I love that these wonderful horses who worked very hard throughout their life get to retire and enjoy life to the fullest. This is well deserved. They get the vet care they need, and lots of love and care from Becky and all the volunteers.
All volunteers are wonderful and caring people.
They show up and do the work, assist with events and bond with their favorite horse.
I am proud to be part of this amazing rescue!
Draft Gratitude provides a heart warming and happy ending for all of their horses and mules. I happened upon them quite by accident in the midst of networking a horse that was in danger. When I learned that they were so close to me in NH I decided to pay them a visit and to check on the horse who ultimately found a soft landing with them( 4 years ago now).
When I saw there facility and their happy and well cared for horses I knew they were something special.
I decided to become a monthly donor and eventually adopted our beautiful CC from them!❤️ I try to partake in their events when I can and on occasion will volunteer when I have some free time from my crazy schedule!
After researching Draft Gratitude, I was really impressed with the work that our founder, Becky Roy, has been doing with retired farm horses. I also admired her mission: placing value in senior horses and giving them a safe retirement. Becky's knowledge, tireless dedication to the horses and financial transparency are the primary reasons I joined the volunteer group. These horses have worked incredibly hard their whole lives, so yes, they deserve a soft landing in retirement.
When many horses arrive at Draft Gratitude, they are very thin with a dull coat and a hopeless look in their eyes. Watching their transformation over a short period of time is so amazing to see. Their lives in retirement are peaceful and content after no longer being able to do farm work. Having the honor of working around these gentle giants is a really wonderful experience. I am happy to be a small part of Draft Gratitude as we continue to help rescue horses who still have a good quality of life, but often with no place to go once they retire. They definitely deserve a safe retirement.
I have been a volunteer at Draft Gratitude for about 6 years and have loved it. I have seen some horses arrive sad, suspicious of people, skinny and worried and watched them become healthy and happy. The change in them happens on their timeline, some in a matter of days and others it takes months. Whatever they need to feel safe. We work hard to give them what they need to be healthy and happy. These horses had all earned retirement and needed a soft landing. Draft Gratitude gave it to them. The horse in the photo is my Solstice. I adopted him from Draft Gratitude and he spent his retirement years being a pasture ornament and one of my best friends. The work that Draft Gratitude does is so needed and being a part of it has been an honor for me.
Draft Gratitude does incredible things for these animals every day and they do it with the kindness and love that they all deserve. There is a wonderful sense of peace at the rescue that I know flows through all of the horses that they save.
Draft Gratitude is one of my favorite rescues to support. Becky and her team are a dedicated group of people who truly care about the animals. They’ve done and continue to do great things for senior draft mules who truly deserve a quality end of life. Definitely a worthy cause to support.
The dedication of Founder Becky Roy to these gentle giants and their right to a soft landing after years and years of hard labor is a beautiful thing to see. She has to make VERY HARD decisions- the kind that might make someone else think "this is too hard- I can't keep doing it" but SHE DOES. I believe angels and spirits shine down on that kind of love.
I first became aware of Draft Gratitude at the end of 2015. I had bailed and elderly Belgian Mare to keep her from being slaughtered. I named her Belle and I needed to find a rescue for her. Draft Gratitude was recommended and I contacted Becky Roy. She had room for Belle and I secured transportation for Belle. Belle got 8 months of a wonderful retirement before she had to be euthanized. The next year I bailed a Belgian gelding and was named Jimmy. He got to spend his retirement at Draft Gratitude. Jimmy is the horse in the field on the video. Draft Gratitude gives the work horses that are used up and thrown away a loving and caring retirement that was well earned.
Draft Gratitude Saves Lives.
Finding a horse with an injury tied at an auction barn is heart-wrenching.
Captain was tied, waiting for someone to save him. He had a badly irritated eye with tears draining down his face. An otherwise healthy and well trained horse was about to be sold for slaughter.
Draft Gratitude stepped up and rescued Captain!
Captain’s eye tested positive for Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Draft Gratitude had his eye removed to prevent the cancer from spreading to his skull and to provide him with comfort. He was an absolute trooper throughout the process. He has had his hooves trimmed, his teeth floated, his vaccines updated, and is microchipped. He is provided with quality feed, care, and love each and every day. He has since stolen many of our hearts! Captain is grateful, kind, and forgiving even after all that he has been though.
Captain is just one of many draft horses that has been saved by Draft Gratitude. There are tens of thousands more out there that need saving.
There is a steady supply of draft horses that end up being sold for slaughter every day. Many of these are experienced farm horses that still have a lot of life to live. They are often quiet, well trained, and able to perform light work. These horses have worked tirelessly their entire lives. They have earned the right to have a safe retirement.
These kind and forgiving souls deserve to be safe. This is why I support Draft Gratitude.
Review from #MyGivingStory