Mylestone Equine Rescue to host 13th annual open house

PHILLIPSBURG — Mylestone Equine Rescue (MER), a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing horses from abuse, neglect, and slaughter since 1994, will host their 13th annual open house, Oct. 7 from noon to 4 p.m. (rain date is Oct. 14). The event is free to the public and will feature a large silent auction, bake sale, various vendors, and other surprises.
MER currently has more than 30 horses under its care, including three new additions, and one old friend, to meet this year. Pearl is a 3 year-old mini mare, who was surrendered with her friend Poppy, a 2 year-old goat, by a woman facing foreclosure on her home; Jackson, a blind horse who was part of a recent cruelty case; and Duncan, a 20 year-old Tennessee Walker/Saddlebred gelding, who came back to Mylestone when his owner could no longer keep him.
“We continue to see more and more starvation cases from horse owners who are in financial distress," MER’s Founder and President Susankelly Thompson added. "If they can’t feed themselves, how can they feed their horses? You can’t just drop a horse off at your local shelter like a dog or cat. Our costs for hay and grain have also increased due to the drought. Public support of horse rescues like Mylestone is vital to helping horses with no other place to go but auction and slaughter.”
In addition to the horses, MER will host a silent auction with the opportunity to win a variety of prizes and baskets. There will also be a bake sale with cookies, brownies and more treats, as well as sand art.
Vendors will be on hand donating a portion of their proceeds to MER, including Silpada jewelry, children’s horse author Diana Tuorto and photographer Jen Wenzel, who shot photos for Mylestone's 2012 calendar.
A variety of knickknacks (books, CDs, DVDs, tack, and more) will also be for sale at the Lost Treasures table, along with an array of MER merchandise, including T-shirts/sweatshirts, note cards, mugs, 2012 calendars and plush ponies that resemble the rescue horses.
For more information on Mylestone Equine Rescue’s 13th annual open house, to be held at the farm (227 Still Valley Road, Phillipsburg), call 908-995-9300 or visit mylestone.org. Directions and a wish list of needed donations can be found on their website.