As Tomten Farm and Sanctuary entered our second decade of peace, protection and possibility, we were thrilled to share some incredibly touching and forever impactful news!
Thanks to The DEKM Fund, we received an incredible opportunity to make a greater difference in the lives of senior horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in need.
Inspired by our much loved Belgian draft, Dobbin R. Bergerlind, and with the generous support of The DEKM Fund, the unwanted, unaffordable and unadoptable equids who have nowhere to go now have a lifetime spot at Tomten. They are the forgotten horses who have nowhere left to go.
Necessitated by the current need in the New England equid community and fueled by the many older lives we had welcomed in our first decade, this heartfelt program offers us an opportunity to assist more needy seniors equids than ever before. Whether they come at the request of a veterinarian, are a rescue-to-rescue transfer, a surrender from the community or a life seized in an animal welfare investigation, Tomten and The DEKM Fund are here to help and offer these special lives a home.
But why seniors?
The truth is, senior horses (and ponies, donkeys and mules) experience tremendous need (far greater than their younger counterparts) as they age out of their ability to perform their jobs. After all, there are few in the industry who can afford to support an equine who does not contribute to the bottom line in their lesson, show, or trail barn. The talented showhorse who once jumped 3’6 can easily find themselves at risk when their physical limitations mean no more jumping or worse, no more riding. There are quite simply not enough homes for “pasture ornaments”, horses are very pricy pets.
Private hardworking owners who scrape to afford their expensive hobby and one horse, find themselves making hard decisions when that equine can no longer be ridden. Often he/she is sent down the line to what is thought to be a good home, replaced for a younger, fitter model. But, that horse is often sent down the line again and again and again until there is nowhere left to go and they find themselves in not so good hands. Such was the case with Willow WhiteFeather, aged and unsound, when her owner’s gave up their pony ride business she was free for the taking and that is how lives find themselves with dealers, at auction and slaughter.
How does that happen? Well, equines are incredibly expensive to support and the cost to provide for them goes up as they age and need special diets, additional veterinary care and farrier care.
That significant increase in the daily cost of a senior equid means that there are few rescues who can welcome them because they are almost impossible to rehome and realistically, they can rescue two younger models for the same funds while adopting them out far faster and making room for two more. Few horse lovers are looking to adopt a senior and provide soft landing to a horse who can only eat soaked ground hay pellets, needs injectable arthritis meds every month, additional bedding in their stalls, costly supplements and special shoes.
If that were not enough of a challenge, the prices for even basic horse care (feed, bedding, farrier, vet, etc.) have soared exponentially over the past few years and as one of our veterinarians has noted, need is continuing to rise as many owners/guardians are not just priced out of their ability to adequately care for their aged equids, they are aging out too. Such a sad situation all around for humans and animals alike. The national unprecedented large animal/equine veterinarian shortage that is especially prevalent here in New England, has also left many without veterinary care, questioning their ability to provide for their horses. Combined, it all translates into more need than ever before.
Here at Tomten, with the invaluable assistance of The DEKM matches and interest bearing account, we are committed to being more, doing more and giving more to those seniors in desperate need of a soft landing. Senior lives, like Willow WhiteFeather who found herself living under a tarp left to ride out the Winter storms, Tallulah Tinytrot who found herself seized in an animal welfare investigation and in need of palliative/hospice care and Little Brayer, who arrived with the worst teeth our veterinarian has ever seen and will require countless dental visits and extractions to gift him a comfortable mouth.
Yes, we can only welcome one to two lives at a time, perhaps a half dozen every year, but for those lives receiving loving, quality care it will be everything. Some will come to us for their final gift, a kind goodbye in the arms of people who care. Others may be with us for just a season, a time to experience the peace and comfort they need in their final days after years and years of giving to those who hitched a ride. While others could be with us a year or more, lives like Dobbin who arrived in such poor condition that he wasn’t expected to make it through the Winter yet had three beautiful years of dreams come true where he inspired all to look beyond horses and their “use”. No matter who they are, or what condition they find themselves in, all benefit from the end-of-life care they deserve–warm beds, a loving embrace, appropriate food and top-quality veterinary care. The DEKM Fund helps us give that.
Just who is eligible to benefit from a DEKM Match, The Dobbin Fund and sanctuary at Tomten? Any horse over 25 who finds themselves in real need. Breed, color, soundness, size, gender and health are irrelevant. As long as there is space at the sanctuary, we will be there.
The DEKM Fund matches mean it is easier to fundraise for the intake goals of the first year and emergency care for every senior we welcome. Intake goals that by necessity are typically double that of a younger, sounder horse living in a warmer climate with 12 month access to pasture. It means that we have the opportunity to meet our well thought out budget to provide special senior feeds and supplements as well as the advanced hoof care, dentistry and veterinary care they almost always need and in the end, we can welcome more horses, ponies, donkeys and mules than ever before. That is sustainable, responsible rescue at it’s best.
As a boots on the ground,primarily volunteer nonprofit with a 100% volunteer Board, this amazing gift is not only the first of it’s kind that we have ever received but it goes 100% to the horse, pony, donkey or mule in need, often providing them with care they never received. I am sure you agree, it is an incredible way to celebrate our 10th year Anniversary and we are so grateful for the compassionate support of The DEKM Fund and the impact it makes as together we take a giant step toward the future of Tomten Farm and Sanctuary and the senior lives who depend on us for soft landing and safety.
Thank you DEKM! You have our tremendous appreciation from the Tomten Board, the Tomten Rescues, the senior equids we have already welcomed and those who have yet to walk through our gates.
