Zumba for a Cause!!!

Zumba is a Latin dance workout class.  We are holding a Zumba class on Feb 11th from 7:30-8:30 at The Dancin Place, 493 Westbury Ave, Carle Place, NY, 11514.  The cost is $25.00.  Free wine and cheese will be served!  Please join us for an hour of exercise to support Project Sage Horse Rescue!!!  Please e-mail projectsagehorserescue@gmail.com to reserve your spot, limited space avaiable!  You MUST pay before the fundraiser to attend!!!

Watch this video..it's a MUST see!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We8MriCV5RQ

Everyone needs to watch this video NOW!  Grab your tissue box though!  This amazing video was made by Cadie, our photographer.  She adopted Darla, one of our rescues horses about a month ago and is also a good friend of mine.  Thank you Cadie for sharing this powerful story with the world.  I hope more people will donate and step up to help rescue these horses.  I write my story of New Holland each time I go to send a message and share the horrors of this awful place.  Our goal is to encourage people to be more active in the rescue world and donate where you can.  If you can't donate consider planning a fundraiser or stopping at the farm and volunteering.  We take kids of all ages and adults too!  Everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy the horses.  The horses do ask that you bring a bag of carrots though! 

I'm trying to collect names for new rescue horses for our next trip to the auction.  If you are reading this blog please send me ONE name in an e-mail (projectsagehorserescue@gmail.com) that you think would be a great name for our next New Holland rescue.  I might just pick your name for one of our new rescue horses!!

I want to take a moment to thank Donna Kye for planning our wine and beer fundraiser this past Sunday.  It was an awesome day and we all had tons of fun.  Also needs to thank Donna and her daughter for my new water heater for my office!!  Now I can make hot chocolate when I'm freezing doing stalls!  Thank you so much, you are so thoughtful. 

Also want to thank Adam for fixing my tractor yesterday!  I would be lost without that thing!!  Thank you to all my amazing volunteers for coming out and helping me this weekend.  I'm feeling under the weather so my volunteers have been picking up the slack!  Thank you Anna, Corrine, Cadie, and Tray.  You guys are awesome!

I want to challenge everyone right now to do something for Project Sage.  Let's see how many people take the challenge.  Plan your own fundraiser for Project Sage.  It can be big or small and remember every penny counts!  It can be as simple as collecting spare change, bottles, or metal!  Find a local bar and see if they will hold a fundraiser or a local restaurant.  Be unique and think of something cool for the horses.  All money that is raised will go directly into rescuing from New Holland.  If I can assist you in anyway for your fundraiser shoot me an e-mail at projectsagehorserescue@gmail.com.  I would love to help in any way I can!  This is a great thing to do with your kids or just to show you care about the horses!  Also great for kids that need to do community service! 

I'm thrilled to announce our New Holland kittens found a home together today!  Congrats to the Sanderson Family on their adoption of these adorable kittens!!  We are all happy that they get the be together!  Thank you to Marion for making this happen!  Have a nice life kitties, everyone at Project Sage was  happy to help you find the perfect home!

Another Tale from New Holland

On January 7^th we loaded into our truck and headed back to New Holland Horse Auction in Pennsylvania.  Our last trip to New Holland was still so fresh on my mind as we pulled into the parking lot.  Today our goal was to rescue four horses from this awful place. 

We ventured inside and as soon as we walked into the first aisle of horses I spotted her.  She was a tall black thoroughbred mare with an old red blanket on her that barely fit.  Her eyes were glazed over and she picked on the hay in front of her with not much interested.  I walked over and stroked her face.  She looked up at me with defeat in her eyes.  Her left front knee was swollen and had some heat in it.  The source seemed to be a cut on the inside of her leg.  Along with that cut she also had cuts on her ear and neck all which seemed fresh.  I fixed her blanket which was hanging off and patted her on the neck.  She looked to be around 10 years old and I knew she was going to be on the top of my list for the day.  I gave her a kiss on the nose and proceeded through the horses. 

There were paints, chestnuts, bays all lined up ready to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.  I noticed that there were not many private buyers in attendance.  Today would be a rough day for these horses.  We found a stocky black and white paint mare that seemed very nervous.  I scratched her neck and gave her a few pats on the neck.  She was very dirty and not well cared for which seemed to norm at New Holland.  We wrote her on our list as a black and white Quarter Horse mare. 

I took my time looking at each horse waiting for one to catch my eye.  Many horses turned around and tried to look at us as we passed.  If those horses could talk they would be screaming “pick me, pick me”.  People always ask me how I go about picking horses.  I don’t have an exact formula to picking the ones that I will rescue.  I go with my gut but usually the horses pick me. 

We wrote down a few more numbers of horses that we liked.  We were finishing up the last row of horses when we spotted a dark bay thoroughbred mare.  When I first approached her I noticed a group of men standing by watching our every move.  I assumed one of them owned her so I kept glancing over to see if he would come over and tell us about her.  Marion flipped her lip and began writing down her tattoo.  Unfortunately it was illegible but we managed to get a few of the letters.  The man walked over and seemed concerned that we were writing down her tattoo.  He explained he “had too many horses and he had to sell a few”.  I could tell by looking at Ray that he was lying.  I smiled and listened to what he had to say but something seemed wrong.  The man walked away and we again began to try to figure out the tattoo.  The man now started screaming and yelling to get away from his horse.  Obviously this horse was not supposed to be at the auction probably due to track laws.  Ray filled me in that the man was a dealer.  I’ve never dealt with so many low life people until I went to New Holland.  This particular man was the lowest of the low.  I have to believe in karma and hope that this man will be punished one of these days.  Later in the day I noticed the mare was gone, she would not run through the auction.  I assume the dealer got nervous and stuck her back in his trailer.

Time was running out until the auction would begin so I walked into the next row of horses.  This row was full of horses with burrs in their manes, cuts on their legs, and defeat in their eyes.  I’ve never seen so many sad looking horses.  There was a line of small draft horses all filthy with harness marks.  One of these horses collapsed right in front of me from complete exhaustion.  He lay on the floor and closed his eyes.  I assume he was praying to die right there so his suffering would end.  I said a silent prayer for this horse who had worked his whole life for an Amish farmer and now was dropped off to be sold at the auction. 

I noticed a tall chestnut mare standing untied near another horse.  She was breathing slowly and was very thin.  She was not even tied to the wall but yet she stood there with her buddy.  Two horses over from her was a black and white paint mare who seemed petrified of everything around her.  She stood their shaking, too nervous to eat, too nervous to look me in the eyes.  In the pen next door to her were five huge Belgians.  They looked old and sad.  Their feet were long and their eyes were dull.  Some of the saddest looking horses I have ever seen.  All of these horses would later sell to slaughter. All under $100 a piece.

I made my last lap around the auction before it began and found a palomino that was friendly and seemed well cared for.  He was a bit thin but seemed happy to be getting some attention.  We jotted down his number and as we walked away he gave a small nicker.  A sign of appreciation for a few scratches on the neck and a last attempt at pulling at my heart strings.

The auction began and the Belgians were first to be auctioned.  They all sold to slaughter for $20 a piece.  The next 20 horses were all nice saddle broke horses and they all sold for under $500.  I looked in the line of horses and saw my big black thoroughbred mare.  I gave Ray to go ahead and he started bidding.  My heart sank as I noticed that Brian Moore was also bidding on my mare.  I closed my eyes as the bidding finished up.  I gave a huge sigh of relieve when I knew she would be coming home with us and not heading to Mexico. 

I brought one of my young volunteers to New Holland this time around.  I had my concerns about bringing such a young person to this awful place but my goal is to make young people aware of what goes on so our horses have a better chance in the future.  I allowed her to pick out a horse and name it.  She pointed out a bay horse to me that was in line to be auctioned off.  He would be walked through the auction and we knew nothing about him.  Again Ray began bidding and the lucky bay horse got a chance at life because of my young volunteer.  A few of my volunteers went over to meet the horse and it was determined that he was a 7 year old off the track thoroughbred named “Three Georges”.  George had some severe cuts on his legs; you could see the dried blood on his legs that was never cleaned.  He also had a large gash on his face along with many other small cuts.

I stood at the side of the ring with Marion and Ray waiting for another horse on our list to be put in line.  I spotted them walking the palomino gelding to the ring and we anxiously waited for him to run through.  I suppose he became the favorite for all of my volunteers because I can remember the nervous faces of three girls that came with me as they ran him through.  Ray started bidding and I got nervous as I saw two or three dealers also bidding on him.  This palomino deserved a real home, not a trip to another auction.  Thanks to Ray we can now give him a chance at finding his very own home. 

Marion told me a truck load of minis was just dropped off and I saw they were jammed into a pen together.  It was a mixture of foals, mares, and studs.  They screamed and fought and were all covered in burrs and mats.  They ran them through in groups and most sold for under a $100.00.  A little white mini was very nervous and one of the workers at the auction tried to pull him from the pen.  The mini reared and flipped over and shuffled to get back on his feet.  No one seemed concerned for the poor little horse.

They brought in a pen full of loose horses and auctioned them off one by one.  They all sold to Brian Moore for slaughter, all under $75.00 a piece.  They didn’t even fight in the ring, they stood with their heads down.  When they stop fighting you know they have given up.  Given up hope, given up on people, given up on love. 

After the pens full of loose horses were auctioned off I noticed a little girl riding around a little dapple grey pony.  He was small but was the quietest pony I have ever seen.  She was jumping him over hay bales, sliding off his rump, and pulling on his tail.  I pointed him out to everyone and we decided we needed to help him.  He was thrown away because his rider had out grown him.  They didn’t bother to try to find him a new home they just dropped him off at the auction.  His owner rode him through and Ray bid on him.  Thankfully he will never have to worry about another owner out growing him.  I approached the little girl after the auction and I asked her what her pony’s name was.  Her response was simple before she walked away from her pony forever…”he ain’t got no name”.  Her parents raised a child that thinks that animals are disposable; you’re looking at a future dealer right there.

The auction was coming to an end and the black and white paint mare was next in line to be auctioned off.  They announced her as a dual registered Spotted Saddle Horse and a Tennessee Walking Horse.  They walked her through the ring and I noticed that the only people still bidding was two dealers and Brian Moore.  Every horse sold at the end of the auction was selling to slaughter.  We were able to rescue this mare and she looked thankful as she walked past me. 

My favorite part about the day is loading our newest rescues onto Ray’s trailer.  One at a time they hop of the trailer ready to start a new life.  The last time they would ever have to see the inside of an auction house and the last time they would ever need to feel unwanted.  I showed my volunteers the pen full of horses that were bought for slaughter.  Tons of horses that were young and sound filled this pen along with some older horses and tons of work horses.  The Martin Luther King Day Rescue is in honor this pen full of horses that will be slaughtered in Canada and Mexico.  The trailer next to ours was a dealer loading all of the horses he had purchased.  They were attempting to load a thin quarter horse when he put his head down to nibble on hay.  A girl, around my age, kicked the horse in the face and then in the stomach.  The horse ran on the trailer probably terrified of people forever.

Again I want to thank all my supporters who made this rescue possible.  It was another incredible day that will stick with me and my volunteers forever.  I want to thank Ray for doing all my bidding and for watching out for us at the auction.  I want to thank Marion for always helping me make the best choices possible and accompanying me for the second time.  I want to thank Cadie, Katie, and Caitlen for being brave and seeing the auction for the first time.  Last but not least I want to thank Kim for quarantining of newest rescue horses.   Again I make a vow to keep rescuing horses from New Holland and I encourage other rescues to take the step and go to this auction.  You will be changing the life of a horse that needs help and you will not be lining the pockets of dealers, you will be buying directly from the source.  If you would like to make a donation to Project Sage Horse Rescue for our next rescue at New Holland please visit projectsagehorserescue.org or send a donation through pay pal to projectsagehorserescue@gmail.com.  Thank you again for everyone’s constant support of our rescue.  We will be back to New Holland in February so think about making a donation now!  You could help change the life of a horse like Luna, George, Remmy, Sophie, and Luther.

Our New Holland Horses from Martin Luther King Day!!

Here are some pictures from New Holland...

Sophie

Katie and George

Katie and Geroge

Katie won a contest at our barn and was able to go the auction with me and pick out a horse.  She picked out George a 7 yr old OTTB

Remington

Luther

Sophie - 10 yr old TB mare

Luther

Princess Luna

Sponsored by Donna Kye and Family

Remmy

Luna

My story to come soon!!!

Martin Luther King Day Rescue

We are on our way home from the auction and Im happy to report that we rescued 5 horses and 2 kittens. I will type up my New Holland story tomorrow but I will share that we got a black TB mare, black and white spotted draft mare, a bay TB gelding, a palomino gelding, and a grey pony gelding. They are a great bunch of horses and we are so happy that they are on their way to PA as I type this. Another successful rescue thanks to the help of all my amazing supporters. We found 2 stray kittens at New Holland so they are heading back to the farm. I know, I'm a softie for all animals.

I'm exhausted from a long but wonderful day at the auction. I can't explain how awful it is to be there but at the same time the joy you feel when you rescue a horse. Bidding against kill buyers, dealing with many low life people, and seeing the faces of so many horses that have lost hope. It's an experience that is like no other. Tonight I will pray for a group of 7 paint horses that were sold for $20 a head to a well known kill buyer, a draft that was sold for $10, and a gelding who laid on the floor from complete exhaustion before they loaded him on the slaughter truck to his death.

Another day that will stick in my mind forever. So many horses I was unable to help but I look into the eyes of the five we rescued and it makes it worth the heart ache.

Again thank you for your support in another amazing rescue effort!

Heading to New Holland

Thanks to Marions Ipad I can update you from the car! We are on our way to New Holland! Thank you to everyone who donated and has helped us get here! It's a great feeling to get back and rescue more horses! We have a full car going this time. Thank you to Marion, Caitlen, Katie, and Cadie for joining me on another journey to the auction. I will blog my experience at the auction tomorrow and hope to keep educating people on the horrors or New Holland. Thank you once again to Ray for meeting us there and Kim for doing our quarantine. It takes a whole team of amazing people to make a rescue happen! Will be back later to update everyone!

As many of you know in December Project Sage rescued 5 horses from New Holland Horse Auction.  All of these horses were slated for slaughter and would not have had a chance without your generosity.  Many of these horses have since been adopted and are very lucky to be alive.  On Martin Luther King Day we will be venturing back to New Holland Horse Auction in PA to rescue 4 deserving horses.  We need your help to make this rescue possible.  We need to raise funds to help the horses at New Holland.  If you take a moment and read the Project Sage blog (projectsagehorserescue.org) you can read about my last experience at the auction.  It was truly heart wrenching to see so many horses being shipped off the slaughter.  Mothers ripped away from their babies, young horses screaming for their lives, and old horses not understanding what they did wrong to end up in this horrible place.  I ask you to spare a few dollars and donate to the horses that have no one else to turn to.  We are asking for sponsors for these 4 horses.  You can fully sponsor a horse for $500.00 or half sponsor a horse for $250.00.  Any donation amount, no matter how small, will help us reach our goal of rescuing 4 more horses.  Even if you can spare $5.00 if will change the life of a horse forever.

Donations can be made via pay pal to: projectsagehorserescue@gmail.com

Or by mail to:
Project Sage Horse Rescue
63 S. Waldinger St.
Valley Stream, NY, 11580

We have a fundraiser coming up THIS Sunday that I hope many of you will be able to attend!  It is a wine and beer tasting fundraiser to be held in Northport.  Here is some more information about this fundraiser:

An Afternoon of Wine and Beer Tasting
to Benefit Project Sage Horse Rescue
 Come and join us for a day of wine and beer at The Northport Tasting Room.There is a suggested donation at the door of $10.00 and we will be selling raffles. All proceeds will benefit Project Sage Horse Rescue.
When: Sunday, January 16, 2011 1:00pm-5:00pm
Where: The Northport Tasting Room
70 Main Street, Northport, NY

We are always thinking of ways to raise funds for our rescue and we are starting a new ongoing fundraiser.  Project Sage is now collecting metal of any kind to help the rescue horses!  We are collecting ANYTHING metal.  Things like appliances (stoves, dishwashers, washers, dyers), small appliances, computer towers, pipes, lawn mowers, etc.  Most people throw out metal in their garbage.  Why not donate it to the rescue horses?  We also are collecting power cord of any kind!  Any and all metal can be dropped off at our farm in Northport at 386 Bread and Cheese Hollow Rd.  We also have a location in Valley Stream that items can be dropped off at.  This is a fundraiser everyone can get involved it!

I'm working on the success story page so if you don't see the horse you adopted please don't freak out!  It got messed up so I am in the process of re-doing it!!  We are heading BACK to New Holland Horse Auction this coming Monday.  We are in need of donations to go!!  Please if everyone can spare a few dollars it will get us to our goal!  We would like to rescue 4 horses but can't do this without your help!  Any donation no matter how big or small will help us!  pay pal: projectsagehorserescue@gmail.com.


Quick congrats to Ray on his adoption of Max and Nancy on her adoption of Cowboy!!!  Best of luck with these awesome horses!  I'm so happy 2 of the xmas five are now in their forever homes!!!