Easy way to support us!

This is a very easy way to support the horses of Project Sage!!!

https://puravidabracelets.com/store/charity/animal-awareness/project-sage-horse-rescue.html

These bracelets will go towards helping our rescue horses!  Please click on the link and order yours toady! 

Thank you for your continued support!

Sad news

It is with an extremely heavy heart that I share the awful news of the passing of one of our rescue ponies. Yesterday we lost our sweet Korri. We are all completely devastated by her unexpected passing. Baby Allie is mourning the loss of her mommy as we all are. We are asking for our supporters help during this extremely difficult time. Our move has put a financial burden on us and we have al...l but drained our emergency funds on Korri's final bills. We are asking for your help to keep us afloat during this time. We need to replenish our emergency funding, we need to raise $700 to cover these unexpected costs. Please consider making a donation via paypal to projectsagehorserescue@gmail.com or by mail to 63 S. Waldinger St. Valley Stream, NY, 11580. Thank you for your continued support.

Flowers for Project Sage!

Please order some flowers to help support Project Sage!!!
http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/campaign?campaign_id=17193

5 days till we move!

Hey Project Sage supporters! Our less is in FIVE days!! This month has really flown by and we still need your help! We still have two horses that need fosters. If you can help PLEASE message us. Connor and Cloud are both VERY safe trail horses, they are both sweet as pie and would really love foster homes for a few months! We also have a baby goat and a year old goat that need fosters for a few months. They can go to separate places, both VERY sweet!!! If you can't help by fostering please consider sponsoring one of our horses that we are boarding during our move. Make a donation now to help us, this has been a very expensive move and we need your help now more then ever! Donations can be made via paypal to projectsagehorserescue@gmail.com or by snail mail to 63 S. Waldinger St. Valley Stream, NY, 11580

We thank you for your support and motivation during this time.  We are very much looking forward to what the future has to hold for Project Sage.  A special thanks to everyone that has helped us pack and start moving.  George, Donna, Donnalyn, Andria, and all my younger volunteers that have packed and cleaned this past month!  Also a thanks to all of the amazing foster homes that have stepped up to give temporary homes to our horses and donkeys during our move!

Thank you everyone!!!

    Congrats to Candy on her adoption of PJ!!!

Good luck little man!!

Little horse, big heart

Today I had the opportunity to see some new pictures and video of our baby Henry that was adopted just a few short weeks ago.  Although I'm always happy to see pictures of the horses in their new homes this one really made my day.  It makes the hard work day in and day out worth it.  It makes you realize that you are making a difference.  So here is the story of my little man Henry who I will forever be grateful for having the opportunity to rescue and help him find his forever home.

In the spring we headed to New Holland horse auction to rescue a few horses in need of help.  The auction was packed with 500-600 due to a holiday weekend.  They were literally tied in every spot possible.  Everything from mini horses to draft horses were in this awful place waiting to be auctioned off.  As I walked through the aisles of horses I spotted a small yearling tied in between a few taller horses.  He looked to have great conformation, just a bit under weight.  He turned and looked at me and he looked so confused as to what he was doing tied to a wall.  I wrote down his number and started taking a closer look at him.  I looked under to check if he was a colt or filly and that's when I saw the largest hernia I have ever seen on a horse.  It was about the size of a soft ball.  I kept his number on my paper and kept walking along.

Taking in a horse like this means huge vet bills, surgery, trailering to the hospital, rehab, and so much more.  Many people would have walked away from rescuing this yearling just due to the fact of the intense rehab he would need but I found myself dialing my vets number and sending him pictures of the hernia.  After a long conversation the phone call ended with the estimate of a $2000 surgery plus other smaller bills that would go along with rehab.  With all the big costs being listed all I could think about was this yearlings face staring at me. 

After being at the auction for 3 hours and having rescued 7 horses the yearling still had not run through.  I had decided to take the risk and rescue him and waited for him to be run through.  I tried to tell myself that it was a decision I had to make but it never was, I knew the second I saw him he would be coming home with me.  Minutes later they ran him through and said "take a good look, you are buying him AS IS"...I was the only bidder and purchased him for $35.  We named him Henry while we were loading him on the trailer.  Out of 8 horses he loaded the best, lead the best, and was all around the sweetest little guy in the world.

A week later Henry had seen the vet and already had pictures being sent to the equine hospital to make a final appointment for him.  Although the hernia was large our vet said he would be fine for surgery and could also be gelded at this time (ever more $$, yay!!).  In this time we had fun giving Henry bathes and taking him for walks.  He quickly became a barn favorite and stole my heart.

Some time later Henry was on his way to Mid Atlantic to have his hernia repaired.  He loaded like a champ and hauled perfectly.  Upon arrival at the hospital he walked into his stall and settled in.  I on the other hand was a complete and utter train wreck.  I was so nervous for his surgery that I had a hard time leaving him there.  Eventually after a ton of pictures of kisses goodbye we left Henry in the best hands possible.  Henry was scheduled for a 9 am surgery two days later and I checked my phone every five minutes for the whole afternoon and called to check with the hospital a handful of times.  When my phone finally rang I was so happy to hear that Henry had come through perfectly and was doing great!  All the nurses fell in love with him and the surgeon commented on how perfect he was walking into the operating room.  Henry has a way of stealing every heart he comes in contact with!

Henry's post care included long walking to keep the swelling down so we walked around the ring while I read a book and every now and then he would give me a nudge in the back to tell me to walk faster.  He slowly started to gain weight after surgery and soon we put him up for adoption.   

I'm so thankful that Henry found such a wonderful home.  He really is the real reason that I love to rescue.  Horses and stories like him make it all worth it.  It's hard work and can be very costly but in the end its worth every penny.  Seeing him happy with a new mom who loves him so much makes me happy to have been there the day Henry was at New Holland.  Consider making a donation to Project Sage to help other horses like Henry, I can't do it without the help from people like you!

Moving!

To all of Project Sage friends and supporters, although our time at the beautiful Ketcham Farm has been amazing we are ready to move onto bigger and better things.  As of October 1st we will be moving the rescue to a friends farm while we search for our forever home.  I'm excited for what the future holds for Project Sage and we are looking forward to finding a larger farm to home our expanding rescue.  Although this is bitter sweet as our current farm was our first real home and I will miss everything about it I know that the future holds something much bigger for us.  I want to thank everyone that has stepped up to help us start packing and getting ready for our big move.  Right now we are looking for a few fosters for our mini donkeys, hinny, and Flower.  If you can foster for the winter please message me!  We are also in need of donations to help with our move.  I rarely ask for donations on our facebook page but now I'm asking for your help to help us move forward.  I know most people only donate when a horses life is on the line but this is just as important.  Please help be a part of the growth of Project Sage and make a donation today!  Our mailing address will stay the same (63 S. Waldinger St. Valley Stream, NY, 11580) and donations can also be made by paypal to projectsagehorserescue@gmail.com.  Please consider helping our rescue today!

Summer Update!!

Hey everyone!  Sorry I have not updated in SO long!  June was a very hectic month for us and July is turning out to be the same way!!  Many horses have found their new homes over the past few weeks which makes us very happy!  Congrats to all our new adopters, we are so happy to have you all as part of our Project Sage adoption family.  It's always emotional watching one of my babies head out to start their new life.  I always give them a final pat and tell them "good luck, be good".  They become my "kids" during their stay at the rescue and when they leave it's always a bittersweet day.  The past few months I've seen tons of my kids find homes and it's humbling to see how many horses we've been able to rescue and place during 2013. 

Our May fundraiser was a HUGE success and I want to thank everyone who came out and donated to our cause.  I'm already excited for next year.  We had about 140 guests, some old faces but tons of new people turned out to support Project Sage.  Our support keeps growing which is a great thing for the horses!

Please check out our horses available page.  We have tons of horses and donkeys that need homes.  When they find a new home it opens a spot for a horse that is in desperate need of rescue. 

Thank you to everyone for your continued support, I'm excited to say that I'm just 2 horses (or donkeys!) away from rescuing 200 horses.  I'm so excited for this milestone in my rescue career.  I will be sure to blog about my 200th horse, I'm racking my brain for the perfect name...any ideas???

Will blog again soon, I promise!!!

My speech from the dinner!

For anyone who missed our dinner dance here is my speech:

First off I want to thank everyone for being here tonight, it’s always amazing to see how many people come out to our events to support Project Sage.  In 2011 at our annual dinner dance fundraiser I announced that we would be rescuing out 100^th horse that summer, this year I’m thrilled to announce we will be rescuing out 200^th horse this in just a few weeks.  It’s an amazing feeling to have gotten this far in just two years.  100 more horses are safe and out of horse auctions and the slaughter pipeline thanks to Project Sage and the support of everyone here tonight. 

 

This past Monday we attended New Holland horse auction.  Every week this auction is held and hundreds of horses are shipped off to be inhumanly slaughtered.  With the intention of saving 4 lucky horses we left the auction with 9 animals in our trailer.  It was heart breaking to leave behind young horses and pregnant horses all that deserved a chance at a better life.  But we must look forward at the horses and donkeys we were able to help this week.  Three yearlings, a pregnant pony, a mare with her foal at her side, and thoroughbred, and two donkeys now call Project Sage home.  I’ve had the opportunity to spend a few days with our new rescues and it saddens me to think of their fate had it not been for our last minute decision to attend the auction.  I’ve had the opportunity to ravish them with love and affection and telling them they are safe.  They are safe due to the hard work and dedication of a 4^th grade class in Bellmore that worked so hard this year to raise over $2000 to sponsor a trip to the auction for Project Sage.  Their hard work paid off and now all these animals have a new lease on life.  I want to take a moment to thank their teacher, Mrs. Grodin, for teaching these children about Project Sage and working so hard with her students to raise money.  It was inspiring to meet these students and see how proud they were of their hard work and their excitement over having a part into rescuing horses.  So thank you Mrs. Grodin for being an amazing teacher, I can see your students will carry your lessons far into life with them.

 

I have to take a moment to thank some people that are here tonight that have made Project Sage grow into the amazing organization it is today.  First off my family for always pushing me to move forward and to keep my head up even when life gets tough.  Secondly, my cousin Steve for making my dream a reality and always believing that I had it in me to turn my vision of Project Sage into something amazing.  And third, my boyfriend Chris for putting up with my crazy life style of always being late and loving this rescue as much as I do.  And of course thank to all of my volunteers that always put one foot in front of another as they work so hard and never complain when we squeeze in just one more horse or donkey that has no place to go.  I’m blessed to have people at the farm that love it as much as I do and put their heart and soul into it.

 

Some people have really gone above and beyond for me this year and I want to acknowledge them.

 

First off, our guest of honor for the night, Ilene.  Years ago I moved Sage into her barn and spent months with him there that I will never forget.  The tranquil setting and the peace I felt at Brookville Farms with Sage was some of my fondest memories with him.  When life dealt me some bad cards and Sage was sick, Ilene was by my side fighting to keep my best friend alive.  She drove to the hospital with us and held Sage just as tight as I did.  When we lost him a few hours later it was Ilene who consoled my family on our unimaginable lose.  She always understood the pain I felt after losing Sage and I was always thankful to have her on my side.  Years later as Ilene has taken on the role as a foster mom to many Project Sage horses it gives me peace knowing that these beaten down and battered horses get the chance to experience the peace that I felt with Sage at Brookville Farms.  With the help of her boarders and many other people Ilene gives these horses the love and respect they deserve.  They are always ready for their new homes with a renewed peace and understanding of what unconditional love is.  I can’t say enough good things about this women who I’m blessed to have on my side.  Thank you Ilene for always going above and beyond for Project Sage. 

 

Next I have to thank Janet and our friends at Ally Equine Coalition.  Janet makes it possible for many of our horses to be fostered at Brookville farms and ensures they receive the best care available.  We send many of our harder cases to be fostered and it amazes me what Ally Equine is able to do with them.  Serious injuries whether mental or physical are healed with the help of Janet and her volunteers.  It is with their help that we are able to take in more horses that need rescue and rehab.  Thank you Janet for choosing to work with us and giving our horses a safe haven.

 

Next I have to thank a man who has gone above and beyond for Project Sage this year.  George has quickly become and asset to our farm.  He gutted our paddocks over the winter and put in an amazing water system that has made day to day chores at Project Sage so much easier.  He’s made sure that things can be as efficient as possible at Project Sage and is always on hand when something breaks or needs fixing.  Which is more often than not!  George has also hauled our horses back from auctions and bad situations and is always on hand for emergencies.  I’m so thankful to have him as part of our team and I thank him for always giving so much to Project Sage.  We really would be lost without him.

 

Every year I’ve chosen a Volunteer of the Year and this year was a no brainer for me.  Donnalyn has been my right hand man this past year and has made things at Project Sage run smoothly on the weekends.  Every Saturday and Sunday I walk into our farm and Donnalyn is already hard at work mucking stalls and keeping everything in order.  She is the hardest working women I’ve ever met and has a love for the horses that is unwavering.  Week nights after the farm is closed down and I’m home  answering pages of e-mails I’m always relaxed knowing that Donnalyn is doing her nightly check of all of our horses.  I was ecstatic to have her adopt a Project Sage horse and watch her rollercoaster of being a new horse owner.  She always keeps a smile on my face on the weekends when things are crazy and she keeps all the new volunteers busy.  She’s given hundreds of tours and I always remember her first day as a volunteer as I was taking down an old shed with a sledge hammer and she happily helped me break the thing in pieces and carry it to the curb.  I guess at that point I realized she would fit right in at Project Sage.  She could put up with my level of crazy and help me with any job that faced us.  Thank you Donnalyn for being such an asset this year.  I could have not have made it through without you and your huge heart.

 

Next I have to thank the only person I know that can handle being my side kick.  You can ask her and find out it’s not an easy job.  Andria takes it all in stride as we are wrestling young horses and being kicked, bitten, and scratched.  Horse rescue isn’t any easy job as Andria has learned this past year.  She willingly gets on any horse that I tell her is kind of broke and smiles for the camera and I video tape every time she gets on something that we know needs a ton of training.  The good times always come with the bad and Andria has been at my side through all the bad this past year.  We shared many tears this year saying goodbye to some amazing horses as they passed on and we welcomed many new horses that needed extreme love and attention.   I’m blessed to have found my best friend through Project Sage and to have someone that loves all these horses at their best and worst as I do.  Thank you Andria for making Project Sage your life this past year and always being there for me.  You are an exceptional friend and I’m not sure what I would do without. 

 

My next thank you is to my amazing mom who has made tonight possible.  She has put countless hours into this dinner and has turned it into a huge success.  We would not be sitting here at this amazing event if it was not for her hard work and drive to make this our best event yet.  Thank you mom for always pushing me forward even when life beats me down and to have taught me to keep my head up and do what I love in life.  You always taught me to face adversity head on and speak up for what I believe in and I’ve become a better person for it.  Project Sage would not be where it is today without you being on my sideline of life.  So thank you, for being there for me and always telling me that hard work pays off.

 

My last thank you is to Donna Kye.  Words can’t express my gratitude to Donna for making Project Sage such a huge role in her life.  Donna has been on this crazy roller coaster from the beginning and has seen Project Sage develop into an amazing organization.  Donna has turned this dinner into her life the past few months and made sure everything was perfect.  She is always at the barn volunteering and even though she always makes faces at me when we squeeze in one more horse or donkey she is the first one giving them horse treats.   Thank you Donna for believing in Project Sage from the start and always putting up with me and all the tasks I throw your way.  You will never know how thankful I am to you for being there for all of our horses.

TANK TOPS!

Hey everyone!  Sorry I have been MIA on my blog!  Been a busy few weeks with about 15 adoptions!  We've been getting in tons of new horses, donkeys, minis so PLEASE check back daily for updates on our horses for adoption!  Our dinner dance is just one week away and we still need your support!  E-mail me if you are interested in attending!!

Teespring.com/projectsagekeepcalm

How adorable are these tank tops?!?!  They are just $13 and you support Project Sage when you order yours!!!!  Please check them out!

Will update blog again soon! :)

The Big Bunny Rescue

This past Wednesday we attented a horse auction on a whim, with spring break here and many of my volunteers off for the week we decided to take a trip.  Myself, my mom, Donna, and her daughter all headed to the auction.  When we arrived we realized that since it was easter week their would be a large small animal auction before the horses went through.  Rabbits seemed to be the biggest seller, sadly many people buy them to eat or just to give as easter gifts.  As we were looking at the boxes of bunnies we decided as a group we could bid on a few and bring them back and adopt them out.  I mean horses is my speciliaty but I have a passion for all animals, small and large. 

When the bidding began I bid on the second bunny and won, they passed the box up the stands and handed us our first bunny.  I guess I got carried away when I saw men who clearly did not want them as pets bidding... the next thing I know we have stacks of crates full of rabbits around us!  In about 15 minutes I was the proud new mommy to 17 bunnies and 3 guinea pigs, all different breeds, sizes, and colors!  We carried all the crates to the truck (it took many trips to carry them all and get them all in!) and we had them all loaded up!  I can't fathom eating a rabbit, but sadly many people do, I'm so happy to have been able to be present to help these needy animals.

The next group of animals was goats, all herded in at once.  Before the auction had begun I entered the stall full of goats and found three babies, not over a week old.  It was so sad to me to think that they were so young and were already in such a harsh place.  I over heard two men talking about the best way to butcher them and which parts tasted the best.  When the goats started walking in the auction ring I spotted my three little babies and started bidding.  The bidding came to a close and I was happy to have won these three little precious souls.

A big donkey also joined the Project Sage family that night, her name is now Flower, she will be available in just a short month!  She is SUCH a love with her huge ears.

We still have 7 bunnies looking for homes, if you can open your heart to one of them please contact me at projectsagehorserescue@gmail.com.  Forever homes a MUST!  Although they are simple to take care of they do need vet care just like your dog or cat so please consider this before adopting!  They make great pets and are all very social and friendly!