| | Want to be More Involved with MVHR? MVHR’s all-volunteer Board of Directors is looking to add up to three new members! This is a unique opportunity to join a dedicated team of individuals helping to guide MVHR as we embrace the changes and challenges that come with equine rescue and the welcome opportunities of our new barn and arena. For information on skills that are needed and desired, the application process and timeline, and a link to the application form, please visit our Ranch Blog. After you’ve read the more detailed blog post, please feel free to reach out with any questions to Board members Marleen Bosch (marleen@mvhr.net) or Cookie Murphy-Pettee (cookie@mvhr.net). You can learn more about them, and the other members of our Board, on our website. We know there are excellent candidates in our caring, hard working and talented community of supporters. If you are one of them and interested in serving on the MVHR Board of Directors, please submit your application no later than April 16th. |
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| | MVHR Spring & Summer T-Shirts are Here! Our High School Rescue Club members are ready to create your one-of-a-kind t-shirt for the spring and summer! Choose your design and choose your color! Each design - Running Home, Mare and Foal, and NEW! Cliff Dancer - is available in any of our summer colors: Coral, Tropical Blue, and Navy, for only $14 each. The short-sleeved cotton T’s are available in Adult (S - 2XL) and Youth (S - L) sizes. Deadline to order is April 15th. To place your order, email nancy@mvhr.net. The t-shirts will then be individually hand-crafted by our High School Rescue Club members and delivered during the last week of April. Local orders will be hand delivered free of charge; out of town shipping is an additional $8 per address. All proceeds go directly to the Rescue horses at MVHR. Thank you for supporting the High School Rescue Club and MVHR! |
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| | Horse Updates Long time Rescue, Bonita, and her corral mate, Ruby 1, headed off on a trial adoption at a wonderful new home with donkeys, goats and dogs last month. We are thrilled for all involved, but especially so for Bonita whose long wait has lead her to the perfect family! Buffy's adoption was also finalized last month, so she is officially home. Congratulations to all of these new families! When a horse is adopted from MVHR, we certainly hope it will be forever and look for families who understand this commitment. However, if an unforeseen circumstance should arise that makes it impossible for ownership to continue, it is MVHR's policy to take a horse back. This policy gives the horse a lifelong safety net, so it does not end up at risk - even years down the line. We were happy to honor this policy last month for Luck and look forward to supporting her as she begins this new chapter of her life. Finally, we have two new intakes to introduce. The first is a young filly named Ariel, and the second a mare named Ellie. After their quarantine periods, both have settled in nicely with the rest of the Rescue herd. |
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| | Volunteer Spotlight: Lori Pierce Growing up on a chicken farm in central Illinois, Lori has always enjoyed working outside and getting her hands dirty. After seeing an article in the Vail Daily, she thought volunteering at MVHR sounded like a good way to give back to the community. “It’s been great getting back to my roots and helping out with all the animals,” she said. |
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| | Horse of The Month: Tango When Tango came to MVHR last spring, we knew she had been exposed to a stallion, so we had bloodwork done to determine if she was pregnant. Her blood work showed that she was, and was either less than 110 days along or more than 300 days along (horse gestation period is about 340 days). Given that she “looked” very pregnant, we assumed the latter, but a foal never arrived. She had us fooled then, but definitely won't be fooling us again this April. Now we know what she really looks like when she's very pregnant (her extra-wide baby bump is pictured), and we’re expecting a foal any day! Tango is generously sponsored by Barb Miller, who has also committed to sponsoring her foal. You can help change a horse's life through sponsorship or adoption, as well. For more information, please contact us at info@mvhr.net. |
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| | | Program Updates High School Rescue Club Applications Now Being Accepted MVHR is excited to provide high school students the opportunity to get more involved in our mission while learning about the unique needs of our Rescue herd. In this program, HSRC members will gain an understanding of each horse's specific situation and background, increase horsemanship skills and connect with our equines through groundwork, obstacles, and liberty training. This is not a horseback riding program. We will also focus on building the leadership skills and knowledge necessary to help advocate for the over 6,000 unwanted, abandoned and abused horses in Colorado. High School Rescue Club is FREE to youth grades 9-12 who can make a year-long commitment to MVHR (June 2021 thru April 2022). HSRC is kicked off with a 4-day horsemanship and leadership retreat at the ranch from June 15th-18th. Students are then asked to assist with one youth summer camp session, attend monthly service days at the ranch during the school year, and develop and implement a fundraising and outreach campaign. More information and dates can be found on our website's Programs page. Applications are being accepted April 1st through May 15th. Please email programs@mvhr.net for an online application or more information. Summer Day Camp Registration is Open A new curriculum will allow campers ages 8 through middle school to build more intimate connections with our Rescue horses through spending time with them on the ground. This 4-day program includes the development of horsemanship skills through the use of Obstacles, Liberty, Craft and Stewardship. This is not a horseback riding camp. For camp dates, more details and to register, please visit our Programs page. Horseback Riding Lesson Program MVHR is offering expanded horseback riding lesson opportunities as warmer weather permits. Beginner to intermediate lessons are available by appointment in both Western and English. Please email info@mvhr.net if this is something you or a member of your family would be interested in. You'll help MVHR design a program that best suits our community, and be among the first to receive updates as it is developed. Preschool Mini Horse Heroes: More Dates Added! This program (ages 3-5) will take place on Saturday, April 3rd and Saturday, April 10th. You can sign up for one or both! Each session runs from 9-11:30am and is $40 per child. Space is limited to 10 participants and one parent or guardian per child. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.mountainvalleyhorserescue.com/programs. |
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| | April Events & Volunteer Opportunities Please email info@mvhr.net to sign up or for more information, unless otherwise specified below. -
Community Volunteer Day: This month, we will continue to host Project Days as needed. Please let us know if you would like to help with any upcoming projects. -
Basic Volunteer Orientation: Limited number of sessions available by appointment. If you want to help with our horses, this is the way to get started. - Feeding & Chore Shifts: After completing Basic Volunteer Orientation, please sign up for morning, afternoon or evening chores or PM Feeding. Open shifts are shown on our website calendar.
- Thursday Vet Days: Veterinarian, Dr. Stocker, treats horses from 10am-4pm. If you want to help handle horses, this is a great way to learn about the Rescue herd's vet needs and treatments.
- Join Our Maintenance Team: P/T paid position! MVHR is looking for a handyperson/ mechanic to help with repairs and maintenance as needed. This offers a flexible schedule, working with a few others, for a total of 10 hours per week to start. Are you a self-starter, able to work independently, and experienced with tasks such as (but not limited to): fence building and repair, vehicle maintenance and minor repair, irrigation maintenance and minor repair, basic construction and repairs, lawn mowing, and snow plowing? Please contact shana@mvhr.net to apply.
- Horsemanship with Joel: Joel is looking for some interns to assist with our new intakes. If you are interested in learning more about Joel's horsemanship methods, helping restart horses after abuse or neglect, AND can commit to working with horses once a week, Joel would love your help! Text him directly at (970) 376-1963 to get started.
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| |  | More Ways You Can Help the Horses - Getting a Colorado state tax refund this year? Consider donating part or all of your refund to MVHR. Simply enter Mountain Valley Horse Rescue and our registration number 20063004823 in the "Donate to a Colorado Nonprofit Fund" line on your state income tax return or tax software – or just give this info to your tax preparer when you share your tax documents.
- Purchase horse art, gifts or masks from artist Frances Marino at www.frances-marino.artistwebsites.com. Note in your order that you made a purchase to support MVHR.
- Purchase tack from MVHR. Contact info@mvhr.net for details.
- City Market Community Rewards: Join the program at https://www.citymarket.com/to…/city-market-community-rewards and select MVHR as your organization.
- Purchase items from our wishlists on Amazon and Valley Vet Supply.
- Select "Mountain Valley Horse Rescue" as your nonprofit on Amazon Smile!
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| | Mountain Valley Horse Rescue
33933 Colorado River Road | McCoy, Colorado 80463
970-653-0185 | info@mvhr.net |
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