Equine Advocates

"With thousands of horses still at risk, Equine Advocates remains steadfast in its mission. As Susan’s story illustrates, one act of compassion can spark a movement." Thank you to A-Z-Animals for this wonderful article highlighting our rescue and humane education work, as well as our 29th birthday which we celebrate tomorrow! Everything we do is possible thanks to the generous support of our donors and sponsors, and from the outlets who share our name and mission with the public. Read here: https://lnkd.in/etq_MwNg

We're celebrating two arrival anniversaries today - Janie and Gerda! Janie is a Registered Thoroughbred born on February 11, 2008. Although she was tattooed and registered under the racing name “Faith to Faith,” she never actually raced. In September 2019, she was rescued out of a Pennsylvania kill pen by Gerda’s Equine Rescue based in Vermont. Janie arrived at our sanctuary on this day in 2020. Gerda is a Quarter Horse whose estimated birth year is 2000. In January of 2023, we joined a group of organizations to help rescue 21 former rodeo bucking horses who had been sold and shipped from a Las Vegas rodeo outfit to a Pennsylvania killer buyer. All 21 horses were saved and Gerda arrived at our sanctuary one month later. She's named after Gerda Silver, President & Founder of Gerda’s Equine Rescue. Both are now living safe and comfortable lives at Equine Advocates. Your support will help us save other horses in need: https://lnkd.in/einYWaF8

We certainly feel lucky today - It's been seven years of loving Jake! Before his rescue, this adorable Standard Donkey had been locked in a stall for nearly a decade with no access to turnout or other equines. When his owner finally agreed to give him up, Jake was immediately shipped to Cornell University Animal Hospital where he was thoroughly evaluated, treated, and gelded. His feet and teeth were in very poor shape. Equines that come here from cruel and unnatural circumstances like Jake do best in a sanctuary where they receive endless amounts of TLC and time to deal with their issues. For years, Jake lived alone because he didn't get along with other equines due to his previous neglect. That is, until we welcomed another Standard Donkey named Emma to the sanctuary and the two became friends! They now live together in a field called “Donkey Serenade.” Jake's sponsors are affectionately referred to as “Jake’s Club!” If you'd like to join the club and support his care directly, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/eXCkNCmq Photos by Michele Jacobs and Len Armer

Everywhere we look, we see love around our sanctuary ❤️ Happy Valentine's Day! Show our equines some love with a donation today: https://lnkd.in/einYWaF8 Thank you for your generosity and support!

Today's the start of International Hoof Care Week! This awareness week is dedicated to educating the public about the importance of proper hoof care and what caretakers can do to guarantee their four-legged friends have healthy hooves. There's an old saying - "No hoof, no horse." Healthy hooves are critical to an equine's well-being and there are many serious hoof ailments that equines can suffer from if they're not properly cared for, such as thrush, abscesses, and laminitis. Preventative care is key! Check out this educational video we made about basic hoof care: https://lnkd.in/eApkB_ws Whether you own a horse or just love them, we hope you enjoy learning about this important element of equine care!

Rescue Anniversary - Today marks 18 years since we saved D.A. and Arnold and gave them new lives! These handsome Thoroughbreds were rescued from an Upstate New York breeding farm, along with another Thoroughbred named Mikey who sadly passed away in 2023. They were severely emaciated and were in such poor condition, they had to spend a month in an equine hospital before arriving at our sanctuary. Their abuser spent time in jail on animal cruelty charges. Two years after the rescue, their story was featured in the New York Times where the veterinarian who treated them was quoted, "They had no groceries... They were starving to death." You can see in the first photo just how bad their conditions were. Now, D.A. and Arnold are healthy, happy, and living their best lives in the company of other rescued Thoroughbreds! You can read the New York Times article on our website: https://lnkd.in/eQRZrTpk

A New Year’s Message from Equine Advocates President and Founder Susan Wagner: I want to take this opportunity to thank our supporters who have made many important projects at Equine Advocates possible in 2024. Thanks to the generosity of so many of you, progress is continuing on the development of the 33-acre property we acquired at the end of last year, directly adjacent to the sanctuary. This was a very important move for us since adding this property was our only chance to expand the sanctuary at this location. We also welcomed eleven new rescued equines to our family, including Daisy and Chloe, Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys. Your continued support allows us to save equines from a tragic fate and give them a safe and loving home for the rest of their lives. We have several new projects scheduled for 2025 including the installation of the perimeter fencing around the new property and the creation of new horse pastures. Our two biggest projects that will involve major construction and fundraising are still in the very early planning stages, which reminds me of that very old and famous expression, “Rome wasn’t built in a day!” Stay tuned for updates. Equine Advocates will turn 29 on February 27, 2025, which will be a very special and important birthday for us. I remember that day back in 1996 like it was yesterday. I could not foresee at that time what this organization would become and whether we would ever have a horse sanctuary from which to operate. Now all these years later, with so many proud accomplishments, including the multiple rescue operations we’ve conducted every year, we are expanding and growing the sanctuary – A cause for celebration indeed! In the New Year, we will continue to concentrate on many of the vital equine issues that were among the main reasons I started Equine Advocates in the first place. None of our accomplishments for horses would have been possible without the support of people like you. Best wishes to you and yours for a very happy and healthy New Year! Susan Wagner President and Founder Read Susan's full message on our website: https://lnkd.in/ecE6B_SA

In Memoriam: Press Exclusive - May 6, 1996 – December 16, 2024 Read Susan Wagner's full eulogy here: https://lnkd.in/eYa46rA5 We lost a special member of our equine family this week. Press Exclusive, or “Press” as we affectionately called her, was a fighter, a survivor, and one of the most remarkable equines I have ever encountered. From the moment I learned about her dramatic rescue at the end of 2012 by Mindy Lovell of the Ontario-based organization Transitions Thoroughbreds, I was moved by and drawn to this mare. Bred in Kentucky, Press was sold to Canadian interests and raced at Woodbine during which time she earned more than $436,000 for her callous owner. When her racing career was over, she became a broodmare and gave birth to at least nine foals! However, when she could not get pregnant again and was no longer able to make money, she ended up on a crowded truck with horses bound for slaughter. She went down on that truck and was nearly trampled to death. But Mindy came to her rescue and Press arrived at our sanctuary on September 10, 2013. Press Exclusive had a huge presence and effect on all who knew her. She was tough, defiant, and lived to “tell the tale” of her horrendous ordeal because of Mindy Lovell, who made it possible for her to beat the odds and survive. I will always cherish the memory of this great mare and feel so very fortunate to have one of her daughters, Swiftie, with us now. Press lives on in her and our hearts forever! Susan Wagner President and Founder

Happy #NationalHorseDay 🐴 It means everything to us to be able to rescue horses (and all equines) and give them a safe and loving home free from abuse and neglect. Today, we reflect on the progress made to protect these incredible animals and what we can continue to do to help them. One year ago, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill to ban the slaughter of horses in, through, and from New York State for human and animal consumption into law. This is great for our home state, but we will keep fighting for a federal ban on horse slaughter for human and animal consumption! Every day is National Horse Day to us, but we’ll snuggle our horses just a little bit more today!

It's #GivingTuesday! On this global day of generosity, we would be honored to receive your support. Our Giving Tuesday goal this year is to raise $20,000 to build new barn structures to welcome more rescued equines to our sanctuary. Every donation makes a difference: https://lnkd.in/einYWaF8 It's been 20 years since we established our sanctuary in Chatham, New York. Over the last two decades, equines of all shapes, sizes, breeds, and backgrounds have called our sanctuary home. Last fall, we acquired an additional 33 acres of property, which allows us to care for even more rescued equines and develop equine-related programs on our grounds. Before we can welcome new horses though, we need places to house them. Your generous donations will go toward building barns with stalls to give rescued equines a safe and comfortable living space to enjoy, in addition to their vital pasture space. $20,000 for 20 years - Thank you for your support!