Hunter Horse Haven Inc. Rehabilitation, Rehoming & Sanctuary

14/03/2023

Please support Cindys Promise the amazing charity that over many many years has saved more horses than most horse rescues in Australia and now they need everyone’s help.

Cin’s charitable horse rescue has always been exactly what all charitable horse rescues should strive to become and her wealth of knowledge unsurpassed.

Please if you can help them continue to save horses please donate.

Even just the amount of a cup of coffee adds up.

The Australian Horse Industry cannot afford to lose yet another organisation who makes such a massive difference in so many horses lives.
Please if you help it would be appreciated so very much.

Bank Details for Cindys Promise

Commonwealth Bank
Cindys Promise - Rescue & Rehab inc.
BSB 063 599
ACC 1084 8538

Regards
Deb Barber

PLEASE SHARE!!!!! We HAVENT GIVEN UP.

CP has to survive and continue helping those with no other option. Our minds haven’t rested for a second as we continue to find ways to get through this crisis. I can’t let this go. I just can’t.

For the horses I whisper. For the horses…

There are so many reasons that we need to continue our work. Just ONE of those reasons is the very well known “Twister”. It’s impossible to believe that this precious baby’s life almost ended before it even started. But it’s true. And all because of his “twisted face”. Back in 2016 - I was made aware of a poor, sad and very frightened little baby standing in the saleyards.

So many people gathering to have a look at the baby with a twisted face. He was just 1 year old.

I immediately got on the phone and secured his life forever. I will never forget the day this sweet but very broken and confused baby arrived to us. I fell in love instantly. Not a single tiny bad bone in his body.

The kindest soul you could ever meet. The kind that makes friends with everyone - even the birds and butterflies. He just does not have a judgemental attitude towards anyone or anything. “Twister” was born with a condition called “wry nose”. It’s believed to be from malpositioning in mums uterus.

Our boy is now almost 8 years old and living his very best life. Safe forever and so dearly loved. Twister was not better off dead at all. He lives a perfectly normal and happy life in his herd with his best friend “Red”.

The two are inseparable and have been since the very beginning. “Red” was another baby condemned to death by everyone because he was different. Red was born with wobblers syndrome and severe club feet.

We saved him from certain death at the saleyards as a 2 year old - not long after a twister. We were “cruel” for saving him from death and he could never live a happy life. Couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure - he needs special trimming and can’t be ridden but he just loves life.

There is just 2 reasons. There are so many more stories just like this.

We are well short of our goal. Well short of the $15,000 needed to keep our rescue going. Thankyou from the bottom of my heart to those of you who have donated already.

Can we count on you tonight to chip in to save Cindy’s Promise?

Just $5 from each and every one of you would help us so very much. It’s just your morning coffee but one that will make sure we can continue to do what is best for our precious horses in their darkest times.

If you can please write the word DONE below after you have donated and please please share this post far and wide.

Lets do this for horses like Twister and Red.

Please help us! This is our SOS.

Please donate now: https://cindys-promise---rescue--rehab-inc.giveeasy.org/help-save-our-rescue-tonight

Or bank details in comments

08/03/2023

Am adding this to the page as I use to rescue these little guys and apart from their not so kind teeth they have extraordinary personalities.
Yes I was bitten numerous times but rehabilitating them was always full of wonder and a privilege .

If you could sign and/or share to help these mischievous natives it would be greatly appreciated.
They need all the help they can get.

Deb Barber

08/03/2023

Patience is healing

14/02/2023

RE- Hostile takeover of charitable horse rescue Hunter Horse Haven Inc.
Re- Letters 1 & 2 from Acting Committee and my replies

I am attaching a couple of letters I received from the current Acting Committee and my replies.
I thought it better that volunteers, supporters and donors receive the correspondence in the same order I did. I received Letter 2 first.
It would be easier to read the letters prior to my input below as I have noted some situational awareness for all on issues so people can form their own opinions, also my corresponding reply to their correspondence is screenshot for perusal.

I am also attaching additional correspondence where I beg them to meet and solve the issue without tearing the charity apart. This meeting would not have been against any requirements under the Charities, Incorporation Acts as it is preferred issues are resolved without impacting on the actual charity.

Situational awareness regarding correspondence from HHH Acting Committee below-

The 1st paragraph refers to a letter dated 18th December which I never received into any of the 6 email accounts or 2 mobiles I manage which was eventually resent to me in January and will be attached to a separate post where I will provide information on the complaint on myself regarding 3/12/22.

I was in hospital critically ill with Pleurisy, Pneumonia and blood clots in my lungs during December and over Xmas period and had no knowledge of any correspondence until January so was unable to reply. The current acting committee were aware that I was hospitalised.

Item 1-
As a founding member who registered the charity, incorporation, I am not required to apply nor pay for membership. The Australian Charities and Not-For-Profit Commission and Fair Trading have confirmed this and I have attached the relevant Section of the charities governing document below for your perusal.

(3) A person is taken to be a member of the association if the person was one of the individuals on whose behalf an application for registration of the association under section 6 (1) (a) of the Act was made.

The letter states the Committee met and discussed my membership to Hunter Horse Haven Inc. yet on repeated requests by myself and others for copies of how a Committee was formed and minutes of such no provision of these documents by the Acting Committee to members has been provided at any time.
We were informed by a participant that the Acting Committee formed a Facebook chat group and decided who would take what positions and how they were going to remove myself from the Presidents role and as a member of Hunter Horse Haven Inc. If in fact a meeting was called at the time I was President therefore a committee member and not notified of any meeting nor that the members who resigned from Hunter Horse Haven Inc. Committee in December were forming THEIR OWN ACTING COMMITTEE.

The next section discusses my mental capacity and the fact they utilised my mental health to remove me as President.
My comment on my mental health they have quoted was provided only to the committee chat group and does not state anywhere I was incapable of fulfilling my roles as President, Public Officer, Horse Care Coordinator, Publicity Officer, Mediation Officer, Emergency Management Officer and the member who drafts all our Policies and Procedures of which I am currently finalising 73 and Incident (Neglect Property) coordinator.
In fact on the 5/12/22 I delivered required horse products to Volunteer Tracy and checked on the Hunter Horse Haven Inc horse, Big Fudge a thoroughbred, she is holding and drove over 400kms to assess the 8 neglect properties to ensure this was completed prior to requesting mental health help from my counsellor and psychiatrist who have supported me for many years in my efforts to not only save horses but provide free programs for people suffering from anxiety, depression and also disabled people.
Also I requested their help as in October 2 men broke into my unit with a crowbar and their attack nearly killed me resulting in body injuries, severe concussion, 7 broken facial bones on the right side of my face and nerve damage which impacts on my ability to feel the right side of my face including my mouth and nose. I was repeatedly beaten with a crowbar, strangled and a lot of my hair pulled out as the guy dragged me around smashing everything in my unit. They nearly killed me.
This attack did impact on me mentally as I always thought I could protect myself and for over a month I slept with a knife in my sports bra and didn’t open my front door to anyone.
I continue to attend medical appointments regarding my face BUT the attack NEVER impacted on my ability to fulfil my roles for Hunter Horse Haven Inc.
I also attended a shocking neglect property in November with 9 dead horses starved to death, 3 dead foals and 4 live mares.
The reason I have lasted so long attending neglect properties, over 30 years, and mentally managed with my position at NSW Agriculture in exotic disease requiring me to coordinate the euthanasia of all targeted species within the Control Area is that I accept when confronted with such devastating sights and situations our minds and hearts may need the help and support only professionals can provide. This is the process I was taught during my time with NSW Agriculture.

To utilise anyones mental health to achieve their nefarious goals portrays their lack of compassion or care for anyone with mental health issues and explains why they have persisted to refuse to recommence mental health days for kids and adults. Discrimination on anyone that provides information that their mental health requires help and support is extremely disappointing and derogatory in this day and age.
To my mental health team who I know some of you will be reading this I Thankyou for your years of kindness and support that has ensured the rescue of hundreds of horses and ensured I could provide the aid to many other adults and kids that unfortunately suffer from anxiety and/or depression. I have an extraordinary team of physicians that have over the years implemented help and support not only for myself but have attended the horse paddock and helped many kids, teenagers and adults in an open environment where young people opened up more freely than sitting in an office.

As I was not mentally incapacitated and evidence is available to prove I continued to fulfil my Hunter Horse Haven Inc. positions and monitor neglect properties the Acting Committees action of
removing me under Clause 18, of Fair Trading Governing Document is not viable.
You cannot declare the Presidents position vacant when a Vice President is available and suppose to cover any issues if the President isn’t available.

I won’t go into every section as some has already been answered and others are very obviously not impartial to provide fair and honest treatment of myself.

The caravans were donated to the charity to ensure I had accomodation at the paddock when required. I have not removed my personal items at this time.

The section on my horses.
There is an agreement in place that my horses are fed by volunteers due to their extensive use as program horses over the years and the fact I was lucky enough to be personally permitted use of the property by the very nice caring owner under an honour agreement.
My horses are the only ones teenagers etc can be taught to ride on.
This agreement is now in jeopardy thanks to whatever unsavoury rubbish they have provided the property owner with.
The personal value of my horses to myself and others who have been trained with my horses and love them dearly is immense.
The monetary value of my 4 horses exceeds $34,000 as they are registered Paint/Quarterhorse mares yet the Acting Committee hasn’t provided them with feed and the nutrients they require for well over a month. I personally paid for both bore water and soil tests on the property and with the aid of horse nutritionalists formed a diet for all horses to subsidise vitamins and minerals lacking in the soil and pasture.
Without MSM horse hooves degrade quickly on the property and hoof abscesses rise substantially.
Cheeky one of my horses is currently suffering a painful unnecessary hoof abscess that may not have happened if she was kept on the diet we have had her on for all her life.
For the past 5 years Cheeky has been ridden by volunteer adults and kids at the paddock and ridden by them to the beach and deserves for all her service to be fed and cared for appropriately. Any horse utilised in programs deserves to be cared for appropriately and their diet implemented by someone knowledgeable on the horses individual requirements.
Buddy is also one of mine as I purchased him approximately 12 months prior to moving to the current paddock and he has been utilised as a program horse for kids constantly since my family and I registered the Charity.

Letter dated 18th December-

There was no vile string of abuse and I apologised for what I said but obviously that apology was not accepted like I had to accept numerous apologies from the same person over the past 12 months for her numerous abusive phone calls.
On the 3/12/22 yet again the treasurer who endeavoured to micromanage every section of Hunter Horse Haven Inc. derogatorily altered horses diets even after we had discussed the need for the horses to receive specific diets within 5 hours previously on the phone.
You cannot remove the 2nd feed of a thoroughbred and toss it in the first removing the second feed totally.
After receiving abusive phone calls from this person periodically all year, at least a dozen times, I had received enough.
I fought for the horses to receive round bales during winter as there was minimal nutritious pasture but my request was denied by the treasurer as she stated they were too expensive. The fact is that’s why people donate money to ensure the horses receive the best care.
The horses feed order was altered by the treasurer to a product containing too much sugar to save $5 per bag. I contacted the feed store and changed the order back to the correct feed. For this I again was abused during a phone call. I can only hope the horses remain on the correct produce now as I have no input into their care since they either formed all their own chat groups or removed me from current ones.
I copped a string of abuse when I voted NO to allocating $500 of donors funds to the bridge entry.
I suggested the round yard grant be utilised on an aluminium prefabricated yard so it wasn’t a permanent structure and moveable and for this yet again I was abused.
I can only attach one written apology from the treasurer as any other time her apology was a day or two later or maybe a week via a phone call.
I never registered any complaint on the treasurer as that would of impacted on the charity itself. That was obviously a mistake. When she was abusing me she wasn’t abusing others and the charity functioned fine like that although I would sit in tears for ages yet tell no one.
If the treasurer would of just remained committed to her own position which she did quite well and not tried to control every aspect and issue in Hunter Horse Haven Inc. including horse care, rehoming, maintenance , answering emails, membership, grants, every aspect except neglect properties there wouldn’t have been an issue.
To remove myself from her vicinity and that of her loyal followers I frequented the paddock of an afternoon rather than a morning to check on horses, provide 3rd feeds where required and take family to visit the horses.

I’ve covered other issues noted in the correspondence previously so won’t elaborate again on the same topics.

Deb Barber
Founder of Hunter Horse Haven Inc.

14/02/2023

RE- Neglect properties and Acting Committee

Hi all

Firstly I would like to thank everyone for their support and kindness during the difficult time Hunter Horse Haven Inc. is currently facing.

Secondly apologise if I haven’t replied to your comment as a couple of neglect properties required full attention.
Thankfully of the 4 assessed this week 2 can be removed from fortnightly assessment and continued contact with horse owners will be monthly.

On here I categorise these properties as neglect properties but the written evidentiary reports are classed as incident reports.
Thanks to my previous history working with NSW Agriculture in Emergency Management and Exotic Disease the requirement to always collate evidence and the importance of providing an evidentiary paper trail was impressed on all employees. The first Horse Industry Incident Report was drafted and implemented by a very computer smart lady who was part of my National Horse Industry Group for several years and these Incident reports helped force positive change in several sections of the Australian Horse Industry.
To this day I continue to ensure incident reports are completed on any issues in the horse industry that pertain to horse welfare.
As such the past 12 months has resulted in 143 Incident Reports including neglect properties, horses left stranded by racing industries, inhumane horse transport and unethical horse trading or training.etc.
These reports then provide photographic evidence and statements of systemic failure of horse welfare in sections of the Australian horse welfare system which I provide to relevant authorities.

Unfortunately my ability to continue to assess neglected horses on properties has been severely impacted on due to the current circumstances in Hunter Horse Haven Inc. and visually assessing the horses will now have to be reduced. As I am only on a pension and one person I cannot afford to spend half of my fortnightly food money on fuel to attend properties a cost Hunter Horse Haven Inc. use to partially cover.
Under the Incident Report process I found neglected horses like Jet, Gabriel, Honey, Spider, Sally, Ebony, Phoenix, Luna and so many many others who with the help of rangers and/or stewards they were removed or surrendered from properties and taken into care of Hunter Horse Haven Inc.

So the impact of the actions of the current Hunter Horse Haven Inc. Acting Committee will have a far broader impact and effect on the many that they don’t even realise including horse owners who are desperate for help to save their horses but cannot afford to keep and feed due to personal circumstances many from loss of jobs due to COVID. In those situations I try to implement a support process which will now become extinct.
To all those people I am so sorry.

We finally found out who elected themselves and each other onto the committee. List is attached. Some of them previously resigned in December, formed a chat group and a plan to hold a meeting to elect each other as committee members which they conducted. As a committee meeting cannot be called without notifying all current committee members, I as President was not notified resulting in yet another breach of all documents and Acts regarding Charity management.

It is extremely sad to view one name on the Acting Committee who I thought of as a good friend of mine for many years but good friends don’t participate in the nefarious and unconstitutional acts that impact on not only the horses in the rescue but the many helped under the Incident policy I manage that no one else participates in except myself. And for that person to be involved in trying to remove my horses from the property is heartbreaking.

Now we know who have unethically, immorally and unconstitutionally made themselves the Acting Committee we can become even more concerned as none of them have ever had anything to do with the actual management of Hunter Horse Haven Inc.nor have adequate horse feeding or training knowledge.

A point that has to be made is there is the one person who instigated all this, who continues to assist in this takeover and is the very person who over the past 12 months has verbally abused and yelled at me countless times on the phone then apologised for her actions, something in a court of law she would be required to admit to yet has refrained from informing anyone of her conduct.
My mistake was not participating in derogatory gossip to enlist support like she did as my priority was the charity, horses and people who have built the charity to what it had become. Derogatory gossip causes more problems and loss of people in charities and committees than any other issue.

Note that there are some of us that continue to fight to reclaim our charity but as the Acting Committee refuses to provide documentation on any meeting and how they were voted into their positions, alteration of bank account signatures, approval of expenditure or approve members that disagree with their narrative the situational view is way too bias for us to currently profess we can win our charity back at the meeting at Salt Ash Community Centre on Thursday 16/2/23 at 6pm.

If you wish to join Hunter Horse Haven Inc. and see if you can be approved for membership prior to the meeting on Thursday our membership form is available on our website and is required to be sent to the ACTING SECRETARY Nicole Flood at [email protected]

Or if you wish to send complaints on this situation and the fact MEDIATION wasn’t implemented just an attack on myself an email of your opinion to the ACTING COMMITTEE would be great.

Request a receipt if you pay membership as one of our long term members paid her renewal fee weeks ago yet at this time continues to be notified when she requests documents that she is a provisional member therefore cannot be provided with any of the above stated documentation. She also won’t be able to vote for me at the meeting because they won’t approve her membership which is their method of ensuring they control who is voting therefore bias to the extreme.

If anyone had wanted to have a go at being President I would of supported them and helped them all the way but no one has ever wanted any of the numerous positions I hold.

Volunteers were provided with the attached message in the volunteer chat group which states incorrect information but as I said they control the narrative.
I attended the paddock of an afternoon feeding the horses their 3rd feed as there wasn’t enough volunteers and on a few occasions others including family joined me.
The Acting Committee parked the paddock Ute across the paddocks entrance to stop any entry by myself or the long term members supporting me. This is the only entrance to the paddock for emergency services so in the case of a fire the entrance was blocked.
While I had so many neglect properties and industry meetings to attend and continued to devote at least 6-8 hours a day to Hunter Horse Haven Inc issues many volunteers were aware of what I was doing and supported my efforts including sending supportive messages which I have attached.
No other volunteer has ever liaised with any racing industry nor attended any industry meeting nor has any idea of the numerous stewards and rangers I liaise with weekly.

Everyone must remember that any charities Management Committee are just representatives of the general membership and charity itself not a law unto themselves therefore should provide equality to all members, truth and honourable intentions without bias nor nefarious agendas.

Deb Barber
Founder of Hunter Horse Haven Inc.

07/02/2023

An update on the meeting I attended with Racing Industries reps.
For many years myself, contacts and friends have battled on a National scale to raise the welfare standards of ALL retiring racehorses and ensure they are provided with traceability and humane rehoming.
On the Thoroughbred issue we have moved forward 10 steps and back 2 since they ceased making an effort to help all retired Thoroughbreds.
This is an issue that will again be discussed next meeting.
When it comes to the Harness Industry steps forward are unfortunately minimal but we continue to fight to raise the retirement plans for STANDARDBREDs.
They refuse to apply adequate funds and personnel to implement humane retirement processes which is unacceptable.

The years and years I have fought for humane retirement seems endless and sometimes a huge uphill battle.

Over the past 5 months the number of neglect properties has risen and locally throughout the Hunter Valley I alone currently monitor 9 neglect properties with over 120 horses residing on them, many are retired racehorses.

In November I attended a property with 9 starved dead horses, 3 dead foals and 4 live skeletons that were mares and in appalling condition.
One I immediately stabled and placed on intravenous fluids until the veterinarian could attend the next day.
I alone attend these properties and horse industry meetings, no one from Hunter Horse Haven Inc. has ever attended and helped the horses on neglect properties nor attended an industry meeting nor have any idea of the process or contacts required to do either which is unfortunate.

But I would like to thank the beautiful local Ranger who came on her off day to help,
The truck guys who donated their time and equipment to remove the dead horses which was so very kind of you and an awful job to do.

I carried the foals off the property as I couldn’t handle seeing them thrown into a tip truck.

A huge Thankyou to the locals who helped place donations in a bucket to help the few of us cover some of the costs.
Also I would like to thank a couple of locals who were so very supportive and helped throughout the very long day to do what needed to be done.

At this time 3 of the 4 mares survived and I organised for them to be cared for close to where they came from and speak to the carer daily.
Unfortunately one of the mares had to be euthanised.

To all those that have worked beside me over the past dozen or more years to raise horse welfare nationally I provide a heart felt thank you for always being there.

To face what we face on these properties time and time again takes it’s toll but the support, kindness and understanding of others around us is what keeps us going helping the many horses in extremely horrific conditions.

Also without Hunter Horse Haven Inc. and the current orders from the people managing it that I cannot contact any member of Hunter Horse Haven Inc. my hands are tied on actually taking any of these emaciated horses in.
All rescues are full so there are very few options left.

I cannot attach a photo of the horses on the property stated as it may impact on current legal proceedings but I can attach older photos of other horses in similar condition so you understand how grave the situation was.

The reason I started Hunter Horse Haven Inc was to prioritise horses on neglect properties and intercept horses going to slaughter.
As the current management of Hunter Horse Haven Inc. won’t accept emaciated horses only near fit horses that are easier and quicker to rehome and preferably rideable quickly the charity is now not an option for neglected horses.

The attached photos are older photos but the horses are of similar weight to those on the property stated.

Thankyou everyone who have understood why I do what I do and supported my efforts over the many many years.
Your support and friendship will always be appreciated and never forgotten.

RIP to all those we were too late to save.

Deb Barber

25/01/2023

MEET DUKE

Duke (racing name Drifting) is needing to find his forever home.

His is a 17h ottb and is 17 years old. Duke’s ideal home would be a companion home. He needs an experienced handler only. Duke is a roarer and has had a tie back surgery.
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Duke, in his previous years, has done low-level dressage, pony club and training days.

Unfortunately the current owner needs to rehome him urgently. He is currently in Maitland 2320.

If you feel you can offer Duke an amazing home, please reach out.

At the Hunter Horse Haven we are happy to share this opportunity amongst our many Facebook members who may be able to assist the owner. We will forward all serious enquiries to her so she can provide further information.

Thank you.

31/12/2022

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As 2022 draws to a close, we'd like to thank all of our wonderful volunteers for the work they have put into every aspect of making our work successful! They have tirelessly worked through an extremely long, wet, year to give our beautiful horses a fresh start in life. We have had many very successful rehomings as well as rehabilitations which you will have seen from our posts - all thanks to our volunteers and our supporters - you!

Our work wouldn't have been possible without the financial support from you! We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank at Taylors Beach for helping us with BBQs and donations, Return & Earn for having us as a charity of choice of their recycling app, Port Stephens Recycling for a great donation and the numerous other local businesses such as Cruises who donated items such as raffle prizes. There are too many to mention all supporters but we are truly grateful.

If you'd like to join our volunteer team, please send us an email to [email protected].

If you'd like to make a donation, a direct deposit to our bank account would be great! Every little bit helps! Donations over $2 are tax deductible. If you'd like a receipt please email us.

St George Bank: BSB 112-879
Account No 424 646 789

We're looking forward to a very Happy 2023 for our horses, volunteers and you!

This is our beautiful boy, Pirate. He came to us skinny and needing dental work and assessment. But he has come along beautifully and he has an endearing habit of pointing to his food bowl - "in here please!".

THANK YOU and HAPPY NEW YEAR!