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C H R O N O F H O R S E . C O M JA N UA R Y/ F E B R UA R Y 2 018 99 they have to get rid of a horse. When I look in their eyes in the kill pens, they're pleading. And the ones you don't get, it's the worst feeling to drive away and leave them; it just kills you." Demyanovich added that the organi- zation is also working to dispel the myth that only older horses end up at auctions. "It's moms, it's babies, it's well-broke horses and warmbloods, and all kinds of horses," she said. "What I like about HERD is they're exposing it and really trying to make a wide-reaching difference." Freeman was quick to credit HERD's membership with making that difference. e HERD Facebook group has more than 600 members, and Freeman said it grows every week. "It's grown way beyond me," she said. "I may have started it, but it's not just me anymore. It's a huge team effort, and I cannot express how thankful I am for each and every person who has helped us on this journey so far." >> LEARN MORE: Visit the Helping Equines Regain Dignity website at herdrescue. org or its Facebook group at facebook.com/ groups/1070003503067405/about/. >> GET IN TOUCH: Email the organization at info@herdrescue.org, call Heather Freeman at (202) 441-3607 or reach out via Facebook message. >> GET INVOLVED: You can foster a HERD horse, donate pasture, hay, grain, training or time, or you can make a monetary donation via PayPal or mail to Helping Equines Regain Dignity at P.O. Box 43, Tryon, NC 28782. Visit herdrescue.org/ events-1/ for more information. had trainers like Amy Barrington and Beth Perkins step up to help. Our presi- dent, Stuart Evans, worked in bank- ing, so she's excellent at handling the finances, and I seem to be the one who helps fundraise and picks the horses and arranges all the quarantine and trans- port. I'm also one of the ones who can do hands-on medical care, and my husband does a lot of the groundwork training with a few other volunteers." Jennifer Demyanovich, a volunteer, content manager and advisory board member, said HERD's attention to detail and dedication to ensuring horse welfare was part of what drew her to them over other equine rescues. "I really believe in HERD," Demya- novich said. "Each horse has a desig- nated volunteer when they come into the program, and HERD follows the horses to protect them after they leave too and will help if something comes up down the line once the horse has left. e fol- low-through is just amazing." HERD also steps in for horses who are in danger of ending up in kill lots through risky sales tactics. ey track Craigslist posts—contacting owners who are surrendering horses and educat- ing them about what could happen to the horses if not properly rehomed. "We go and say, 'Hey, this horse will probably end up at auction, and here's what can happen to them, so please do the right thing and advertise them and find a real home,' " Freeman said. "We can't stop the shipping of horses to Mexico for slaughter because the demand is there. And I don't know how to solve the problem of unwanted horses; that's really the issue," she con- tinued. "e average horse owner has no idea what can happen to a horse after you get rid of it. I think if more people knew, they would be more mindful when Amy Barrington is a professional eventer who donates her time to HERD, helping train horses like Miss Lucy. PHOTO COURTESY HERD

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