'morning minute' - car wash!
Oh, it's a hot one. On today's 'morning minute,' Equine Care Coordinator Jaymee Rankin knows some of the horses will line up for a shower. #rescue #rehabilitate #rehome #horselove #Maine #summer
Horse Trainer Chris Lombard works with Calli
Last week, the Society enjoyed an hour-long conversation with Horse Trainer Chris Lombard (https://youtu.be/80MOpYq8duc). During the program, we shared videos of Chris at work with some of the Society horses. Calli is one of those horses, arriving at the MSSPA back in February, terrified and unable to be handled. She is a diamond in the rough! Chris and the MSSPA barn staff have patiently worked with Calli; she is making tremendous progress. Here's a look at some of the work Chris has done with her. #healing #stepbystep #retrain #horselove #rescue #grateful #rehabilitate #patience Chris Lombard Horsemanship
morning minute - walking with Walter!
Who knew walking could be so fun? It can be when you've got a handsome guy to walk with. Here's today's 'morning minute.' #stepbystep #grateful #healing #retrain #morningminute #rehabilitate #rescue #horselove
Raise your hand if you get this excited about dinner. Sully wants to be sure they don't forget to feed him! #horselove
Chris works with Alibar
Thank you for joining us for "A Conversation with Horse Trainer Chris Lombard" last night. Here at the Society, Chris works with some of the MSSPA horses and we always learn something when we get the opportunity to watch him in action. If you missed the conversation, you can watch it on YouTube -- https://youtu.be/80MOpYq8duc. During the show, we included a few videos of Chris at work. Here is one, where he works with Alibar, helping him to focus his energy and begin to make decisions in unison with Chris. #horselove #rehabilitate #Maine #gratitude #rehome #rescue #horses #training Chris Lombard Horsemanship
a quick walk around the farm
a beautiful spring day at the farm!
#morningminute from the MSSPA -- today is 'Unpack the Shack' day! Bring all your horse pals and come shopping -- 279 River Road in Windham, right here at the farm. We'll be here from 10 am until 2 pm.
here's a morning minute from the MSSPA! #rehome #community #rehabilitate #horselove #horses #Maine #gratitude #rescue #adopt
A morning minute from the farm! #rescue #gratitude #rehome #horselove #rehabilitate #community #Maine #horses
"word from the herd' - what does it mean to quarantine?
What goes into keeping the MSSPA herd safe? The very first measure happens as soon as a horse arrives. Each horse is quarantined - a term we are so very familiar with after living through the Covid pandemic. Why is it important to quarantine these new horses coming onto the farm? This week's 'word from the herd' answers that question. #horses #Maine #barnstaff #horselove #shelter #rescue #rehabilitate #rehome #safety
Even though Spring is right around the corner, we kind of wish we were heading into the holidays so we could take a quick spin in this GORGEOUS sled! An extremely generous donor gifted this beautiful cart and sled to the Society, with the hope that the proceeds of the sale of these items would benefit the herd. In the true holiday spirit (which clearly exists year-round!) John Leonard from Willie's Towing in Windham offered to deliver the cart and sled to the farm, free of charge. The Society is so grateful to everyone who made this possible. Over the river and through the woods we go! #horselove #winter #rehome #adopt #community #maine #nonprofit #rescue #rehabilitate #horses #gratitude
'word from the herd' - Dr. Judd gives Seneca a chiropractic adjustment
Can horses benefit from chiropractic adjustments? You bet they can. Recently, Seneca was a bit off - not lame, but one hip a bit higher than the other. Veterinarian Tom Judd has received extensive training to perform these types of procedures (in other words, don't try this at home!) and the results are rather amazing. This is a medical treatment, provided by a licensed veterinarian, and you'd want to consult with your vet about the benefits of a procedure like this for your horse. A 'chiro' takes about 25 minutes, and this 'word from the herd,' while a bit long, is an abbreviated version. But if you've never seen a 'chiro' performed, you might find this fascinating. Equine Veterinary Service #horses #winter #maine #rehome #adopt #horselove #rehabilitate #rehome
Emma and Archer, a love story
In the midst of the long winter, this is the week that we celebrate love. Here at the farm, there is always plenty of love to go around. (What's not to love about the endearing MSSPA horses?!) Here's a quiet little love story that demonstrates the devotion of the staff, and the resilience of the horses. Happy Valentine's Week! #horselove #valentinesday #ittakesavillage #love #rescue #rehabilitate #rehome #barnstaff #farm #maine #shelter
'word from the herd' - why do horses get moved around on the farm?
Horses are herd animals, and do best when they are kept with other horses. Making sure they don't become herd-bound, or too attached to a particular friend, is a bit of a balance. Here at the farm, the staff moves horses into different paddocks for many reasons. What are some of the factors they take into consideration? This week's 'word from the herd' addresses that question. #rehabilitate #community #gratitude #horses #rehome #rescue #shelter #ittakesavillage #horselove #Maine #herd
Cherry takes a bit of a bath
Despite the farm being covered in snow, we can't help but think about the beautiful warm, balmy days ahead. Pretty sure there is one girl in the herd who can't WAIT to break out her bathing suit and run through the sprinklers. Last summer, Cherry was always first in line for the hose! #Maine #summer #rescue #rehabilitate #rehome #horses #horselove #sprinklers #winter #warmtemps #shelter
'word from the herd' - horse trainer Chris Lombard helps Aspen to settle
When a new horse arrives at the MSSPA, it is a bit like solving a puzzle; we often don't know much about their history. Even if we do, it takes time and patience to 'peel back the layers' in order to help the horse relearn and retrain habits from the past. Aspen recently joined the herd here at the farm. Like many horses, leaving the paddock causes some anxiety - she has a hard time focusing when she knows her friends are still outside. On this week's 'word from the herd,' horse trainer Chris Lombard helps Aspen to settle and begin to focus on training, with a particular eye towards preparing her for a visit with the farrier. Chris Lombard Horsemanship #horselove #horses #health #horsetraining #Maine #rescue #rehabilitate #Retrain #rehome #AllThanksToYou
All Thanks to You
Horses express their gratitude in ways that are subtle - but if you are around them, you know how they soften to you when they know they are in a safe place. Many of the horses here at the farm have no reason to trust humans again, but they do; it happens all the time. That trust grows from the skilled care and patient rehabilitation that takes place on the farm. And all of it happens thanks to our generous supporters. The Society says it all the time -- but this life-saving work would not happen without our devoted, enthusiastic, and generous supporters. Please enjoy this short video as our way of saying "thanks to you." #community #gratitude #generosity #rescue #horses #Maine #shelter #rehabilitate #rehome #horselove #AllThanksToYou
'Coffee and Connect' at Reigning Hope Ranch
The MSSPA stays connected to each horse that is adopted out with annual site visits. It is the Society's way of staying in touch, staying connected to both the adopter and the horse for the duration of its natural life. Reigning Hope Ranch of Maine in Orrington has the distinction of having adopted three former MSSPA horses - Leo, Amir, and Tripp. All three now have found new purpose working in the ranch's equine-assisted therapy program. Tuesday mornings at RHR are set aside for veterans and first-responders; the connection they feel with these horses is profound. #rescue #horses #horselove #community #rehabilitate #Maine #shelter #gratitude
Thanks to YOU!
To our most wonderful supporters, you all are AMAZING. Giving Tuesday at the Farm seemed to go on and on for miles - even Holly noticed the beautiful chain of horse shoe hearts in the indoor while she was worked a bit under saddle today. All of us here at the farm love the work of rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming these incredibly special horses - but it is our incredibly generous and special *supporters* that give these horses the gift of healing and the hope of a forever home. Here are some of the gifts that came to the farm yesterday:
Online donations received: $7,950
In person donations received: $600
NEW Horse Hero monthly donors: 3
Current Horse Heroes INCREASING their monthly gifts: 2
NEW Legacy Circle Member: 1
Pledges received: $10,000
Sweatshirts purchased: 9
Amazon Wish List Orders: 3
THANK YOU!
#horselove #Maine #generosity #gratitude #rescue #shelter #rehabilitate #rehome
What a difference six weeks can make in the life of a horse! Archer and Seneca have plenty to celebrate. Video credit: Emma Hawkes.
