Myopia Polo Magazine

AG E NDA rescue Hope for Hungry Horses One woman's crusade to feed, shelter, and heal deprived horses has become the last hope for some area equines. / by Kiley Jacques walking about her West Newbury paddocks on a misty morning, Mary Martin introduces her horses and tells their painful stories. As president of New England Equine Rescue (NEER) North, her efforts largely target New England horses, particularly those she calls "medically messy." Starving, neglected, injured, and infected—these are words that once described many of Martin's charges. But that's no longer the case. Her efforts have healed countless horses. Of her travails she says, "The medically messy are my favorite…they are usually the horses no one wants [and] end up being the ones everyone wants." Martin's work begins at home. "There's so much need here in Massachusetts and New Hampshire," she says. "We spend our money on the horses, and they get what they need. We do an awful lot on a tight budget." It's that tight budget that makes Martin's work so challenging. Martin's funds are so stretched that she is unable to take in as many horses as there are in need. For those animals, she began an emergency feed fund. "We send a feed store credit…it gives owner[s] time to get on their feet," she explains. "Or we help them place the horse [by] networking and offering free ads on our website. We also screen potential new homes and assist with transport when we can." The muddied-boot-clad Martin leads Jigs, a five-year-old Appaloosa who was found starving in Rhode Island. He has been at the farm for four years, primarily because he is the "wrong" size—too small to jump, too big for kids. In another paddock, the aptly named Noir exhibits a large tumor on his right ear—a sign of lymphosarcoma, the cancer that will likely end his life. After multiple surgeries, which yielded few results, Martin decided to let nature take its course. Regular vet visits assure her that he is not 34 myopia polo 2013 MP13_NEER.indd 34 Mary Martin of NEER with one of her grateful charges. in pain; she knows Noir will let her know when his time has come, but for now, she shelters him and keeps him happy. "There's life in him yet," she says. A more common story is Trooper's. His bulging hip, bony rear, and swollen knee are the permanent results of a trailer accident. After a short stint on Martin's farm, Trooper will become the companion for a horse whose paddock mates recently relocated. With the goal of bringing in as many horses as possible, Martin's dream is to find a larger facility—one that she can settle into for good. To that end, she searches for a philanthropic source to support her in buying the horses a home, one in which they can prosper before moving on. As the heart and soul of NEER North, Martin never gives up. "I love the happy endings," she says. neernorth.org. GET INVOLVED! NEER North is pursuing a fundraising campaign for the acquisition of a West Newbury property traditionally used by Myopia members for the hunt. With an easement from NEER, this acquisition will ensure Myopia's future fox hunting rights while preserving this picturesque land as open space. For NEER North, self-sustainability through hay production and the elimination of rent will drastically reduce operating costs for the non-profit organization, allowing it to help many more horses in need. Please join us in our common goal to preserve our local fox hunting traditions and the many local horses that are helped by NEER North by considering a tax-deductible donation to the "A Home of Our Own" Capital Campaign. Gifts over $25,000 toward our goal of $600,000 will receive special recognition, including naming opportunities throughout the grounds. To discuss a giving package tailored to your needs, please call Mary Martin at 508-284-4022 or visit neernorth.org. Your support of this project in any amount is welcomed and appreciated. photograph by fawn deviney 4/4/13 4:36 PM

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