July 2020 Issue

The News East Coast Horse Owners Need To Know OUR TH YEAR 1993 - PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 280 LANC., PA 17604 Vol. 27 No. 6 July 2020 (Continued on page 8) Trailer & Transport news!...pgs. 16-20 …and much more! Positive Pandemic News: Horse Adoptions Surge By Amy Worden In calendar year 2019 Last Chance Ranch in Quakertown, PA placed a total of 37 horses. By mid-June 2020 they had placed 41 horses, half of them during the COVID lockdown. Small pet shelters have experienced a surge of adoptions of “pandemic puppies” over the last three months as many work- ing people, now sequestered at home, decided it was a good time to bring a cat or dog into their households. But pandemic ponies? Across the region, horse rescue groups are reporting high- er than average adoption rates during the pandemic. Nobody really knows why. In fact, shelter operators say, record unemployment levels meant they were bracing for more people to abandon horses. “There has been pandemic demand,” said Jackie Burke, ex- ecutive director of Last Chance Ranch. “We didn’t expect it. We expected a lot of horses to be dropped off.” Burke said her rescue is on track to adopt out as many as 70 horses and ponies by year end, the highest number since 2012. Christine Hajek, founder and president of Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue in Mt. Airy, Md., said she too is seeing a big uptick in adoption inquiries. Since Mary- land began to open up in mid- June the rescue is hosting three to four appointments per day, compared with one or two a day prior to the COVID shutdown. “Inquiries skyrocketed, but for a time we couldn't have Auction Prices Rise, Fewer Ship to Slaughter people come try horses. We are catching up now,” said Hajek. She said she thinks the interest may stem from high- er-than-normal Internet use. “Maybe people had more time sitting around surfing the web and fantasizing about a horse or maybe riding was one of the few things they could do [in the lockdown],” Hajek said. The Standardbred Retirement Foundation in New Jersey reported nearly double the number of adop- tions and foster homes in the three- month period ending June 10. Executive Director Judith Bokman said the combined adop- tions and foster homes during the period was 60, compared with 33 in a 14-week period in the spring of last year. “Adoptions were ALL sight unseen because the farm we used would not permit visitors,” said Bokman. “We have 11 appoint- ments with potential adopters for next week.” Tina Snyder, executive direc- tor of Safe Haven Equine War- riors, a small rescue in Sykesville, Md, also reported higher than usual interest in adoptions. “I think with everyone’s vacations and summer plans canceled and more leisure time, people who have wanted to get a horse but didn’t have time or money are finally doing it, said Snyder, whose rescue adopts out six to seven horses a year. “The end result was a couple really good adoptions shortly after we began appointments again!” she said. The COVID shutdown has taken a toll on horse rescue fund- raising efforts across the region. While all in-person fundrais- ers were cancelled, some rescues reported they were able to turn to their supporters to help get them through the dry period. Safe Haven, which buys hors- es from auction kill buyers and takes some owner surrenders, was able to keep most of the proceeds from their annual “Hoedown for Horses,” even though the March fundraiser was never held. “Our loyal followers have really stepped up to make sure we are ok,” said Snyder. Only two of the 300 people who bought tickets at $45 apiece, requested refunds and that was because COVID had financially affected them, she said. “Everyone else simply do- nated the money.” Able to Rescue More The swifter movement of horses out the doors has meant some rescues could bring more horses in. Hajek said her herd is down to 136 horses (they have had close to 200 at times) and that allowed her to go back to the New Holland auction in June to rescue seven more unwanted draft horses. Rescue operators report that prices for riding horses Inside... Photo credit: Gentle Giants Horse Rescue Jodie Hillman, Columbia, MD, added a second rescue horse to her stable during the pandemic. Dr. Pepper was purchased at the New Holland Auction by Gentle Giants Horse Rescue in Mt. Airy, MD, who outbid a kill buyer. He was adopted as a buddy for another draft horse Hilllman adopted from Gentle Giants in February. In fraught times, horses bridge the gap between police & citizens … pg. 4 Work to Ride grad, 27, tells the program’s story, and his … pg. 10 Former Amish cart pony is USEA Horse of the Month for June …pg. 12