Activities

In addition to the competition, the PVDA Ride for Life also has activities available for both adults and children. These activities will take place on Saturday, June 22 from 11am to 4pm.

Children’s Activities

• Pony Rides – 12pm to 4pm (by Days End Farm Horse Rescue)
• Face Painting
• Horse Arts/Crafts
• Stick Horse Building – Make your own stick horse.
• Stick Horse Races – 2pm to 4pm. Everyone comes away a winner!

 
The PVDA Ride for Life Committee would like to thank Terri Minford for organizing these activities this year. In 2012, we had a large number of participants and very exciting stick horse races at the end of the day! We look forward to having more children experience these fun crafts while learning about horses before watching the Dancing Horse Challenge.
 

Days End Farm Horse Rescue

This year, the pony rides will be donated by Days End Farm Horse Rescue. This wonderful rescue is based in Lisbon, MD and has a long history in Maryland supporting horses in need. We are thrilled they are supporting the PVDA Ride for Life this year and feel their involvement will be beneficial to both parties.

About Days End

Since its founding, Days End Farm has gone from a small non-profit sheltering a few horses annually to a full-scale, well respected national rescue and rehabilitation facility housing 50 to 70 horses at any given time. All horses come through animal control and/or humane agencies from across Maryland and surrounding counties. Some are given up voluntarily and turned over to Days End immediately; others are turned over only after their neglect and/or abuse case has been decided in court, which can take up to a year.

On the day of an impoundment, Days End staff and volunteers help transport the horses to safe facilities where they can receive needed care. Horses coming to Days End Farm enter the Critical Care Unit and Extended Care Program. Their conditions range from starvation/malnutrition, hoof deformity and parasitic infestation, to skin funguses, untended wounds and crippling ailments.

After their rehabilitation, which can take many months—and after their court cases where necessary—the horses are evaluated and trained to increase their adoptability. They may need ground training (haltering, leading, tying, etc.) and work under saddle.

Once they are assessed/trained, staff and volunteers work to find them permanent homes. Of the 1810+ horses Days End has rescued, 94% have been adopted out.

For more information about Days End Farm Horse Rescue visit their website at www.defhr.org