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February 4, 2009

Girl finds variety of ways to help needy horses

WEST NEWBURY — Twelve-year old Rowan Hanson has loved horses for as long as she can remember. She started horseback riding when she was 4 years old and has been riding at Dream Spirit Farm in Amesbury for the past two years. After getting a card saying a donation to save horses in need had been made in her name to New England Equine Rescues, Rowan was inspired to do even more to help the animals she loves.

Rowan decided to raise more funds on her own to help save horses from starvation and slaughter. She posted fliers around her school, Page Elementary, and put a collection can in the hallway. In about three months, Rowan raised more than $500. Then, a close friend of the family, Martha Kopakewicz, had the amount matched by her employer, Millipore in Danvers. That brought the total to over $1,000, enough for Rowan to save a horse.

Meanwhile, NEER and the Fans of Barbaro Internet group were fundraising to bail out some horses at high risk of slaughter in New Jersey. A tall, dark Tennessee walking horse would be coming to NEER, and Rowan's funds were targeted to help him.

Rowan was hoping to be able to visit her rescue horse at least once, but what she got for all her efforts was even better. The rescue arranged for the horse to come to Massachusetts to keep another NEER horse company in a foster home. And the foster home is less than a mile from Rowan's house.

Rowan calls the big, black horse Echo. They immediately had a bond. Rowan and her mom, Jodie, help to care for him while he is under evaluation and gaining some much-needed weight. Echo (registered name "Society's Windstar") is kind and well-mannered. Once he has been evaluated and deemed ready for adoption, Rowan gets first option. She loves having him close by and said, "I didn't know what to expect; I love him."

Rowan continues to fundraise for NEER and Echo. She has a birthday coming up and has asked that in lieu of presents a donation be made to NEER. Rowan has also joined Gus's Girls, a group of teenage girls, who like Rowan, put their efforts into raising money to help NEER get more horses like Echo into loving homes. Visit www.freewebs.com/gusgirls for ways to help.

Submitted by Mary Martin of Groveland, a board member of New England Equine Rescues.

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Girl finds variety of ways to help needy horses
by Anonymous , , Wed Feb 04, 2009, 03:36 AM EST

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