Bluemont Equine Sanctuary

12/09/2024

This photo may not seem like a lot but it’s one I’ll cherish forever. Our team member Angie saw Beau try to trot in his field. He had a big spill and went down behind his run in shed. His paddock has a few wet spots but by and large is very dry. It’s been a dry Fall and start to Winter and the grading in our paddocks is excellent. But Beau has a condition called DSLD which has advanced dramatically in the last year. Angie called us right away and Carl ran over to assess Beau. This assessment started with a big reassuring hug, one that Sam joined in on. I might be anthropomorphizing here but you can see that Beaus pride took a beating and his knees are covered in dirt. This reassurance from one of his caretakers meant the world to Beau. This is what sanctuary is all about.

After we checked Beau over the girls went to work on cleaning him head to toe. There’s no need for him to walk around with the evidence of his fall all over his body further injuring his pride. Beau is a strong stoic boy who deals with his pain quietly. Two young women who love horses very much doted on this old boy showing care to both his ego and his aching body. He stood quietly as they got all the dirt off and tended to his coat and sore parts.

Beau will unfortunately need to cross the rainbow bridge soon. These types of falls can end tragically and DSLD is very painful. He’s on a daily pain management cocktail along with an ulcer preventative but he’s ready to join the love of his life Winnie in a better place where he can leave his earthly body behind. As I personally schedule the steps that are involved in offering our horses the final act of kindness my heart breaks yet again.

Caring for a horse like Beau is our highest honor. Beau’s owner passed away and the family members in charge of the estate sent Beau to auction. He travelled from the East Coast to the West Coast and then all the way back to NJ into our loving arms. The alternative for Beau was grim and he is the type of big bodied horse that actually ships to slaughter.

All we can do for Beau now is honor his wishes and love him over the bridge next week.

We will be hugging this boy non stop until that day comes.

11/21/2024

How about a Sunday Spotlight but it’s actually Thursday? As a Mom to 4 humans and a sanctuary founder who’s responsible for many lives all the days tend to run together. Today is cold and rainy so last night we had to unpack the blankets from storage for every horse at Bluemont. This is a massive task and we can’t thank our team enough for making sure every animal is warm and dry for 2 days of colic weather on steroids.

But let’s talk about our boy Walter pictured above. This photograph taken by is particularly meaningful to me for several reasons. I know the exact location it was taken. It’s the spot where sweet Riley took his last breath while I stroked his mane and told him what a good boy he was. There’s a little mushroom statue I placed there in remembrance. This area is all the way on the other side of the farm which means Walter had to travel a good distance to hang out in this tree line. Why does that matter to me? Because that means Walter’s composite shoe to correct his luxated joint is doing its job. Without this shoe Walter can barely move. And finally Walter’s favorite pastime is to scratch himself on the roughest tree bark he can find. He shifts back and forth scratching every part of his body with his lip hanging and bottom teeth jutting out. When I saw this photo I knew the click of Linda’s camera is what pulled his attention away from his important task.

Walter came to us when he was 8mo old with a very sick best friend, baby Odie. These two were in a petting zoo because people love dwarfs and baby animals. I won’t go into detail on their condition upon arrival but they both had to fight for their lives. Against ALL the odds they’re both here being total goofballs. Many of you have asked if Walter and Odie are still friends. Unfortunately the answer is no. Odie is massive now and shows dominance towards Walter. He could seriously injure him. Walter free grazes during the day and hunkers down with Puffin, Moshi and Pumba in a cozy stall at night. Puffin is obsessed with Walter and oftentimes you will find them cuddled up.

They’re all happy and safe here in sanctuary because of your support. Thank you for loving them too❤️

11/18/2024

11/15/2024

Birdie 💓
It’s amazing how life can change in the blink of an eye. Birdie is a 12 yr old paint miniature horse with a small stature and sweet disposition. She’s what most families are looking for when they want a mini or pony for their kids. At one point I believe she was loved because she adores people. If you’ve been following us for any length of time then you’ve heard us educate on how many “owners” (we like the term guardian) the average horse has throughout their lifetime. Seven is the number but through experience we’ve found that minis, ponies and OTTBs have more than double that number. At some point Birdie changed hands into a neglectful home where she didn’t receive even the most basic medical care. Her feet grew long and her teeth became sharp and painful from a lack of dental care.

Her feet have been overgrown for so long that her coffin bones have started to disintegrate and her front left pastern joint has collapsed and turned sideways. Her radiographs tell a sad story, one of agony and abandonment. She endured such betrayal and to be honest it’s been hard for me to talk about. After all of this she was sent on to auction. A dear friend of our sanctuary Silvia sent me her photo. Silvia was at a notorious and disgusting auction and saw Birdie peering through the slats of the pen she was standing in. Birdie was trying to keep her balance on her long feet because the concrete floor was slick with urine and f***s. We immediately said yes to her rescue. Only horse traders were interested in Birdie so her fee was low. If you look back on her previous posts you will see the heartbreaking footage of her inhaling her first meal at Silvia’s barn. She was so hungry and thirsty.

Birdie is on daily pain management and a special diet. She’s had bloodwork done to check for Cushings which was negative. I’ll be posting her radiographs in our stories. I’ll be frank, if she were a full size horse euthanasia would be her only option. Minis are lighter and do much better with hoof rehabilitations. We’re going to try for this girl. She deserves humans who will rally behind her and champion her healing. If we fail she will pass with dignity in our embrace.

10/10/2024

Guardian and Sidekick en route. These two tiny ones named after the two beloved stallions from the Theodore Roosevelt National Park are small in stature but still have the same needs and desires as a large equine. They’re special needs but they don’t know that. They still deserve a horses life and autonomy. In sanctuary with us they will never be a commodity at a circus or petting zoo and they will get the crucial medical and farrier care they deserve.

Welcome Home boys. You’re already looking so much better. ❤️

10/08/2024

This was his second of the day 🙈

Even though Moondog was an owner (guardian) surrender he was a former working horse sent to auction. His guardian told me that when he was walked through the ring he was wide eyed and trembling. She wasn’t looking for a Clydesdale but her heart was broken for him. She kept Moondog safe for over a decade.

As her health failed she knew that he couldn’t go just anywhere and contacted another rescue nearby who networked Moondog to us. This is our absolute favorite kind of rescue. Directly from loving arms into more loving arms. No middle man who makes money, no trauma, trailering or illness. I’m so grateful that Moondog’s guardian knew the industry well and the type of situation that a horse like Moondog could fall into. She told me that she would’ve sent him to heaven before she placed him in a “free to good home” situation. I commend her for her fortitude.

There are times that I try to educate horse owners on free to good home ads online…about the dangers out there for their horses. Oftentimes I’m met with resistance and told to mind my business. These people know, they just don’t truly care. Or they’re actively practicing cognitive dissonance.

Either way sanctuaries and rescues can only absorb a small % of the equines facing homelessness. The way we make change is through education and a shift in the trade up equestrian culture. Just like diamonds, horses are forever.

Keep your horse, it’s not safe out there for them.

09/16/2024

I've probably forgotten a few, but these are some of the ridiculous things people say to me regularly. I could definitely get a full house every week.

09/10/2024

RIP Beautiful Ferra 🐴 🌈
We laid Ferra to rest yesterday surrounded by her friends in the most gentle way a soul can leave this earth. As our vet administered the sedation Ferra’s face finally relaxed and I saw relief wash over her. She was ready, this was a gift for her aching body and soul. Pain had changed Ferra and I don’t just mean physically. Pain like Ferra’s runs you ragged and wears down every last bit of you. It steals your dignity.

Ferra was a warrior, she fought her heart out pounding the pavement. Pulling humans to and from for almost two decades. She is the face of a horse worked too hard, for too long without any regard for her best interest. Her story and the plight of the domestic working horse is a critical one and one we can learn from.

Let Ferra be a reminder to us to treat animals as equals.

To skip the breeders and puppy mills and give a dog or cat at a shelter or rescue a loving home.

To skip the petting zoos and animal attractions.

To think about the horses in work and if they would actually choose this life. Do they live a horse’s life with friends, freedom and forage? Are their bodies being cared for like they will live for 30+ years? Are they being asked to do things that will ultimately cause pain decades later? Will they have a good forever home once their usefulness to humans wanes?

To think about where we spend our dollars. Do we want to support people and businesses who are actively exploiting animals?

And to consider all of the sentient creatures in our lives, not just the animals who share our homes with us. Ferra was someone, not something.

When Ferra arrived she immediately gravitated towards Moondog. He was a safe space for her and she clung to him for companionship & protection. He leaned into this roll willingly. He stood guard as she took her last breath and stayed with her after. He’s a sad boy right now 💔. We’re spending extra time with him and giving him all the treats and hugs he wants. He was her angel.

If you would like to contribute to Ferra’s end of life expenses and legacy please consider a donation. We’re so grateful that with your help we could give Ferra what she’s always deserved, love ❤️

09/10/2024

I hear this often. “They’re big animals, they wouldn’t do it if they didn’t want to”

Sadly, nothing to be further from the truth.

CAN YOU FORCE A HORSE TO DO SOMETHING THEY DON’T WANT TO?

I often hear "If he didn't want to, he wouldn't do it”. There seems to be a growing number of people on social media saying that you can’t make a horse something they don’t want to do. These comments could, for example, be in response to a film showing a horse displaying behaviours that indicate they are stressed (rushing, nipping, fidgeting, licking and chewing, showing the whites of the eye etc) when they are asked to jump, load, stand still or hack out alone.

It is clear many people don’t recognise the subtle (or even not-so-subtle!) signs of stress or fear in horses and they believe that if their horse didn’t want to do something there is no way anyone could make them, but it is not that straightforward.

It is actually very easy to make a horse do something they don't want to do. That's one of the reasons we can do so much with them, they are very tolerant of us and more often than not do as we ask. Therefore it's extremely important that we consider whether what we ask is right for them or not, that we learn to read our horses behaviour and body language and make sure they are confident and well-trained before we ask too much of them.

How a horse behaves in any situation depends partly on his past experiences. For example, a frightened horse who tried to escape being clipped for the first time could have been hit, then been tied fast in a pressure halter. So now their fear of experiencing pain is greater than their fear of clippers and so they stand still – they freeze.

Sadly, this is an all too common way of training horses. Rather than teaching the horse the clippers aren’t going to hurt by introducing them gradually and rewarding them for trying, increasing pressure is applied to force them to stand still.

The result is that the horse is still frightened of the clippers, but they are now also frightened of the pressure halter, the handler and perhaps even the environment they were clipped in. They will also have learned that their attempt to escape meant they would be hurt, so they may be less likely to try that tactic again in future and instead put up with the situation. The horse may actually end up in learned helplessness and give up trying to escape from other difficult situations too.

If we humans are frightened and don’t want to do something, surely we understand that adding extra pain, discomfort or fear to force us to face that situation won’t magically fix our original fear? So why do we believe it will fix a horse's fear?

Learning to recognise the early signs of fear/stress/anxiety/discomfort in your horse is vital. Potential Indicators of acute stress can include a raised head and neck position, tail swishing, pawing at the ground, shying, whinnying, increased oral behaviours (eg. mouthing the leadrope when led), the four Fs (flight, fight, freeze, fidget), tension in the facial muscles, showing the white of the eye, triangulation of the upper eyelid or an inability to concentrate.

If your horse starts to perform an unusual behaviour, take note! If the behaviour occurs because of something you do, does it stop when you stop, and then start again when you resume your behaviour? Watch your horse to see when it happens, notice what you are doing and what is going on the environment.

Always consult a vet if your horse’s behaviour changes suddenly and if they are clear of any physical issues then a certified behaviourist can help you.

09/08/2024

If I’m being completely open and vulnerable… it’s been hard for me to talk about Ferra. It’s also been difficult to get footage of her as she’s in chronic and unrelenting pain. It shows in every facial expression and step she takes. If you look at the photo here, she has the pain eye with deeply etched wrinkles above it. Her nostrils are flared, her head is low (she cannot lift it for very long) and if you were standing with her you would see that she’s holding her belly tight and her respiration is elevated. All indicators of extreme pain. When she steps she trips, she moves as if she has a rod in her spine and she cannot back up.

The day after we rescued Ferra she went to Mid Atlantic hospital for a full work up. Her Doctor called me and was shocked at how she was presenting. On physical examination it was clear that Ferra either had a neck injury or severe arthritis. Unfortunately Ferra has extreme arthritis in her neck and spine. One area looks like there could’ve been an old fracture but the bone is so remodeled that they couldn’t be certain. There is no surgical option for Ferra’s condition so we landed on giving cervical joint injections a try. They injected as many spaces as they could do safely with explicit instructions to monitor Ferra’s pain. Back here at the farm we’ve given her time and the absolute top end of pain management without shutting down her organs. The injections and pain management haven’t touched her pain.

To us, Sanctuary is not keeping animals going who are in horrific pain with no treatment options. Sometimes animals arrive to us as a hospice case. When we pulled Ferra I was fearful that this would be the outcome but we desperately wanted to give her the best chance we could. It’s time to end her suffering and free her from her painful body. These decisions are agonizing but are vital to the well being of the animals who rely on our stewardship.

Tomorrow Ferra will pass with dignity surrounded by humans who love and respect her. She will have a belly full of grain and all the sweet treats her heart desires. She will run over the bridge with flowers in her hair.

Please keep Ferra and our team in your thoughts and prayers. 🤍

09/06/2024

New investigation - Meet Texas Kill Buyer Trent Ward

Trent Ward has been making money off the slaughter and suffering of horses for decades. In the beginning, back when the horse slaughter plants in Texas were still open, he partnered with notorious kill buyer Mike McBarron to run the T&M Horse Company, routinely supplying horses to the Kaufman slaughter plant.

After the plants in Texas were closed down in 2007, Trent continued in the horse slaughter industry as a kill buyer, callously sending horses to a certain death by selling them to the slaughter plants in Mexico.

Over the years, he committed many violations and incurred hefty fines, including a $21,450 fine by the USDA for shipping injured horses and non-segregated stallions.

Then, several years ago, as the slaughter industry began its decline and as kill buying profits began to dry up due to years of advocacy efforts, Trent Ward jumped on the latest industry trend and started a supplemental horse broker program.

Trent’s “Kemp Kill Pen” has since become well-known online for its infuriating fundraising schemes, like the time they fundraised using a group of eleven horses, threatening that if all eleven horses were not purchased, then all of them would be shipped to slaughter, ensuring that none of the animals would be saved.

Read the full report here:
https://www.animalsangels.org/investigations/horses/texas-kill-buyer-trent-ward-kemp-kill-pen-cleburne-auction

08/26/2024

This.

*FIELD ORNAMENTS*

"I really love my horse but I don't have the time /lost the confidence to ride him - I don't want to part with him but I feel so guilty that he's being wasted in the field when I know he's got so much potential - he could be an amazing horse for someone" - I see these sentences on the horse groups constantly.

Humans are feeling guilty for not riding their horses.

Humans actually believing that horses are having their potential wasted if they're not ridden.

Many of these humans will part with their horse plainly and simply because of the pressure that the society puts on them to ride the horses. The pressure from friends and family - "why don't you ride him ? If he's not ridden you're wasting your money / he'd be better off with someone who will give him the time he needs (to be ridden). "

People need to wake up. Horses are not born to be ridden. Riding and using horses in a means of transport /working animals are over (at least in the modern world) - we have cars, bikes, train , airplanes, machines.

Horses now are used mostly for our own entertainment - whether it's taking part in competitions or riding for pleasure. Back in the day our quality of life / means of making money dependent on horses. Our future dependent on them - they were used in wars for centuries.

Now their lives depend on us.

When you feel you can't ride anymore for any reason please understand that it's ok.

You don't need to ride - more - your horse's happiness is not rooted it being ridden - you will find it's actually quite opposite.

If you have all the abilities to keep your horse despite not riding him please do so - only this way you will ensure his future.

There are so many exciting ways to be with horses that don't involve riding - going on walks together, spending time in the field, playing cognitive games, finding ways to enrich their lives.

Please be your horse's best friend, forever - just like he's been yours ....

There is nothing wrong with *field ornaments*

08/18/2024

It's that time of year where school field trips and weekend outings to the local farm or county fair feature animals in petting zoos.

If you're wondering what's so bad about petting and feeding animals, we'll explain.

While many farmed animals may enjoy human interaction, just like us, they enjoy it on their terms. Placing them in small pens with no way to retreat, no privacy, and strangers touching them, poking at them, being noisy and feeding them unhealthy snacks all day with no supervision is STRESSFUL. It also denies them the agency to CHOOSE whether they want to interact - and that's a key factor.

Aside from this, petting zoos frequently breed or buy animals to "stock" their venue with baby animals that attract visitors, then turn around and dump them or send them to slaughter after the busy season, when it's no longer "worth" feeding and keeping them through the winter.

This whole setup is stressful, unfair, and sometimes deadly. When profit is involved, animal welfare will always come second. The message is that we are somehow entitled to that interaction, when the animals really have no choice. These are fundamentally entertainment venues, not paragons of animal care.

By contrast, true animal sanctuaries only conduct supervised, educational tours and visitation programs which respect resident's wishes above all and allow them to disengage if they wish. They are never forced to interact.

If you'd like children to learn a true love and respect for animals, sanctuaries are the way to go. Find one here: https://sanctuaryfederation.org/find-a-sanctuary/

08/15/2024

Our Annual Gala is upon us and we’re so excited for this year’s theme! Details Below 👇🏼

When: Friday October 18th from 7:30pm to 11pm

Where: The Barn at South Holland in Holmdel NJ
(Local hotel accommodations are available for our out of town guests!)

Theme: Western Chic or Boots & Bling 👢💎

Price: $175 per ticket 🎟️ (link below)

Join us for an evening of delicious gourmet vegan food, open bar, dancing, Photo Booth shenanigans, a silent auction and raffle baskets! All proceeds go directly to the care of the animals that call our sanctuary home!

Cowboy boots, jeans, fringe, bling and western wear are all encouraged but of course not required. Have you ever wanted to dress like Beth Dutton? Or see your husband in a Stetson hat? Well now’s your chance to dress the part all while helping a sanctuary!

We’ve already secured some amazing sponsors. We’re so grateful for your contributions and creativity in your craft.

is sponsoring our DJ
Balloons 🎈 and.earth floral arrangements 💐
media packets and flyers

If you or anyone you know would like to help sponsor our annual Gala please reach out to [email protected] or visit the link below.

https://bluemontsanctuary.com/bluemont-2024-gala

We can’t wait to see you there !

08/09/2024

08/08/2024

I know pictures are virtually obsolete anymore but look at Glowy peering through Charlotte’s web early this morning. 🐴 🕸️

08/07/2024

Want to help a horse? Keep yours…

I was compelled to make an advocacy post after speaking with a long time follower today who’s become a friend. She opened up to me about considering selling her challenging mare to someone with more experience. She came into horses later on in life and as a mother of a young child. She told me that our advocacy and messaging compelled her to reconsider and she kept her horse. She is her mare’s 7th guardian. It was an excellent reminder to me about sanctuary and why we keep our horses safe here in our care. Many of our equines have no other options. But there is a case to be made for us to adopt out our younger miniature horses. We only have a couple that would be considered adoptable. (No health issues with good dispositions) but our son Aidan made an excellent point early on in our journey to save horses from the unthinkable.

His wisdom hit me hard. 😭💞
Out of the mouths of babes. We were mucking a stall and he said “Mama why can’t we help the young ones? Why should a horse have to wait 20 or 30 years to find us, we should help them too.” I was quiet for a moment as I pondered how right he was. He knows what happens to horses before they get here and that overall it’s not the exception but the rule. Miniature horses experience even more passing around and hardship. Oftentimes they aren’t treated like equines even though they are large horses in a more compact package. So we made space in our program to keep a few youngsters safe. And let me tell you, it’s the best decision we ever made.

They infuse a lighthearted playfulness into our herds. They run and play which in turn gets our seniors running and playing. They have zest and spice which keeps our oldies on their toes. Some of our senior horses like to “parent” our youngsters and watch them from the “porch” with a sweet tea in hand. Surely they must be chatting about the weather and smiling while they watch the kids play. In a natural setting with a wild herd you would have horses of all ages… So if a sanctuary is to give love, enrichment and a horses way of life… why not have a few kiddos in the mix?

But please. Keep your horse, both the young and the old.