Midnight's Promise Equine Rescue

07/16/2025

Volunteer Carrie Wren beginning Knook's training session with some therapeutic body work this morning.

07/11/2025

07/04/2025

The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence.

06/28/2025

When it's too hot to work with the horses, we pick blackberries!

06/28/2025

Most people will scroll by this post. It's just a photo of an elderly lady with a big, bay horse. Nothing amazing, right? Some people share images of horses they think are beautiful and people working with them that they think are amazing to me. But I can honestly say none of them are more beautiful or amazing than the ones we have at Midnight's Promise and the people in those photos don't come close to comparing with our volunteers. I don't care about the person doing the back flip off a horse's back getting their 10,000 likes. I'm impressed by people like 78-year-old volunteer Marie Riordan who has shown up with her headband and f***y pack on whether it's 0 degrees or 100 degrees and ready to work every week for the last 18 years! No cameras following her around for all the attention and glory social media can garner but because of her kind, giving spirit and love for animals.

And that horse with the fancy color and flowing mane, I hope it never needs the help of a rescue. I hope it never has to prove its resilience as it is passed from owner to owner then auction to auction then into the slaughter pipeline. The horse we call Journey is Flight Fifteen a Hanover Stable bred Standardbred that won almost $500k both domestically and internationally. He also holds 2 track records. You would think a horse that made so much money for so many people would be treated like a king when his time to retire came. Nope. He had more than 20 owners in his racing days and raced up to 30 times a year. He's pin fired in all 4 legs and his face is damaged from the harnesses he wore. When his racing days ended he worked for the Amish as a buggy horse for the next 7 years of his life. By the time he was 14, he was on the verge of permanent lameness and entered the slaughter pipeline in Shippensburg PA. When he came to us 9 years ago, I promised him he would never carry a rider or pull another cart. No fancy color, no long flowing mane. Just a big bay horse with an amazing heart and resilient spirit. This is what makes him so awesome and totally amazing!

06/26/2025

People say our horses are lucky and I have to agree. Every horse gets a cool down with cold well water every afternoon during the Summer then they get a fresh tub of cold, clean water to drink.

06/25/2025

Our Cushing's horse, Jazz, received another trim to help her feel more comfortable in the hot weather Monday. Her coat was 1/2 to 3/4 an inch long, so about twice as long as a normal horse's. If any would like a good recommendation for shears, we're very happy with a pair donated by Jane H Wilkinson last winter. Thank you Jane! These are livestock shears and they only cost about $70 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Clippers-Electronic-Grooming-Carrying-Livestock/dp/B07F5PPGL4/ref=asc_df_B07F5PPGL4?mcid=69627a22e43335cd846d6c12330a87ae&hvocijid=11266917643818629096-B07F5PPGL4-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11266917643818629096&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9009898&hvtargid=pla-2281435179338&psc=1

06/15/2025

WISHING ALL DADS, TWO-LEGGED OR FOUR-LEGGED, A HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

05/30/2025

Walburga's turn for a trim this morning. If you'd like to contribute to our farrier bill today, go to www.midnightspromise.org and click on the donate button. Thank you!

05/30/2025

05/30/2025

The farrier is here trimming hooves!. If you'd like to help with our bill this morning, we would be very grateful. There are 8 horses to do at $40 each for a total of $320. Donate at www.midnightspromise.org. Just click on the yellow Donate button.

05/25/2025

AND DID YOU KNOW?
During World War I, and into World War II, military cavalry contractor Harry Winton (sometimes referred to as ‘Wilson’) would roundup horses from the area now known as Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. The horses would then be loaded onto railroad cars and shipped to the East Coast. From there the horses would make a trip across the Atlantic ocean by ship. Horses that survived the journey had a bit placed in their mouths and began to pull artillery or serve as a cavalry mount.
It is estimated that a shipment of 500 American horses left to supply American and allied troops during World War I every 1.5 days (archive stat). It is estimated that nearly eight million horses died in World War I alone.

Let us tell you about the birds and the bees, and other courageous creatures that answered the call of duty.