Company, Purina Mills, WeatherBeeta, the Bureau of Land Management and W.F. Young. Nonprofit rescue organizations can post free listings on Equine.com, the industry’s largest website for buying and selling horses, trailers and farms. The Equine Network is using its connection with more than 1.5 million horse owners each month to promote the program. The company recently launched www.ahomeforeveryhorse.com, featuring stories about rescue efforts and recued horses.

“WeatherBeeta saw the Home For Every Horse program and recognized that we both share the same core values—so, we naturally wanted to help in any way we could” said Darren Mann, President of WeatherBeeta, USA. “People understandably get tears in their eyes when they recognize that there are more than 170,000 horses in need and only one in ten have a chance of being placed. There are people helping to rescue these horses—people WeatherBeeta wants to help support in the best way we can—by providing every horse with the care, comfort and protection they deserve.”

To learn more about A Home for Every Horse, and the situation of America’s horses in need of care and shelter and to view horses available for adoption, please go to www.ahomeforeveryhorse.com.

To learn how to sign up to list your shelter’s horses through A Home for Every Horse if you are a 501(c)(3), please go to  http://www.equine.com/ahomeforeveryhorse_rescueadplacementguide.pdf.

To learn about sponsoring A Home for Every Horse on Equine.com, contact Dave Andrick: (717) 303-3790 ext. 1002, dave.andrick@equinetwork.com.

For more information about unwanted horses in America, please go to www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org.

The program, sponsored by companies including Tractor Supply Company, Purina Mills and W.F. Young, is a joint effort with The American Horse Council’s Unwanted Horse Coalition which seeks to place, foster and sponsor America’s 170,000 unwanted horses. Nonprofit rescue organizations can post free listings on Equine.com, the industry’s largest website for buying and selling horses, trailers and farms. The Equine Network is using its connection with more than 1.5 million horse owners each month to promote the program. The company recently launched ahomeforeveryhorse.com, featuring stories about rescue efforts and recued horses.

“WeatherBeeta is proud to build upon our 30-plus year history of ensuring the well-being for horses by actively supporting A Home For Every Horse,” said Weatherbeeta USA Marketing Director Gabriel Sperber. “WeatherBeeta’s wide range of full season blankets and sheets cover all types of horses and dogs through every season of the year ---and, into every stage of their life---- much like A Home For Every Horse.  In recognition of our shared core-principles that every horse deserves to receive loving care, continued comfort, and protection from the harsh elements, WeatherBeeta is proud to begin a long-and-meaningful commitment to A Home For Every Horse with an initial donation of $50,000 in innovative WeatherBeeta products and subsequent funding.”

Currently, 150 shelters list their adoptable horses through the A Home For Every Horse. To read about success stories resulting from the program, please go to ahomeforeveryhorse.com.

“We’re very excited to have WeatherBeeta on board,” said Dave Andrick, Equine Network Group Publisher. “Including leaders from retail, nutrition, horse care products and tack, our sponsors truly span the industry in a manner that mirrors the way concern for unwanted horses spans all disciplines and breeds of horse lovers. It’s exciting to see trend-setting companies step up and work together to find a solution to this problem.”

To learn more about A Home for Every Horse, and the situation of America’s horses in need of care and shelter and to view horses available for adoption, please go to www.ahomeforeveryhorse.com.

Attracting as many as 6,000 visitors throughout the course of the weekend, the event will feature a two-day USDF-licensed dressage show, the acclaimed Dancing Horse Challenge, children’s activities, boutique shopping, a black-tie optional gala, silent auction and many more opportunities for family fun, while raising funds for the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center in Baltimore.

"We are very dependent these days on the generosity of others to fulfill our mission and goals of the breast center,” said Lillie D. Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, administrative director of the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center. “The Ride for Life event greatly supports our efforts so that more patients can become survivors of this disease, as well as receive quality of care at Hopkins, and through our training efforts, also elsewhere.”

Kathy Connelly, an international rider, trainer and one of the leading dressage coaches in the United States, will serve as the grand marshal and guest speaker at the Dancing Horse Challenge.

Dancing Horse Challenge
The weekend’s highlight is the Dancing Horse Challenge, Saturday, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:00).

As one of the premier equestrian nights on the East Coast, this lyrical blend of dance, music, lights and equestrian prowess is woven into a moving theatrical performance (http://www.pvdarideforlife.org/news/videos/).

Featuring international and national riders and Olympians, the Dancing Horse Challenge becomes a call to heal, to give and, most importantly, to celebrate life. The initial line-up of riders performing musical freestyles includes:

• Julio Mendoza (FEI international trainer known for his dramatic costuming and horsemanship),

• Silva Martin (Grand Prix rider and trainer),

• Lauren Sprieser (USDF bronze, silver and gold medalist, USEF developing listed rider and NAYRC gold medalist),

• Bent Jensen (Olympian and trainer competing in upper level dressage in both Europe and the United States.

• Corrine Ashton (USDF silver medalist and 4**** Star Event Rider competing at Rolex CCI****),

• Susanne Hassler (USDF bronze, silver and gold medalist and international dressage competitor),

• Natalia Martin (USDF bronze and silver medalist who has competed internationally and a participant in the 2012 Nations Cup), and

• Jill Kemenosh (USDF bronze and silver medalist who participates in Young Rider competitions such as the USEF Festival of Champions).

Dutch Chapman, a two-time NRHA World Champion and acclaimed trainer, will perform western reining demonstrations, while Great Falls Vaulting, the oldest equestrian vaulting club in the United States, will field a team of five riders performing a demonstration. Additionally, The Maryland Horse Industry Board will present a Touch of Class award to a preeminent dressage horse sire at the Dancing Horse Challenge.

Throughout the evening, guests can purchase food and beverages on the concourse. They also can shop for Ride for Life souvenirs and visit the silent auction area to bid on such items as jewelry, artwork, crafts, memorabilia, gift certificates and riding clinics. (For auction previews, visit www.pvdarideforlife.org.)

Gala
With a “Survivor theme,” the Saturday night black-tie optional gala kicks off at 5 p.m. with a cocktail reception and strolling magic by Bill Gross. Gala guests will have special seating for the Dancing Horse Challenge and can go back and forth from the show to the auction and the reception for appetizers, and free beer and wine courtesy of Bob Hall, Inc. and Ingleside Vineyard. Dinner will be served from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. In addition to enjoying great food, guests can mingle with the riders in the gala area where the band The Unruly Blues will perform until 11:30pm.

Daytime Activities
Both days from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be an exciting competition among dressage riders, many who were touched by breast cancer. Families also can enjoy boutique shopping from more than 45 merchants. Shopping hours are extended through 9 p.m. on Saturday. Saturday will feature pony rides, face painting, horse arts & crafts, stick horse building, t-shirt decorating, stick horse races, face painting and magic shows by Tony Ware.

Tickets
Daytime admission is free. Dancing Horse Challenge admission is a $25 per person donation; free for children under age 10. Discounts are also available for groups of 20 or more. Tickets can be purchased online at www.pvdarideforlife.org.

Gala admission is a $100 per person donation; $50 for children under 12. All reservations must be made by June 17. Tickets can be purchased online at www.pvdarideforlife.org or by contacting Jeannette Bair at 443.691.0390 or jeannettebair@hotmail.com. Children’s gala reservations must be made by contacting Bair.

Sponsorships also are available. Lead sponsors include Dover Saddlery, Land Rover, Nutrena Feeds and County Saddlery. For more information about the event, auction, sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, visit www.pvdarideforlife.org or contact Jeannette Bair at 443.691.0390 or jeannettebair@hotmail.com.

The Cause
Event proceeds all will be donated to the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center. Since its inception in 2004, the annual PVDA Ride for Life has raised over $400,000 for breast cancer research and improving the lives of those afflicted and their loved ones. This year, the event committee hopes to raise over $100,000.

Event History
Nine years ago, breast cancer survivor Patricia Artimovich found that her belief in the healing power of horses gave her the support to cry, to believe in her future and to gain strength through her battle and recovery. She felt that she had gained so much through her association with these “gentle giants” that she wanted to open that avenue to others and involve the dressage community.

Artimovich recommended that the Potomac Valley Dressage Association, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization), dedicate one of its one-day dressage shows and its proceeds to the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center, where she had received treatment. Since then, the Ride for Life has expanded to a weekend event and become a member of the Signature Dressage Series.

In the April 2012 issue, we wrote about the controversial topic of unwanted horses. In the June issue, our "We Hear You" section featured many reader responses to the article. Review the full article here.

He stands in a pen of mud and manure. His mane is long and tangled, and his feet haven’t been trimmed in over a year. Although he’s hungry, his kind expression and gentle face greet me hopefully when I approach the fence along with the humane officer who’s been called out by a worried passerby. He was once a champion. Now he’s starving and has no home. This is the plight of the unwanted horse.

The number of unwanted horses has increased significantly in the past five years, and experts agree on several contributing factors. With the minimum estimated annual cost for supporting a horse running between $1,800 and $3,600, the recession that hit our country hard in December of 2007 has made it simply impossible for some to support their horses. Meanwhile, closure of U.S. slaughterhouses that same year, the increased pressures on rescue facilities, cost of euthanasia and body disposal, and a greatly weakened horse market left many desperate owners with no options other than abandonment or neglect.

The harsh realities are hard to believe for horse lovers who haven’t hit desperate times, and aren’t faced with such decisions as “feed my horse or feed my family.” Misconception and controversy abound. In this article, I’ll answer the questions I’m frequently asked about the state of the unwanted horse.

Unwanted Horses: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is an “unwanted horse,” and why has this become such a problem?

A: The American Association of Equine Practitioners and now the American Horse Council’s Unwanted Horse Coalition define an unwanted horse as “one that is no longer wanted by its current owner because it is old; injured; sick; unmanageable; fails to meet the owner’s expectations in terms of performance, color, or breeding; or is a horse the owner can no longer afford to maintain.” Over 150,000 horses each year fit this description, and numbers are increasing steadily in these economically troubled times.

Experts agree on a combination of factors that have made the problem of and consequences for unwanted horses more prevalent. These include indiscriminate breeding, the struggling U.S. economy, the high cost of humane euthanasia and disposal of remains, and the closure of U.S. slaughterhouses. There are simply too many horses, and too few people who can afford to care for them.

Q: Why do people get a horse if they can't afford to take care of it?

A: In some situations, owners who once could afford their horses have found themselves out of a job. Savings are depleted, and they may even be at risk of losing their homes. Feeding and caring for their horses becomes a low priority.

In other cases, people simply aren’t educated enough about the cost and commitment required for horse ownership. One of the main objectives of the Unwanted Horse Coalition is to find ways to educate owners to purchase and own responsibly. Owning a horse is a luxury—and a long-term commitment.

Q: I hear so much about equine rescue facilities—don’t they rehabilitate these abused and neglected horses to help them find new homes?

A: Yes, they do. But sadly, rescue facilities throughout the country are almost all at or near capacity, meaning there simply aren’t enough resources to save every horse. In a national survey conducted by the Unwanted Horse Coalition in 2010, 63 percent of rescue facilities reported that they were at or near full capacity, and, on average, these facilities turn away 38 percent of horses brought to them. AAEP has estimated that 2,700 new rescue facilities would have to open every year to accommodate the number of unwanted horses at current increasing numbers.

Not every horse that ends up in a rescue facility can be adopted or sold. Reports from rescue-facility operators indicate that, on average, 25 percent are unadoptable due to age, health, or temperament issues. These unadoptable animals drain resources and limit the ability of rescuers to focus on horses that might be rehabilitated and rehomed. One of the proposed solutions to this problem is to adopt the small-animal model for managing populations at horse shelters, including euthanasia for unadoptable horses.

Finally, it’s sad but true that some horses must be rescued from their rescuers. Reports of neglect at rescue facilities that have run out of resources aren’t uncommon, and when a rescue facility fails, large numbers of unwanted horses may find themselves with nowhere else to go. Lack of rescue-facility regulation is a problem that needs to be addressed as part of the unwanted-horse dilemma.

Purina’s goal is to donate a half ton of Purina® Strategy® horse feeds to 400 rescue shelters. Purina® Strategy® horse feeds are a high-performance feed that have provided more than one billion feedings to horses of all ages and lifestyles. A portion of every bag sold will help fuel the contribution, giving horse owners the opportunity to help.

A Home for Every Horse was initiated by Equine Network and gives rescue shelters an effective, online method to place horses with loving families interested in adoption or fostering. A Home for Every Horse works under the Unwanted Horse Coalition, an organization that promotes responsible equine ownership and awareness of the options, services and assistance available to guarantee horses receive care and humane support throughout their lives.

Through a broad alliance of 29 equine organizations, including the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), Purina and others, a collective effort works to ensure everything possible is done so that no horse becomes unwanted.

"The UHC is so honored to be a part of A Home for Every Horse. With so many unwanted horses in our nation, we must really stress the importance of rescuing and adopting,” said Ericka Caslin, director with Unwanted Horse Coalition. “Not only are there so many talented and wonderful horses waiting for homes, but the adoption of a horse will free up a space for another horse to be rescued and saved."

“Helping to find homes for horses in need is an ambitious undertaking, and we at Purina believe it’s critical for organizations across the equine industry to come together in a united effort to help address this growing issue,” said Dave Hoogmoed, president of Purina Mills. “With thousands of horses across the country in need of shelter and nutrition, we must increase education and awareness about horse ownership, care, and adoption. This mission is at the core of the Unwanted Horse Coalition and one that Purina® supports through the partnership of A Home For Every Horse.”

Purina® Retailers Help Local Rescue Organization
The plight of the rescue horse is one familiar to horse lovers. The burden of care often falls on rescue shelters that take in these horses. That’s why some Purina® dealers are realizing opportunities to make a difference in their own communities.

In spirit of A Home for Every Horse, three Purina® dealers in northern California united to support an area rescue organization, Sonoma Action for Equine Rescue (SAFER). Friendly Feed and Supply, Frizelle Enos Feeds and Rainbow Agriculture each donated a half ton of Purina® horse feed to SAFER for rescue horses in Sonoma County and the surrounding area. In addition, Purina matched the generous donations with an additional half ton of feed.

“SAFER has done so much for members of this community, and these partnerships allow us to create awareness and help solve some of the challenges that horses and horse owners face during tough economic times,” said Jim Mayfield, president of Rainbow Agriculture. “We’ve been a Purina® product dealer for close to thirty years and it means a lot to be associated with a brand that truly cares about the welfare of horses and horse owners.”

“This donation translates directly into how many horses we can afford to take in and help find homes for in the community. We’ve been working so hard that we haven’t had the opportunity to do much fundraising and we just hoped that if we did the work, the support would come,” said Kate Sullivan, president of SAFER. “Our foster shelters will see a lot more success stories because we’ll be able to provide a lot more feed assistance.”

Horse lovers interested in adopting an animal in need can visit www.ahomeforeveryhorse.com to search for available horses in their area. A Home for Every Horse is hosted and promoted by Equine.com, the industry’s largest website for buying and selling horses, with a network of more than 1.5 million horse owners.

For more information on the American Horse Council’s Unwanted Horse Coalition, visit www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org. And to learn more about the partnership between the Unwanted Horse Coalition and Purina® Horse Feed, visit www.feedyourstrategy.com.