People's lives transform when they build a relationship with these horses. They receive amazing gifts and lessons from them."
- Stephanie Lockhart
The children from the after school program bubble over with excitement as they scramble out of cars at The Center for America's First Horse. Giggling, they race up to fences to pat the velvet noses of Ringo and Thunder, and the other welcoming Colonial Spanish horses. They yank on their boots, and learn to halter, lead and groom the horses, and then ride bareback. As they leave, they are calm, smiling, and confident. Their dreams have been fulfilled for the day.
These children know the horses they have come to love, are among the last of their kind; that these unique horses were brought to America 500 years ago with the Spaniards and could be extinct in their lifetime. Less than 3,000 Colonial Spanish horses, often referred to as Spanish Mustangs, remain in the world. The Center for America's First Horse is home to one of the largest and most diverse groups in the east, with more waiting to come.
We urgently need your support now!
There are many vital expenses associated with running this 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donation allows us to serve the Lamoille Valley community and beyond by providing horse experiences for children and adults from local schools, foster programs and other human resource agencies. In addition to operating our programs and feeding and caring for the horses, rescue and breed preservation efforts are continuously underway.
Very often, we are contacted about many Colonial Spanish horses and their foals in critical need. Before they can be brought to our facility we must raise funds to transport, feed and care for them. It is a great responsibility which we take very seriously.
This year alone, the Center For America's First Horse brought awareness of the plight of the Colonial Spanish horses to over 100,000 people through public events, media sources, documentaries, and social networking; our web site garners 30,000 viewers per month! The dedication of our supporters has led us to these successes, but there is still more work to be done.
If you are able, please make your tax-deductible donation today.
We invite you to visit The Center to meet our Colonial Spanish horses and learn more about our mission. Our sincerest thanks and gratitude for your involvement!
On behalf of the horses,
Stephanie Lockhart, Founder & Executive Director and The Board of Directors
Our mission is to enrich the lives of people through the spirit of the Colonial Spanish Horse.
The Center for America's First Horse, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Center is home to the most diverse group of Colonial Spanish horses in the eastern United States. Along with preservation and education of this historic breed, our programs focus on natural horsemanship, viewing the horse/human relationship from a holistic perspective which honors the horse's intelligence and spirit.
