Equine Outreach finds new home for horses

A Bend non-profit horse rescue organization was planning on closing their doors by the end of the month, but now someone’s stepped up to help them keep the organization running.

Equine Outreach board members announced on Monday it’s separating from the organization’s founders, Joan Steelhammer and Gary Everett, and will be continuing to provide service for the horses.

According to a news release sent to NewsChannel 21, the organization secured a 30-acre property that will allow it to relocate more than 30 horses remaining on the current property.

The new board said it’s been barred from accessing the current property and the horses, a point that Steelhammer and Everett disputed in comments to NewsChannel 21.

Board President Bill Inman said he hopes Equine Outreach will be able to move the rest of the horse by this weekend.

“Well, obviously a situation like this is really complicated, and it’s hard to summarize in a simple way,” Inman said. “But the board, as well as these other non-profits that came together felt like the best thing for these horses was to relocate, if we could find a location. And so that is what we focused on, and that is what we’re moving towards.”

NewsChannel 21 also reached out to the Equine Outreach founders. Steelhammer and Everett said they, too, look forward to relocating all the horses and closing the current facility on their property.

Steelhammer said they had to lock the gates and require advance notice of future visits to remove horses because of disruptions that were disturbing the volunteers who have been caring for horses for years.

The new board said it hopes to unveil the new location once everything is set up but are asking the public for help in supplies.

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Equine Outreach Press Release

Dear Supporters,

A heartfelt thank you to a coalition of Central Oregon horse rescues coming together in support of Equine Outreach, Inc. (EOI) and its Board of Directors. Today, EOI is announcing a formal separation with the founders and landlords, Joan Steelhammer and Gary Everett, and the continuation of our non-profit mission with the collective effort of 7 other non-profit organizations and numerous individuals.

In early November, we announced that we would be dissolving the non-profit at the end of the year unless an angel stepped forward to allow us to continue our mission of rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming horses. We are pleased to announce that many angels appeared in the form of a coalition of non-profits including Equine Community Resources, 3 Sisters Equine Refuge, Oregon Rescue Challenge, Warm Springs Network, Mustangs to the Rescue, Sound Equine Options, Skydog Sanctuary and numerous individuals who feel that Equine Outreach needs to remain a community resource. We have secured a 30 acre property that will allow us to relocate the horses, and volunteers from the coalition have been working diligently to prepare the property for the move.

When we communicated our plan to move the horses to Joan and Gary, their response was negative: we have been barred from access to the property and the horses, and no trespassing signs have been posted. We are unable to access the critical feed and equipment, paid for by donors and owned by the non-profit, to care for the horses at the new location.

We need immediate help to make this move happen as soon as possible. The coalition of rescues is standing by to help as soon as we say go. We need the support of YOU, our community in the form of donations to replace the necessary items and supplies to care for, feed, and properly house the horses. The following items need to be either purchased or acquired via donations:

50 tons of orchard grass hay Panels to allow for the set up of at least four 30’x48′ pens At least 500′ of No-climb fencing to subdivide large pasture spaces Feed and water troughs, bowls, etc. Trough heaters Horse shelters (one large one is already in place, along with plenty of trees, but additional shelters are needed) Hoses/extension cords Camper trailer for ranch hand housing Solar fence charger Trenching and electrical wiring to get more power to the area Feed truck Golf cart or ATV/UTV Wheel barrows, manure pitchforks, rakes, shovels, & other tools Warming shed with wood stove Firewood

Please help us find 100 or more supporters to each donate $100 to ensure we can secure the most critical items on our list. Once we have made the move, we will work with the Department of Justice to complete 100% separation from Joan and Gary without them receiving any personal benefit (the legal term is private inurement).

Please call us at (541) 419-4842 to schedule a time when we can pick up donated items for the horses, or meet you at our new location to unload. We have also set up a post office box to ensure all monetary donations are received and applied directly to this effort of caring, feeding, and housing the horses at this new property. (Equine Outreach, Inc. PO Box 6054, Bend, OR 97708)

Despite threats to the contrary, Joan and Gary did allow volunteer haulers to take 6 horses to new homes yesterday. Some of those will be going to a rescue in California, but the total cost of required vet checks and hauling is close to $2K, a cost shared with the California rescue. They did not, however, allow the hauler to take the hay necessary for transition feed. In the last month, we have found amazing new homes for a total of 24 horses. As a result, we will be moving about 35 horses to the new property, with the intention to care for them until we find great forever homes.

Your continued support and the incredible outpouring of encouragement as we work through this difficult time is immensely appreciated. If you have any questions, concerns or would like more detail, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you prefer to work through another 501(c)3 non-profit to help, please contact Equine Community Resources or 3 Sisters Equine Refuge and note that this is for “EOI Relocation.”

With gratitude,

Equine Outreach Board of Directors
Bill Inman, President
Mary Shrauger, Vice President
Monica Daeumler, Treasurer
Nancy Baldrick, Director”