Our Horses

What is
Network for Good?

What is GoodSearch?

2) To educate the public on the welfare of hooved animals.

Hay Needed!

We realize that we're made this plea more times than we care to admit, and unfortunately we need to make it again. Approximately 57 (yes, fifty-seven!) animals have been surrendered to the Rescue in the form of mini ponies (the majority), some spotted mini donkeys (a fair amount), and goats. While diminutive in size, all these critters have horse-sized appetites and need some good hay to eat - and more than a few of them could really use the food. In addition to being malnourished, many are covered with lice and all of them need veterinary care in some form or another. Needless to say, we're a little overwhelmed.

If you, or you know of someone, that might have some good quality hay available for sale or donation, please call 763-856-3119 so that we can accommodate then needs of all the horses, donkeys, and goats (Oh my!). In addition, we would very much appreciate any donation of medication to treat the lice and vaccinations for these animals.

THANKS!

We'd like to take a quick moment to shout out a great big "THANKS!" to Petersen's Mill and North Country Coffee up in North Branch, MN for their continued support and for hosting a MHARF donation box in their stores. Every time we stop by to swap out boxes, it's a little like Christmas Day where we're wondering what's inside! So, if you're in North Branch, be sure to stop by and say "THANKS" on behalf of the horses!

Trainer's Challenge of the Unwanted Horse

At some point, we've all attended a three-day clinic that was supposed to solve all our horse problems and turn our ADD equine into the next prize champion. But like the quick-fix diet, it failed. So we send our horse out for 30 days of training. The result? We see a glimmer of hope, but we find that we still have a long way to go.

Why? 30 days of training at one hour a day for one month is only 30 hours of work. Most people put in 40 hours a week! And a horse is supposed to learn how to behave perfectly in less time than that? Would you let a first-time driver take off in your Mercedes right after they pass their test? Could you go up to an employer and demand top wage for a job after only taking 30 hours worth of training?

Training a horse is a lifetime commitment, even after giving it a good start. You want your horse to be rock-solid when a jogger in blaze orange comes around the corner. You want your horse to stand stock-still when the farrier is working on their feet. You want to ride with confidence that your horse is not going to explode into a panic the next time you try to trailer them or ride in a busy arena.

Do you have the Trainer's Moxy? Have you spent so much time sitting a bouncy trot that you're not even phased by Minnesota potholes? Can you look at a horse and see the champion within, even though that "champion" has thrown you more times than you care to admit?

Then pay attention, because we're looking for YOU.

Keep watching this space. Very soon, we're going to ask you to walk the talk. We have 10 horses out there that will be assigned to 10 trainers with a very difficult task: take an unwanted horse - a horse that has little to no training - and turn it into the horse that everyone wants. Discipline does not matter. Turn the horse into one that yields to pressure; stands for the farrier; loads and unloads like a dream; spooks at nothing; stands quietly when being saddled; walks, trots, and canters on cue. (This is merely a list of examples, not requirements.) And you will have 100 days to do it.

Oh yeah - and after the 100 days, you and your horse will be judged by a panel of experts and could possibly walk away with not only bragging rights, but up to $4000 in prize money.

Do we have your attention?

Good. Keep watching this site for updates and instructions on what you'll need to do so that you can be one of the 10 trainers selected for this challenge. The Challenge of the Unwanted Horse.

Free Online Class at www.myhorseuniversity.com

On Wednesday, May 14th, 2008, a free, live online web presentation - "The Unwanted Horse" - will be held at www.myhorseuniveristy.com by Dr. Tom Lenz.

This presentation will cover the plight of the unwanted horse in the United States. It will focus on the types of horse that becomes unwanted, the reasons they become unwanted, and possible solutions to the problem. Euthanasia, carcass disposal, rescue and retirement options, as well as the efforts of the Unwanted Horse Coalition will be included in the discussion. The presentation will start at 7:00 p.m. EST.

To register and learn more, visit: http://myhorseuniversity.com/WebPresentation/index.html

MHARF "Rescue Me" Posters Now Available

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of graphic designer Kari Finkler and animal photographer Mary Ludington, we are excited to announce the release of "Rescue Me" - a 13" x 18" poster donated to the Rescue to help raise funds for the animals in our care. Want to learn more? Then by all means, click here!

Tack Drive For MHARF

If you're a "horse person", there's a good possibility that you have one or two pieces of tack lying around the house, the barn, your basement, or as surprising as it may sound - in the tack room. And out of that collection of tack, maybe - just maybe - there's one or two "extra" pieces of tack that you've barely (or maybe never) used. Or, maybe your definition of "horse person" doesn't quite include horses, but you're a big fan of horse-style clothing and maybe you've grown out of that clothing. Whatever the case may be, MHARF would like to help you with this extra "horse stuff" that you might have - stuff like:

• New and used tack such as bits, bridles, saddles, leathers, stirrups, halters, and so on
• Horsewear (for both humans and horses) like blankets or boots
• Show clothes and assorted gear
• "Horsey" items such as artwork, collectibles, or nick-knacks

So if you have that blaze-orange sequined shirt that just doesn't fit anymore, an extra pair of leathers that you never used, or a blanket that just scared the beejeezus out of your horses to the point where you gave up on using it, give Dawn a call at 651-645-5162 and she'll help you arrange a means by which you can donate your new or gently-used "horse stuff".

MHARF "Horseless" Horse Drive, Auction, and Show

Yes, you read that right - we're presently in the planning stages of having our first "Horseless" Horse Drive, Auction, and Show. The idea is to have all the fun of your normal horse show, but without all those "nasty" side effects! You know the ones: the sleepless night before the show, all the work put into getting the horse ready only to have them roll in the nearest mud patch, and that empty feeling you get in your back pocket or purse when you get into a bidding war over that "Oh-so-cute" pony.

Before you think we've completely lost our minds, there is still a horse theme to this show - specifically, Breyer horses. We know you have 'em! We sure do! More than we'd care to admit, in fact. What we're hoping to do is have enough of these collectable horses to have ourselves a friendly horse show, complete with an auction, with the proceeds going towards the care of the real horses here at the Rescue. The current plan is to have this show coincide with the MHARF Tack Swap that were hoping to hold this fall.

So, if you find yourself with duplicates, extras, or you're just plain tired of having all these horse models around the house (ok, we admit that we're reaching on that last one), consider setting them aside for the MHARF "Horseless" Horse Drive, Auction, and Show. If you'd like to express your interest in this, or have questions/ideas about the show, please call the Rescue at: 763-856-3119 or via e-mail: info@mnhoovedanimalrescue.org

Pet Points from Coborn's

Have you been collecting Pet Points from Coborn's but you don't know what to do with them? Do you have no idea what "Pet Points" are? Do you want to help the MHARF even more? Then read on! Coborn's has been a local grocery store in the upper midwest for several decades, with the first one opening in 1921 in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. One of the promotional features at select Coborn's stores is "Pet Points". Pet Points are coupons given at Coborn's when you buy pet food. When you have enough points, you can convert the points into cash - 150 pet points = $10.00 that can be used for anything at Coborn's such as food for the animals in the care of MHARF or even gas for trailering horses to and from foster homes and veterinary clinics. If you have extra Pet Points that you'd like to donate to MHARF, please contact Deb at 763-389-9185 or Deb at 763-856-4475. (Yes, two different ladies named "Deb".)

In Memory

We would like to take a moment to honor and extend our sympathies to the more than 80 horses, ponies, llamas, goats, and donkeys of Grey Eagle, MN who did not have to die recently.

To read the full article by Matt McKinney mentioning this tragedy, please visit the Star Tribune website by clicking here.

A related story by Bob Shaw can be read at the St. Paul Pioneer Press website here.

If you, or anyone you know, is in need of assistance regarding the animals in their care, please contact your local shelter, humane agency, or local authorities to get help.

More photos of these lovely animals can be seen by clicking here or here.

MHARF Yahoo! Group

A Yahoo! Group has been created for the MN Hooved Animal Rescue to keep everyone informed of events, alerts, and other time-sensitive information that may not be posted to this website. This group is certainly not a replacement for this website, but more to supplement the communication process for everyone concerned about the welfare of horses in Minnesota. To learn more about this e-mail list and what it does, you can visit the MHARF Yahoo! Group home page here. This list is carefully moderated by volunteers of the Rescue to ensure the privacy of the members and the content of the notices. In order to participate, you will need a valid e-mail address. For more information, please visit the MHARF Yahoo! Group.

Artwork by Gayle Adams

We are pleased to announce that contemporary equine and wildlife artist Gayle Adams has very generously offered a 20% donation back to MHARF on the sale of paintings and other artwork sold to visitors of the MHARF website. Click here for more information on how to help MHARF while purchasing some really nice artwork for your home!

MHARF + eBay = Happy Horses!

It's a well-known fact that horses can't access the Internet. Computers, unfortunately, are not made with the hooved individual in mind. (That, and something about opposable thumbs, but we digress.) So, in an effort to overcome this limitation, the volunteers at the Hooved Animal Rescue have created an account on eBay in order to auction off some good items where 100% of the final auction price will go to the horses at the Rescue! To see what is being auctioned off, go to eBay and search for the seller account MNHoovedAnimalRescue - or just click on this link - and you'll be taken to the listing of all the items currently up for auction. Again, 100% of all proceeds for these auctions will go directly to the horses at the Hooved Animal Rescue!

Want to help the horses? Enjoy getting cool things at a great price? Check out the eBay auctions now! Items are added frequently, so check back often!

But wait - there's more! Don't see anything on auction that you'd like to bid on? Well, there's another way you can help! If you have some quality items - they don't even have to be horse stuff - you can donate them to the Hooved Animal Rescue and we can put it up for auction on behalf of the horses. So as not to offend the horses, we ask that only good quality items be donated (as opposed to garden-variety "yard sale" items). If you have something that you'd like to donate, please send an e-mail (and photo, if possible) to ebaysales@mnhoovedanimalrescue.org and we can arrange to pick up the item(s). Distance is a factor, so special arrangements may be needed. Thank you, your bids and donations are appreciated!

Coloring Chickens?

While the MHARF is dedicated to the health and well being of hooved animals, we don't stop caring about animals just because they don't have hooves. And when it comes to the dyeing of helpless chicks, we have to tell people the facts.

An important article has been posted at TheHorse.com that we encourage everyone to read! (Free registration required to view.)

How to Manage Starved Horses and Effectively Work with Humane and Law Enforcement Officials - "The role of the veterinarian in the community is very important (in equine welfare cases)," said Julie Wilson, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, head of large animal medicine at the University of Minnesota's (UM) College of Veterinary Medicine during the 50th annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention. Read More...

MHARF has an urgent need for trainers and/or training centers to foster and work with horses for 60 days. Currently, we have more horses than our staff can work. If you can help, please contact Drew at (763) 856-3119. Remember, all foster care cost are tax deductible.

• Never sell your horse at an auction nor to anyone whose background you haven't thoroughly checked.
• Report suspected animal abuse to:

   Minnesota Federated Humane Societies
   612-866-8663 or 1-877-8ANIMAL (1-877-826-4625)
   6613 Penn Ave. So.
   Richfield, MN 55423
   Email: tshields@isd.net
• Become a Foundation volunteer by calling today.

  Twin Cities Animal Rescue