The pastures around our Ash Street barn are green again at last! After way too many late winter storms, we’re more than ready to celebrate summer’s arrival with old and new friends at our Family Fun Day open house on June 10. Community outreach and education about the vital work we do to save at-risk horses are important aspects of our mission. Please help spread the word and join us this weekend for a fun and meaningful gathering (details below).
Broadening support for our mission is especially critical right now, since we’ve been receiving many more calls than usual from owners in crisis. It’s heart-breaking to turn away owners and equines in desperate situations, but our capacity to take in, feed, shelter, care for, and rehabilitate at-risk horses and donkeys is limited by available funds.
In this newsletter, we happily share news of the inspiring NEER North rescues we’ve placed in adoptive or foster situations over the last few months. But the need for equine rescue in our local area is great, and we’d love to be able to do more.
As always, we deeply appreciate the help of the dedicated volunteers, donors, board members, and friends who make NEER North’s work possible. Transforming the lives of frightened, abused, or starving animals takes a lot more than money. The hard work, dedication, skill, and love provided by our extended community are truly our most valuable resources. Thank you for all you do!
Mary Martin Founder and President
NEER North
FEATURED HORSE: CHARLIE
Meet new arrival Charlie, a handsome,16hh, 11-year old Appendix with low-level eventing and hunter show experience and seemingly great potential. Charlie is still under assessment, but he’s likely to be a good match for an intermediate to advanced rider. So far, he’s been responsive and happy in our work with him over poles and small fences.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Adopted!!
We’re delighted to report that six NEER North rescues have had their adoptions finalized since our last newsletter. Successful adoptions are the ultimate goal of the work we do and often the culmination of months of effort on the part of numerous NEER North volunteers and professional partners. Please join us in celebrating:
Sky (featured horse in our last newsletter), who is in his new forever home with Ken T. in Connecticut. We’ve heard that Ken and Sky are enjoying trail rides together. What a great match!
Bonnie is in her new home with Jaimie M. in MA. Jaimie enjoys sweet Bonnie’s spunkiness under saddle and has taken her out swimming on trails. She says Bonnie has even learned some tricks.
Spencer is now at home with Karen W. in New Hampshire and doing well. His back issues are being treated successfully and he’s being ridden regularly and in competition. This is a terrific outcome for an amazing horse.
Georgia’s new home is in Massachusetts with Sue B. Always well-behaved, Georgia is great with children and should make a perfect pony companion.
Mini donkey Bogie is enjoying life in his own inimitable way with Melissa D. in Maine.
Sincere thanks to the adoptive families who have stepped in to give these beautiful and resilient rescues a new start in life. We wish you all the best in your new adventures together!
Adopted and Winning Ribbons!!
Of course, all our NEER North alumni are winners, but we have to do a little extra bragging about Haflinger-cross pony Apollo, who was adopted earlier this year by Barbie in New Hampshire. More than thriving in his new home, Apollo recently competed in his first 3-day show and was named champion in his Jumper division. Well done Apollo, and thank you Barbie! Obviously the two of you are a winning combination.
Apollo in ribbon-winning form.
Photo Credit: Amy Bean
Barbie taking off with Apollo.
“Out of all the horses I’ve ever ridden he is my all-time favorite!”
We are equally proud of Pete, another NEER North alumnus pony who recently competed in his first horse show and won two ribbons! Congratulations to Pete and his adoptive mom Rachel.
Ribbon-winner Pete.
In Foster
Foster families are very important members of the NEER North community. Foster care with qualified parties can help horses and donkeys make progress in their rehabilitation and move a step closer to adoption. Fostering frees up space at our barn and allows us to respond to new rescues in urgent need.
We are grateful to the following for fostering NEER North equines at no charge to us or with full sponsorship:
Allison Armodt, for fostering Boo
The Angstadt family for fostering Smirk
Becky Durgin for fostering the Belgians Mike and Jim(sponsored by Liz Liacos)
Cordula Robinson for fostering Violet
Horses of Hope for fostering Savvy
Savvy (fostered at Horses of Hope) learning to jump!
New Arrivals
Marvel is a newly arrived Haflinger, currently under evaluation.
Please stay tuned.
Mini horse Molly is a real sweetheart. Currently under evaluation—possibly pregnant with a mini-mule! We’ll keep you posted.
Sassy has just arrived and is under evaluation. She’s a pretty Hackney pony who has won many blue ribbons showing in harness.
Please check our website www.neernorth.org in the coming weeks for more information on these new NEER North residents.
SEE and BE SEEN
Community outreach and education are part of our mission. In recent weeks, we’ve welcomed barn visits from: a Georgetown Girl Scout troop, students from the Nock Middle School in Newburyport, and an enthusiastic and hard-working group of Pentucket High School seniors who did a fantastic job of helping us spruce up the place.
Georgetown Junior Girl Scout troop 86217 visited the barn recently as they worked toward earning a badge.
We’ve also been out and about in the North Shore area to spread the word about our organization with appearances at Essex County Co-op and Mass School of Law events in March, the April ECTA tack sale at the Topsfield Fair Grounds, and Agricultural Fair Day at Essex County Co-op in May.
ECTA 23rd Annual Equine Expo
Thank You Smart Pal
Non-cash donations of needed goods or services are an important way that local businesses support NEER North. We’d like to give special thanks to Smart Pak for a recent donation of equine supplements, including joint supplements that will help some of our senior rescues with pain relief and mobility gains.
Spring Family Fun Day at NEER North, Sunday, June 10
Pipestave Horse Trials in West Newbury, MA on July 8
Zoo Creatures in Plaistow NH on July 15
NEER North in the Yankee Homecoming Parade, Sunday, August 5
NEER North fall Open House/Family Fun Day, September 15
NEER North at the Topsfield Fair, September 28-October 8
Pipestave Horse Trials, West Newbury, MA on October 7
9th Annual Benefit Auction, Danvers, Saturday, October 20
Fundraiser Craft Fair at West Newbury Town Hall, December 2
New England Equine Rescue 9th Annual Benefit Auction
will be held on October 20. The venue is the same as last year: Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Danvers, MA. All proceeds support our non-profit mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding homes for at-risk horses and donkeys.
Now is the time to get on board by donating silent and live auction items, such as vacation home stays, jewelry, art, sports tickets and memorabilia, and themed gift baskets.
New this year: We are looking for sponsors for the official auction program. This is fantastic way to raise the visibility of your business while supporting the worthwhile cause of horse rescue.
Holiday Craft Fair
Save the date of December 2 for a Holiday Craft Fair to benefit NEER North. Event will be held at the West Newbury Town Hall from 9-4. Vendors keep proceeds, but pay a fee for space to NEER North. This is a fantastic way to showcase and sell your products while contributing to a worthwhile cause. For details, please contact Susan Wong at Woodspring2@comcast.net.
AROUND THE BARN
Urgent Needs
We need to address some significant issues with our water hydrants this summer. This requires fixing an underground leak and replacing a hydrant in addition to running a new water line to reach some of our distant paddocks. It’s costly but essential work, and we are actively seeking donations to make it possible.
We also need to repair the leak in the roof above the hayloft and acquire additional run-in sheds as soon as possible.
We are grateful for gifts of any size that will help us keep our barn and paddocks functional and safe.
Please go to http://www.neernorth.org/donate/ to donate.
Done!
Have you noticed? We have a new, much needed gravel driveway that will make plowing and parking less perilous in the winter and spring. We’ve also just completed wiring for an electric fence on the fourth paddock. Many thanks to Ed Curtis of Ed’s Land Management for his work on these major projects.
Tack Store –Equestrian Shoppers’ Paradise
Business at our Tack Exchange continues to be brisk. Please check out http://www.neernorth.org/tackshop/ for more information and hours of operation. Thanks to everyone who donates and shops there.
Tom Cat Sign-off
Ahh, summer! It’s time to cut back on my grueling winter routine of intense snoozing by the heater, rigorous daily stretching, counting snowflakes, receiving my public, and thinking great thoughts. I need to unwind. My vacation plans include leisurely walks in the pastures, maybe some fence hopping, meet-ups with moles, mice, and insects, and afternoon naps in the sun. Summer office hours by chance only.
“There’s something about riding on a prancing horse that makes you feel like something, even if you ain’t worth a thing.”—Will Rogers
