from Horse Lovers United

Salisbury, MD — Horse Lovers United, Inc. has been in the business of finding new homes for displaced horses since 1992.

For the first 16 years that we were in business, we operated without having a farm or central location. Through the power of the internet and networking, we have been able to assist in the placement of about 1,000 other equines that did not go through our adoption program. A total of 130 equines have been placed directly through our adoption program.

Three years ago, some kind people who had done foster care for HLU purchased a farm with the purpose of renting it to HLU for three years with the option to buy it. Our three years are up and we have not been able to raise the money to buy the farm and it is going up for sale. It has been a struggle to raise enough money to meet monthly expenses. We have been able to find some inexpensive boarding places and a couple of foster homes for a couple of the horses.

Horse Lovers United photo

Heather Moffett, host of the TV shows Post Time and PA Harness Week, gives a hug to Nice Threads, available for adoption through Horse Lovers United.

There are still seven horses on the farm needing a home to go to in the next few weeks. These are all Standardbreds. Several are ridable, but they need a certain type of person; basically a very experienced horse person with a lot of time and patience. Two are young geldings, ages 8 and 10, and the one mare is 17. She has the most riding experience but does not trust you until she gets to know you. Two other geldings are just pets. They’ve been together for 15-plus years with an adopter, but were recently returned because her health deteriorated. They were never ridden and are now in their twenties. They were just her pets. They really need a place together to live out their years. One young mare has a chronic lameness and will never be ridable. She is very beautiful and if somebody was looking for a subject to be photographed, she is it. She does not like other horses around her, but loves attention from people.

These horses need a place to go soon. If anybody can help, please call Lorraine at 410.749.3599. HLU will continue to do fundraisers and accept donations for all the horses that are in our program and will continue to offer assistance with placing other equines and assistance with any complaints of cruelty or neglect.

The current rent at the farm is $1,050 per month, plus we are paying an additional $620 per month for the horses that are boarded elsewhere. We will most likely need close to $2,000 per month to board all the horses we are responsible for if they don’t find homes by the time our lease is up.

We are having a “Spring Fling” on Saturday, April 30, our last major event at the farm. There will be pony rides; horse shoe pitching for adults; bouncy house for kids; demos by a Parelli student and her adopted Standardbred, Bathsheba Hanover; plus demos by a local acupuncturist, Dr. Erin Giza; equine dentist, Andy Savage; natural barefoot farrier, Rafael Guerra; and more.

Rafael’s horse rescue, Healing Spirit Equine Rescue, will be cooking and selling food to raise money for their sanctuary horses, of which two are Standardbreds. True Humanities Equine Rescue will also have a table set up. They currently have several Standardbreds on their farm; several for adoption and some that are retired.

Our horses for adoption are the main attraction and they would really appreciate some bags of carrots. Volunteer opportunities will always be available. Please call to ask how you can be involved.