E.P.O.N.A. - Equine Retirement Program

E.P.O.N.A. reserves a limited number of stalls for horses in need of a retirement home. The cost of this program is based on the horse's individual needs. Physical, behavioral and medical issues are considered in determining the cost for this program. In addition to any medical or special needs, horses accepted into our retirement program are groomed daily and receive daily turnout in large grassed paddocks. The horses are given annual shots and are enrolled in a routine farrier, dental and worming program.

If a horse is sound and is capable of exercise, E.P.O.N.A. does reserve the right to adopt the horse to an approved home appropriate for the specific horse. E.P.O.N.A. retains ownership of the horse and reserves the right to monitor the horse's situation. E.P.O.N.A. prohibits the sale of any of our retirees.

In order to meet the financial demands for each retiree, E.P.O.N.A. seeks donation or sponsors for each horse. Contributions may be given either for the care of a specific horse, or donations may be accepted into the general fund for the care of all of our horses. 100% of all contributions are directed to the welfare and care of the horses.

Acceptance into our retirement program is limited to space available and is at the discretion of E.P.O.N.A.

For additional information on how you can help sponsor a horse or horses, check out our How You Can Help page. Continue scrolling down this page to meet our retirees.

Blessed was the first rescue, and the very first retiree that came to E.P.O.N.A. Blessed is a fourteen-year-old dark bay Thoroughbred gelding. Blessed came to E.P.O.N.A. from Suffolk's Downs in Revere, MA. He came to us right off the track with his right ankle injured from years of racing on the track, and severely arthritic as it had been pin fired many times over in order to enhance his racing abilities and time on the track. Blessed is not on medication and enjoys a good level of comfort, grazing daily with his buddies. Blessed is not available for adoption, but he is in need of sponsors. Contributions to his care can be made through E.P.O.N.A. As a sponsor you are invited to come and visit Blessed. He is a great guy.

Unexpected Miracle is an eight-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that was placed in our retirement program by the Exceller Fund. Miracle is dark bay and is 16.3 hands. He is beautiful, gentle, and a real ham. He is known for his daily early morning stretches in the grooms stall before going out to the paddock. He is also infamous for his rolling in the mud, and if mud is not available he attempts to create mud. Miracle is extremely fond of ginger snaps and sugar cookies. Miracle has severe arthritis in both front ankles and is moderately comfortable. He enjoys his leisurely life grazing in the paddocks at E.P.O.N.A. with his other buddies - Blessed, Prize, Salvador and Trooper. Miracle is not available for adoption and contributions for Miracle's care can be made through the Exceller Fund.

Cuz of Cam (Lucky) is an eleven-year-old Standardbred gelding purchased at the New Holland auction in Pennsylvania. The Exceller Fund outbid a slaughterhouse buyer in order to save Cam's life. He was rescued in memory of twenty Standardbred horses who perished in a stable fire at Gaitway farm in New Jersey on November 23, 2000. His name was chosen by the membership of Exceller and was inspired by "Cam Knows Best," a record setting pacer who perished in that fire.

Unfortunately, Cam's tattoo is not legible and there is very little history of his past. His present condition is great, however not so long ago he faced another fate. Upon Cam's arrival his medical exam revealed that his lethargic and depressed state was related to Strangles. We were very fortunate that we were able to contain the Strangles. With the exception of a few elevated temperatures there were no further outbreaks. Upon his feeling better, a more thorough exam exposed a very serious non-operable condition related to his stifle. It is likely the effect of heavy use as a carriage horse for the Amish. Cam's prognosis was not good, even as a pasture pal. It was suggested that Cam was a candidate for euthanasia. Euthanasia is something we at E.P.O.N.A. will avoid at all cost if we are able to get the horse to a moderate level of comfort in order to provide a reasonable quality of life. Through the diligent efforts of Barbara Kraus of the Exceller Fund, a treatment suggested by a veterinarian from out west was implemented with great success. Cam is currently on a maintenance schedule of one monthly injection and is doing great. He is stabled with his blind companion Ice Man. They share a two-unit condo where they play daily in their private turnout. Contributions for Cam can be made through the Exceller Fund.

Prize is a seven-year-old chestnut Thoroughbred gelding. Prize raced at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH, until the injury to his left front ankle left him unsound. Prize is arthritic and moderately comfortable and enjoys his retirement with his paddock mates, Blessed, Miracle, Sal, and Trooper. Prize is not available for adoption and contributions to his care are greatly appreciated and can be made through E.P.O.N.A.

Charlie Brown is a very flashy chestnut pony. He is a senior pony in his mid- to late-twenties. Because of Charlie's severe level of fear it was suspected that he had vision problems. However, an examination by an ophthalmologist revealed that his eyesight was fine. That was the good news. The sad part is that Charlie had been severely traumatized to the point that he was very unsafe to handle. With a lot of TLC and another pony retiree named Shandy, Charlie has improved over the past several months. He is still extremely unsure, but he can now be groomed daily and can be handled by the veterinarian and farrier. Charlie is not available for adoption, and contributions to his care can be made through E.P.O.N.A.

Shandy is another senior pony living out his remaining years at E.P.O.N.A. Shandy is in his early thirties and enjoys the day with his paddock mate Charlie Brown. Shandy, although fond of children, is somewhat shy of adults. Shandy is not as shy as Charlie. Shandy enjoys his daily grooming and daily turnout. He is labeled the "cutest pony." Shandy is not available for adoption, and contributions to his care can be made through E.P.O.N.A.

Salvador is an eighteen-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. Rescued by New Hampshire Equine Humane Association, Salvador was rescued from neglect and has been placed in our retirement program. "Sal" is a gentle 16.1 hand dark bay gelding. Although appearing to be physically sound, his exam revealed that Sal has a progressive condition related to a leaky aortic valve. Sal is not available for adoption and he is enjoying his retirement at E.P.O.N.A. with his buddies, Miracle, Blessed, Prize and Trooper. Contributions to Sal's care are greatly appreciated and can be made through E.P.O.N.A.

The story of Mabel is one of those stories that will remain with us for years to come. Mabel is a senior Belgian mare in her mid-thirties. Although hard to believe, Mabel came to us through the generosity and compassion of a cattle auctioneer in Maine.

It was early in the evening when the call came in that a couple had dropped off this horse at his slaughterhouse and that he could do with her what he wished. Running a cattle operation he had no interest in a horse. Although she was in deplorable shape, he felt that she was a good horse and that she should not go through the auction. Our conversation led us to a late night road trip into Maine. Upon seeing Mabel there was no question that she was in terrible shape. On the surface it appeared that she may not even be strong enough to survive the trip to New Hampshire. But, as if she understood the question and hesitation in our minds, Mabel in her strong real way walked from the far end of the holding pen and literally placed her head in my hands. The answer was clear: Mabel was coming to New Hampshire. When it came time to load Mabel, she was indignant and she dragged me onto the trailer as if to say, "Let's go! We are out of here!"

Mabel's arrival at E.P.O.N.A. was heart-warming. She instantly took to the food and care that we began providing for her. The back of Mabel's legs were encrusted with what we thought was cow manure. With a great deal of time and soaking, it was discovered that what we thought was manure was actually dried infectious puss. Mabel had several lacerations on her back legs. The photos of Mabel tell all. Her recovery was quick, she began to put on weight immediately, and within a few months she was on a diet to maintain a healthy weight.

Mabel still resides with us at E.P.O.N.A. and she has never lost that superior attitude. She has deservingly captured the title of Queen Mabel. Mabel is not available for adoption. She will remain with us, dear to our hearts, until the time that she decides she wishes to go. Contributions to Mabel's care can be made through E.P.O.N.A.

Iceman is another endearing story of a great horse with a great ending. Iceman is a Thoroughbred cross. He is a large, eighteen-hand chestnut gelding. The fourteen-year-old grandson of the acclaimed Northern Dancer was a joint rescue with New Hampshire Equine Humane Association.

In his youth, Iceman had a brilliant career eventing. No one would ever predict such a turn of events for such a noble horse. As the years passed, Iceman's visual problems began to develop, his abilities became limited, and he became a statistic of neglect. At the time of the rescue, Iceman's right eye was physically gone. All that remained was the shriveled evidence of the eye itself. The cause was undetermined, but the possibility of Uveitis did exist. Fifty percent vision remained in his left eye at that time, but the discoloration indicated deterioration of the eye. Iceman was entrusted to the care of E.P.O.N.A. and began treatment to possibly stabilize his remaining vision.

During this time period, former owners residing in the Midwest had heard of Iceman's fate and notified New Hampshire Equine Humane Association of their desire to adopt Iceman and retire him with them. This was to have been a wonderful outcome - one that none of us could have imagined. Iceman's adoption was approved and he headed west. After several months, however, Iceman's condition worsened and it was decided that he should return to E.P.O.N.A. to be retired here permanently with us.

Over the next few months, Iceman's condition deteriorated. His vision diminished and it became difficult and unsafe for him to negotiate normal stall doors. It was at this time the decision to build a two-unit condo with extra wide doors and its own private turnout was made. A follow-up exam by the ophthalmologist revealed that Iceman had lost his entire vision; he was now totally blind. Now that Iceman has gone through the transitional stages of blindness and he no longer is faced with complication of shadows and uncertainties, he has adjusted just fine. He shares his new accommodations with his retired paddock mate Cuz of Cam (Lucky). The two of them spend their days enjoying each other's company, and yes this includes running and frolicking together. It is a sight to behold: a happy ending for a horse of such nobility. Iceman is not available for adoption, but contributions are greatly appreciated for his care and can be made through E.P.O.N.A.

HOME | EQUINE RETIREMENT PROGRAM | GENERAL RESCUE ADOPTION PROGRAM

NEWSLETTER | PREMARIN | HOW YOU CAN HELP | E-MAIL

E.P.O.N.A. PO Box 315 Epping, NH 03042-0315 603-679-1896

This page was last updated on 01/29/2003.