MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
Our mission is to provide sanctuary and community support to retired, rescued, and recovering horses while they continue to serve as ambassadors to the positive effect of "horse power" in the lives of people.

Our organization provides programs involved with equine rescue, adoption & retirement
Our organization conducts Equine Assisted Services in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS).
Our organization provides community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of equines involved in our programs.
100% of our total programs and services are horse-related.
Our organization uses satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities which adhere to all the policies, procedures and practices of our organization

Horse Rescue, Rehabilitation, Retraining & Re-homing:
Overview of our programs involved with rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, re-homing and/or retirement:
     1. Foster and adoption of unwanted horses
     2. Rehab for horses seized by warrant for neglect and voluntarily surrendered due to hardship.
     3. Retirement for performance horses who are injured or age out of careers.
     4. Sanctuary for wild Mustangs.
     5. Pathway to ownership education programs for new horse owners / adopters
     6. Off track retirement and rehoming programs for Minnesota's off track Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses.

Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
Our organization provides the following Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
    Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)
    Equine-Assisted Learning involving Academic Learning
    Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

3: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at Phoenix Farm

     1. Brenda Teter, MSW

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Phoenix Farm

         RELATIONSHIP: Volunteer

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Licensed Independent Social Worker

     2. Jane Stier

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Phoenix Farm

         RELATIONSHIP: Volunteer

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Academic Learning

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Licensed teacher, elementary education

University of Denver
Certificate - Animals amd Human Health, Animal Assisted InterventionsCertificate - Animals amd Human Health, Animal Assisted Interventions
2018 - 2019

Carpigiani Gelato University
2016

Dominican University
Elementary Education and Teaching Elementary Education and Teaching
1994 - 1996

     3. Ricka Kohnstamm

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Phoenix Farm

         RELATIONSHIP: Volunteer

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Licensed therapist

Overview of our programs involved with providing EAS to individuals with special needs:
     We established two pilot programs in 2021, which are currently on hold pending funding:
     
     1. Valor matches First Responders with rescue horses in a counselor-facilitated program. VALOR provides support and affirmation to first responders who work in high stress, unpredictable work environments subject to intense scrutiny, second-guessing and evaluation of the community they serve.
     
     The nature of their work requires first responders to be unpredictably and intermittently exposed to tremendous risk and vulnerability at any time while maintaining order, objectivity and command of highly emotionally charged circumstances.
     
     First responders seeking help or guidance regarding stress management are thwarted by barriers including a reluctance to admit the effect of stress in their lives, how to discuss difficult or controversial reactions or interactions with the public without fear of reprisal, how to express the emotional responses to critical incidents without exposing vulnerabilities that could be used against them in the workplace.
     
     As public servants, they are inspired and motivated to help others and reticent about identifying and asking for help themselves.
     
     Equine assisted therapy has been well documented as exceptionally successful model to address the emotional consequences of chronic stress in first responders.
     
     VALOR forms an alliance between law enforcement professionals, and abused and neglected horses.
     
     
     2. This Teaching Horse is focused on elementary school children to combine their education goals with miniature horses. There are innumerable benefits to the students. We can provide a structured, goal-oriented ongoing program with measurable outcomes, anchored by before and after impact assessments.
     
     The benefit to the organization is to provide opportunities for our horses to give back and for us to tell their story, our story, to our community at large, demonstrating the value of supporting our work and mission.

Overview of our programs involved with providing community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses:
     We collaborate with a PATH organization called River Valley Riders, providing use of our facility and our horses for one of their therapeutic riding program sites. River Valley Riders mission is to enrich the lives of children and adults with special needs by providing equine-assisted services. Programs include therapeutic horseback riding, carriage driving and hippotherapy.
     
     RVR serves students in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area and western Wisconsin and take place from mid-April through early-November to enhance the participant’s physical, cognitive and emotional health while building a community of structure and support.
     
     We also partner with Abijah's on the Backside sourcing off track racehorses for their use in their equine assisted therapy programs. Abijah’s on the Backside brings individuals in need to the racetrack and their lives are transformed. Be they backside workers, first responders, or individuals seeking growth- Abijah’s brings healing & wellness to those suffering with PTSD, Addiction, Depression, Anxiety, Eating Disorders and more.
     
     Other activities include:
     1. We host the nation's only Horseless Horse 4-H program where 4Hers from our County have an opportunity to train with our horses and complete in showmanship at halter and in-hand trail classes at the County Fair.
     2. We work with the local vet tech school to use our horses to teach techs to handle horses and take vital signs.
     3. We work with University of MN's equine nutrition graduate students who use our horses to complete their research in equine nutrition.
     4. We offer year round and ongoing horse care and welfare educational seminars that are open to the public.
     5. We offer 'path to ownership' courses for people interested in becoming horse owners.
     6. Our miniature horse program (This Little Horse) serves as community relations ambassadors at institutions and events throughout our region and provides therapeutic visits to schools, long-term care facilities, libraries, camps, etc.
     7.We host a Special Olympics Equestrian Team and train our special needs athletes year round. Our coaches are certified by Special Olympics.
     8. We collaborate with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls by providing off track racehorses for their Retraining Racehorses course offering. We provide horses for their equine reproduction program to give supervised students experience in semen collection and care of a pregnant mare, foaling and foal care.
     9. Our volunteers and horse sponsors come from all walks of life, ages, and physical abilities. They report tremendous therapeutic benefits from interacting with our horses during feeding, care, and cleaning activities.

Research/Medical Use of Equines:
Our organization has made equines available for research studies or medical training.
Please explain where and for what purpose equines are/were provided to use in research or medical training. 
     We have providing horses to the University of MN for a six month graduate research program to study grazing patterns and forage palatability.
     
     Two vet tech colleges in our area use our horses to learn basic horse handling skills and learn to assess body condition and take vitals, deworming, leg wraps, etc.
     
     We partner with the University of Wisconsin River Falls providing horses used in their equine reproductive studies. One is a stallion who is used to teach supervised students to collect and evaluate semen. One rescue mare was in foal when we got her and is foaling out at the University to provide supervised students an opportunity to follow and care for her through the pregnancy and foaling.
     
     No invasive or painful procedures are allowed.

Religious Affiliation:
Our organization does not promote religious education, religious purposes, or a specific religious faith or use donations for religious education or religious purposes; require participants to be of a certain faith; require participation in religious, instruction, activities or services; or require participation in prayer, worship, religious instruction or other religious activities as a condition of receiving social or secular services offered. 

Auction Donation:
Our organization has never allowed, or would not consider allowing, an equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that would cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter. 

POLICIES: ACQUISITION

Our organization acquires horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Donation  
    Return  
    Surrender  
    Seizure  
    Abandonment  

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Lease  
    Purchase/Adoption from Owner  
    Auction  
    Kill pen/Feedlot  

Our organization will accept the following:
    Geldings
    Mares
    Pregnant Mares
    Foals
    Stallions
    Only Stallions to be castrated

Additional information about our acquisition policies and practices:
Intact stallions under one year old who will be castrated. Intact stallions are housed in a stallions only facility.

POLICIES: INTAKE, ASSESSMENT & TRAININING

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization requires the following with respect to the health status of the horse:
    A current Coggins
    Vaccination records that have been administered within the last 12 months
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, the owner is responsible for having vaccinations administered.
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, our veterinarian will administer appropriate vaccinations

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization has the following policies in place:
    The owner of a potential equine is interviewed over the phone or in person prior to seeing the equine
    The equine is evaluated at its place of residence
    The owner completes an application/contract which constitutes the agreement between the owner and our organization
    Equines are not taken on trial

Following arrival of the equine at the facility, the following is performed:
    Physical examination by trained barn staff
    Photographs are taken of each equine upon arrival at the facility and kept with the equine's health records
    A Henneke Body Conditioning Score or other body conditioning score is assigned
    Physical examination by a farrier
    Physical examination by a dentist
    Coggins test
    Fecal test
    Vaccinations
    De-worming
    The equine is scanned to check for a microchip
    The equine is microchipped if the scan indicates that there is no microchip

Upon intake, the organization has the following quarantine policy in place:
    The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine at the facility for a prescribed period of time

The typical length of quarantine is:   20 to 30 days

Horses are assessed for following skills and behaviors:
    Retrieval from a pasture/paddock
    Leading with a halter and lead rope
    Temperament, disposition and attitude, such as rated from very calm to very high spirited
    Saddling
    Bridling
    Lunging
    Loading onto and unloading off a trailer
    Mounting and dismounting
    Riding at the walk
    Riding at the trot
    Riding at the canter
    Riding by a beginner and/or unbalanced rider
    Tolerance to unusual objects and loud noises
    Known vices, i.e., cribbing, biting, kicking, weaving, stall walking, etc
    Grooming
    Bathing
    Clipping
    Tolerance to multiple handlers at the same time

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the ongoing assessment of horses in its care:
    The Henneke Body Condition score or other body conditioning score is updated at least annually
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine chiropractor
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine acupuncturist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine massage therapist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine nutritionist
    Physical examination by a veterinarian at least annually
Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the weight-carrying or workload capabilities of horses/equines that are ridden in our care:
    Our organization evaluates at least annually and maintains a written record of the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden

The following variables are considered in determining the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden:
    Equine age, weight, breed, body condition, fitness, balance, health and soundness
    Equine conformation to include the top line, length of back, strength and width of loin, bone density (measured by the circumference of the cannon bone just below the knee)
    Size, shape, condition and angle of the hooves
    Participant weight, height, body proportions, balance, fitness and riding skills as well as behavioral issues and safety concerns
    Weight and proper fit of the saddle and other equipment
    Terrain and footing in the working environment
    Duration and frequency of working sessions, as the frequency with which an equine is subjected to maximum weight carrying and/or workload
    Nature and pace of work, repetitive or varied, radius of turns, degree of incline and regularity of footing when equine is subject to maximum weight-carrying capacity
    Temperature and/or weather conditions


Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding):   As needed; no set schedule

Additional information about our intake, assessment & training policies and practices:
Most of the horses we take in are in hardship circumstances and are unrideable. If the horse is identified by the owner as rideable, we evaluate that after the horse has arrived and settled in.

POLICIES: BREEDING

The organization has the following policies related to breeding and stallions:
    The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, does NOT breed equines.
    The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, are permitted to house stallions

Additional information about our breeding policies and practices:
We do not breed or allow breeding. However, under certain circumstances where castration is not an option, we house stallions in private, segregated turnout.

POLICIES: EUTHANASIA

The organization has the following policies related to euthanasia:
    Our organization will never have an equine euthanized for space
    Our organization may have a healthy equine euthanized if it is a threat to itself, other equines, or people and euthanasia is recommended by a veterinarian
    Our organization may have an equine euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian after all reasonable treatment options have been explored
    Euthanasia is done on site when possible to decrease trauma from transport
    Euthanasia is done at the veterinarian's facility
    Disposal of the carcass is handled within 24 hours

The following are authorized to administer the procedure for your organization in accordance with state laws:
    Veterinarian

POLICIES: RE-HOMING

View Re-homing Agreement
Our organization has the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) policies and procedures in place:
    All potential adopters/purchasers complete a written contract which constitutes the agreement between our organization and the new owner
    Our organization will only re-home an equine to a location where another equine resides
    The distance of a potential adopter/purchaser's home from our facility is a consideration for when re-homing an equine
    Our organization conducts a site visit of the adopter/purchaser's facility before the transfer of the equine to the adopter/purchaser's facility
    Potential adopters/purchasers are encouraged to do a short-term, on-site foster with the equine

The uploaded Re-homing agreement includes the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) statements:
    The agreement reflects that any individual or organization in possession of the equine as of the date of the agreement and any time thereafter is bound to not sell the equine at auction for slaughter or allow the equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that will cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.
    The agreement states that should the adopter decide to re-home the equine, our organization must be notified of the name, address, and telephone number of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason prior to the equine being placed into the possession of such individual or organization.
    The agreement states that our organization reserves the right to make scheduled visits
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers can return an equine to our organization free of charge
    The agreement states that adopters/purchasers are required to provide updates (photos, vet records) for three or more years

Our organization requires references from the following:
    Veterinarian
    Farrier
    Personal/Other

Transfer of ownership occurs:   Immediately (at the time of adoption/purchase) or less than one year

The average equine re-homing (adoption/purchase) fee received by your organization:
Not applicable; None received

Our organization has the following policies and procedures related to horses that need to be retired, are no longer useful, or are no longer manageable:
    Equines may remain at our organization for their lifetimes
    Equines may be found suitable homes by our organization
    Equines may be returned to their owners
    In the case an equine is unsound and/or unhealthy and cannot be treated to relieve suffering, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian

Additional information about our rehoming policies and practices:
We do not charge rehoming fees but encourage adopters to make a charitable contribution/ adoption donation to the mission.