$1,000 – Veterinarian Stock

Teton High School Seniors called on some of their more experienced peers to conclude the importance of a Veterinarian Stock for HAPI Trails during this year’s Youth Philanthropy Program.
Given that HAPI Trails takes in abused, abandoned and neglected horses, Seniors understood the importance of a solid veterinarian stock for horses that are not conditioned to being worked on or touched. “Equally,” as Julie Martin, Executive Director for HAPI Trails, explained when visiting the class for questions, “it’s important to get new horses integrated with the existing herd.” In order to house them together, the new horse must be up-to-date on its shots.
HAPI Trails is 100% volunteer and dedicated to rehabilitating and re-homing horses into loving, compassionate, and permanent homes – enhancing the life of the horse as well as the new owners; however, without a vet stock they have not been able to care for horses that were not otherwise healthy. As part of their newly expanded barn, they are excited to add a vet stock to allow a vet to treat horses, administer shots, repair wounds and provide other care to rehabilitate these animals and help them to find their forever homes.
Teton Valley is a ranching community and many residents come here to fulfill a dream of living in the West and owning horses. In reality – owners age, pass away or find themselves in difficult financial or physical situations wherein they can no longer properly care for their horses. Unfortunately, HAPI Trails has also had to actively intervene in several hoarding/neglect situations and encountered cases of people just abandoning horses they can no longer care for.
Since 2009, they have maintained an “at capacity” status and have had to make many heart-breaking decisions to turn horses away, needing to focus on the abused, abandoned and neglected cases (AAN). They have also provided temporary assistance to horses and their owners with the goal of helping the horses remain in their current homes. HAPI Trails works regularly with local law enforcement to collect rogue horses and provide care and housing for impounded, lost or unclaimed horses. They maintain two emergency spaces within their system for these agencies. On average, there are five horses in foster care through their network of volunteers at any given time. Unfortunately, they have also had to turn away horses that need help because they have not had the space to house them indoors and provide advanced medical care.

This project will provide Vet Stocks in the barn that is currently under construction. The barn will provide shelter for horses that are compromised. They anticipate putting the veterinarian stock in a corner of the barn to allow for safe administration of medical care for the horses. The project involves ordering the stocks and installing them in the coming barn. HAPI Trails volunteers will install the stocks themselves. The organization has had significant support from many agencies, including the Saddleback Vista homeowners association (who owns the land they lease), the Sheriff’s office (who frequently refers cases for care), and Teton County Emergency Management (who has a Memorandum of Understanding with Hapi Trails to care for hooved animals in the event of a widespread valley emergency).
Teton Seniors were glad to fully fund this project, expanding the offerings of HAPI Trails and allowing them to take in more animals in the near future.
HAPI Trails continues to seek funding for the completion of their new barn – Donate Here!