Helping Hearts Equine Rescue

 Jack the Lad GB ~ Sept. 21, 2009 -

 Hip #810 - Standardbred Gelding, possibly imported due to his freeze-brand GB0182.  We are trying to trace the brand.

Pull Fee is $400.00 ~ Muddy Creek Farm of Berlin, PA is raising these funds.

Aug. 21:  We Know Who He Is!! ~Jack The Lad aka Jack The Lad GB.   Thank you to all the people working on this. 

Thanks to our friends at the UK registry, we know he is in fact an English-bred Standardbred.  Imported to Canada, raced all over the US until age 14.  He is a foal of 1991, made $235,000 in 234 starts.  Last start was at Saratoga several years ago. ~~  Ellen Harvey

Aug 22: the plot thickens!! ~~ During conversation with our vet, Dr. Eli Perris and his assistant Lisa S. today, I related to them the teamwork in working to find this horse a home, discovering his identity and his pending freedom from the kill pen.  Lisa recognized the name "Jack the Lad" as being a horse that a client had recently given away.   Eli contacted the client to inquire about the disposition of "her" Jack and of any identifying markings.  The woman stated that she had given Jack to "John from Pennsylvania who was taking the horse for his girlfriend to ride" and she confirmed that "her" Jack had a freeze-brand beginning with the letters GB.  When she asked  Eli why he the questions, he explained to her that we had found the horse in the kill pen.  The poor woman was beside herself!! She had told the new owner of the horse if he ever couldn't keep him, that he could be returned, that she didn't want to see him go to auction, etc.  This unscrupulous person had every intention of turning this horse around to make a quick buck, at the expense of Jack's life and Jack's owner's trust!!

This owner had herself gotten the horse from a trainer 4 years ago when he couldn't race anymore due to a bad knee, to save him a trip to auction/slaughter - - and trained him to be a riding horse.  There is no way she would have knowingly given the horse to an unscrupulous person!!

Eli calmed the woman by explaining that a rescue would be pulling him out of there tomorrow.  I am giving all of Muddy Creek's information to Eli to forward to Jack;s previous owner so that she can contact Jennifer there about Jack.   

Please folks, be careful in re-homing your horses!!!  Always have something in writing.  Ask for references -- Vet and Farrier - - AND CHECK THEM!  If you need help in putting together a Transfer Agreement, please email me, I have a 'stock form' that you can use as a jumping-off point.  I can't guarantee that it would be legally binding in a court of law, but if a person won't sign an Agreement, chances are that their intentions are less than honorable.  If it hadn't been for rescues networking for the good of the horses and  a chance conversation, the story could have had a very different outcome and the owner never would have known that that her horse was nearly slated for slaughter. 

  Hip #769 - TB Mare, used for Polo, appears sound - - Price is $400

This young lady seems to have a couple folks interested in pulling her.  Stay tuned to see who gets this beauty.  Beth H and also Muddy Creek Farm of Berlin, PA

Saved along with "Jack the Lad" below, the mare has been christened "Jill".  Jill and Jack will stay together.

 They have gone to Muddy Creek Farm,in PA.

May 18, '09:  Brain Surgery . . . . . Wellll, the colts were gelded today, making them much better citizens

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 Our local dressage organization - Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association - honored me as the 2008 recipient of the ESDCTA Sportsmanship Award at the award banquet on Feb. 8, '09.  The rulebook states that the trophy is "awarded to an ESDCTA member who has exhibited selflessness and helpfulness towards others within the ESDCTA community."  I am very honored and Thankful to have received this recognition for our efforts for the horses.  The member who nominated me included with the nomination letter the article written by Ed Johnson and published in the Asbury Park Press on Sept. 28, 2008.  Portions of the article were read aloud, which made for a very moving presentation.  So Thank You to my mystery-friend who nominated me; Thank You Ed Johnson for writing the article; and Thank You to the ESDCTA Board of  Directors for choosing me as the 2008 recipient.

 

 This note, sent to me by Bruce's adoptive "mom", Lauren, just seems to sum it all up.   "I can't believe someone just threw him away".   Thank you Lauren for becoming Bruce's equine soul-mate.

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News Article:

FROM 'THE EXAMINER' *Allentown, Millstone, Roosevelt, Upper Freehold, Nov. 20, 2008

Wandering horse gets help in Millstone Twp.,BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

This equine, which was found wandering around Manalapan, is now recuperating at Chestnut Ridge Equestrian Center in Millstone, thanks to the help of area volunteers.

MILLSTONE — He's been dubbed McCain, because he's an old veteran who showed up around Veterans Day.

McCain is an elderly equine found wandering around Dey Grove Road in Manalapan, now recuperating at Helping Hearts Equine Rescue at Chestnut Ridge Equestrian Center, Millstone.

Millstone resident Sharon Gaboff is the animal control officer for neighboring ManalapanTownship. On Nov. 13, she received a call at 8:30 a.m. about a loose horse on Dey Grove Road. Gaboff said two local residents caught the horse, which had no halter on, and put him in a paddock.  "I was shocked at the condition of the horse," she said.

Gaboff made inquiries about the horse at local farms, but no one knew the equine or made any reports of missing horses. Because of his poor condition, Gaboff does not think the horse could have wandered very far, and speculated that he may have been dumped in the area.

Gaboff contacted Lisa Post, the founder of Helping Hearts Equine Rescue, who agreed to come to the old fellow's aid. The women waited in the pouring rain for a veterinarian to check the animal. Dr. Mike Ostner, of Dey Associates, Upper Freehold, examined the horse and said that he is between 20 and 30 years old.

Despite the horse's outward appearance, his heart and respiration were within normal parameters, although lung sounds were indicative of pneumonia, according to Post. Ostner told her that if the horse has an underlying problem to account for his condition, it could be lymphosarcoma.

Post said it was reprehensible for someone to treat an animal like this.

"He deserves better. He gave his life to serve humans in work and recreation and this is the thanks he gets — to let him starve," she said.  Post said McCain has open sores over some of the protruding bones on his left side, indicative of having been down for a period of time. He was covered in feces on that side, so he was lying in his own manure, she said. "Even if I'm wrong about the starvation and he's in this state due to an underlying disease or condition, you don't let the animal suffer. That's pure cruelty," Post said.

Post and volunteers spent the night drying and warming up the equine. McCain now seems perky and wants to eat everything put in front of him, she said.   Gaboff said the horse is subject to the seven-day holding period required by statute for a stray animal. The New Jersey Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is also investigating the case. If anyone has information about the identity of the horse, contact Gaboff at 732-489-1717. Donations for the rescue may be sent to Helping Hearts Equine Rescue, 260 Millstone Road, Perrineville, NJ 08535 or by calling 732-786-9015.

Post-script: McCain passed as this article was going to press.

Our Helping Hearts Spa Day was a Great Success for our Rescues!!

Several wonderful equine massage therapists, headed by Colleen McDonald of Equine Kneads, LLC, donated their time and talents to massage our rescues as well as several lesson horses and boarders' horses at Chestnut Ridge Equestrian Center.   HHER received a donation for every horse massaged.  In addition, we held a used tack sale and sold mums and pumpkins.  Several Gift Baskets were also raffled off.  Over $2,500 was raised for the horses.  IN Addition, the next day HHER received an extremely generous donation of $1,000.00 from Carol Stillwell, CEO of Stillwell-Hansen, Inc.  Thank you so much every one for sharing our day and making it such a great success for the horses.

 Caley & Kerrie Albert                                   Manning the Tack Sale table

 Chance being massaged                           Rose being massaged by Colleen McDonald

Naughty Bogart pulling Hayley around        Dominic the mini-mule - adopted from AC4H

Bruce and Roland Stanzione                      Penny and Colleen McDonald

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