FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 20, 2015
CONTACT:
Darci Hortness, PresidentHorse Help Providers, Inc. (DoubleHP)
(605) 359-0961
DoubleHP Celebrates ASPCA Help A
Horse Day on April 26th
Community support needed for chance to win $10,000 ASPCA grant and
save more horses
Community support needed for chance to win $10,000 ASPCA grant and
save more horses
CROOKS, SD (April 20, 2015) — DoubleHP will be celebrating the ASPCA® (The
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) national Help A
Horse Day on April 26 and competing for a chance to win up to $10,000 in grant
prizes to assist with their efforts in equine welfare. To celebrate the event,
DoubleHP has a Kingswood Rummage Sale on Saturday April 25 at 1609 S. Deerberry
Trail in Sioux Falls, and a “Barn Dance” on Sunday April 26 at DoubleHP Horse
Sanctuary & Learning Center, 25337 470 Ave (about 3 miles north of Crooks).
This
nationwide competition is for equine rescues and sanctuaries to raise awareness
about the lifesaving work they do year-round to care for at-risk horses in
their community who have often been abused or neglected. Horses have been
central to the ASPCA’s work since its founding 149 years ago, when Henry Bergh
stopped a cart driver from beating his horse, resulting in the first successful
arrest for the mistreatment of a horse on April 26, 1866.
“Sunday’s
Barn Dance at DoubleHP WILL include some dancing. Dancing with horses. Horses
have a natural sense of rhythm, balance and harmony, so whenever we are
involved in horse activities, riding or non-riding, it is a bit like a
beautiful dance,” said Darci Hortness, DoubleHP’s Founder/President.
The ASPCA Help
A Horse Day contest is a wonderful opportunity for our team to welcome Sioux
Falls area residents and businesses into our barn to help spread awareness about
responsible horse ownership. Most of the horses we have rescued from starvation
were rescued when they were babies, products of irresponsible breeding and
neglectful ownership. Most of the horses that we rescue are also untrained.
Some have never been touched before, let alone ridden. Horses that have been
trained properly can almost always find a good, new home. Horses without
training are difficult to place. Training has always been a priority for our
rescue horses. And we have a program at our learning center which will help
other people learn how to train their horses as well. So many times, young
horses get labeled as “dangerous” just because their owners don’t know how to
train or handle them. Through our horsemanship program, we can help people
learn how to be safe, happy, and successful with their horses. And they will be
learning from the best teachers in the world – The Horses of DoubleHP. You can
send your horse to a trainer, but if you don’t involve yourself in that
training, how will you know what to do with your horse when you bring him back
home? Our program is designed so that people can learn good horsemanship skills
and habits at our facility, and then take what they learn from us and apply it
to their horses at home. We have had many participants come here to learn, even
though they already own horses. We have also had many people come here to learn
before they go out and buy a horse. Other people come here because they know
they won’t be able to afford their own horse for a long, long time. So they
come here and share one of our rescued horses and learn about horses for as
many months or years as they want to. So many nice young horses fall through
the cracks, get labeled as “dangerous,” and end up on the slaughter truck, just
because their humans don’t have the time, money, or skills to properly train
them. Usually, when a horse-related accident occurs, it is a human error.
Usually just one little thing a human could have done differently, and then there
wouldn’t have been an accident at all. It might be something as simple as
learning how to put a halter on or learning how to ask a horse to slow down or
stop when it gets a little worried about something. These are things you can
learn when you come to our Barn Dance on Sunday. Oh, and you can learn how to
NOT get your toes stepped on too! Horses
are majestic, loving animals, and we hope our local supporters will come out on
April 26 to help us win a $10,000 grant so we can continue our lifesaving efforts
for years to come.”
Horse Help
Providers, Inc., has been a 501c3 nonprofit for more than 10 years. It is South
Dakota’s first and only GFAS approved Sanctuary and, in addition to offering
education through a horsemanship program, has EAGALA certified facilitators
available for equine-assisted counseling, learning, and psychotherapy.
Sunday’s Barn
Dance is free to attend, and there will be door prizes. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. For more information about the event and about DoubleHP, please visit www.newhopehorses.org or call Darci at
359-0961.