We find ourselves reflecting on another year that has passed here at the farm. This past year was unlike any other for us losing one of our own, humans but somehow we made it through to continue this mission, passion and journey we are on! We couldn't do any of it without all of us coming together as a as a rescue community and team. We cannot thank you all enough! From the growing board of directors here, the volunteers and their supportive families, our supporters (both monetary and emotional), our adopters, our foster families, our committees, our vendors, our gift givers and most importantly our HORSES! May 2025 be a gentle one for all and full of peace and contentment and lots of saved draft horses! Cheers and be safe! 🥂 Please enjoy some special moments from 2024!
Arctic blasts mean individually delivered personalized warm buckets of molasses water. Max always communicates very well and this was no different! Bigger bucket or a straw was his request! Poor Nick! 😂😂❤️
Honor was nestled all snug in his stall while visions of candy canes danced in his head. When in the other stall there arose such a clatter, Honor sprung from his stall floor to see what was the matter. To the stall window he flew like a flash, looked through the hay bag and bars in a dash. When, what to his wondering eyes would appear, but his best friend Glory snoring so loud it hurt his ears! 🤣🤣❤️❤️ We love nothing more than getting updates from our adopters! Honor and Glory are doing very well! Merry Christmas to them and their beautiful human family, The Burdges!
One thing that we pride ourselves on is working cooperatively with other rescues to achieve things that we could not do alone. In this case, there were three rescues involved and together we managed to save two horses.
Becky, the director of Draft Gratitude in NH, contacted Doc Stacey a couple of weeks ago. She had a horse dealer wanting to surrender a 2 year old draft filly who has impacted teeth and may need extractions. Becky has limited access to training for young horses and prefers the old retirees, so she asked if we could help this horse. At the same time, we were contacted by an animal rescuer (Diana from Gemini Farm Sanctuary) who had connections to the Amish community in her area, and had previously offered to help intercept auction bound horses from them. There was an older draft mare she was trying to help, but due to Diana's advancing age and lack of help, she was seeking our assistance in saving the horse. Becky and Doc Stacey made a quick deal together- we could take the filly offered to her, and she could take the older mare offered to us. Luckily the 2 horses were in the same region of NY. CDHR would take care of transportation, Draft Gratitude would take them for quarantine together, and Gemini Farm Sanctuary would cover the costs for the pre-shipping vet visit and the purchase of the older mare. This afternoon, they arrived in New Hampshire!
We will need to assess the impacted molars with an exam and xrays to determine the filly's needs. After QT, she will come to CDHR to receive the care she needs. On this Giving Tuesday, we welcome your support for her transport costs, basic care and future medical needs which may be extensive. Welcome, Belle. We are so excited to meet you! 🥰
Never did we imagine where this beautiful, sunny day would bring us at lunch time today. Our most majestic and beautiful Princess Fiona has joined heavens herd. 😢💔In true Fiona fashion, she chose to go today on her own terms this afternoon. This was unfortunately the third time in a week she was down and couldn't get up on her own, but today was different though. Today she made it very clearly known that she'd had enough and didn't want our help getting up this last time. We sat with her for some time, enjoying the sun, telling her how beautiful she was while stroking her hair. We questioned what the right thing to do for her would be and at that moment Fiona had a seizure and made the answer clear for us. We comforted her until the seizure passed, all while thanking her for helping us to understand and for making the heartbreaking decision for us so we didn't have to. At the same time an unknown vehicle pulled down our driveway. We didn't know at the time, but it was a man who has never been to the rescue but said he felt like he was sent to us today and just pulled in. A volunteer scurried over to the vehicle to meet him. He gently explained that this wasn't a good time for a random, pop in visit and we were in the middle of letting a horse cross the rainbow bridge. The man instantly got emotional and began to cry. He got out of his truck and stayed where he was while playing Amazing Grace for us on his Native American flute as Fiona passed. Some things just defy explanation, there are no coincidences. Rest easy our precious Fiona, you were so loved and will be so missed. 😞(If you turn your sound up- you can hear the flute in the distance).
This was Thunder's reaction when he heard about all the potential adopters from Equine Affaire that want to come meet him! ❤️❤️
Reality's got nothing on Nellie - it takes a village to care for all that fabulousness! 😅❤️
#ctdraftrescue #drafthorses #rescueanimals #nellie #clydesdalehorses #teamwork #takesavillage
We had to all take today to rest up after our most beautiful day with you all yesterday! ❤️ Thank you all again! We couldn't do this without you all supporting us!
CDHR’s Oktoberfest!
This Sunday! Please join us for CDHR's Annual Oktoberfest! Meet the horses, find a rock hidden around the farm, take a picture at our selfie station, shop at 25 mini shops, enjoy this glorious October weather, take a wagon ride, get a bite to eat & drink, buy some raffle tickets, check out CDHR retail, and have the kids partake in some fun activities! Join us from 11 am to 3 pm at our farm at 113 Chestnut Hill Road, East Hampton, CT. We hope to see you there! Admission is FREE!
#ctdraftrescue #fundraiser #oktoberfest #easthamptonct #meetthehorses #cdhr
We couldn't pick just one photo to share of Princess Fiona. 💖
