MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
Saving Horses, Inc. rescues horses from slaughter, abuse and neglect. SHI rehabilitates these horses, and they get to live out their days at our rescue/sanctuary, where they become therapy horses. SHI gives horses a second chance and a better life. The horses participate in an Equine Assisted Therapy Program, Horses healing humans suffering from grief, PTSD, addiction and other social/emotional issues. By way of a grant we are able to offer EAT to young women survivors from Sex Trafficking. We provide volunteer opportunities for individuals with special needs, Veterans, First Responders, and at risk children.

Our organization provides programs involved with equine rescue & 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:
     Our horses were rescued from slaughter bound feedlots, and situations of abuse and neglect. The horses were rehabilitated and retrained where necessary. We have re homed horses in the past, but we are currently not offering horses for adoption. We can provide sanctuary for 12 horses. Rather than adoptions we are concentrating more on our Equine Assisted Therapy programs and volunteering for young adults with special needs, Veterans & First responders and at risk teens.

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

1: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at Saving Horses, Inc. Ranch

     1. Tufia Steidle PhD Psychotherapy

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Saving Horses, Inc. Ranch

         RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Dr Tufia Steidle has a PHD in Psychotherapy. She was working in the County of Los Angeles Mental Health system, counseling young people who had suffered trauma. She has always had private patients she has counseled using her EAGALA training, incorporating horses into therapy sessions. She has managed an Equine Assisted Therapy program for a non profit in San Diego county 2018-2019. In 2019 Dr Steidle came on board to conduct EAS program at Saving Horses, Inc. Here, Tufia works with Sex Trafficked women(for which we have a grant each year), a group of individuals recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, and individuals of all ages suffering from trauma, and/or social/emotional issues.

Overview of our programs involved with providing EAS to individuals with special needs:
     SHI & Tufia Steidle PHD(EAGALA) provides EAAT to individuals with PTSD and social/emotional disorders, alcohol and drug addiction. SHI partners with Generate Hope a non profit that offers residential rehabilitation to young women rescued from the Sex Trafficking Industry. The girls come to SHI for their therapy with the horses.
     Tufia also conducts EAAT with a group of recovering addicts from a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
     SHI provides volunteering opportunities for our local community, which includes men, women and children of all ages and socio/economic backgrounds, and children and young adults with special needs. We also welcome Veterans, First Responders, at risk teens, and individuals in drug/alcohol recovery.

Overview of our programs involved with providing community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses:
     SHI welcomes Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, school groups, and any new volunteers whom we educate about the importance of responsible animal ownership, and raise awareness about certain equine industries who abuse and throw away horses, backyard breeders.
     SHI also welcomes the opportunity to speak at any special event.
     SHI usually has a fundraising event once a year at a local horse show which gives us an opportunity to educate horse owners.

Research/Medical Use of Equines:
Our organization has never made, and would not ever consider making, equines available for research studies or medical training that involves invasive procedures and/or that which may cause pain or suffering to the equine. 

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):
    Auction  
    Kill pen/Feedlot  
    Surrender  
    Abandonment  

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Donation  
    Lease  
    Purchase/Adoption from Owner  
    Return  
    Seizure  

Our organization will accept the following:
    Geldings
    Mares

Not Checked:
    Pregnant Mares
    Foals
    Stallions
    Only Stallions to be castrated

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, our veterinarian will administer appropriate vaccinations
    A health certificate signed by a veterinarian and dated no more than seven days prior to arrival attesting to the health status of the equine is provided to our organization either prior to or upon arrival of the equine

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 a veterinarian upon arrival and/or prior to quarantine departure
    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
    Blood work other than Coggins
    Fecal test
    Vaccinations
    De-worming
    The equine is scanned to check for a 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 off-site 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
    Photographs are taken of each equine annually and kept with the equine's health records
    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
    Seasonal impact on the equines' workload and weight-carrying capabilities and limitations


Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding):   2-3 times per week

Additional information about our intake, assessment & training policies and practices:
Volunteers do not ride our horses. We currently only have (2) rideable horses. They are ridden 3-4 times weekly by a paid professional.

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.

POLICIES: EUTHANASIA

The organization has the following policies related to euthanasia:
    Our organization will never have an equine euthanized for space
    Our organization will never have a healthy equine euthanized under any circumstances
    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
    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

Re-homing Agreement not applicable.
Our organization has the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) policies and procedures in place:
    The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.

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:
    The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.

Additional information about our rehoming policies and practices:
SHI used to re home horses with an adoption contract. We stand by any horses adopted out in the past, and will take back any horses if necessary. However it is now our policy to not re home horses. Any horses currently in our program or we have recently rescued will remain here with us for the remainder of their lives.