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by: Nat Lauzon with Mike Grenier
Recently, Montreal Dog Blog had the opportunity to tour the grounds of A Horse Tale Rescue.
Situated on 5 acres of land in Vaudreuil Dorion, A Horse Tale Rescue (AHT) rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes horses in need. If the horse cannot find placement in a loving home, this rescue provides a safe haven for them for the rest of their lives. But as MDB discovered, the rescue’s impact is much greater than that.
On a crisp April day, we head to Vaudreuil-Dorion to visit A Horse Tale rescue. We are welcomed by Mike Grenier, Executive Director (and his wife Sherry Gilmer, who is also a volunteer), Caroline Handy the Barn Manager and Lisa Maria the Fundraising Director.
From the instant we enter the tidy main barn, it’s clear this is a labour of love.
Smiling volunteers buzz back and forth, tending to their work. The barn itself has been thoughtfully repaired and rejuvenated in recent years to make it a warm, safe space for its equine occupants.
Head halters, grooming gear and blankets hang neatly on the walls – the hooks are labeled by name – Blanco, Cheyenne, Smouch – one for each horse in their care. Toward the back of the barn are stacked hay bales, a weigh scale and a precise feeding schedule for each resident. The rescue goes through 60-70 bales of hay per week and 350 – 400 bags of shavings per year (which are used to line each stall).
There are 12 stalls and currently, 11 horses. The empty one is kept free for any “just in case” scenarios. Like any reputable rescue, AHT never takes on more than they can handle and in fact, has had to turn away about a dozen cases this past year alone.
Everything inside the barn is clearly labeled, according to each horse’s needs. It has to be. Some horses have specific medical and physical protocols – and with 50 regular hands-on volunteers, it would otherwise be a challenge to keep things organized among so many people.
VOLUNTEERS
Mike’s involvement with the rescue began 5 years ago, after his wife Sherry underwent a kidney transplant. After recovery, she wanted to volunteer with horses and they checked out an Open House at AHT. With a background in the corporate world and none at all with horses – Mike quickly discovered a new passion. 5 years later, he is the Executive Director for AHT. And his wife Sherry, is an active volunteer.
Lisa Maria is the Fundraising Director, and also an artisan and Reiki Practitioner by day. She lights up when talking about the rescue’s current herd. There is a particular joy that the horses bring, obviously – but the kinship of other volunteers is also special. She feels a unique support network at AHT. Of course, time spent with the horses is the antidote for any bad day – and makes an already good day even better.
Caroline is the Barn Manager. She is a nature lover at heart, and an incredible freelance artist (horses are inspiring subjects!). Caroline’s children have special needs – and rather than planting them in front of a screen, she has nourished their relationships with the outdoors and the horses at AHT. Her kids are physically active here, which helps to calm them. And they’ve gained confidence in learning to care for animals too.
In fact, AHT launched a special program in 2017 (the AHT Experience Program) geared especially toward promoting the positive effects of being around horses. More on that later.
The uniqueness of this place is already evident. And we haven’t even met the horses yet! It’s one of the first nice days after a long winter and all of them are out enjoying the sunshine.
Click here to meet the current herd at AHT.
ULYSSES
Ulysses is as breathtaking as they come. A towering, white draft horse, he is one of the rescue’s star residents. At 22 years old and about 2000 lbs, he is also the largest. His imposing size is enough to make anyone a little nervous – until this gentle giant nuzzles delicately for treats and pats on the nose.
Ulysses spent most of his years working on a farm and then in the Montreal caleche industry. The rescue has taken in 6 retired caleche horses to date. Ulysses’ working days are well behind him now. He will live out his retirement years in the comfort, safety and love provided by AHT.
ROCKY
12 year old Rocky is a former harness racer. Sidelined by an ankle injury – he then became a riding horse and eventually found his way to AHT. Extremely social and great with children, he was curious about us before we even approached him. He was waiting readily to greet us and snuffle our pockets for goodies.
Sometimes, the remnants of a horse’s former life will emerge. Rocky, for instance, will occasionally back up to a wheelbarrow in the yard, expecting to be hitched up for the track. From a racing career to living the life of leisure, Rocky has certainly lucked out at AHT.
BUDDY
When we first see Buddy, he is lying on his side, napping comfortably in the warm April sun. He’s dreaming about something because his legs are wheeling as if he’s running. Buddy is A Horse Tale’s very first rescue.
He was 14 when he arrived via another horse rescue (Refuge RR) in 2013, having only recently been castrated. His stallion energy and lack of socialization in his later years made his adjustment a challenge – but the safe, loving space provided by AHT has helped him acclimate beautifully into a sweet, gentle creature.
Caroline shares a touching anecdote about a father who brought his son to meet Buddy. The child had cerebral palsy. After sharing time with Buddy, his involuntary tremors momentarily subsided – surprising his dad, who had never seen this happen. In fact, children suffering from CP can benefit from contact with horses – improving cognitive ability, neuromuscular problems and even physical strength.
AHT recognizes that with so many wonderful herd members like Buddy, their potential to “give back” is immense.
THE AHT EXPERIENCE PROGRAM
The A Horse Tale Experience (AHTE) Program was created to give back to the community by sharing the pleasures and benefits of equine contact. The program offers a unique opportunity for special and specific needs groups to interact with the horses in a safe, nurturing and structured environment.
AHT Experience provides guided small-group interactions with the rescued horses and the opportunity for visitors to help with various tasks at the rescue. Each visit is carefully planned with the visiting group’s coordinator.
The end experience is one which is beneficial to both horse and human alike.
The Experience Program is flourishing at AHT as more community groups become aware of it. In rescuing horses, the organization has been able to come full circle and give back to the communities it serves. For more on the program, click here.
EXPANSION PROJECT
While AHT helps horses reconcile with often challenging pasts, they must also look to the future. There is a true need for horse rescue. Given their size, longevity and care costs – many become in need of sanctuary once their initial “purpose” (working, racing, riding) has been exhausted or their owners simply cannot carry the financial burden.
Wisely, AHT is careful not to overextend its reach. They are committed to providing the very best care to its charges and currently, they simply do not have the infrastructure to take in more animals.
Hopefully, that will change.
Project Evolution was launched this year to raise funds for the construction of a new modern barn facility on an adjacent 100 acres (versus the current 5). This new barn would quadruple the current capacity and be able to comfortably house 40 horses.
It would also provide year-round access for the AHT Experience Program, allow for wheelchair accessibility and ensure the rescue’s future sustainability. To learn more or to contribute to this exciting project, click here.
GET INVOLVED
AHT is a non-profit organization and as such, receives no government funding. They rely entirely on the public to keep going. Funds are derived from ongoing memberships (there are currently about 260 members), donations and special events. If you prefer the hands-on approach, you can volunteer physically at the barn ( feeding, grooming, cleaning, maintenance). You can even choose to sponsor a specific horse! For more information, click here.
You can also visit the rescue, which is open to the public. They hold an open house almost every Saturday (2-4pm) from March 15 to November 15.
Lastly, there are always a variety of fundraising events in the works. The rescue’s current project is an online auction, active until May 19th! Click here – ask to join and check out the fantastic items up for bids!
Plus they have a large fundraising BBQ “A Day In The Country” with kids games, horse pics, hay rides, food, etc. on Saturday, July 27th from 11:00-4:00 – everyone is welcome!
____
The animal rescue world can be challenging. The obvious emotional element aside, the ability to do it properly requires a level of organization, commitment and foresight to weather a host of potential problems – from financing to infrastructure and even interpersonal relationships. Like any successful enterprise, it is not enough to simply have good intentions.
Without question, AHT is doing it right. The horses in their care are thriving, healthy and loved – and the lives of their rescuers have been so profoundly affected by the experience, that they’ve been inspired to give back even more. Through education, outreach and a welcoming, open environment – they allow us something we would otherwise not have. The opportunity to be in the presence of these beautiful creatures too.
Our thanks to AHT for making time for our tour. And thanks for everything you do.
