Horse Rescuers Party at Pineland Farms!
Supporters and staffers of the MSSPA partnered with Pineland Farms on October 28, 2007 to celebrate the Society's first annual "Ride To Rescue" campaign. The celebration featured prizes for registered "Riders", demonstrations of dressage and therapeutic riding, and the chance to mingle with animal lovers from all across Maine. The highlight of the celebration was live presentations made by award winning PBS filmmaker Ginger Kathrens. Her remarks included showing video clips from her two spectacular PBS documentary films, "Cloud, Wild Stallion of the Rockies" and "Cloud, The Wild Stallion Returns." Ms. Kathrens, who has become the nation's leading advocate for preservation of genetically viable wild horse bands, charmed the party-goers at Pineland with her tremendous knowledge about wild horses and their social structure. Her stunning wild horse photography was available in two gorgeous books and on DVD. Preservation of wild horses and their native habitat is one important aspect of animal welfare in the United States. Ms. Kathrens also applauded the tremendous work being done by the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals right here in Maine. "The work of the Society is more important than ever," Ginger Kathrens told the enthralled crowd. "Rescue and rehabilitation of domestic horses compliments and parallels our efforts to save wild horses in their habitat. Without the MSSPA, many more animals in Maine would suffer and die cruel deaths."
The Society's gala at Pineland capped a successful first ever fund-raising "Ride" designed to increase the visibility of the one of the nation's oldest animal welfare organizations. The MSSPA was founded in 1872; its original mission was to provide for the horses who pulled the streetcars and fire engines of Portland, Maine. Today, the MSSPA receives into its care large animals who have been seized by law enforcement agents of the state of Maine. The Society is a not-for-profit entity; it receives no public funds or tax dollars from any source. Its "Ride To Rescue" is both an actual and a virtual ride.
On October 13th, scores of "riders" from as far away as Texas mounted up on their horses, bicycles, tractors, and four-wheelers in support of the Society and its work. Some folks "rode" by simply registering, receiving their commemorative "Ride To Rescue" T-shirts, collecting pledges, and kicking back on the sofa! When the "Ride" was over and the pledges all turned in, top fund-raising honors went to Janice Chick of Danvers, Massachusetts. Janice rode an actual horse at the therapeutic riding farm where she regularly volunteers and she collected pledges totaling $530.00. A stall full of thanks to Janice Chick from the lucky animals now living at the Society's barns, and from all the staff of the MSSPA!
Plans are already underway for next year's "Ride To Rescue." Contact Meris J. Bickford at the MSSPA for additional information, or if you have an interest in volunteering in support of "Ride To Rescue" 2008. The MSSPA is also inviting community businesses and organizations to assist in sponsoring its next "Ride To Rescue" in fall 2008.
