Maryland has a long and proud history as a state that loves horses. The Maryland Jockey Club was founded in Annapolis in 1743, and the organizers of that club founded Pimlico in Baltimore - the second oldest thoroughbred track in America after Saratoga in New York.
So it makes sense that a group of people from Maryland would found a horse rescue - Freedom Hill Horse Rescue - to help these graceful creatures.
Freedom Hill was founded about six years ago in Calvert County, but recently added a location in Anne Arundel. The Edgewater barn, on Fiddler's Hill Road, has 15 stalls. One of the group's founders, Melody Parish, said that the Edgewater barn will become the main site for housing her group's rescued horses. There are currently about 10 horses kept there.
Melody said that horses come to be rescued by Freedom Hill in a variety of ways. Sometimes a horse is surrendered because the owner can't keep up with the expense or time involved. Sometimes the humane society or ASPCA might contact Melody to take on a horse that is abused or starved.
In addition, the group rescues horses at auction or from brokers who sell them for slaughter.
In some countries, horsemeat is a delicacy. Although eating horsemeat has long been taboo in some cultures, in many others it is regularly sold openly at market.
For example, in Muslim countries, it is unacceptable to eat horsemeat except in times of severe famine. In many English-speaking countries, like England, Ireland, the U.S. and Australia, it is forbidden by culture and sometimes by law.
But in other countries, it is not only acceptable, but widespread. According to trade numbers gathered by the Animal Welfare Council, Belgium, France and Italy slaughter several hundred thousand horses each year for consumption. China is one of the largest consumers, butchering over 1.7 million horses each year for food.
In the west, Mexico, Chile and Brazil are large consumers of horsemeat.
In fact, Mexico, along with our northern neighbor Canada, are the two main importers of American horses sold for slaughter.
In November, a group of women from Davidsonville got word that a broker in New Jersey had several horses that were headed for the slaughterhouse. There was an Arabian, a Haflinger, a pinto and one other.
Maria Alessandri and Mary Beth Shields got some money together and, along with Sharon Hancock, made arrangements to get Freedom Hill's horse trailer up to the auction.
The horses are now safe and sound at the Edgewater barn. In fact, two of the four may be adopted soon.
Melody said that once a horse comes to the rescue group, Freedom Hill's volunteers work to help the horse regain its health and vigor. A local veterinarian from Lothian, Dr. Susan Mende, checks the horses. In addition, the teeth and hooves are cleaned.
This is not an inexpensive enterprise. Each horse stays with Freedom Hill, on average, for three months.
The fee for buying a horse from a broker can range anywhere from $300 to $700. A month of food costs roughly $250. Although the veterinarian discounts her services, medical checks and visits come out of Freedom Hill's limited reserves. Finally, Freedom Hill leases barns and pastures.
In total, an animal rescued by the group can accrue costs of up to $2,500 in the three months before the animal can be adopted.
Melody said that she relies on about 15 volunteers to take care of the twice-daily feedings and stall-cleanings. In addition, volunteers work to raise money and make trips to auctions in the mid-Atlantic region, keeping horses from slaughter whenever they have the time and financial resources available.
Fortunately for Melody's group, some of the horse brokers are eager to see these horses live out their lives in good circumstances, and will alert Freedom Hill when perfectly good horses are headed for the kill pen.
Melody said that she tries to keep the adoption fee below the market value of the horse.
Looking at local horse classifieds shows that a Maryland riding horse typically starts at around $3,000 - with many costing 10 times that amount. Freedom Hill horse adoption fees run around $1,500, sometimes more, sometimes less.
In addition, Freedom Hill offers foster programs and, after a year of fostering, the fee for keeping the horse is kept to a low $50 to process the paperwork and transfer ownership.
"I do this for the horses," Melody said. "Horses are my life and somebody's got to take care of them," she said.
If you'd like to help Freedom Hill, visit them online at www.freedomhill rescue.org.
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