Frog Pond Farms Intruduces Cambridge Lions to Draft Horse Rescue

“At Frog Pond Farms we work to save draft horses from neglect or abuse,” said Lisa Gordon, the founder of the draft horse rescue organization. “We network with other people who rescue saddle horses. Since 2002 we have rescued over one hundred sixty horses.”  (Pictured Right:  Lisa and Bethany Gordon with Lion Tim McKim)

Gordon and her daughter Bethany told members of the Cambridge Lions Club of the organization’s efforts to rehabilitate horses that have suffered from maltreatment. “When we get a horse we have to treat them for their physical wounds,” Lisa said. “We also have to treat them for their emotional wounds.”

“It may take months to rehabilitate the horses mentally because they may have been beaten. We worked with one horse for ten months and wondered if it would ever be able to leave our farm. It would shy away from people because it thought that every person might be going to beat it.”

“We kept working with the horse until we were able to turn it into the perfect family horse. We had to show it that not everyone was going to abuse it.”

“We rely on other people to report cases of neglect or abuse,” said Lisa Gordon. “We often get horses that are in need of major medical care. Sometimes they have been so neglected that they are nothing more than skin draped over bones.”

“We have a veterinarian and a farrier examine the horses to see what medical care they need and to see what hoof care they need. We then evaluate the horse’s personality and temperament. When they have settled in and are healthier we give them a riding evaluation.”

“We go to sale barns and auctions where the horses may be sold for slaughter,” said Bethany Gordon. “We find out about them from people who are neighbors who see these animals being neglected.”

“We also take in horses from people who have been responsible owners but can no longer afford to take care of their horses. Sometimes people go through a divorce or a job loss and it changes their ability to provide for their horse. ”

“When the horses are healthy enough we put them up for adoption to people who will take care of them,” said Bethany Gordon. “We have an extensive application that is fifteen pages long.”

“Some people get upset with the length of the application. It’s not an easy process. We want to make sure that we don’t have to go back a second time to rescue a horse.”

“We will check with the (adoptive family’s) veterinarian and farrier to see if they take care of their horses,” said Bethany Gordon. “We do follow up checks every six months. We check the horse’s weight and check on their vaccinations.”

“Part of the application gives us permission from the family to go onto their property at any time to check on the horses. After five years we give them full ownership.”

“We would love to have people who can’t afford a horse of their own to come out and volunteer at our farm on Larrick Ridge Road,” said Lisa Gordon. “Kids can come out and help groom the horses. The horses need to get to know other people and to know that not everyone is going to abuse them.”

Frog Pond Farms will be joining the Guernsey County Humane Society and Pound Partners for a ‘Paws, Claws, and Hooves’ fund raising event on April 17 at Theo’s Restaurant. The event will include a silent and a live auction.

Frog Pond Farms is an Ohio not-for-profit organization. For more information visit the web site at www.frogpondfarmdrafts.com or call the Gordons at 740.255.0853.

Cases of neglect or abuse of horses should be reported to the local humane society or to the area law enforcement agencies.