Learn to Meditate with a Mission: Support Horses in Need

From my tender days of childhood to my spirited teenage years, horses were not just companions – they were my early teachers in the art of presence and the development of resilience. Each day spent in the saddle was a lesson in mindfulness – a meditation in motion through the endless woods and meadows that colored my world, and the development of resilience through years of horse show competitions.

The horses I rescued and nurtured back to health, who later triumphed in show jumping and dressage, symbolized a deeper journey – one of healing, understanding, and of the profound connection that can only be forged in silent dialogue between horse and rider. This bond, so grounding and meditative, led to my involvement with the Dorset Equine Horse Rescue (DER) – a beacon of hope nestled in the heart of Vermont, a few miles from where I live.

The Dorset Equine Rescue was founded by Jen Straub after her heartfelt rescue of two severely emaciated miniature horses, who were surviving on their own feces at an abandoned, foreclosed farm.

"The more I got involved," explains Jen, "the more I learned that horses were being neglected and needed help not only all over the country, but even right here in our backyards in New England."

Thousands of horses every week are shipped to slaughter in Mexico and Canada.

Jen's non-profit is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming neglected, abused, and slaughter-bound horses. Facing challenges from owner surrenders to law enforcement seizures, the organization confronts the stark reality of equine mistreatment and the dark fate of slaughterhouses.

Through incredible community support and private donations, The Dorset Equine Rescue provides a second chance for these majestic beings, emphasizing the profound bond between humans and horses, and advocating for a world where every horse is valued and cared for. Their mission extends beyond rescue – aiming to educate and inspire responsible horse ownership and compassionate action.

Witnessing a friend find solace and healing as a volunteer within its fences, I saw the reflection of my own journey mirrored in hers, and in the eyes of each horse that found refuge in this haven. The rescue has blossomed into a thriving non-profit sanctuary, a testament to the community's dedication to giving back to these majestic beings that need our help so much.

In gratitude for the years of love and devotion bestowed upon me by my equine partners, I have dedicated myself to supporting this noble cause. All proceeds beyond my suggested donation for "Learn to Meditate" Retreats and Workshops are pledged to The Dorset Equine Horse Rescue. This gesture of giving is not just an act of charity, but an homage to the indelible healing these creatures have left on my life and the lives of many others.

As a Soul Purpose Vedic Astrologer and Holistic Life & Dharma Coach, I can connect the Dharma dots of my own holistic healing – from the stamina and resilience of my childhood and teenage years spent nurturing and caring for horses; into a creative writing and music career; and then in my later years, into a passionate mission of helping others heal through the holistic systems of Ayurveda and Meditation.

And no wonder… because in my Vedic Astrology chart – in the house of responsibility, duty, and career – I have the creative, artistic planetary energy of Venus in the Nakshatra of Ashwini, which in Vedic Astrology, is symbolized by the wild spirit of the horse – embodying the essence of speed and strength, and the miraculous powers of healing through Ayurveda. You just can’t make this stuff up!

The Ashwini spirit of the celestial twin horsemen, known for their abilities to bring about rejuvenation and renewal, parallels the journey of every horse that steps through the gates of the Dorset Equine Rescue.

Let us embrace the silent wisdom of the horse, the meditative rhythm of their gait, and the celestial horsemen's promise of renewal and healing. This journey is a testament to the power of silence and meditation, the healing touch of nature, and the stars' guiding light – leading us back to the serene pastures of our soul's true home.

Read more about my ‘Learn to Meditate' workshops and retreats, holistic health through Ayurveda, Soul Purpose Vedic Astrology, and Holistic Life and Dharma (soul purpose) coaching, at www.debzholisticlifecoachastrologer.com.

Your donations make a life-saving difference. Here are just a few stories from the hundreds of horses rescued from dire situations, rehabilitated, loved and nurtured back to health at Dorset Equine Rescue before finding their forever homes:

Buttercup is a sweet and beautiful 15-year-old buckskin mare, whom we purchased in August 2015 from a known kill buyer. She was standing on a scale being weighed after the auction, about to be loaded on the trailer to the slaughterhouse. She was adopted by one of our volunteers on Christmas Day in 2016.

We outbid a kill buyer for Dixie in the summer of 2015, so she wouldn’t ship to slaughter. When we’re at an auction trying to decide which horses to save, it can be a very tough decision because there are so many at high risk. Dixie kind of picked us, when she took one look at our trainer Tiffany and whinnied at her as if she was saying, "Pick me!" She was a 10 year old Arabian mare who ended up being an all-around great horse. She would trail ride alone or in a group; would stand politely for a bath, the vet and farrier; and even loaded perfectly. She was a resident of ours for two years before she met her special person and was adopted into her forever home.

Manning was rescued from being shipped to slaughter when he was 6 years old, in December 2015.  He was sick with pneumonia, and very underweight when he arrived at DER. But after a few visits from the vet and lots of love and care, he’s made a full recovery and is very healthy and happy. He was adopted by Jenni in May of 2016.

Manning, when he first arrived at DER.

Hamilton's Story:

Hamilton was in a kill pen in Texas, and no one was stepping up for him. (The number of horses needing rescue in TX at any given time is extremely overwhelming.) He needed help, and he needed it fast. We weren’t planning to do a TX rescue, but learned that a group of generous donors were willing to cover his fee. Yet, he still didn’t have a home offer and needed to see a veterinarian ASAP. Having his fee already paid definitely made things a little bit more realistic for us to consider rescuing him, but we still needed funds for his quarantine, shipping and rehabilitation. We decided to start a fundraiser for him, and there was an overwhelming response! So many sent in donations to help him. It was incredible to see the amount of kind hearted people who wanted to see him safe and loved.

We named him Hamilton. He was very malnourished, and it would be a long road to recovery for him. He needed to be thoroughly evaluated by a veterinarian, to see if he had any other medical conditions or illnesses – We rarely get any history on horses when they come from kill pens. The vet went to see him immediately for his cough and snotty nose. After a round of antibiotics, it cleared up quickly and he began to slowly gain weight. Hamilton stayed in Texas at a friend’s quarantine facility for about nine weeks, until he gained some weight and was healthy enough to make the trip up to VT. A fecal parasite test revealed he had a heavy load of worms, which we treated. We also cleaned his teeth and started his vaccines.

Hamilton is very friendly, and loves people and attention. Although we will never know his history, it’s apparent the he was loved and well-treated at some point in his life. Sadly, that changed and he ended up neglected and starving, at the wrong place at the wrong time. He knows he’s in a good place now, and we can’t wait to see him at his ideal weight and living his best life. Hamilton made a full recovery and was adopted into a pre-screened loving home in 2023.

Happy's Story:

A few years ago, we received a phone call from a concerned individual about a very neglected horse located only about 15 minutes away from us. The Vermont State Police went right out to investigate. We received a text message with this first photo (shown below), and knew we didn’t have much time to act. With the influence of the State Police, the owner was willing to sign the horse over to us that same day, and we went and picked her right up. Thanks to the help of our incredible team and awesome veterinarian, we were able to save her life. One of our supporters named her “Happy.”

Happy was in her mid-teens at the time of rescue; had chronic Lyme disease; and was emaciated and starving. She was infested with lice; had skin issues and navicular; and didn’t have enough nutrients to grow hooves – it took her a full year to grow out new healthy hooves, and many months to rehabilitate her. Once she was fully recovered, she was adopted into a wonderful loving home along with another Dorset Equine Rescue horse named Luna. We are so thankful someone spoke up – if another day or two had passed, Happy would not have been so lucky. If you witness animal cruelty or abuse, please speak up and call your local law enforcement agency or animal rescue and don’t give up.

Sydney's Story:

Sydney came to us in 2022. We believe that if she could talk, she would have a lot of sad stories to tell, in which people had failed her. At first, she was extremely hard to catch – but slowly and cautiously, Sydney learned that she enjoys human interaction and grooming. She is a sucker for scratches on her neck. At 25 years old she’s had a long, hard life – somehow fighting through every uncomfortable situation in order to survive. We have worked hard to help change her way of thinking towards humans and teach her that we aren’t here to hurt her, but to help her. She is a work in progress. Aren’t we all?

The first couple of months, Sydney suffered from extreme separation anxiety, to the point where she would start shaking if she suspected she might be taken from her friend. This made training very difficult, because her mind shut everything out. Even so, we have made progress. We’ve had short moments of her keeping her manners in check, and letting her fight instincts subside. She enjoyed her bath yesterday on her front half, and we’ll work on getting her used to bathing her back half slowly.

This old girl has a long way to go until she’s considered adoptable. But as far as we’re concerned, there is no rush. Just like all the Dorset Equine Rescue horses, she can stay for as long as she needs. She will not be available for adoption until she’s ready to make a smooth and comfortable transition into a perfect forever home. If that day never comes, she will have a forever home with us.