Days End Farm Horse Rescue

All Posts & News Press Releases Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Inspector Spotlights Previous PostNext Post ricky’s good luck Ricky’s Good Luck By: Alexis Arbaugh June 6, 2024 Success Stories Tags:Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Hunt Seat Equitation, Jumping, MidAtlantic Horse Rescue, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliaince Maryland Equine Transition Services (METS) is a program sponsored by Days End Farm Horse Rescue that assists horse owners with transitioning horses to new ownership. Whether due to an owner’s inability to care for the horse or a change in interest, METS ensures that no horse is at risk of negligence. In 2022, Zoe Kostant stumbled upon an ad for Liam’s Song while scrolling through the METS page. “I saw that face in the ad and just KNEW I had to have this horse,” Zoe wrote. Liam’s Song, a 2007 dark bay Thoroughbred gelding, had a successful racing career with 36 starts across Maryland, West Virginia, and Delaware, earning a total of $239,522. When Zoe discovered the ad, it was the weekend, and METS was likely closed. Eager to learn more, she took matters into her own hands. After searching for Liam’s Song’s registered name on Facebook, she found a half lease ad from 2019, at which time he was called Titan. Zoe decided to message the poster of the ad, Emma, to see if she still had the horse. Initially, Emma was hesitant to respond, considering the time that had passed since the original post. However, once they started talking, the two hit it off. Zoe shared stories of her previous Thoroughbreds and her plans for Titan. Feeling reassured, Emma grew comfortable with Zoe taking care of the horse she loved so much. Zoe was persistent in her pursuit of Ricky (formerly Liam’s Song and Titan) because of the connection she felt just from his picture. “You can look right at him and tell he is just nothing but a lover,” she wrote. Soon after bringing Ricky home, Zoe received a call from Bev at MidAtlantic Horse Rescue in Chesapeake City, Maryland. Bev informed her that Ricky had originally come from MidAtlantic and that there was a contract stating that if he ever needed to be rehomed, he should be returned to them. Bev wanted to ensure that Ricky was in a good home, and since then, Zoe has kept in regular contact with Bev, sending updates and photos of Ricky. Despite some challenging circumstances, Ricky has been doing amazingly well. Tragically, in June 2023, Ricky and his pasture mate, Lucy, were intentionally let out of their field and both were struck by cars. Sadly, Lucy did not survive the accident, but Ricky was fortunate to suffer only minor injuries. After recovering, Ricky and Zoe began working on Hunt Seat Equitation. Although Ricky was 17 years old when he first started jumping, “that boy took to it like a fish to water!!!! He loves it,” wrote Zoe. They competed in several shows during the summer of 2023, where Ricky really shined and even took home two championship titles. Now, they continue to rebuild the muscle he lost during his time off and are looking forward to competing in locally rated shows in the summer of 2024. Share This Article Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission

How does a horse’s needs change as they get into their golden years? What types of challenges may you face as an owner of a senior horse? If you own a horse who is 20+ years old, or soon will be, don’t miss this informative and inspirational class. Learn about not only the special care that these horses require, but also the benefits that come with owning a senior horse and what other ways you can enjoy their company long after their riding career is over. FEE: $25

This class will be lead by Dr. Megan McAndrew, Vice President of Medical Operations for Humane Rescue Alliance. FEE: $25.00 (includes lunch)

Registration includes a 1-hour semi-private lesson with one of DEFHR’s trainers; Pairings and instructor are to be decided based on experience and personal goal setting. All levels and abilities welcome! DEFHR horses are available for borrow (groundwork lesson only) OR trailer in your equine partner (groundwork and/or riding lesson). Lesson time slots will be determined after registration via email. Come for just your time slot, or come for the whole day and audit with your fellow clinic participants! About our Trainers: Sara Strauss has been DEFHR’s Head Trainer for over 15 years, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in everything horses. She is known for her quiet communication and has worked in a variety of disciplines, from dressage to western riding. Sara is passionate about educating the adult horse person on ways to better communicate with horses, whether it is on the ground or under saddle. Her focus is on biomechanics and body position, both in and out of the saddle. Wherever you are on your horsemanship journey, Sara is ready to meet you where you are at. Leigha Schrader’s passion for DEFHR and the rescue horse shines through in everything she does. Leigha’s training methods focus on finding balance in all areas of horsemanship. She incorporates positive reinforcement, clicker training, and liberty/trick training into her programs. Leigha is passionate about starting horses ethically from the ground up and showcasing how amazing rescue horses can be through her liberty performance work. Under saddle, Leigha has found success on the local and rated Hunter/Jumper circuits. She enjoys teaching compassionate horsemanship, both in and out of the saddle! FEE: $75/person

A two-day intensive hands-on seminar designed to help cruelty investigators feel confident working with and handling equines. Any cruelty investigator who does not work with horses on a regular basis would benefit from this instruction. This course will prepare you to feel more self-assured around horses, have a better understanding of the equine mind, and be better prepared to determine when a horses needs are not being met. Topics covered include: Case Histories, Horse Handling and Safety, Hoof Anatomy and Hoof Problems, Use of Height and Weight Tapes, Color and Breed Identification, Dental Care of Equines, Trailering Tips, Body Condition Scoring, Examining for Illness and Injury, and Minimum Horse Care Standards. REGISTRATION FEE: $100.00 (lunch included, both days)

egistration includes a 1-hour semi-private lesson with one of DEFHR’s trainers; Pairings and instructor are to be decided based on experience and personal goal setting. All levels and abilities welcome! DEFHR horses are available for borrow (groundwork lesson only) OR trailer in your equine partner (groundwork and/or riding lesson). Lesson time slots will be determined after registration via email. Come for just your time slot, or come for the whole day and audit with your fellow clinic participants! About our Trainers: Sara Strauss has been DEFHR’s Head Trainer for over 15 years, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in everything horses. She is known for her quiet communication and has worked in a variety of disciplines, from dressage to western riding. Sara is passionate about educating the adult horse person on ways to better communicate with horses, whether it is on the ground or under saddle. Her focus is on biomechanics and body position, both in and out of the saddle. Wherever you are on your horsemanship journey, Sara is ready to meet you where you are at. Leigha Schrader’s passion for DEFHR and the rescue horse shines through in everything she does. Leigha’s training methods focus on finding balance in all areas of horsemanship. She incorporates positive reinforcement, clicker training, and liberty/trick training into her programs. Leigha is passionate about starting horses ethically from the ground up and showcasing how amazing rescue horses can be through her liberty performance work. Under saddle, Leigha has found success on the local and rated Hunter/Jumper circuits. She enjoys teaching compassionate horsemanship, both in and out of the saddle! FEE: $75/person

This summer’s Legacy Camp at Days End Farm Horse Rescue is sure to be a fun, inspirational & educational experience for horse lovers! Youth ages 7-17 are invited to participate with us Monday through Friday, from 9:30am-3:30pm, between the dates of June 17th and August 9th. Our camp offers two programs; Junior Legacy (ages 7-11) and Youth Legacy (ages 12-17). Both programs serve as a way to jump start (or reinforce) your child’s love of horses and volunteer experience at Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR)! Each day, participants will groom our horses and learn about a variety of topics relating to horse care and handling, delivered through classroom instruction and reinforced through hands-on learning activities. Each day will also feature a different special activity, including under saddle games, water day, creek walk, tie-dye shirts and game day. Fees: Junior Legacy Camp = $295/week Youth Legacy Camp = $225/week Dates: Junior Legacy (ages 7-11) June 17-21 July 8-12 July 22-26 August 5-9 Youth Legacy (ages 12-17): June 24-28 July 15-19 July 29-August 2 * Each week is limited to 30 participants. Early registration is encouraged. ** Financial aid is available. Email operations@defhr.org for an application. *** Registrations are non-refundable if canceled within 2 weeks prior to that session’s start date. Cancellations made before 2 weeks prior to the session start date are eligible for a 50% refund.

Equine Cruelty Investigators Class Hands-on Horse Handling This training starts with a classroom portion on horse psychology and then transitions into hands-on work with our horses. You can expect to increase your skills in catching & haltering a horse, horse handling, and the basics of grooming including hoof care, and various trailer-loading techniques. No previous horse experience is required. We recommend attire that is comfortable and appropriate for outdoors. FEE: $25.00 (includes lunch)

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