Introduction Letter
A Little more about Pasture Pals Equine Rescue, Inc.
We are a recognized 501c3 Non-Profit Corporation, and everyone here is a volunteer. Pasture Pals Equine Rescue, Inc. Our purpose is to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome equines; and to educate people on their care and upkeep.
We need more volunteers that can commit to a schedule, help with the daily chores at the rescue, and help train and ride. Even if it is only one day a week it helps. We make the rounds to feed, check water, much out stalls, as well as pick out dry lots and holding areas from 9 am - 11 am every morning (or before work); and then go back to groom and work on specific projects or animals, and do adoption meetings between 11am and 4pm. We again make the feeding and mucking rounds in the late afternoon or early evening 5 pm - 7 pm (or after work).It can take 2-3 hours to make the rounds in the morning but not quite as long in the evening.
We live at 10 Colony Ridge, We have apasture location at 690 West Olive Road, and another pasture on 2489 Rock Pillar Rd.We are nota professional ranch or training facility, just people who love animals and couldn't leave them in bad situations.
I like to recommend to anyone looking for good information about horses, that they go toTheHorse.com, it is a free membership. I am also a member ofNoworriesclub.com, it costs $19.99 a month, you get monthly magazines and DVD's, as well as being able to view any of Clinton Anderson's TV shows and tapes anytime you want, and get advice and fellowship with other people about horses.
We have quite a verity of horses and donkeys that all need care and attention and we would like to have a "dedicated volunteer" for each of them. We have set up a calendar/schedule so that we know who will be here when. The more volunteers we get, who can commit to a regular schedule, the easier it is to make sure the animals get the care they need, and the volunteers get the training they need to care for them. We need more people who can be consistent in their visits. Right now we do ask that everyone at least give us a text or call, preferableat leastthe day before coming, to let us know when they will be out and for how long. New volunteers have to team with an experienced volunteer for at least the first month or 5 visits. I will also frequently ask on the volunteer text thread who is coming and working on which projects, just to keep everyone up to date. We likeput our new volunteers on this text thread, to make it easy for them to coordinate their visits with existing volunteers. If you have a schedule that you can give us, we will put you on the calendar. After a month or so with us a volunteer can choose a specific animal to work with or dedicate your "horse time" to, the animals do get attached to their people. They will look for their people to come, and get upset/miss them when someone doesn't show up.
Right now a few volunteers are working with all the horses on occasion, looking for the “best fit” for them, but most are still trying to decide on a specific horse to work toward adopting. A couple volunteers are not able to actually work with the animals and are doing social media and grant applications for us.
We are not a training facility, just animal lovers, who could not stand to leave these animals in the situations they were in. If you are just looking to jump on a horse and ride, this is not for you. These animals need time and attention, not just to be used and put away. Care and ground work will be required before anyone ever saddles a horse, and some help around the farm, stables, or office is be expected of ALL volunteers. Equal time has to be spent on care and working as is spent with the animal of your choice. We really need more people who know ground work, tack, and riding as most of the horses are ride able, some are green broke, some are just companion animals,but everyone needs ground work! While most have learned to like people again, all need attention as well as miles under saddle or on lead.
We welcome trainers who could set up scheduled times to work with the volunteers and our horses.
If a volunteer wants to bring out a trainer to work with them and the equines, we are glad to welcome them.
We don't really have any "Staff" yet. Keith and Alex are the only full time volunteers. Some volunteers come out to help now and then, mostly a day or two a week or month with theanimals.
Our Equines will remain in our care. This is a "volunteer" and/or "onsite lease" situation.
We are also looking for "sponsors" for the animals, to help pay for their medical/farrier/feed bills and lower their overall cost to make it easier to rehome them. While a few animals are with us for life, most are / or will eventually be available for adoption. Adoptions fees are equal to one half (or less) of what we have invested in the animal. We are doing some boarding for horses that we have adopted out, on a case by case basis.
We are cutting new trails for riding and do have some already at Rock Pillar, round rings for training, stalls, western tack, and holding areas. If you have your own tack you are welcome to bring it, but we will have to see if it will be suitable for the Equine as no saddle fits all horses and can cause serious problems if it pinches or slips.
We do not have anything fancy. We built everything here ourselves, with what we could find and afford or what was donated and are continuing to make things better as we can. We are not money people, so what we have, we built ourselves since May 2012, when we rescued Jessie. We did not set out to be a rescue, but the animals keep coming and they don't care how it looks, just that they are clean, safe, and cared for. Unfortunately I have had to turn away more animals then we currently care for. I can only do so much, without more help from volunteers, outside funding, sponsors,and donations.
Our typical day starts from 9am-11am (or before work), making the rounds to feed everyone, mucking out stables/holding areas/dry lots and then going back to groom, do training, and adoption showing between 11am-4pm. Our days ends 5pm - 7pm (or after work) making the rounds to feed and muck again. It usually takes around 2 - 3 hours to go around feed, water, muck, and check everyone. Between feeding everyone, fixing/building fences, androutinecare; we don't have nearly as much time with the animals as we would like. This is why we are giving people the opportunity to volunteer.
You would be more then welcome to come out and meet all of us and find out about the animals needs, to care for, and train with them. We call this our “Meet and Greet” for new volunteers and we request a one time $25 donation for the 3 or more hours we will spend showing and taking the tour. However; we do not personally have a lot of time to train everyone so experience is a plus. Experienced volunteers pair with new volunteers to teach them basic care. While I am happy to provide access to my Clinton Anderson's Fundamentals and Horsemanship 101; and am providing a computer to watch the DVDs and study the horse working method in an apartment off my house; Keith and I are pretty strapped for time, with working as well as building better places and facilities for the animals. This is one of the main reasons why we thought it would be a good idea to let other people work with the animals and get some experience for themselves, while giving the animals more people time. I cannot allow anyone who is under 18 to work with the animals without and adult to supervise, as this is a"at your own risk"situation and I cannot be liable for accident or injury.
We currently have 19 horses, 4 donkeys, 3 goats, 3 dogs, and 2 potbellypigletsthat are here at Pasture Pals ER. All would be great 4H animals!
All of our horses and donkeys need ground work. They all love to be brushed, rubbed, curry combed, and really seem to pretty much like people. Most horses are rideable.
The animals all have their own personalities and personal needs, just like people do.
Jessiewas our first rescue. She is a 10yr old, sorrel, BLM Mustang, Mare. Jessie was very skittish, seriously abused, and starving when she came to us on May 1st 2012. I have had her under saddle/bridal a few times. Recently we have taken her back to her round ring and saddle training, but she very green and needs a dedicated volunteer. She is very smart and loving but has a lot of training to do. Jessie gave birth to Jessie's Little Diamond on 5/3/13. Jessie is a leasable and adoptable horse.
Lady, 16yr old, Tabiano Quarter horse, former show/trick horse then brood mare. She pretty much has done it all and knows it all, but has to be reminded what she already knows, and will be pushy if you let her, but loves to run. Lady is a leasable horse.
Spiritis a 3 yr old, Tri Paint, Quarter horse, Filly. Ladies last Foal. She is learning ground manners and all about round ring and tack. No One will be allowed on her back until she is full grown, this means her withers will be as high as her backside. But she does need to learn ground work and tack so she will be ready when the time comes, and she is a pretty pushing big girl. Spirit is a leasable horse.
Dash, 9yr old, Sorrel, Arabian, Gelding. Dash came to us almost completely wild. He had been left in a pasture completely by himself for his entire life, as was only used for stud. It took a lot of patience and time to get Dash over being afraid of every sound and wanting to fight with every horse. He is now a sweet loving, rideable, and amazing kid’s horse. He is available for Lease and Adoption.
Chesteris a 3yr old, White, Small Standard, Donkey, gelding. He was completely feral, when he came to us, but has since learned to like attention and actually comes up to almost everyone wanting to be rubbed and brushed. Chester loves to play tricks on you, such as stealing tack and grooming supplies, and pulling pony tails. Chester is a leasable donkey.
Molly, 19yr old, Morgan mare. Loves everyone, loves attention, and is a great with kids. She has some arthritis and has to be kept on supplements. She cannot be expected to do much work, but when Molly feels good she is a nice easy ride, steers with the leg, and genuinely likes people. She is definitely a “been there done that” kind of girl. Molly needs someone to love and is an adoptable and leasable horse.
Fritzan 11yr old, brown, Miniature Donkey, 34 inch tall, Jack. He is little attention hog and always butting in to get rubbed. I use Fritz for the people who need to learn, hoof care, and grooming to practice on. He is a great little guard donkey and always greets everyone when they come out to the house. Fritz has a 4 generation pedigree and was actually breed to be a show animal and a stud. Fritz is a leasable donkey.
Buckis a 20yr or older, Thorough Bred, which we rescued on Dec. 22nd2012. He was underweight by 500lbs, skin and bones, his teeth were terrible, and had foot rot that we had to work hard to clear up. He has gained his weight back now and his feet are healed, but he is having some issues with arthritis. He is a very sweet loving big boy. He loves to be brushed and rubbed, and needs a lot of loving care. He is a bit pushy and doesn't realize how big he is sometimes. Buck is starting to act like the Thorough bred that he is, a good trail horse, and is great babysitter for our younger horses. Buck is an adoptable and leasable horse.
Diamondwas born on May 3rd2013, right here in our back yard. His mommy is Jessie and his Sire was Dynamite. Diamond was imprinted when he was born by Alex. At 3am in the dark back yard where he was born all we could see was the Diamond shape on his head and so that became his name. He is a sweet loving attention hog, has to be reminded (like any teenager) that he has manners, and needs someone to love on him and get him used to all the tack and ground work he will need to become a good horse someday. Diamond is Adoptable and Leasable.
Lucky, 5yr old, sorrel, Appaloosa / Quarter cross, gelding. We brought Lucky home 8/13/13 He loves everyone, is pretty pushy and needs work on ground manners, loads well, is good for the farrier, and is very ride able but needs finish work. Lucky is smart and just the right size. He could have potential in many different types of riding. Lucky is a leasable and adoptable.
Sweets16yr old, Sorrel, Mare. We are not sure of her bread at this point but she appears to be gaited. She came to us from the Johnston County Animal Control. She is very sweat and healthy now. She needs time and attention, as she was covered with infected saddle sores, when she came to us, she is afraid of anyone climbing onto the saddle, and needs to learn it doesn’t have to hurt. Sweets is leasable and adoptable.
Star,12yr old Paint/Appaloosa,Mare. Star came to us from Johnston County Animal Control. She was badly abused and is still frightened of people for the most part. She is learning that we will not hurt her and that people can be good too. She does well on the lead line and moves beautifully. She know ground work and has been ridden, however she is very head shy and we have not yet gotten her calm enough to let us put on a bridal. She will be an amazing horse, when we can get her desensitized to the bridal and people touching her head. Star is Adoptable and Leasable.
Flossy May,6yr old, Light Gray, Small Standard Donkey Jenny. Came to us
3-8-13, with elf feet, missing half of an ear, nursing one baby, and pregnant with another. Flossy new nothing of humans, feed, cookies, carrots, and apples….or pretty much anything but cows, hay, and being picked on by the other donkeys. She is now a love bug and pretty much comes up to everyone wanting attention. Flossy is Adoptable and Leasable.
Mr. G,30yr old, Bay, Saddle Bred, 16 3 hands tall, several hundred pounds underweight at 1095lbs, came to us 3-11-14 G has very few teeth and cannot eat hay, but ChaffHaye, sweet feed, pellets, and grass work just fine. It is taking a while, but G is getting healthy. Although his skinny face makes him look like a grumpy old man, G has proven to be loving and seeks attention from everyone. Mr. G is with us for life and would love a dedicated volunteer.
Dottie,18yr old, Leopard Appaloosa, Mare, 15 2 hands tall, underweight by 300lbs at 832lbs, came to us on 4-7-14. Dottie was at deaths door when her owner called us to come get her. An untreated eye infection from 4yrs earlier had left her eyes blind, dead, and rotting in her head. We have helped Dottie gain some weight, and had the eyes removed. Now she is feeling better and just wants to go all the time. Dottie has a dedicated volunteer, but still needs people who can love her, and patiently lead her around so that she can learn her surroundings. She is a sweet mare and when healthy will make a good lead pony. Dottie is adoptable, but probably with us for life.
Comet, 9yr old, Tricolor, Paint/Arabian, Gelding, 14 1 hands, 678lbs. Comet is very sweet and seeks attention, learn ground work, and be broken to ride. Comet is adoptable and leasable.
Sasha, 10yr old, White over Sorrel, Paint/Arabian, Mare, 13 2 hands. Sasha is still a bit head shy, but has gained her weight back, is sweet, likes attention, but is learning that she is not the Alpha mare she thought she was bossing her little brother around. Sasha needs to learn ground work, and be broken to ride. Sasha is Adoptable and Leasable.
Princeis a 3yr old, White over black, Miniature Paint Pony, Gelding, 35 inches tall. Prince looks like a stuffed animal, he is so unbelievably cute. Unfortunately Prince can be dangerous. He has no manners and needs extensive ground work and desensitizing, as well as being broke to saddle and bridal.
Storm,13yr old, White, Mustang, Stallion. Storm is almost completely wild and has spent 12 years in a tiny little 10ft stall. He just arrived a couple moths agoand will take a lot of time to overcome the abuse and neglect he has suffered the last 13 years.
Pearla 6yr old, Boyer mix, goat, who was dumped in my horse trailer by someone. She recently gave birth to 2 kids Butter and Chip.