A non-profit horse rescue in Southern Vermont
The Dorset Equine Rescue was founded in 2012 when I acquired my first two rescue horses. Although I had been a horse owner for most of my life, it wasn’t until I adopted these two miniature rescue horses, “Duke” and “Daisy”, that I realized the severity of neglect and abuse that so many of these majestic animals face. Duke and Daisy were part of a neglect case involving 38 ponies and miniature horses. They had been abandoned on a farm that was in foreclosure. The horses were severely emaciated and had been surviving on their own feces. The more I got involved, the more I learned that horses were being neglected and needed help not only all over the country, but even right here in our backyards in New England. With thousands of horses shipping out of the country every week to Mexico and Canada for slaughter, I knew I had to do something to help. Since the founding of The Dorset Equine Rescue, it has become a huge part of my life and has succeeded far above my expectations. I am so proud of our team here at the rescue and am humbled by the love and support we have received.
Jen Straub
Founder/President
“An old man was walking on the beach one morning after a storm. In the distance he saw someone moving like a dancer. As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman gently picking up starfish and throwing them back into the water. “Young lady, why are you throwing the starfish back into the ocean?”
“The tide is going out and if I do not throw them back they will die,” she said.
“But young lady, do you not realize that there are thousands of starfish and miles of beaches? You cannot possibly make a difference.”
The young woman listened politely, bent down, and picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea.
“It made a difference for that one.”
More than 140,000 unwanted horses get shipped from the United States to Mexico and Canada every year. There are so many horses sent abroad to be slaughtered but if we work together we can make a difference for at least one. Join us by making a donation today.
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