So, just who is the Bay State Equine Rescue anyway?

And why should you support them?

The Bay State Equine Rescue is a 100% volunteer-run, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to making the future a better place for horses.  Our work is two-fold.  On one hand, we directly intervene on behalf of equines (horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, whatever…) in situations of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.  We’ve sheltered many of these animals in our humble barn – built up entirely by the hands of volunteers – at 415 Hunt Road in Oakham, Massachusetts.  On the other hand, we would also love to see the world in a state where it didn’t need organizations to rescue horses, so we also do a lot of work in education.  We sponsor or take part in community events, help lobby for an end to horse slaughter in North America, and even provide courses in equine care and horsemanship.

This is our mission statement:

The Bay State Equine Rescue's mission is to preserve equine integrity through care that provides physical, mental and emotional health. Our focus is the rescue and rehabilitation of equines void of a human advocate, abused, neglected, or abandoned. Our goal is to raise public awareness of equine neglect through regional youth education, legislation, horsemanship education, animal care awareness, and community service opportunities. We are working toward a standard of excellence to create a model which, when duplicated, will unite rescues nationwide to abolish mistreatment and disrespect of horses in this country.

(Susan and Merlin photo courtesy of BSER volunteer Jane Derosier.)

Here's a note from our president and founder, Susan Sheridan:

What we find at the rescue is the more horses we take, the more horses there are to take. 

We do not want to take horses to relieve people of their responsibility to the animals, we want to teach them to become responsible animal care takers.  We find it more beneficial to the animals to offer clinics to teach people what is involved in owning a horse. 

OR, to teach people to STOP breeding. 

You must ask yourself, why breed??? If the answer is self-serving, STOP breeding. 

We have a tremendous number of homeless horses right now.  Many are being euthanized and the less fortunate are going to slaughter.  We just received a long list of Mustangs needing homes.  These horses were all bred in someone's backyard.  None have been handled; most are underweight with overgrown hooves.  Who is going to take these horses?  How do these horses have any chance of a bright future, or any future at all?  What was the owner of these beautiful creatures thinking when they went ahead with all this breeding?  People need to stop and think about the consequences of their actions. 

Anyway I am on a rant here.

The rescue needs to educate people, we need to get people to think about the consequence to the horse.  We need to find new ways to help the horses and educate the people.

Thank you,

Susan Sheridan

One of the aims of my Blogathon in all the years I've done it is to educate people.  Yes, I hope you'll donate to the rescue, and I would love it if one of the amazing animals I'm introducing you might find his or her way into a forever home.  But, most of all, I want you to see how amazing these animals are; how much they've affected people's lives - my life, for certain; who these animals are; and, unfortunately, why they need our rescue.

Some of the stories you'll read are beautiful and heartwarming; some will make you laugh out loud; others may require tissues.

Thank you for joining me on this equine journey!  I hope it touches you as much as each of these animals and humans working for them have touched me.

Click the apple to donate now to help the BSER horses!