Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement in Salem, CT will be celebrating the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) national Help A Horse Day on April 23 and competing for a chance to win up to $25,000 in grant prizes to assist with their efforts to protect horses. To celebrate the day, Mitchell Farm will hold an open barn and host demonstrations and performances along with our first ever Barnyard Olympics. In honor of the ASPCA’s 150th Anniversary celebration this year, the contest has been expanded to include a total of $100,000 in grant prizes, including a grand prize of $25,000.
This nationwide competition is for equine rescues and sanctuaries to raise awareness about the lifesaving work they do year-round to care for at-risk horses in their community who have often been abused or neglected. Horses have been central to the ASPCA’s work since its founding 150 years ago, when Henry Bergh stopped a cart driver from beating his horse, resulting in the first successful arrest for the mistreatment of a horse on April 26, 1866.
Mitchell Farm has been providing permanent sanctuary to aged and infirm horses since 2004. Un-wanted horses are over-stressing rescue organizations. Mitchell Farm provides a permanent home for a number of these equines thus taking them out of the rescue stream. Here they are allowed to remember or in some cases learn how to just be a horse.
“The ASPCA Help A Horse Day contest is the perfect opportunity for our staff and volunteers to share our love horses and dedication to raising awareness about equine welfare issues with our neighbors.” said Dee Doolittle, Founder/Executive Director. “Please join us on April 23rd for a day of fun supporting our efforts to win a $25,000 grant allowing us to further our mission.” For more information or to register to compete in the Barnyard Olympics, go to www.mitchellfarm.org/events.