Horse Harbor Foundation Programs
The Foundation believes there is no such thing as a "disposable horse" and offers public clinics and workshops to improve the horse care in it's service area of Kitsap, Jefferson and Mason Counties. We feel there is a need for equine centers dedicated to the care of horses headed for unfortunate circumstances such as slaughter, abandonment in a pasture, or isolation in a box stall. Many of these horses have a lot to offer when their activities are monitored and adapted to their abilities and conditions. They can be of value in education programs geared to novice riders and handlers, and can be an important part of therapeutic intervention for children and youth. Interacting with older horses, providing for their care, and giving them love can be a mutually valuable interaction.
It is our goal at Horse Harbor Foundation to offer students with disability a place for recreation and an opportunity to grow physically, cognitively and/or emotionally. We believe the newly developed equine assisted therapy program offers a unique opportunity for children and youth with disability to develop these skills.
The Foundation offers year round riding lessons to its' student members. A major emphasis of this educational program is to teach responsible horse ownership. This includes horse health and proper care and keep. Our goal is to create competent horse owners, not only riders.
Young people can earn scouting badges and awards or join us for a summer week long day camp. Youngsters can learn through a hands-on introduction to the world of horses. Topics covered include: history of the horse, anatomy, grooming, checking for medical conditions, riding styles, saddling and bridling.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Equine Feed Bank to Help Kitsap County Through Recession Opens... The Kitsap Humane Society (KHS) and Horse Harbor Foundation (HHF), have announced the establishment of an equine feed bank program designed to help horse owners impacted by the nation's economic downturn, feed their animals through the winter in an effort to decrease the number of unwanted horses in the area. The current economic downturn in the country has impacted horses and their owners especially hard because it coincided with other factors that have led to a tremendous excess of homeless and unwanted horses in the country. The first trailer load of hay was delivered to KHS at the first of November and is now being distributed to horse owners who have qualified for the program. Sutton Creek Farms of Baker, Or. provided this at a discounted price for the project, and it was purchased with a donation to KHS dedicated for equine use. Fund raising has already already started to continue and expand the program and equine centers across the nation are already being approached for help.
Thanks to the generosity of one of our longtime Foundation member families, the Seattle Foundation and The Teddy Cole Foundation, the Horse Harbor Foundation has been able to make considerable improvements to its' facilities and allowed us to continue providing the finest of quality care to the animals. It is our hope to continue this process and would ask that potential support be provided to our organization for the specific project of acquiring appropriate "flooring" for the covered riding arena. This is a critical need to the Foundation as many of the horses have arthritis. The flooring is something that would give them joint support along with cushioning their movement.