GAA February–March Fundraiser:
Hearts for Horses
Summary:
For a $20 donation, give a “heart” to help support the care and rehabilitation of a specific horse in our
equine rescue program. We will place on our barn wall a red heart with the name of the horse of your
choice, and also your name if you wish — or the name of someone you’d like to make your gift in memory
of.
The Story:
SEND A HEART TO A HORSE FOR A $20 DONATION. Gerda’s Animal Aid is a nonprofit equine
rescue in Vermont committed to saving, rehabilitating, and re-homing slaughter-bound horses. Every one
of our horses is special, and our ‘Hearts for Horses’ project is a way for people to show their support of a
particular horse being cared for at our rescue while he or she awaits a forever home.
For your $20 donation, we will place on our barn wall a red heart with the name of the horse of your
choice, and also your name if you wish — or the name of someone you’d like to make your gift in memory
of. Each heart will represent a caring individual somewhere in the world reaching out with a gesture of
support for that horse.
By March 14, we hope to share photos of the barn filled with 100 or more hearts — and your generosity
will help provide food and care for each rescued horse during the hard days of winter.
* * * * * * * ABOUT THE HORSES * * * * * * *
Scroll down to see photos of all the horses!
TO SEND A HEART TO A HORSE: Simply make a $20 donation and include the horse’s name
in your comment, as well as any other information you’d like to appear on the heart.
GAA also has an ongoing Sponsor a Horse program where you can help a specific horse on a
continuing basis. For more information, or if you are interested in adopting a horse, visit
www.gerdasanimalaid.org.
BOB THE COB is a young Belgian/Hancock Quarter Horse cross who had a very rough start but
spent last summer reclaiming his youth. Now he is learning to drive!
CALLIOPE is a 13-year-old Haflinger mare, 14.1 hands. She was Amish owned and rides and
drives. She is super cute!
CAMILLA is a 19-year-old papered Racking Horse, 16.2 hands. She is absolutely beautiful. She
loves people and grooming and is very easy to handle. She enjoys trails and needs a good
intermediate rider. She is one of most stunning horses we’ve had!
DASH is from a neglect seizure. She is a beautiful 11-year-old Thoroughbred mare,
approximately 14.3 hands. She is appropriate for an intermediate rider. Our trainer Maya LOVES
her! She is a sweetheart to work around. She is a lovely little mare with a bright future!
LOGAN is a sweet and friendly mini who was rescued by Gerda’s Animal Aid from a feedlot in
Pennsylvania. He is 4 years old. We had him gelded and have seen that all his shots and medical
care are up to date. He is both fancy and has a kind temperament.
LUCKY CHANCE is a 4-year-old Spotted Haflinger gelding. He was Amish owned. Super
lucky, he narrowly escaped the trip to Mexico. He is unbroken and ready to be trained.
NICK is a classic and handsome old-style Quarter Horse. He is very kind, a real gentleman!
PADDY (PADRAIG) was rescued from the Unadilla auction. There was nothing to teach him—
he knows it all! He is a lovely 16.2-hand Thoroughbred, still thin. We think he is in his teens. We
believe he had been a school horse. He is a beautiful mover. All he needs is a forever home!
REDFORD is one of our most rock-solid trail horses!! He is a 15-year-old Appendix Quarter
Horse, 15 hands. He will go out alone or with company. Very people oriented. Redford has
Cushings, which is controlled with diet and medication, and he is doing really well now.
SARA MAY is an off-track Thoroughbred who was rescued after being severely neglected. She
is so kind and a nice trail horse.
SELIG is a beautiful young gelding who was the first horse born at Gerda’s Animal Aid. His
mother, Blondie, is a beautiful Rocky Mountain mare who was stunning but had clearly gone
through some bad experiences. She was pregnant when rescued from a feedlot in Western PA.
Shortly after arriving at the rescue we learned she was in foal.
SCOUT & JUNE are a son and mother. Scout is a 3 year old mini gelding, cuddly handsome and
SO sweet! June, his mom, is quite old and just needs to retire, but she is always looking for Scout,
even if their interaction is minimal. She just needs to know he is nearby. She is not longer the
beauty she once was outwardly, but she still values her life. Scout would make a flashy driving
mini—he is just the right size to pull a cart! They went through auction together when he was
only 4 months old. They were rescued by us and adopted together. Sadly their owner passed and
they were returned to us. We are hoping they can remain together.
SHADOW is a handsome 17-year-old Standardbred who had raced a bit but was not broke to ride, and
therefore his chances of being adopted were minimal. Maya has done a lot of groundwork with him to get
him relaxed enough to be ridden ... slow and steady, he was great! He has no health issues or vices. His
owner was unable to keep him any longer due to illness. His safety was at stake, and we were able to take
him because of our volunteer Margaret who offered to foster him. He had been living alone for 12 years
and is very sweet and laid back with his temporary herd. He is a very easy keeper.
SIR RICHARD is a gorgeous 8-year-old Belgian/Quarter Horse cross gelding. He was a 6-year-old stallion
on his way to slaughter when saved at the Unadilla auction. He was part of a small, unhandled family
group, and at the end of the auction he and a foal were left. He protected the foal, and Gerda’s Animal Aid
rescued them both. Both he and his colt are very mellow, and the youngster has been adopted. Despite his
whole world having been turned upside-down, Sir Richard is a sweet, gentle giant and a favorite at GAA.
SKINNER is a lovely “oldie but super goodie” who should have been in his home by now! He has so much
to offer. He is a GREAT confidence builder for the most timid of riders. He is loving of people, beautiful to
look at, and sooo much fun on the trails! He is a 23-year-YOUNG Quarter Horse, 15.1 hands.
STRATTON is a very handsome 20-year-old Percheron gelding, 16.2 hands. He had been Amish owned
and was brought to auction at New Holland, which is where we got him from. He drives and rides, is good
for the farrier and the vet, and ships well. He is a big lover! He was adopted a few years ago and has been
in his present home since August 2013, but sadly his owner could no longer keep him, and he is back at
GAA to find a forever home.
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We will keep the hearts given for each horse and pass them on to the new owner when that horse is
adopted, to hopefully cherish as a reminder of the generosity of others.
For information on adopting a horse or sponsoring a horse on an ongoing basis, visit
www.gerdasanimalaid.org.