Help for Maine Horse Owners Experiencing Economic Hardship
Horses can be expensive and people in difficult financial times can find themselves in need of hay, assistance with medical and basic care, as well as rescue and re-homing support. Below is a list of resources available to Maine residents who love their horses, but need short-term help in providing care and nutrition and/or require re-homing assistance.
Resources
Compassionate Composting, Inc.
576 Trapp Road
Auburn, Maine 04210
(207) 240-1316
Michelle Melaragno
whistleridge@roadrunner.com
Compassionate Composting offers respectful and dignified pick-up, handling, transport and composting of large animals after their death; a green alternative to burial, landfill or cremation.
First Light Farm Equine Shelter,
576 Shore Road, Perry, ME.
(207) 952-0325
www.firstlightfarm.org
Emergency Feed Fund to help horse owners. Will offer up to 10 bales of hay and up to 2 bags of grain (or shavings or combination) funding up to $75 per request. One request per family or farm; they hope to be able to fill two requests per month. Please call in advance, (207) 952-0325.
Maine Equine Welfare Alliance
Initial Contact: Michelle Hirshberg
(207) 831-8444
michellehirshberg@msn.com
http://maineequinewelfarealliance.com
MEWA is a dedicated to helping Maine horses/owners through direct assistance, mentoring, emergency intervention and public education. MEWA offers short-term feed, veterinary & farrier assistance to horses/owners in need.
Maine Farm Bureau
4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 1
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 622-4111
http://www.mainefarmbureau.com/
The Farm Bureau offers Maine Disaster Relief Fund grant monies available to farm owners who have experienced a devastating event.
\Stallion to Gelding Support
2135 Miller Road
China Grove, NC 28023
(704) 843-2380
SGS@stalliontogeldingsupport.org
http://www.stalliontogeldingsupport.org/
Stallion to Gelding is a national program that offers free gelding services (voucher program)
Rescue/Placement Assistance
4R Animal Shelter
202 Thomas Hill
Lee, Maine 04455
(207) 738-2248
www.4ranimalshelter.org
4R Animal Shelter provides a safe haven for horses, other equines and farm livestock. 4R also offers emergency feed and veterinary assistance to horse owners on a case-by-case basis.
CANTER New England
PO Box 3
Westborough, MA 01581
(781) 354-6291
www.canterusa.org
CANTER is an affiliate serving Suffolks Downs in Boston, which assists New England states, including Maine, in providing retiring racehorses with opportunities for new careers ‘after the finish line.’
Double B Equine Rescue
997 West Mills Road
Industry, Maine 04938
(207) 778-6479
postmaster@mainehorserescue.com
http://www.mainehorserescue.com
Downeast Equine & Large Animal Society
PO Box 485, Hatchery Road
Cherryfield, ME 04622
(207) 638-3005 or 598-7738
Ever After Mustang Rescue
463 West Street
Biddeford, Maine 04005 (207) 284-7721
everaftermustangrescue@gmail.com
www.mustangrescue.org
First Light Farm Equine Shelter
576 Shore Road
Perry, ME 04667
(207) 952-0325
1stlightfarm@gmail.com
www.firstlightfarm.org
Last Stop Horse Rescue
J C Horse Farm
Joyce Pomeroy
938 Tar Ridge Road
Prentiss, Maine 04487
Laststophorserescue@hotmail.com
www.laststophorserescue.com
Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals
P.O. Box 10, 279 River Road
South Windham, Maine 04082
(207) 892-3040
www.msspa.org
The MSSPA offers a “match making” program (“Pet Adoption Line”) for people interested in re-homing or adopting horses. State seizure cases only, no owner surrenders accepted on site.
Mountain Equine Rescue
Judi Merrifield, Director
Mount Pleasant Farm
885 Mt. Pleasant Road
Union, Maine 04862
(207) 785-4628
mtequinerescue@yahoo.com
www.mountainequinerescue.org
New England Equine Rescues (NEER)
http://www.newenglandequinerescues.com
Mary Martin: martinmaryd@comcast.net
NEER is dedicated to helping all horses in any way, including direct intervention for abused or slaughter-bound equines and effective horse placement.
Open Gates Equine Rescue, Inc.
407 Morse Road
New Gloucester, ME 0426
(207) 749-9028 or 749-9230
http://www.opengatesequinerescue.com
Rockin’ T Equine Rescue
60 Edgecomb Road
Lisbon Falls, Maine 04252
(207) 353-6581
www.rockintequinerescue.com
Spirit of Hope Farm Equine Shelter & Rescue
Jen & Jess Winchester
853 Lebanon Road
Winterport, Maine 04496
(207) 223-4243
spiritofhopefarm@hotmail.com
http://spiritofhopefarm.tripod.com/
The Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Maine
Brenda Bryant, President
45 Old Falls Road
Kennebunk, Maine 04043
(207) 985-9144
bbriona@gmail.com
www.sphomaine.net
SPHO offers home referrals for retired racehorses, a list of available horses, Website forum, and a monthly newsletter; it also sponsors retraining clinics, shows, trail rides, breed demonstrations, and the Ambassador Horse Program.
