PRESS RELEASE
Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue
January 8, 2010

Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue is second equine sanctuary accredited by GFAS

Accreditation establishes high standards of credibility and recognition for global sanctuaries

January 8, 2010 (Glenville, PA) – Today the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries, announced Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue became the second equine rescue and sanctuary accredited to its standards and, thereby, recognized by GFAS, joining Habitat for Horses of Texas in attaining equine accreditation. The accreditation signifies the official implementation of clear and respected international standards for the public, donors and government agencies to recognize credible sanctuaries that adhere to the true mission of providing safe haven and humane care for abused animals.

“It is a privilege to bring this well-deserved recognition to Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue. This facility represents what sanctuaries and rescues are intended to be, and our accreditation assures donors that this organization deserves their support,” said Adam Roberts, President of the GFAS Board of Directors and Senior Vice President of Born Free USA.

Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue, dedicated to saving horses bound for slaughter for human consumption, earned its GFAS accreditation after being certified as adhering to the GFAS standards for sanctuary operations, administration and veterinary and equine care. Trained GFAS verifiers made onsite visits to the sanctuary to analyze its operations, the animals’ health and the quality of the sanctuary grounds. Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue also completed a rigorous written application process, including sending copies of key documents, policies and financial statements to GFAS for an analysis by the accreditation committee, which includes two veterinarians.

“When I first learned the horrors of horse slaughter, I knew I had to do something. When adopting my first horse as an adult, I accidently found out about slaughter and decided to start Angel Acres. Now, we have saved and adopted out more than 250 once slaughter bound horses. We are honored to be accredited by GFAS. The accreditation will assist us in promoting our mission and will help in savings the lives of even more horses,” said Jo Deibel, Founder of Angel Acres. Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue was founded in 2004 and is a 501©3 nonprofit organization chartered by the State of Pennsylvania.

A flagship program of Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue is Mattie’s Legacy Fund. Funds are used to save horses from slaughter and to assist local horse owners in urgent need of assistance with hay, grain or farrier care. As the fund grows, so will the geographic outreach of this innovative program that helps private owners for the short term, so that horses are saved from relinquishment or worse.

“We are exceptionally proud to work with Angel Acres Horse Haven. We expect to only see this organization gain in national reputation and outreach, especially through its Mattie’s Legacy Fund. The GFAS accreditation will further strengthen its credibility and reputation with the public and donors,” said Patty Finch, GFAS Executive Director.

For additional information on GFAS, please visit

www.sanctuaryfederation.org

For additional information on Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue, please visit
www.saveahorsenow.org

  An astonishing fact:  my horse Lukas receives over 100 e-mails a day!  How can that be you might ask, what could anyone possibly write to a horse about?  Let me give you a few examples – “Thank you, Karen and Lukas, for changing people’s perception of horses – I own a horse rescue and I have been getting more calls than ever from prospective adopters.  Lukas is helping to bring greater understanding and vast improvement into the lives of horses world-wide”.   “Lukas makes my autistic son smile, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”   “Lukas is like a beacon to the world – showing how truly remarkable and wonderful our equine friends are.  I always knew they had intelligence and emotions, now I can prove it to the skeptics I know.”   And one of my favorites, “I just had to tell you how much I love Lukas – since losing my horse 2 years ago, I’ve been so depressed I haven’t wanted to ride.  I saw Lukas’ videos on you-tube and realized how much I miss being around horses after seeing the bond that you two share.  Now, I’m going to 1/2 lease a friend’s mare.  I’m so excited, thank you , Lukas!”

    As glowing as all this sounds, it wasn’t always this way.  Lukas (race name Just Ask Mike) left the track as a two year old with two bowed tendons after three unmemorable race finishes, changed hands several times and ended up emaciated and neglected in a back yard.  He was rescued by Sue Smith, who took pity on the then 8 year old chestnut gelding – “you could see every rib and his tail was a solid bat of dried mud.”  Smith, a local trainer had hoped to eventually include him in her amateur jumping program.  After two years though, he still wasn’t fitting in, according to Smith, and I purchased him from her after seeing his picture ad in the local Horsetrader.

   Working full-time as a psychiatric nurse, I had our (then) barn trainer begin some basic lessons on him with the plan to take over myself and show him at lower level dressage shows.  In a very short time Lukas became sullen and resistant to the point of being extremely dangerous – bucking, bolting and spooking (even in his own stall!).  “He’s a throwaway, Karen, what do you expect?  Quit wasting your time on him,”  I was told by more than a few well meaning observers.  After 30 years of training horses, I had just about met my match with Lukas. 

    Before giving up, I decided to fall back on my 30+ years of behavioral training experience (these types of dangerous behaviors are best dealt with by professionals) and also try to find out what he would enjoy doing.  My approach uses a very broad base of shaping (successive approximation) techniques, a specialized version of clicker training and lots of positive reinforcement.  So, I set about UN-training by replacing unwanted behaviors with desirable responses.  The particular responses that I chose to substitute happened to be tricks – fun and play being at the core of my system.  I’ve always used the trick training games as a way to create a connection and build confidence, willingness, focus and trust.  I also ascribe to strictly liberty (free/loose and without any equipment – I don’t even own a whip) work to show the true significance and effectiveness of my style.  It must also be said that I employ patience and kindness, affection and appreciation – without which none of this would have been possible.

    “Something that he would enjoy doing,”  as I said – well, that was certainly the case!  We started with the smile and we’re still going strong.  To date, Lukas’ liberty repertoire includes:  posing, nodding yes and shaking his head no, a dry and wet kiss, fetching, being “blindfolded”, catching, yawning, saluting, pedestal work, Spanish Walk (forward and backward), the stay and come, jambet (3 legged pivot), reverence, passage, bow, crossing his front legs, laying down while I sit on him, feet together (front and back), hide and seek (with his beloved green towel), acting lame, pushing a cart, and the rear.  Most of his acclaim, however, comes from his amazing abilities to spell, count, identify shapes and discriminate colors.

     This once-upon-a -time “throwaway” has been on NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, HLN, Equisearch and the Associated Press recently released a feature story on him.  He is listed on both Yahoo and Google as “The World’s Smartest Horse” and Guinness is considering a record on him.  His story – which has really become a love story about a woman and a horse – has been in countless magazines, newsletters, blogs and newspapers world-wide.  He is the official Spokeshorse for TROTT (Training Racehorses Off the Track) and a poster -boy for the California Thoroughbred Breeder’s Association.   He is also associated with Heal with Horses  – an equine assisted therapy group helping trauma victims (all of my proceeds and services are donated to help the horses).  He has been invited to attend the Grand Prix HITS Desert Circuit Horse Show, the Equine Affaire, The International Equestrian Festival, The Western States Horse Expo and America’s Family Pet Expo.  Now, if only I could teach him to answer his own mail!

By Karen Murdock

Playing with Lukas

info@playingwithlukas.com