Monday Updates

I love Monday updates when I can tell you about not one but two fantastic ready to be adopted horses!

I'm happy to report that both Peach and Tess are ready for their forever homes!

Tess is a great hunter/eventer prospect, she is a 4 year old unraced TB filly. She sound, healthy UTD on everything and very easy to ride! 

Peach is also still looking for her forever home! You can find out more about her in some of our earlier blogs.

Now for the rest of the updates!

-Lady and Tess are both located at Grandview Stables in Danville New Hampshire and are doing very well there. 

-Studly had a hoof trim today and still healing very nicely from being gelded.

-Lea has learned to lunge and is really good at it! She also seems to love the stimulation.

-Bentley's weight is looking good and she is truly learning how to be a horse!

-The new shed and paddocks are up! The footing just needs to be spread but should be in use by Friday!

Peach Is Ready For Her Forever Home!

Remember Peach?

The beautiful girl in the picture above is Peach and she is here to tell you that she is now ready to go to her forever home! Peach is a 7 y/o 15 hh warmblood mare who has been neglected most of her young life but is coming back nicely from it. She has been at STRIDES for a while now gaining weight and learning to be a horse.

Peach is a very in your pocket type horse, she is barefoot, healthy and UTD. 

Peach still needs to be finished under saddle and does need an experienced trainer and rider but would make a fantastic spring/summer project and once she's learned everything a great all around horse.

What do you say? Is Peach your new best friend?

For more information on Peach please contact Chellsey Camasso at 603-489-9979

Peach tearing it up!

Super cute gaits!

Monday Updates

Alright folks there is lots going on at STRIDES Equine Rescue this week!

Peach is ready for her forever home!

-Peach is finally healthy and at a good weight and ready to go to her forever home! She'll need an experienced rider/trainer but should do very well with more training. Please contact Chellsey Camasso at 603-489-9979 if you are interested or would like more information.

-Studly came through his gelding surgery just fine and (we think) is looking forward to life as a gelding! 

-Keira has officially been adopted! Thank you Becky! We hope you do many great things with Keira and that she brings you much happiness and joy.

-Two new horses are now at the rescue. They are Chloe and Lady, both bay TB mares who were raced at Suffolk Downs as youngsters. Currently they are at Grandview Stables in Danville New Hampshire. I will have more information on them soon.

-Bentley is coming along nicely and still gaining weight and getting used to being a horse. She will be brought to the rescue for training sometime in May.

-We have a great new steel shelter going up on Wednesday! It 21X28 and will help us a lot!

Keep on the look out for profiles of adoptable horses this week as well our Friday Suggested Reading Blog!

Some Interesting Reading

A STRIDES rescue doing Dressage.

Since I will have no new blogs up until Monday I figured I'd post a link to a website I've been reading a lot of lately. It's called Sustainable Dressage and it is a very interesting and opinionated read. Now I'll put a little disclaimer right here; The folks at STRIDES Equine Rescue and anybody and everybody associated with them do not necessarily hold the ideas and ideals as reflected on the website Sustainable Dressage nor do that have any affiliation with them.

I (Annie Rose on Facebook) really enjoyed the section on bits and bitting and how different bridles effect the face. The entire site is very interesting although at times a bit like reading a text book. Totally worth taking a look at though. I've also found it's good for helping you form your own thoughts on a few things like what kinds of bits you like or dislike.

Monday Updates

I think I'm going to start doing Monday updates most Mondays that there are significant things to update on just to keep everybody on the same page and things going smoothly.
So this Monday here are the updates;

-The Flower Power Fundraiser reached it's $500 + goal but you still have a few days to purchase flowers if you have not already! Thank you to everybody who did purchase flowers! You have contributed greatly to raising the funds for the new barn!

-As of this week Studly is going to be much less studly. Yes folks he's going under the knife to become a gelding! Even though he's already sweet and quiet he is much better off as a gelding and once he recovers he will begin training and then finding his forever home.

-Lea is coming along very nicely and is finally coming out of her shell and learning some manners and to trust.

-Bentley is doing well and gaining weight.

-STRIDES is in need of a good, well fenced horse safe pasture in Sounteastern New Hampshire to pasture a few rescues while they learn to be horses again. If you have a pasture like this or know of somebody who does who might be willing to allow us to use it please contact Chellsey Camasso.

-The benefit trail ride is now being held at Tower Hill in Candia New Hampshire. More to come on this soon.

-STRIDES will be getting a new rescue TB in at the end of this week. More details to come on that horse as I get them.

Help Us Out!

STRIDES Equine Rescue is in need of a good, well fenced, horse safe pasture in Southeastern New Hampshire to allow a few rescue horses to rest and learn how to be horses again.
Please if you have a pasture like this contact Chellsey Camasso of STRIDES Equine Rescue at 603-489-9979

Obese Horses

I know we all know the dangers of horses being underweight like this;

Bentley AFTER gaining some weight.

But what about horses looking like this;

Studly this past week.

With fat rolls like this;

It's easy to think that bigger is better especially when you are rehabbing horses and you see a lot of thin ones but that is not so. STRIDES got a 13.3 hh stud pony in last week and he is FAT which means he's also more then a bit unhealthy. I figured this would be a good time to bring you folks some great YouTube videos about obese horses and ponies so you can be better educated and better able to recognize them and therefore care for them better.

Here is a great video about how to fat score a horse and what in the findings tells you they are overweight.

This is an interesting video about an epidemic of overweight horses in the UK and what is being done over there. We have the same problems here.

This is a good article on general proper feeding of horses and ponies.

And here is a great page on overweight horses and how to recognize and manage them. 

Better Picture Of Lea

As promised here is a better picture of Lea!

Two New Rescues

Meet Studly and Lea;

Better pictures are coming soon but for now here is the story; 

Studly is the black and white paint stallion and Lea is the solid mare. Both of them are 13 years old and have never had routine vet care, never had their teeth floated and have not seen a farrier in months. I saw Lea yesterday when I went to visit Chellsey and the rescue and she looks lost and in her own world, she walks stiffly and carefully because of her hooves but still can get up a good run if she really wants too. 

Studly is currently being housed at the quarantine barn and soon Studly will be less of a man and more of a gelding. For a stallion though he is quiet and sweet and well mannered, Lea though, seems scared and naughty and her manners are not as good. They are both halter broke but not broke to saddle, we think Studly will do well with this but Lea might do better with a non riding home.

Currently both horses are learning to be horses and getting the proper health care as well as working on their ground manners. If you are interested in donating to help Studly or Lea you can do so here.

10 Ways To Help STRIDES...For Free!

I know we all want to help STRIDES as much as we can, in fact if you are reading this I bet you are a horse owner, a horse lover or simply just love animals. Helping often involves donating money, which is extremely appreciated and needed, but we all at some point have all fallen on hard times and extra cash can be tough to come by. You have hit the dilemma of still wanting to help but feeling like you cannot spare the extra few bucks to do so. Well you can indeed still help and here are 10 ways you can do so!

1. Clean out your tack room! You have a horse, or a few horses, and chances are you have extra tack that is adding to the clutter! Do a spring cleaning of your tack room and donate what you don't need! Gently used and good quality halters, saddles, blankets, saddle pads and leg wraps and boots can always be used. Get your friends involved too! Get together and pool your donations!
If you don't know if something can be used just ask!

2. Network, network, network! I can't stress this enough! Get the word out, tell people about STRIDES, our Facebook Pages and this blog. Tell them to tell their friends. Put a flyer up about us at your local tack shop, feed store, even in your barn! Getting the word out is key and maybe the most helpful thing you can do.

3. Offer your time. Sometimes the best thing you can offer is your time. Whether grooming a horse or helping mend fences you too can help! Do you have a skill like construction or just being handy? Can your groom horses and give them a bit of attention? If you think you can offer time just ask and we will let you know how to help!

4. Put out donation cans at your local tack shops, feed and seed stores and any place animal lovers go! If you go some place every week then you can put out a can, check it and empty it and of course get the donations to STRIDES. Just ask for more information!

5. Put up flyers about our events, fundraisers and horses in need of sponsors. Once again, all you have to do is ask!

6. Ask about volunteering at the trail ride or any of our other events!

7. Start a donation campaign in your town or at your barn! Got a kid in Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts or 4-H? Go to church? Any of these groups can be used to help! Get everybody involved!

8. Run a bake sale! Get all your friends together and sell some home baked goods! Keep flyers and information on STRIDES close at hand and you can even bake horse and dog treats to sell as well as human goodies!

9. Search your car, couch, purse or bag for change. Ask your friends to do the same. You'd be amazed how much you can find just laying around! You can also collect coins in a jar, this is also a great project for classrooms and any place there are large groups of folks wanting to help!

10. Once again; NETWORKING! Get the word out! This can't be said and done enough!

Contessa Under Saddle

Contessa had her first time under saddle at the rescue. You know how some horses after not having a rider for a while are a bit, well, twitchy and have more spunk and energy then is wanted? That was not Tess at all! she took it like a doll, calm, quiet and sane. Really like an old pro.

Tess was a bit lazy but that is to be expected with her lack of muscle and will go away once she gets stronger and used to working. She showed that she really wanted to please and wanted to do the right the thing and with some work and miles will be a fantastic horse!

Contessa does still need sponsors to help with her routine care and expenses while at the rescue before she finds her forever home. If you would to donate you can do so here.

Very Exciting News!

So, this blog is indeed about raising money for a new barn at STRIDES Equine Rescue and now there is a new and super fun way you can help out!
STRIDES in cooperation with the American Competitive Trail Horse Association will be holding a benefit trail ride in Bear Brook State Park, Allenstown New Hampshire on Saturday September 24th 2011!
Do you like trail riding? Do you like riding with others? Do you like helping out a great cause? Do you like fun? If you answered "Yes" so any of these questions then this is the event for you!

Bear Brook State Park is one of New Hampshire's largest state parks and has miles and miles of well maintained trails for folks of all riding levels and abilities. The ride will start at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday September 24th and will go for around 2 to 2 1/2 hours. There will be optional challenge and obstacle courses at some points in the ride. Virgina Page Photography  will be onsite to take pictures of you and your horse being the super stars that you are that will be available for purchase after the ride.
Lunch will be provided by Grandview Stables or you can bring your own.
You MUST register in advance online and can do so here.
The entry fee is $58 for adults, $25 for children ans $40 for adult buddies of children. All these fees must be paid in advance online at the site linked above.
There is also a state park fee of $4.00, all information and more can be found here.
There is lots of parking for trailers at the park.

So, now that you know all about the ride and want to do it you may be asking what you will need.
Well here is a helpful list;

-A horse! (or donkey, or mule, or pony...some sort of equine)
-Proper boots and riding clothes, helmets are strongly advised.
-Proper tack for your horse, boots and leg wraps are always good.
-Sunscreen, sunglasses and hats as well as layers in case it's chilly.
-Snacks! For both you and your horse.
-A bag lunch of you would rather eat your own food or have dietary restrictions.
-Human and equine first aid kits.
-A cell phone, just in case you need it, not to chat!
-Liquids like Gatorade or bottled water to keep (and your horse!) hydrated.
-An extra hoof pick.
-Fly spray.

There will be a more extensive list as well some article links posted later but I think that's good enough to get you all started and ready!

New Bentley Pictures

Bentley is doing well and gaining weight! But she still needs sponsors!

Georgia

This is Georgia, she is a 4 y/o 14.2 hh registered Quarter Horse mare who is new to STRIDES.

Georgia is super sweet and loves people and will someday make a fantastic little hunter pony but right now what she really needs to sponsors to help her out while she's at STRIDES. To help out Georgia or any of the STRIDES horses please click here.

Bentley Needs Sponsors!

This is Bentley, she's a very sweet, very lovely 4 y/o racehorse flunkie who is looking for a few great folks to sponsor her while she is at STRIDES! Bentley is currently in quarantine but will be out in mid to late April. She was pulled from Camelot and was one sick little girl but has been coming along nicely with the help of a good vet, good food and good care. She sadly scores a 3 on Henneke Body Scoring Scale but if she keeps going the way she is she will soon be healthy and wonderful.

If you are interested in donating to sponsor Bentley you can contact Chellsey Camasso at 603-489-9979 or e-mail her at stridesrescue@yahoo.com or you can go here. 

We Need More Flower Power!

We are off to a great start and closer and closer to our goal of raising $500 over at Flower Power Fundraising! However we are not there just yet! So now that the snow is mostly off the ground and we can smell spring in the air now is the time to buy your flowers AND help a great cause and a great rescue and some fantastic horses!
Also, have you thought about what you are getting your Mom for Mothers Day? How about beautiful flowers that support something we all love!
So click the link and start planning your garden this year!

Meet Contessa

Meet Contessa;

Contessa is cute, is she not? Tess is a simply lovely 16 hand (and growing!)  4 year old Thoroughbred mare who is totally unraced and sound. She is green under saddle but being worked and doing well and coming along nicely. Tess is just sweet in every way. She loves people and wants to be around you.

Could she be your next hunter or eventer? Dressage maybe?

If you'd like to know more about sponsoring or adopting Contessa please visit http://www.stridesequinerescue.com/index.html you can also call Chellsey Camasso at 603-489-9979 or e-mail her at stridesrescue@yahoo.com

More Peach!

To learn more about Peach see her profile here!

Just beautiful.

Weeeeeee!

Yes, she is sticking her tongue out!

Pretty lady.

Getting frisky!

As Promised...

As promised here are better pictures of Vie! I'll have better ones of Peach up soon too! To learn more about Vie check out her profile here.

Vie has lovely gaits and a beautiful trot.

Vie, in fact, just always looks nice.

Here she is kicking it into high gear!

Showing off that beautiful trot again!

Meet Vie!

I'd like to introduce you to Vie, she is another horse at STRIDES who is waiting for a forever home.

Now, I know this picture is not great, I'll get my hands on some better ones soon, but can't you already see the greatness even though the quality of the photo is on the less detailed side? The beautiful way in which she carries herself, the graceful set of her head and how floaty her gait looks?

Vie has not had the easiest of lives, raced in Texas as a youngster she was forced to stop. Racing is a hard sport on any horses body but Vie's big boned body could just not handle it and she developed some arthritis in her right front knee. However despite this she is sound with consistent work and can easily handle trails and the walk, trot and canter of a regular work load. Vie only gets stiff if not worked for weeks on end, but I mean really, why would you not want to work this lovely girl all the time!

Vie was surrendered to STRIDES when the family that had her had no time for her but this is your chance to get your next best friend! She is NOT a jumping candidate due to her knee but appears to have some serious dressage training.  

Vie is 16.0 hands of TB sweetness and is 10 years old. She has a good head on her and has been rode by children with no issues. She is barefoot, healthy and looking for her forever home!

If you are interested in adopting Vie her adoption fee is $1,500 and you can also send donations to help with her ongoing routine care.

If you are interested and would like to know more please contact Chellsey Camasso at STRIDES Equine Rescue by phone at 603-489-9979 or by e-mail at stridesrescue@yahoo.com

Meet Peach

Remember Peach, the horse that told you that you needed to "Like" us on Facebook and read the blog?

You did "Like" us on Facebook and agree to follow along here right? I mean how could you say "No" to that sweet, shaggy face!

Anyway, I'd like to tell you more about Peach, I'm sure if Peach could talk she'd tell you herself she is great and would love to go forever home, but since she cannot I agreed to help her out some.

Peach came to STRIDES in November of 2010 in dire need of care and rehabilitation. She had spent most of her time in Maine with two other horses, Stella and Zeak, and all three had been starved nearly to death. In the year before she came to STRIDES she had been run through two different meat auctions, both times in starved condition, and both times her fate was let hanging in the balance. 

Peach has not had an easy recovery but she is now starting to look and act like the horse she has always been on the inside. She is looking forward to the summer to help clear up a serve case of rain rot that she came into the rescue with that due to it's severity and weather, has been hard to treat with even the best most diligent care. But as I'm sure you know, rain rot will clear up with more care and help and we will see her shine like a new penny in the sun.

Peach's breeding is not entirely known to us but what we can tell you is that she is 7 years old or so, 14.3 hands and sound on all four legs. Under that winter coat she is a lovely palomino with a beautiful large blaze and flowing mane and tail. Peach's under saddle abilities are unknown because she has been unable to be evaluated under saddle due to her rain rot however she walks, trots and canters on the lunge beautifully and has great manners.

Peach will bloom and blossom with lots of attention and love, she has a great start with training, not to mention a great personality and really just wants to please you.

We are under the impression Peach would do best in a easy going, lower stress home, maybe as a future trail buddy or lighter work riding horse. 

Peach is currently looking for her forever home and her adoption fee is $600.00, you can also make a donation to help with her on going care.

If you are interested and would like to learn more about Peach please contact Chellsey Camasso at STRIDES Equine Rescue by phone at 603-489-9979 or by e-mail at stridesrescue@yahoo.com

Facebook Page

Meet Peach. Peach thinks you should find us on Facebook as Strides Equine Rescue and Strides Raising The Barn. Peach also thinks you should tell all your friends about us too! Would you want to disappoint such a sweet face?

Fun Facts;

Did you know all pictures of horses in the blog, including the background picture, are all horses that have been or currently are in the rescue?

Take Bentley for example, this beautiful 15.3 hh 4 year old girl is an unraced TB currently looking for somebody to sponsor her! She is battling a bit of a nasty cough but still sweet as ever and getting better by the day! She is a sweet and classy lady who will someday do great thing!

  

What There Is And What There Will Be

I have just been sent the blue prints for the new barn, they are a bit hard to see but you get the general idea;

And here is what STRIDES currently has, please excuse the mud, it is indeed mud season here in New England.

Currently the rescue is modest but in need of a makeover, a face lift if you will. STRIDES will never be a huge rescue super power but it will make a difference in the lives of many horses and the people who love and care for those horses. This new barn is crucial to the ability of the rescue to continue doing what it has been doing which is placing healthy, young horses in fantastic homes.

Flower Power And Organic Mash

This blog is all about how STRIDES Equine Rescue is raising funds for a new barn so I figured it might be time to tell you of more ways you can help with this...and get something too!

This first is buying flowers from http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/
Just go on to the site
Click "Place Order" in the upper right hand corner of the screen
Type in "strides equine rescue" in to the "organization name" spot, and "newton" into the the "city" spot and select "New Hampshire" from the drop down menu
Then press "Search"
Click on the link that comes up
Then shop for your new beautiful spring flowers and don't forget to use the refer a friend option too!

The second way you can help is by purchasing and telling everybody you know about STRIDES Organic Rescue Mash! It comes in gingersnap and peppermint, is all organic and all proceeds go to the rescue! The mash comes in a 9 o.z. bag and is $5.00 a bag, orders of 10 bags or more get $1.00 off per bag! Call 603-489-9979 to order!




 

A Little More About STRIDES...

At STRIDES Equine Rescue the goal is always to rehabilitate and re-home horses that come from neglectful situations such as auction houses, kill pens and homes that were unsuitable. All horses that come to the rescue are given personalized care, lots of training and love and the best chance they can possibly get at a good home, a second chance and new career.

Most horses that come to STRIDES go through off site quarantine to protect the health and safety of all the horses and humans at the rescue as well as give that horse a chance to rest, recover and get used to all the normal happenings at a stable. As the horses gain strength and their spirits back they start to learn or re-learn basic ground manners, and if possible, they are also trained under saddle. Once these horse have a solid grasp on what it is to be a shining equine citizen then, and only then, are they evaluated for adoption and the wait for a loving home starts.

STRIDES is run by partners Chellsey Camasso and Bill Latham who also own and operate Latham Masonry and Hardscapes. Chellsey and Bill bought the nearly 4 acre rescue in the summer of 2009 with the purpose of fixing up the formerly foreclosed property to crate a place where horses that have fallen on tough times can come and be turned into wonderful riding companions.

Chellsey and Bill both grew up around horses and always had a life long love for all animals. Currently the rescue is home to three dogs (Indy, Evander and Louie), thirteen laying hens and of course the wonderful horses!

Chellsey attended equine studies in college and prior to that was an avid Pony Clubber and 4H member. She has a background in most disciplines and over the years has been backing young horses and working on retraining projects of all breeds.

Welcome!

Welcome to STRIDES Raising The Barn the blog for STRIDES Equine Rescue and our journey in raising the funds to build a new a better barn for all the horses at the rescue and all the future horses who will need a little help and a second chance.
To find out more about STRIDES and how you can help visit their website here or find them on Facebook as Strides Equine Rescue.
Also keep on the look out here for more information on the rescue, the horses, our fundraising efforts and how you can help.