Controversial Issues:
Issues #1: It has been brought to the owners of this website's attention that some people may feel that we practice unsafe riding habits because nobody is wearing a helmet in our pictures. We want everyone to rest assured that ANYONE under the age of 18 years old is required to wear a riding helmet during lessons and whenever working around the horses. As horses are unpredictable animals and even the best trained horse can have an off day, it is our farms rules and regulations that helmet safety is required. We appreciate everyone's concern and wanted to put this issue to rest.
Issue #2: Recently we have come under-fire for doing a GOOD deed. Two of the horses that we took in from a lady who contacted us needing to find a new placement home for some of the horses in her care, we have discovered were taken to this lady via a support group called "Friend's of Barbaro" or FOB. Our facility was contacted VIA an email from this particular person and it was not disclosed to us that these horses were brought to her thanks to this support group. We first want everyone to know that we can appreciate what this FOB group is doing, HOWEVER, our facility is a privately owned, privately funded (from our own personal funds) organization that doesn't not tolerate or appreciate being put under fire for doing nothing wrong. We would also like to let these people know that the horses in question are receiving the best care possible in this area and that we are located with an hour's drive to Penn State University and a 2 hour drive of Cornell University. We work very hard and treat EVERY horse as if it were a permanent member our our family. Although we cannot keep all of the horses that come to our facility, it is not because we don't want to. Unfortunately in order for us to continue to help other horses we have to place some in good APPROVED homes.
Our facility requires a contract to be signed for ANY horse that leaves our facility under our adoption program. Although we do feel very deeply for those who were involved with helping these horses originally, your issue is NOT with our facility but with the people that you trusted to place these horses and the person who originally took them in. As no official contract was signed by either party, it was our discretion to chose to not release these horses to yet another facility. They have been through enough already and we would also like for the FOB's to know that the information you were given was incorrect: We did not have an agreement with the person who contacted us a couple days ago to transfer these horses back to her care, we asked her for a copy of the agreement that she had, which there is not one. After speaking with her a few times via email and phone we decided as an organization to decline the offer of taking these horses. We suggest that if there are any other issues or questions you take them up with the original people involved, as we do not have time to argue with you, we have horses that need to be cared for. We hope this will help to put the issue at rest!!!!!!
Issue #3: Here we go with another issue or comment that needs to be addressed. We had some concerned parties who feel that we are asking for too much for the rescues. I would just like to let them and everyone else know that the owners of MEFR are the sole contributors, minus anyone kind enough to make a donation, to the care of these horses. We use straw and cedar chips for bedding, neither of which are cheap but because our floor is concrete we found this to be the best suited for the safety and welfare of the horses. We also have to purchase feed, vitamins, supplements, supplies, and hay for these horses. We also retrain any that can be or need to be retrained and ride any that are already trained to verify they are safe for adoption. To make matters even better one of the people wanted to tell us we are asking too much because they have several horses and board for a certain amount, well great for you but boarding BRINGS MONEY IN. We don't board other peoples horses because that would minimize the room we have to help horses in need. We lose money hoelping these horses but we do it because we care and will continue to take them in for that reason. And our prices aren't outrageous there are many other rescues that are charging 3 or 4 times more than we ask who are government supported, now who's ripping off whom!?!?!?!
Issue #4: I love this one, it was probably my favorite and tells me that the people didn't actually look at the website. We recently had some people ask us how we could breed rescues. First there are rescues who allow the adoptive owners to breed once the horse is adopted so people IT HAPPENS, BUT, we do not breed our rescues, IN FACT, it is impossible to do so because all of our adoptable horses are GELDINGS!!!! Our stallions and mares are separate from our rescue and will continue to remain that way. I think that is all that needs to be said on that topic.
Thanks for looking and stay tuned for more updates!!!!