Following are some current articles that have been written about HPS:
By Anne Patterson - Langley Times
Published: November 30, 2011 8:00 AM
Updated: November 30, 2011 8:26 AM
Most of us choose a first husband and a first horse in a state of blissful ignorance. Not surprisingly, many of these relationships do not stand the test of time.
Husbands are a lot easier to re-home than horses. The secondary market for spouses is brisk — getting dumped is not the end of the world. When a human-horse relationship ends badly, however, the four-legged partner frequently faces a grim future.
The dedicated volunteers at the Langley-based Horse Protection Society of B.C. have decided that the best way to prevent the growing number of equine abuse and neglect cases is to educate prospective horse owners, before they choose their first equine partner. Or before a parent says yes to a Christmas pony.
“We are seeing people buying horses like they would a puppy. And then when they realize the enormity of owning a horse they often either abandon them, send them to auction, simply don’t care for them, or they call a rescue to take them on. We want to offer people a course that can help them understand the huge responsibility it is to own a horse,” said Sharon Wells-Ackermans, managing director of the society.
The non-profit has developed a program where people can come for riding lessons using some of the rescue horses in their care. While the course material can be tailored for children as young as 10 years old, the majority of students at the moment are adults. The program will take students through four levels, each with a practical and written test, and will most likely take about a year to complete. Students can come once or twice a week.
“Currently in our full program we have a 60-year-old housewife who is realizing a long time dream and a woman whose career has been computer-related and who has always dreamed of experiencing horses. We have a girl here who hopes to one day take the course — she is an animal tech student. We have a single mom and daughter team who are currently doing a part lease on a horse and taking lessons when they can. We hope to find funding to help them out.”
According to Sharon, their riding program is more comprehensive than the average school can offer. In addition to riding lessons offered by a professional instructor, the volunteers will provide hands-on training in all areas of horse care and handling. In addition to covering barn management, feed and nutritional needs, students in the horsemanship program will get advice on purchasing suitable mounts and planning for their future.
“We will also show people some alternatives to buying their own horse, if that suits better, like leasing or just continuing on with riding lessons,” said Sharon.
For more information on the Horse Protection Society of B.C. and its horsemanship program, go to www.horseprotectionsocietyofbc.com.
Group starts horse hospice
Langley Times
By Anne Patterson - Langley Times
Published: April 28, 2011 1:00 PM
If Sharon Wells-Ackermans, a director of the Horse Protection Society of BC has her way, no elderly, ill or unwanted horse will end its life with a terrifying trip to the slaughterhouse or alone in a field because its owner couldn’t face the prospect of euthanasia.
The Langley-based non-profit group has launched what Sharon calls a “horse hospice” which, for a very modest fee, will make all the arrangements for a humane, dignified death for a horse, and disposal of the animal. Also included is a day and night’s stay in a private paddock, and generous amounts of love, attention and treats on the animal’s last days.
“We see horses put out to pasture who die a slow, miserable death because their owners can’t face the decision to put them down. We want to make it easier to do the right thing, to help make arrangements that can be overwhelming,” said Sharon.
Sharon recalls the story of a woman who bought a 28-year old Arab mare with Cushing’s disease at a local auction, took her home, lavished care and attention on her, and arranged for a dignified, humane end to a faithful family pet who had fallen on hard times.
“I don’t know who she was, but what an incredibly kind thing she did.”
The Horse Protection Society will also offer grief counselling, and arrange cremation or transportation to the hospice if requested.
Sharon has already had calls from people facing the same decision for different reasons. One was a trainer with a horse so dangerous it would never be safe to ride. Another call was from Gena, a friend of Sharon’s who runs Outback Jack’s horse rescue in Princeton. Gena had become deeply attached to a rescued mare called Alaska who faced multiple health challenges. As she battled to save the mare, she discovered a horse with a huge heart whose talents emerged with months of constant care.
“She bows, she puts her lips to you for kisses, she loves every animal on this ranch. She has the kindest eyes ever, Betty Davis eyes. Once in a while you just fall in love with a horse. I fell in love with Alaska,” said Gena.
When the mare’s health suddenly began to deteriorate, Gena feared the battle for Alaska’s survival was about to be lost.
“I couldn’t face the thought of putting her down. So I called Sharon, who agreed to help me if it was necessary,” she added.
Fortunately, Alaska slowly recovered and is expected to live a normal life, although she will not be offered for adoption.
“I think that a horse hospice is a great idea. In our area we see so many horses dumped in the bush because people don’t know what else to do with them. This will give people a humane alternative,” said Gena.
For more information on the horse hospice program and other Horse Protection Society initiatives, contact Sharon by email at hps@telus.net or go to the group’s website at www.horseprotectionsocietyofbc.com.
Anne Patterson is a Langley writer and horse owner. Contact her at accidentalrider@yahoo.com.
Langley Times: December, 2010
Accidental Rider: Anne Patterson
Cinderella story of blue-eyed filly
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton once wrote that it takes a village to raise a child, wisdom taken from an ancient Nigerian proverb.
In Langley, the horse community and a community of horses are working together to raise an unwanted, malnourished foal rescued, together with her extended family, from a local field. All the horses found homes, except for the foal.
The Cinderella story of the blue-eyed filly named Cindy Lou began when she was brought to the farm of Sharon and Skip Ackermans, both active members of the Horse Protection Society of B.C. Although the group is not a rescue organization, they made an exception for Cindy Lou.
“Her chances of finding a home weren’t good, especially in today’s horse market. Not many people are willing to care for a baby that will not even be ready for training for several years. So we took her on as a special ‘ward’. We will look after her until she is old enough to be started under saddle, at around three years old, and we will find h er a good home,” said Sharon.
The once-skeletal little horse has grown a thick coat of long, creamy fur but still lacks the body fat to insulate her from the cold. So, she is kept bundled in a thick foal blanket topped by a regular winter blanket. They envelope her like a tent.
She spends her evenings snoozing in a warm barn, in a deeply bedded stall.
“Since Cindy had not been handled much, she ignored people for the most part when she first arrived. But now, with constant handling and visits from a variety of people, she looks forward to the attention she has come to enjoy,” said Sharon.
The plight of the beautiful foal has touched everyone who meets her, and she holds court for a steady stream of volunteers who brush her, pet her, clean her stall and keep her company.
Cindy Lou has become a ‘poster child’ for the legions of unwanted young horses who face a bleak future, or not future.
“We can’t help all the horses in need, but we can do a good job with one.”
In addition to her newfound human family, Cindy has been adopted by a young Morgan mare, Iris Mae, who also lives on the Ackermans farm.
Iris Mae is known as a ‘nurturing’ mare, one who bonds deeply with people and other (especially timid) horses in the farm herd. She was chosen as the perfect companion for Cindy Lou.
“Iris Mae immediately took Cindy Lou under her wing when we put them together. She herds her little charge around the paddock, and allows her to visit with other horses, but not for too long. She often places herself between the baby and people who come into the paddock, watching carefully to see if Cindy needs guidance.”
According to Sharon, Iris Mae once lured Cindy to a new feeding spot in the shed with a mouthful of hay.
Cindy Lou made her public debut last October at the Mane Event in Chilliwack, where she participated in a training demonstration.
With regular handling, and with a steady diet of treats and praise, Cindy has developed a calm, kind, brave temperament that will make her an ideal family horse.
The Horse Protection Society of BC is looking for donations to help pay for Cindy Lou’s care and has a sponsorship program described on its web site http://www.horseprotectionsocietyofbc.com. Donations for Cindy can also be made at Vanderveen Hay Sales in Surrey. Income tax receipts will be issued for donation over $10.
Langley Times: October 15, 2010
Accidental Rider: Anne Patterson
Horse Protection Society revived at opportune time
A non-profit organization founded over 25 years ago to promote the welfare of horses has been revived and energized in response to an “explosion” in the number of cases of abandoned and neglected horses in B.C.
Sharon Wells-Ackermans, who operates SuitsUs 2 Stables in Langley, is one of six directors of the Horse Protection Society of British Columbia (HPSBC).
“We’ve decided the best way we can help horses is by raising awareness of them, by educating horse owners and by networking with reputable organizations concerned with horse welfare. We’re not a horse rescue organization as such, but we would like to care for special cases on a long-term basis. We don’t want to duplicate the efforts of other groups,” said Sharon.
One organization that undeniably needs help is the SPCA, struggling with a record number of horses in their care. According to Sharon, members of the Horse Protection Society have met with the CEO and head of cruelty investigations of the SPCA to discuss ways to deal with the “huge problems with horses.”
“The SPCA has not really been set up for horses, they’ve focused more on dogs and cats. We discussed with them ways we could help.”
One program resulting from the discussion will focus on the creation of a network of responsible foster farms around the province. That would make it easier to place adoptable horses in communities where they stand the best chance of finding a home.
“It’s easier to place a Thoroughbred around here than in the Interior, for example. If we have a Western working horse, we’ll take him upcountry where he’ll have a better future,” said Sharon.
By working with established animal organizations like the SPCA and Horse Council BC, the Horse Protection group hopes to avoid any association with “crazy rescue operations that are shut down on a daily basis”. Some of them, she explained, start with good intentions and collapse under the weight of feed and vet bills and over-crowded paddocks.
The HPSBC also wants to work with the SPCA to add an equine component to the already successful SPCA small animal education program.
“We’d like to help them build on their success with dogs and cats, and find experts to talk about issues like euthanasia, the need to stop breeding and horse care,” said Sharon.
A representative from the group is planning to attend a symposium in Ottawa organized to establish better guidelines for horse care. The recession has made the need for such standards urgent.
“In addition to people breeding to get farm tax status, people hoarding animals, there are people putting off gelding their horses, people postponing routine care to save money, and endless equestrian operations for sale because people realize there’s no money in horses.”
Although the HPSBC has a mandate to promote education and is not a rescue group, Sharon says that they regularly care for and find homes for horses that “find their way to us.”
One of our old guys we saw in a pasture, getting thinner and thinner. He was used as a babysitter for foals. At the end of the summer we bought him for a dollar. Just yesterday we brought in a four-month old baby with no paperwork, no breeding, no talent. We’ll give her training, skill, and place her in a good home when she has value. We can’t follow these horses for the rest of their lives, but giving them job skills is the best thing we can do to give them a good future.”
For more information on the group, go to www.horseprotectionsocietyofbc.com. Anne Patterson is a Langley writer and horse owner. Contact her at accidentalrider@yahoo.com.
