MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
People Helping Horses Heal People is the mission that guides everything we do. It holds us to the highest standard of care and rehabilitation for our horses and is at the heart of our education approach and programming. As a sanctuary, we are committed to the lifelong well being of our horses and believe in the healing bond between humans and horses.
     
     Since Lucky Orphans opened its barn doors in 2008 we have helped many horses, along with some sheep and goats, find a more promising and meaningful future. It is our goal to not only save these wonderful animals but to also strengthen the relationship between people and animals to build a more compassionate future.

Our organization provides programs involved with equine rescue & retirement
Our organization conducts Equine Assisted Services in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS).
Our organization provides community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of equines involved in our programs.
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:
     People Helping Horses Heal People is the mission that guides everything we do. It holds us to the highest standard of care and rehabilitation for our horses and is at the heart of our educational approach and programming. As a sanctuary, we are committed to the life-long wellbeing of our horses and believe in the healing bond between humans and horses.
     
     Since Lucky Orphans opened its barn doors in 2008 we have helped many horses, along with some sheep and goats, find a more promising and meaningful future. It is our goal to not only save these wonderful animals but to also strengthen the relationship between people and animals to build a more compassionate future.
     
     The horses come to Lucky Orphans through seizure or surrender. Lucky Orphans does not buy horses, does not support any auction or kill pens, and does not accept horses from owners needing to rehome their horses.
     
     Once a new horse comes to our facility and has completed their quarantine period and has been checked by our veterinarian, they are then evaluated for use in our Equine Assisted Programs. Our team is committed to working side by side with the horses we rescue to help change the lives of people with a diverse range of struggles such as those suffering with addictions, depression, grief and loss, trauma, at-risk youth and improving relationships in families and groups.
     
     If we find a horse is not able to be used in these programs, they will still live out their best lives with our herd.
     
     We are proud to be a GFAS accredited sanctuary. All of our horses are lifetime residents.

Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
Our organization provides the following Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
    Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)
    Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

7: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue

     1. Brittany Cervino

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue

         RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Natural Lifemanship

     2. Deanna Mancuso

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue

         RELATIONSHIP: Employee

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Equine Experiential Education Association Equine Practitioner 2017
Certified Humane Education Specialist 2018
Harmony Horsemanship Certified Instructor 2018
Harmony Horsemanship Horse Handling Instructor 2019
Natural Lifemanship 2015
EAGALA 2013

     3. Diana Pressler

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue

         RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Natural Lifemanship

     4. Dr. Madison Lee

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue

         RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Dr. of Psychology
Natural Lifemanship

     5. Erich Steffensen

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue

         RELATIONSHIP: Employee

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Natural Lifemanship

     6. Linda Hicks

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue

         RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Licensed Psychiatric RN

     7. Thomas Olsen

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue

         RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Natural Lifemanship

Overview of our programs involved with providing EAS to individuals with special needs:
     Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue is proud to offer EAGALA, Natural Lifemanship and E3A model Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), Trauma Focused EAP and Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Programs through EquiNorth, Inc. Our team is committed to working side by side with the horses we rescue to help change the lives of people with a diverse range of struggles such as those suffering with addictions, depression, grief and loss, trauma, at-risk youth and improving relationships in families and groups.
     
     We also offer Equine Assisted Humane Education Programs. Our Executive Director is a certified Humane Education Specialist which satisfies NYS requirements for humane education.

Overview of our programs involved with providing community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses:
     Full education program based on humane education and equine welfare including but not limited to: Youth Development Program, summer youth program as well as volunteer education for the best practices and care of the 49 residents. Staff is EFM certified through CHA. We were recently accepted as a USEF Community Outreach Organization.

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. 

Our Programs/Activities that are not equine-related and/or involving animals other than equines:
 2 goats, 1 sheep and 3 cats have sanctuary with us.

POLICIES: ACQUISITION

Our organization acquires horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Return  
    Surrender  
    Seizure  
    Abandonment  

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Donation  
    Lease  
    Purchase/Adoption from Owner  
    Auction  
    Kill pen/Feedlot  

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

Not Checked:
    Stallions

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
    Vaccination records that have been administered within the last 12 months
    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 equine is evaluated at its place of residence
    The owner completes an application/contract which constitutes the agreement between the owner and our organization
    The owner is financially responsible for the shipping of the equine to and from the organization
    Equines are not taken on trial

Following arrival of the equine at the facility, the following is performed:
    Physical examination by a veterinarian upon arrival and/or prior to quarantine departure
    Physical examination by trained barn staff
    Photographs are taken of each equine upon arrival at the facility and kept with the equine's health records
    A Henneke Body Conditioning Score or other body conditioning score is assigned
    Physical examination by a farrier
    Physical examination by a dentist
    Coggins test
    Blood work other than Coggins
    Fecal test
    Vaccinations
    The equine is scanned to check for a microchip
    The equine is microchipped if the scan indicates that there is no 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 at the facility for a prescribed period of time

The typical length of quarantine is:   20 to 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
    Saddling
    Bridling
    Lunging
    Loading onto and unloading off a trailer
    Mounting and dismounting
    Riding at the walk
    Riding at the trot
    Riding at the canter
    Riding by a beginner and/or unbalanced rider
    Jumping
    Tolerance to unusual objects and loud noises
    Known vices, i.e., cribbing, biting, kicking, weaving, stall walking, etc
    Grooming
    Bathing
    Clipping
    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:
    The Henneke Body Condition score or other body conditioning score is updated at least annually
    Photographs are taken of each equine monthly and kept with the equine's health records
    Photographs are taken of each equine annually and kept with the equine's health records
    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 evaluates at least annually and maintains a written record of 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:
    Equine age, weight, breed, body condition, fitness, balance, health and soundness
    Equine conformation to include the top line, length of back, strength and width of loin, bone density (measured by the circumference of the cannon bone just below the knee)
    Size, shape, condition and angle of the hooves
    Participant weight, height, body proportions, balance, fitness and riding skills as well as behavioral issues and safety concerns
    Weight and proper fit of the saddle and other equipment
    Terrain and footing in the working environment
    Duration and frequency of working sessions, as the frequency with which an equine is subjected to maximum weight carrying and/or workload
    Nature and pace of work, repetitive or varied, radius of turns, degree of incline and regularity of footing when equine is subject to maximum weight-carrying capacity
    Temperature and/or weather conditions
    Seasonal impact on the equines' workload and weight-carrying capabilities and limitations


Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding):   2-3 times per week

Additional information about our intake, assessment & training policies and practices:
Horses are not evaluated prior to coming to LOHR for riding and handling, but rather body condition and need for rescue.

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
Re-homing Agreement not applicable.
Our organization has the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) policies and procedures in place:
    The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.

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:
    The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.