MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
The mission of HPF-Rescue-Rehab-Rehome is to save horses at risk of slaughter and find them safe, permanent homes.

Our organization provides programs involved with equine rescue, adoption & retirement
Our organization provides community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of some of the equines involved in our programs and some of the equines in our programs are cared for and sheltered by other organization(s).
100% of our total programs and services are horse-related.
Our organization uses satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities which adhere to all the policies, procedures and practices of our organization

Horse Rescue, Rehabilitation, Retraining & Re-homing:
Overview of our programs involved with rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, re-homing and/or retirement:
     In 2014, Phyllis Elliott and her daughter visited a livestock auction in Pennsylvania and brought back the farm's first rescued horses. This started the tradition of rescuing horses that are in need, and from there a seed was planted. By October 2015, Hidden Pond Farm Equine Rescue formally began as a 501(c)(3).
     
     Today, there are 23 rescued horses at the farm with another 4 in foster facilities. We also have some boarders and Phyllis' horses as well. Horses are provided with the necessities and any additional care they may need to be comfortable and happy including massage therapy, training, and other practitioners as needed. There are 3 old barns in various states of repair and 3 new shed row barns as well as one large grass pasture of approximately 15 acres and various smaller dirt and/or grass paddocks for turnout. There is also a large dirt riding arena in the rear of the property as well as a smaller sand riding arena in the middle of the property. Some horses are stalled and some live in paddocks with run-in sheds.
     
     We have 1 paid full-time employee, and Phyllis works 7 days a week managing the program, cleaning stalls, putting in and receiving orders, caring for horses' direct needs, and generally makes sure everyone's needs are met. We have many dedicated volunteers as well. Our volunteers pick fields, fill hay nets, help bring horses in and out, help with feeding, and help with keeping fresh water available. We have volunteers that help with building maintenance. We have volunteers who pick up hay, grain, and shavings. We have a couple of volunteers who are skilled with the tractor and help move round bales around and transport manure to our dumpster. We are lucky to have dedicated staff and volunteers to rehabilitate our horses and help prepare them for their new homes.
     
     Everyone is part of the Hidden Pond family: The practitioners who help the horses, volunteers and their families, visitors, summer campers, the Rescue’s 4H group, and donors. Phyllis welcomes everyone with a smile and is happy to share stories about horses or pass on her wealth of knowledge about horsemanship and horse care and health. This creates a peaceful, friendly, and welcoming environment to all who come to the Rescue. She has participated in the rescue of over 500 horses. She's encouraged adults and kids alike to carry on the positive values and rewards of having horses in our lives.
Overview of our programs involved with providing community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses:
     Our facility is open to the public for the enjoyment and education of visitors about horse rescue and horse care and management. We have gained many volunteers from casual visits to the rescue. We have an annual open house, and we have held trail rides for fellowship and fundraising.
     
     We believe that youth are vital to continuing on the tradition and value of rescuing horses. As such, the Rescue hosts a 4H group and summer camp for local youth. Phyllis involves every volunteer regardless of age and believes there is always something to learn. If we are able to reach more future horse owners about how to choose the right horse and how to properly care and manage your horse, our hope is that more horses will have forever homes for a lifetime of love rather than the pain and loss or even neglect that is caused from losing their homes.

Research/Medical Use of Equines:
Our organization has never made, and would not ever consider making, equines available for research studies or medical training that involves invasive procedures and/or that which may cause pain or suffering to the equine. 

Religious Affiliation:
Our organization does not promote religious education, religious purposes, or a specific religious faith or use donations for religious education or religious purposes; require participants to be of a certain faith; require participation in religious, instruction, activities or services; or require participation in prayer, worship, religious instruction or other religious activities as a condition of receiving social or secular services offered. 

Auction Donation:
Our organization has never allowed, or would not consider allowing, an equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that would cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter. 

POLICIES: ACQUISITION

Our organization acquires horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Donation  
    Purchase/Adoption from Owner  
    Auction  
    Kill pen/Feedlot  
    Return  
    Surrender  

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Lease  
    Seizure  
    Abandonment  

Our organization will accept the following:
    Geldings
    Mares
    Pregnant Mares
    Foals
    Only Stallions to be castrated

Not Checked:
    Stallions

Additional information about our acquisition policies and practices:
We will accept stallions, but they will be gelded.

POLICIES: INTAKE, ASSESSMENT & TRAININING

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization requires the following with respect to the health status of the horse:
    A current Coggins
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, our veterinarian will administer appropriate vaccinations

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization has the following policies in place:
    The owner of a potential equine is interviewed over the phone or in person prior to seeing the equine
    The owner completes an application/contract which constitutes the agreement between the owner and our organization
    Equines are not taken on trial

Following arrival of the equine at the facility, the following is performed:
    Physical examination by trained barn staff
    Physical examination by a farrier
    Physical examination by a dentist
    Coggins test
    Vaccinations
    De-worming
    The equine is scanned to check for a microchip

Upon intake, the organization has the following quarantine policy in place:
    The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine off-site for a prescribed period of time

The typical length of quarantine is:   More than 30 days

Horses are assessed for following skills and behaviors:
    Retrieval from a pasture/paddock
    Leading with a halter and lead rope
    Temperament, disposition and attitude, such as rated from very calm to very high spirited
    Tolerance to unusual objects and loud noises
    Known vices, i.e., cribbing, biting, kicking, weaving, stall walking, etc
    Grooming
    Tolerance to multiple handlers at the same time

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the ongoing assessment of horses in its care:
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine chiropractor
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine acupuncturist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine massage therapist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine nutritionist
    Physical examination by a veterinarian at least annually
Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the weight-carrying or workload capabilities of horses/equines that are ridden in our care:
    Our organization does not evaluate the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden

The following variables are considered in determining the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden:
    Our organization does not evaluate the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden


Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding):   As needed; no set schedule

Additional information about our intake, assessment & training policies and practices:
Although we do not keep written records of such, any horse that is deemed rideable is evaluated to ensure a good match with prospective adopters. This is done by our part-time employee and horse trainer, Jessica Elliott.

POLICIES: BREEDING

The organization has the following policies related to breeding and stallions:
    The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, does NOT breed equines.

POLICIES: EUTHANASIA

The organization has the following policies related to euthanasia:
    Our organization will never have an equine euthanized for space
    Our organization may have a healthy equine euthanized if it is a threat to itself, other equines, or people and euthanasia is recommended by a veterinarian
    Our organization may have an equine euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian after all reasonable treatment options have been explored
    Euthanasia is done on site when possible to decrease trauma from transport
    Disposal of the carcass is handled within 24 hours

The following are authorized to administer the procedure for your organization in accordance with state laws:
    Veterinarian

POLICIES: RE-HOMING

View Re-homing Agreement
Our organization has the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) policies and procedures in place:
    All potential adopters/purchasers complete a written contract which constitutes the agreement between our organization and the new owner
    Our organization will only re-home an equine to a location where another equine resides
    Potential adopters/purchasers must visit our organization and be observed with the equine on site
    Adopters/purchasers are NOT required to provide updates

The uploaded Re-homing agreement includes the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) statements:
    The agreement reflects that any individual or organization in possession of the equine as of the date of the agreement and any time thereafter is bound to not sell the equine at auction for slaughter or allow the equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that will cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.
    The agreement states that should the adopter decide to re-home the equine, our organization must grant approval of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason prior to the equine being placed into the possession of such individual or organization, including being provided written notification of the name, address, and telephone number of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason.
    The agreement states that re-homed equines cannot be bred
    The agreement states that if there is any breach of contract the equine must be returned to our organization
    The agreement states that our organization reserves the right to make unannounced visits

Our organization requires references from the following:
    Veterinarian
    Farrier
    Personal/Other

Transfer of ownership occurs:   Immediately (at the time of adoption/purchase) or less than one year

The average equine re-homing (adoption/purchase) fee received by your organization:
$201 to $500

Our organization has the following policies and procedures related to horses that need to be retired, are no longer useful, or are no longer manageable:
    Equines may remain at our organization for their lifetimes
    Equines may be found suitable homes by our organization
    In the case an equine is unmanageable and demonstrates repeated dangerous behaviors, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian
    In the case an equine is unsound and/or unhealthy and cannot be treated to relieve suffering, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian

Additional information about our rehoming policies and practices:
We will re-home a horse to first-time horse owners only if the prospective owner(s) personally visit the rescue and meet with rescue staff. The prospective owner(s) must visit/work with the horse under the direction and/or observation by rescue staff prior to adoption.