Days End Farm Horse Rescue Reimagining the Future of Equine Welfare
statistic that 70% of horse rescues fail within the fi rst three years, what began as a labor of love grew into a tiny non-profi t organization that is now, 31 years later, a successful 501(c)3 equine welfare facility, sheltering up to 150 horses every year. T anks to the support of loyal donors, local
By Kara Pinato Scro
A Horse Named Toby Not many people know that it was a malnour- ished buckskin gelding by the name of Toby that served as the impetus for starting Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR), based in Woodbine. Back in 1989, Kathy Schwartz- Howe and her then-husband Allan Schwartz happened upon Toby while caring for their own horse at the barn where it was boarded. Toby’s health was quickly declining, and he was seemingly abandoned. When the Schwartzes ascertained that the state of Maryland did not have facilities to as- sist law enforcement in caring for horses in Toby’s predicament, or to provide re- sources for owners in need, they soon found themselves taking steps to acquire Toby and rehabilitate him. Mrs. Schwartz-Howe bootstrapped her way through much of Toby’s rehabilita- tion and Maryland’s legal system, though she credits local experts, welfare professionals, and veterinarians for lending critical knowledge re- lated to tending to the unique needs of horses recovering from neglect. Toby’s case was a success, and it ignited a pas-
sion in the Schwartzes that led them to buy a small farm and off er intervention and rehabili- tation services to horses in need. Bucking the
volunteers, dedicated staff , and skilled trainers, DEFHR has rescued, rehabilitated, and suc- cessfully rehomed more than 2,600 horses. DEFHR is known for its strong relationships with animal control and law enforcement au- thorities as well as with humane agencies across the mid-Atlantic, and it’s through these agen- cies that horses in need come to the facility. T e organization provides intervention support services throughout Maryland and surrounding states, including as far away as Massachusetts and Florida. Because of the organization’s deep expertise in equine rescue and its relationships with lo- cal authorities and agencies, DEFHR develops and hosts ongoing educational programming to give investigators and animal control profes- sionals the skills they need to successfully work on equine cases.
More Than A Rescue While rescue and rehabilitation is a critical
function of the organization, DEFHR’s mis- sion extends further to prevent equine abuse and neglect through education programs and community outreach. As one of approximately
be inducted into the program, DEFHR often serves as a benchmark for its entry-level, begin- ner-friendly approach. Over time, DEFHR’s educational off erings have grown more robust and diverse to encompass what DEFHR CEO Erin Clemm Ochoa calls “humane education.” “As much as we are a horse rescue and we will
always have a component of rehabilitation, we want to off er more comprehensive opportuni- ties for learning and engaging with the natural world around us,” said Ochoa. “For example, if we don’t have bees, we won’t have hay. If we don’t have good water runoff , we won’t have good drinking water for our horses, and so on.” Recognizing that today’s youth are our future,
DEFHR has developed numerous programs designed to teach children not only about hors- es, but about the environment more broadly and our role in protecting and preserving it. DEFHR’s Camp-In-A-Box program is
just one example of the organization’s eff orts to expand on its educational off erings. T is past summer, the Camp-In-A-Box program was launched to provide “humane education” to children unable to attend DEFHR camp sessions in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic. T e program included hands-on projects, DIY experiments, online videos, and activities revolving around the DEFHR horses. Campers also learned why caring for the envi-
ronment is important to DEFHR. Each week’s activities focused on an environmental theme as part of “WE CARE” (water, erosion, com- posting,
One of DEFHR’s many success stories is Quizzical Quartz, shown on left when she arrived at DEFHR and right cross-country schooling with her adoptor after being rehabilitated.
40 licensed Maryland Horse Discovery Cen- ters, DEFHR plays an active role in educating the general public. T e Horse Discovery Center program was
created by the Maryland Horse Industry Board with the goal of fostering the horse-human connection by helping all ages and experience levels learn about horses in a welcoming envi- ronment. As one of the inaugural facilities to
recycling, and ecology = WE CARE). WE CARE helped children understand why caring for the environment also helps the horses. Ochoa notes that what makes DEFHR special and well- equipped to take on the role of educator is its unique ability and willingness to off er ac-
cess to the general community, and she has a bright vision for the future of the organization. “We’re a point of entry,” she said. “T e horse in- dustry can be intimidating given its sometimes exclusive nature. People as young as fi ve years of age can come to DEFHR with nothing more than a general interest in horses and participate in a wide variety of relatively independent vol-
continued...
To fi nd out more about Days End Farm Horse Rescue, volunteer and educational opportunities, and the horses it saves, visit
www.DEFHR. org and follow along on Facebook at @DaysEndFarmHorseRescue and Instagram at @4thehorses
16 | NOVEMBER 2020 | THE EQUIERY A MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION 800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com agriculture,
Ron Diehl
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Pamela Wheeler
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