Why is winter the "busy" season for horse rescues?  Often the reply is that all the "free" food (grass) is gone and owners don't have the money to feed hay and grain.  While that does play a huge roll in winter neglect cases the other important factor is understanding that a horse needs MORE calories during the winter to stay warm.

Shelter also plays a huge role in the amount of calories that a horse needs during the winter.  For each degree Fahrenheit the air is below the horses lower critical temperature (LCT, temperature below which a horse will start to use more energy for maintaining body warmth than their normal expenditure) the caloric needs will increase by 1% of their body weight. If cold stress is sufficiently prolonged (more than one or two days) and the increased energy needs are not met, the horse will start to lose weight. 

Click Here to read a great article by Rutgers about Winter Feeding

Click Here to read our lateset newsletter! 

Case Story

Horses For Adoption

Volunteer Information

Happy Trails - Adoption Stories:)

Ryker was born into the Kieger Mustang Wild BLM herd in 1998. He was caught and adopted as a stallion at a BLM sale in 2004. Although he lived in captivity and was well cared for he was never halter broke while living with his adoptive family.

In June of 2011 he was sold to a man in St. Helens who put him in with his herd and starved him. In December 2011 after complaints from concerned horsemen and the help of an OHS officer, Ryker was surrendered to SEO.

Ryker was severely underweight and malnourished. He spent a month at Columbia Equine Hospital being refed so he would be strong enough to castrate. Trainer Dave Williams  worked with SEO  member and future owner Elisabeth to halter break, get him to allow us to touch him and train him to be a ridding horse.

Ryker has been gelded and now lives with his forever home. He continues to learn and grow more gorgeous everyday!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 15, 2012

Contact: Kim Mosiman, Sound Equine Options

503-663-1515

info@soundequineoptions.org

18 Horses and 1 Pony Seized by Law Enforcement in Klickitat County, Washington

            White Salmon, WA-Eighteen horses and one pony were seized from a Shagya Arabian breeding operation based on alleged allegations of unsanitary and unsafe confinement. The horses are now in the physical possession of Sound Equine Options and Columbia Gorge Equine Network’s foster program. The two groups have partnered to support this rescue effort. The horses are in immediate need of alfalfa hay, grass hay, salt, veterinary attention, and farrier care.  The estimated cost of care for the first 2 months is approximately $8,000. Many of the horses are in need of veterinary evaluation, care, and farrier work which creates an immediate need for financial support.

“We appreciate the diligence of the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Department in pursuing this case,” said Kim Mosiman, of Sound Equine Options. “Animal neglect should not be tolerated in any community and we are very thankful Klickitat County has made that known.”

Sound Equine Options (SEO) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. SEO exists solely through donations and supporter contributions. Your donations directly support these programs and help reduce the suffering of horses in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington. To make a tax-deductible contribution to the care of these horses visit:  www.soundequineoptions.org/donate.html

Columbia Gorge Equine Network (CGEN) was recently formed in the Columbia River Gorge as a sister organization to SEO. To make a tax-deductible contribution to the care of these horses, please visit CGEN’s Facebook page at: facebook.com/pages/Columbia-Gorge-Equine-Network/317778141567379

Contributions made at either site go into the same 501 (c) (3) fund for care of the Shagya Rescue Effort.

Sound Equine Options wishes to extend a big thank you to Jane Varley and her Full Moon Farm crew for thier tireless efforts in collecting, cleaning, pricing, hauling and selling our used tack donations.  This fundraiser is what keeps our program running! Thank You!!

Mochey is a 3 year old Quarab gelding with excellent ground manners and has been started under saddle.

He was recently kicked in the pasture by another horse causing an extreme eye injury which required surgery to remove one eye. He is now fully recovered and in the care of SEO while we search for a good home for a good horse!

Mochey will soon be working with a trainer. If someone would like to adopt him, they would be welcome to work with him during this time!

Please stop by the SEO booth at the Canby Tack Sale this Saturday October 15th.  Our booth will be in the main arena.  The majority of our annual funds come from your tack donations and sales so please see if we have something you cant live without! 

A huge thank you to all of the members of The Valley View Riders that put a lot of hard work into a trail ride benefiting Sound Equine Options.  They raised $4500 that will all go to help horses in need this winter!

This is a great example of local, responsible and caring horse owners stepping up and helping out local horses!  We could not do it without supporters like you!!