Horse Play

A serious effort to rescue horses

Kate Middeleer
Posted 9/17/15

The non-profit is called Horse Play, but the work they do is no game. Deirdre Sharp, the farm administrator, and her team at Horse Play Equine Rescue and Sanctuary has saved more than 280 horses …

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Horse Play

A serious effort to rescue horses

Posted

The non-profit is called Horse Play, but the work they do is no game. Deirdre Sharp, the farm administrator, and her team at Horse Play Equine Rescue and Sanctuary has saved more than 280 horses since they began in 1999.

Horse Play takes in abused, neglected and unwanted horses, providing rehabilitation, adoption services and sanctuary for those difficult to place horses.

“We’re like the dog pound for horses,” Sharp said.

Although similar, Horse Play has a lot of adoption initiatives that go above and beyond those for small animal pounds.

Because many of the horses have experienced trauma before, Horse Play tries to ensure the perfect family for every horse in their care.

Those interested in adoption need not only references, but to visit the horse upwards of 12 times for “quality time” before the adoption. Once the adoption goes through, Horse Play holds the right to make regular checkups to see how the horse is faring, and if the non-profit doesn’t like what they see, holds the right to take the horse back.

Similarly, if an adoption doesn’t work, an adopter cannot sell, trade or give up the horse – it must be returned to Horse Play.

Located in Saunderstown, 17 horses make Horse Play’s 82 acres of rented land home. In addition, Horse Play has seven other rescued horses that live with foster families.

Since 2008, Horse Play – a no-kill rescue – has been running at capacity, 24 horses, typically with a long waiting list to boot.

All animals at Horse Play are rescues, and come from various backgrounds, including the dog Chilly and five cats. One resident, Red, is the grandson of Secretariat.

Red won his owners more than a million dollars. He was given up once they no longer had interest in him.

Many of the rescued horses were saved from slaughter.

Despite the possible health threats that Sharp says comes with eating horsemeat, there’s a market for it in other countries.

Horse slaughter was made illegal in the U.S. in 2007, but horses can be transported to places such as Canada or Mexico, to then be packaged and sent to other countries.

Due to the abuse, neglect and mistreatment faced in previous homes, many of the horses come to the rescue with a slew of physical, emotional and mental issues.

Sharp explains that being forced from their home can upset a horse and have negative effects on stress levels.

“You can effectively cause a disaster,” Sharp said. One mustang, Fabio, came to Horse Play and died of Cushing’s disease.

“All of that could have been avoided if they’d let him be wild.”

The non-profit doesn’t just help horses, through the farm’s equine experiential learning, veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder can ride the horses for comfort.

Sharp said they don’t consider the program therapy because they don’t claim to heal participants, but they do help them towards that goal.

“To handle a horse you need to be calm, self-aware and in the present moment,” Sharp said. “Horses are very good at helping people realize their issues.”

The program, although mainly focusing on veterans, also services first responders, those with mental, emotional and or social issues and victims of domestic abuse.

Altogether the farm has a total of 16 volunteers, one of them being Julia Pezzullo, the youngest volunteer.

Pezzullo just graduated from Davisville Middle School and began volunteering at Horse Play back in July.

As part of the South County Community Action Agency, which pays youths ages 14 through 24 a stipend for six to eight weeks of work, Pezzullo volunteered with Horse Play for five days a week.

As part of the program, Pezzullo fed, cleaned and played with the rescued horses.

Pezzullo, an avid animal lover and a rider herself, said she planned to continue working at Horse Play even after her program ends. Even on her first day volunteering, she could name all of the horses and their histories.

Sharp said Pezzullo was a great volunteer and Horse Play was quick to accept her offer to continue volunteering throughout the year.

Taking care of the farm is expensive – monthly expenses for this number of horses is approximately $3,800 to $4,200.

Due to the high cost of care, Horse Play is always looking for volunteers as well as donations. Interested parties can even sponsor a single horse. Those who sponsor a horse get a picture, monthly updates and can even come and visit the horse regularly if they would like to.

For more information on Horse Play, volunteer opportunities or to donate, visit Horse Play’s website at www.hptrc.org or their Facebook page. For additional information, call 294-3565.

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