The Running Horse

A Bi-monthly Newsletter from Horse Play
Issue June-July 2010
Horse Play
EIN: 05-0506340
Website: www.hptrc.org
Email: horseplayri@msn.com

Message from Aidan – the Alpha Mare
We had quite a party here a while ago. Lots of fun watching all the people and seeing Storm and Bodhi paint some pictures. I’m a good artist too! Deidre lets all of us have a turn at it. Hope to paint some more soon but for now it’s good just hanging out eating the new green grass!

Aidan is a 23 year old Thoroughbred mare, rescued almost 18 years ago and a “co-founder” of Horse Play. Fresh off the track, she was loaded with baggage (she lived up to her registered name “Slightly Nasty”) and a severe hoof injury. Her strong, dominant persona made things very difficult at first – but over the years and with proper teaching, she has become an incredible partner, teacher and friend. Almost adopted several times, her “alpha” nature proved her undoing and she found a permanent home here at Horse Play. She is the alpha mare of the big herd here. She will also contribute her opinions and stories on the herd’s blog at http://herdwhispers.blogspot.com/ The blog will have stories and observations by all the horses and a couple of humans of Horse Play.
A Message from Deidre

Our Open House was a blast!! And thank-yous are in order. After all, gratitude is what it’s all about. Thank-you to all the regulars (you know who you are!), Allie’s Tack and Feed, Fran Hamilton, Trattoria Simpatico, The RISPCA and Dr. Finocchio, Sheila Ryan, Sue Healey, John & Kim D’Ellena, Cathy, Rachel, Emma, the Dyers, Mel and Sage, Joan and Rachel, Laurie Sturdevant, Lynn Smiley, Carla and Nina, Frank Nolan, Martha & Wes Foutch, Dan Furtado and the Ghost of Otis – also all the vendors who donated The Purple Cow, The Wellness Store, Green River Silver, JW Graham, Grateful Heart, A Bit of the West, Angela Moore, Boston Red Sox, Providence Bruins, Trinity Rep, Gamm Theatre and Festival Ballet and everyone else! Thank-you, thank-you!!

Summer Camp is coming up – here are the dates of the sessions - June 28 – July 2, July 12 – 16 and August 16 – 20 – time will be from 9:00am – 3:00pm) – suitable for ages 7 and up. Contact us for an application and more info.

Check this out – something different!

Sail Away for Horse Play
Enjoy a 2 hour day sail aboard the gorgeous 101-foot wooden schooner Aurora.
June 24, 2010
1:00pm - ?
Tickets - $75 per person

With her two masts tall under a clear sky, Aurora will take you back to a time reminiscent of the “Tall Ships Era.” The seaworthy Aurora is Coast Guard certified to accommodate up to 75 passengers and is professionally maintained by her friendly and experienced crew. After the sail, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and appetizers at Jamestown’s awesome Trattoria Simpatico. Proceeds benefit the horses at Horse Play, a non-profit equine rescue & sanctuary in Saunderstown, RI
Aurora will set sail from Newport at 1:00pm sharp and return at 3:00pm when all guests are invited to Trattoria Simpatico in Jamestown for hors d’oeuvres and appetizers.
Tickets are $75 per person
For more information and to purchase tickets please call (401)294-3565 or (401)480-0321 or email horseplayri@msn.com
Purchase tickets online at www.hptrc.org via Paypal (follow the “donate” link – use account name – horseplayri@msn.com)
or www.firstgiving.com/sailawayhorseplay

And finally a couple of free workshops –
1. Workshop for Moms (and Dads) Whose Kids Ride Horses – Understanding Horse Behavior, Grooming and Safe Horse Handling – Saturday, June 19 - 1:00 – 4:00 at Horse Play, 143 Gilbert Stuart Rd, Saunderstown, RI 02874 – ph# 401-294-3565 email – horseplayri@msn.com
2. Women and Horses – Exploring the Bond between Women and Horses and Discovering Our Inner Alpha Mare – not even going to try and describe this one as it is purely experiential learning! 2 Dates – Wednesday June 16th – 6:00 – 8:00pm and Saturday June 26 1:00 – 4:00 – also at Horse Play – 143 Gilbert Stuart Rd, Saunderstown, RI 02874 – ph# 401-294-3565 – email – horseplayri@msn.com
*** If you are interested in any of theses workshops, please contact us by phone or email so we can get an idea of number of folks attending.

“They too, are created by the same loving hand of God which created us...It is our duty to protect them and to promote their well-being.”— Mother Teresa

Who We Are
Horse Play is a Rhode Island based non-profit equine rescue and sanctuary. We provide rescue, rehabilitation and sanctuary for abused neglected & unwanted horses.We provide adoption services for horses deemed adoptable those that are not have a home here for the rest of their lives.
It is our intent:
• To provide rescue, rehabilitation, and sanctuary services for abused, neglected, and/or unwanted horses.
• To provide placement & follow-up services for rehabilitated horses and permanent sanctuary for horses that cannot be placed.
• To increase public awareness through community outreach.
• To develop and present educational programs and printed media, clinics and seminars on the responsible care and training of horses
We are a 501© 3 tax-exempt organization supported solely by public donations and grants.
If you’d like to stop by for a visit, please give us a call first. We love visitors but want to make sure someone will be available to show you around.

Follow our blogs at http://herdwhispers.blogspot.com/ and http://sagemare.blogspot.com – we’re also on Facebook – www.facebook.com/horseplayri

Horse Play offers riding instruction, horse training, farrier service and birthday/special occasion parties. Also “Horses and Heroes” - a program for veterans, Kids After School Literacy Program (need volunteers!) and some Equine Experiential Learning workshops – contact us for more info.

TEACHING

Evolutionary Horsemanship
What is it? It is a way of keeping and working with horses that considers the “whole” horse – diet/nutrition, health (physical, mental and emotional), hoof care, age, conformation, as well as stable management practices. It incorporates many methods and variations of Natural Horsemanship – but- it is not just another Natural Horsemanship method, it’s not just “round penning” and it’s not your grandfather’s way of horse training. Why evolutionary? Because we’ve hopefully evolved to more humane, communication-oriented methods of horse teaching and moved away from the more dominant, aggressive methods of whips, chains, tie-downs and punishment. Evolutionary Horsemanship encompasses much more than basic groundwork and riding skills. It’s about building a relationship, developing a partnership and strengthening a bond. It encompasses all that is “horse” with an emphasis on natural. Join us for free workshops, demos, and clinics .

Horse Play is happy to announce the opening of our Used and Consignment Tack Shop – right here at the farm – come browse or sell your “stuff”. Our commission rates are great – 10% for saddles and 15% for everything else. Feel free to contact us for more info. Hours: Usually Monday – Friday Noon – 6:00p.m Saturday 9:30a.m. – 3:30p.m. and Sunday Noon – 3:00p.m. Please give us a call or email if you need something in particular.

"A hundred years from now, it will not matter the sort of house I lived in, what my bank account was, or the car I drove....but the world may be different because I was important in the life of the animals and the creatures on this earth."
~Author Unknown

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 16, 2010 – Free Workshop - Women and Horses – Exploring the Bond between Women and Horses and Discovering Our Inner Alpha Mare – 6:00pm – 8:00pm – at Horse Play – call or email for info and sign-up

June 19 – Free Workshop - Workshop for Moms (and Dads) Whose Kids Ride Horses – Understanding Horse Behavior, Grooming and Safe Horse Handling – 1:00 – 4:00 at Horse Play – call or email for info and sign-up

June 24, 2010 – Sail Away for Horse Play – 1:00pm - ? A 2 hour daysail aboard the gorgeous schooner Aurora, leaving from Newport followed by hors d’oeuvres/appetizers at Trattoria Simpatico in Jamestown - For more information and to purchase tickets please call (401)294-3565 or (401)480-0321 or email horseplayri@msn.com
Purchase tickets online at www.hptrc.org via Paypal (follow the “donate” link – use account name – horseplayri@msn.com) or www.firstgiving.com/sailawayhorseplay

June 26, 2010 - Free Workshop - Women and Horses – Exploring the Bond between Women and Horses and Discovering Our Inner Alpha Mare – 1:00pm – 4:00pm – at Horse Play – call or email for info and sign-up

Workshops, clinics, etc for July will be scheduled in the next week or so. Check our website or give a call

NEEDS AND WANTS

***URGENT*** Looking for Round Pen Panels – 10 or 12 footers - any color or finish, as many as you want to sell or give away. Also we really need a horse trailer! Two–or-more horse, in good condition and inspected - Contact Deidre (401)294-3565 or email horseplayri@msn.com *****

Horse Play is also currently seeking donations of tack – Western saddles, rope halters, saddle pads/blankets, bareback pads, bitless bridles – sidepulls, hackamores or the Bitless Bridle, helmets, anti-sweat sheets/coolers, and as always – cash donations. Remember, we are a non-profit organization and any donation is tax deductible.

Horse Play always needs volunteers! From cleaning paddocks, to grooming and exercising horses, mailing letters to planning fundraisers and annual campaigns, the horses depend on you. Also you don’t have to be an equine expert — if you’re interested in working directly with the horses, you can sign up for our Safe & Humane Horse Handling/Intro to Evolutionary Horsemanship Class. Just contact Horse Play and say you want to volunteer—the horses will thank-you for it!

“Past the seeker as he prayed came the crippled and the beggar and the beaten. And seeing them...he cried, "Great God, how is it that a loving creator can see such things and yet do nothing about them?"...God said, "I did do something. I made you."
- Sufi Teaching

How Your Contributions Help Horses at Horse Play

Your donations, memberships, sponsorships, service and merchandise fees go directly to the care and support of the horses at Horse Play.

Annual expenses for one horse (approximate)

Feed $1850.00

Routine Vet Care (no emergencies) $210.00

Hoof Care $450.00

Routine Dental Care $75.00

Total for 1 horse $2585.00

****Please note we currently have 26 horses ****
This is just for basic horse care. No training, equipment (saddles, bridles etc), emergencies, utilities, rent, maintenance or administrative expenses. Also, Horse Play is staffed entirely by volunteers – no paid employees.

To Sponsor a Horse or To Make a Donation
Horse Play is staffed entirely by volunteers. Every donation goes directly to supporting the horses. All of our funding depends on your generosity. A $15 dollar donation buys a bag of grain. A $35 dollar donation buys dewormer for 10 horses. 50 people donating $1 each buys 6 bales of hay. You can make a difference.
Horse Play has several ways for you to make that difference. Sponsor a horse of your choice. We have several options for sponsorship. This also makes a great gift!
We can help you find out which way is best for you. Please Contact:
Deidre Sharp
Horse Play
PO Box 660
Exeter, RI 02822
Phone (401)294-3565 or (401)864-2943
Email horseplayri@msn.com
Website: www.hptrc.org

The Running Horse is published bi-monthly by Horse Play.
Issue June-July 2010 is copy write ©2010 by Horse Play and Deidre Sharp,
P.O. Box 660, Exeter RI 02822, Phone (401)294-3565, Email: horseplayri@msn.com,
www.hptrc.org
Trust, Respect, Compassion