Labyrinth Training Center

17/08/2024

13/08/2024

Do you have a passion you’d be willing to share for a good cause?
We are Labyrinth – a nonprofit in Goochland providing folks in our community access to horses and providing training and homes for horses in need. Our annual fundraiser (silent online auction) is coming up on September 21, 2024, and we like to bring our community together!
So, in addition to stuff, we also auction experiences! For example:
© Donovan Apiaries donated an “Explore the Hive” experience!
© Dot Ruquus donated a horse carriage driving experience or lesson!
© Jo Downing donated dog training!
© Kim & Delaney Hill donated ceramics classes!
Do you have a passion that you’d be willing to share with someone else in our community? Canning? Quilting? Soap making? Birding? Kayaking? Book binding? Archery? Sometimes we just need someone to show us how to get the creative juices going!
We'd be so grateful for your help! To learn more, please email us at [email protected].

22/07/2024

Everyone needs friends! So what to do when you are in quarantine? Call on a bestie to bring some besties!

Meet Marsha Pryor. The bestiest of all besties.

20/07/2024

A cautionary tale...

I saw a Facebook post today where the person said they were finally diagnosed with walking (what we at HOP call silent) pneumonia after feeling bad for a while.

If you Ever deal with a starving or disadvantaged horse, you need to remember this.

We have to say that if there is one thing we have massive experience in, it is severe starvation cases.

We want to talk to you about an issue that often arises in severe starvation cases that many people, even vets, may miss because handling starving horses day in and out isn't usually what they do.

We are not veterinarians. But there is significant merit in the voice of experience, and this occurrence has happened time and time again in our rescue.

When a severe starvation case comes in, for the next TEN days, someone should take the horse's temperature twice a day, and we are going to tell you exactly why.

Starving horses very often come down with pneumonia, by the time it presents like obvious pneumonia, it's too late. We call it "The Silent Pneumonia." In people , it's rather like walking pneumonia.

The first symptom is the horse won't drink well and just seems off. There will be a fever, usually.

You don't usually have coughing or uri symptoms at first. Then the lungs may be quieter. You don't hear all the crackles and wheezes at first like typical pneumonia. One side may sound normal and the other silent, or both may be silent.

If appropriate antibiotics are thrown at this day 1, you've got a good shot at saving the horse.

By the time the starving horse has labored breathing, it is generally too late. They get dehydrated, the fever burns up what little reserves are left in their ravaged bodies, and the labored breathing quickly saps their energy.

In this case, it is so much better to err on the side of caution and insist your veterinarian give an antibiotic before OTHER signs present. Excede is usually what we've found effective.

The Rapid Infection Test even often will not detect that this is going on and the vet will try to encourage you to wait and see. And IF it is this silent pneumonia and the horse is a starvation case, they will usually be lost shortly after the labored breathing begins because their body just cannot handle more strain.

We strive to educate to improve the welfare of horses before they ever need a rescue.

We hope you will help us by sharing and sharing these educational articles that come from our experiences.

15/07/2024

This group of phenomenal folks made it possible for our Richmond campers to attend summer camp by bringing them back and forth each day. Thank you for changing lives!

Janet L. Borges
Roy Hoagland

14/07/2024

Delaney Hill! Want ceramics classes? Art classes? Inspiration? Sunshine? Look no further! Delaney worked endlessly to bring art and joy to our campers. We are shamelessly promoting her as she is worth every minute she offers!

Check her out at happyhippyharvest.com

13/07/2024

Fantastic Session 1 Campers! See you in 2025!

11/07/2024

What we do is offer a foundation. Amazing people like K Thweatt Alferio and Terri Whitaker Escobar add the depth by offering their time and by sharing a piece of their passion for horses. Hopefully the camper’s dreams are full of cutting and cowy horses tonight! Thank you K and Terri!

11/07/2024

A huge THANK YOU to the Richmond Police Department for working with our campers and teaching them how to train their horses! Such a special thing for them to take the time to talk to us about horses, training, tips, becoming a mounted police officer, and BUBBLES! We had a blast! Pictured here is Aslan showing the Labyrinth horses that bubbles are nothing to be afraid of! We are deeply grateful!

10/07/2024

Willow was the perfect “patient” today and even put her leg forward so we could get a real good listen to her heart! All heart that one!

09/07/2024

Stepping out, trying new things, being brave! Thank you Elk Hill for another incredible adventure on the high ropes challenge course! You guys are the best.

08/07/2024

Summer camp week 2! Missed these guys so much and so grateful we are all back together again! You’d never know they hadn’t been on a horse since last summer . . . picking up right where we left off!

29/06/2024

What a wonderful week with this group of incredible horses, kids, and volunteers!

27/06/2024

Thank you Terri and Kay for taking the time today to teach the campers about Ranch Riding - what a cool sport! The campers might just have a new appreciation for just how difficult roping can be - this cow didn’t even move!!

27/06/2024

There are moments every time the kids are here that we see the power of the horse in their lives. It's something that is hard to explain to those who have not had horses in their lives and it's the knowing nod of those who have been so fortunate.

Amanda Rae Linas, a professional photographer, was able to capture several of these moments in just a heartbeat. If you live in Virginia and you ever want someone to capture "essence" with your pet, she's a gem.

Pet and Equine Photography
www.BelovedPetPhoto.com



Minka from Heart of Phoenix Horse Rescue is pictured in the first photo.

26/06/2024

Summer Camp days #2 and #3 were as much fun as the first! High ropes course facilitated by the amazing Elk Hill brought our kids together after facing fears into laughing singing on the ride home. Richmond Mounted Police teaching the kids patience, humility, pride, and above all - that hard work pays off. So beyond grateful for all these amazing people taking the time to give these incredible young people a little of their talent.

24/06/2024

First day of summer camp was a success! Horses, ceramics, nature walks, vet checks, and more. We packed a lot in. Can’t wait for tomorrow!

22/06/2024

Goodnight from the farm.

17/06/2024

So grateful to Jane Henderson for doing what we hope all horse owners will do for their senior horses if they cannot hold onto them! Cisco was a valued family member of hers for many years and when it was time, she took her time, and found him the landing he deserved with all the protections to make sure he did not end up at auction.

AND as an added bonus, Cisco’s new mom will let us incorporate him into our program to teach the next generation of horse trainers!

Pictured here is Patrick of Gamilah Unbridled teaching connection with Cisco and Grayson!

08/06/2024

Willow and Sailor hope to see you tomorrow, June 9th, at Blue Bee Cider in Richmond (4811 Bethlehem Road) from 2-4 pm to celebrate the photography and work of Ashley Calkins, who pulled together an incredible tribute to rescued animals in the Richmond area in a gorgeous photo book. Proceeds go to Richmond Animal Care and Control! Willow and Sailor (top photos) will be there to cheer Ashley on!! Come out and say hello!