About The Pony Project

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Ponies in The Pony Project Program have been placed with local rescues after being removed from their home due to neglect or abuse. 

 The Pony Project is NOT a rescue or sanctuary, but works closely with rescues to assist in efforts to support ponies who may be candidates for future placement in qualified homes under the right circumstances. This gives rescues the opportunity to focus on saving more animals while still striving for second chance opportunities for ponies who could do well with individually focused care.

Rescues take immediate action to save ponies from dire situations, and can and will provide immediate and acute medical and dental care in severe cases. They give the crucial freedom walk to ponies trapped in abusive environments, and are the angels who give the first opportunity to improved quality of life. 

The Pony Project offers a transitional program that brings the ponies from "crisis to confidence." Our Program works on one to two ponies at a time, offering the companionship of animals who know they are safe, loved, and in an environment free from stress. Incoming ponies receive more individualized assessments that are acute and ongoing, to guide them through the stages of healing and training. The Pony Project is well rounded, taking a whole horse approach, understanding that every detail impacts the pony's state of mind, overall health and wellbeing. Giving consistent attention to their every need helps establish trust, and helps each pony to understand we are here to help them. Once ponies have established trust in the herd, the program, and the staff, they reach milestones and continue to thrive. The focus remains on achieving a happy, confident pony, with a renewed outlook on life.

RESPITE is the time given to the pony to rest, decompress, and take in its surroundings. It gives the pony as much time to adjust and settle, and to understand it is in a safe place. The respite period gives ponies a time period to take a breath, get to know their loving program companions, and live without human expectations for them to perform.

REHAB is the focus on mental and physical health to help the animals get to a physical and mental condition that supports their progress. This is a period where there is acute focus on body score, hoof health, and nutrition. Improving overall health, eliminating pain, and focusing on whole horse health, supports ponies in their journey to a happy and successful future.

CONFIDENCE is gained through a systematic approach to socialization and desensitization. By this time, our team of pony pros are at the peak of the trust building stage, and guiding our program ponies through a series of confidence building exercises.  This phase of the program reinforces trust, and gives the ponies the adaptive and functional skills to transition into a new and positive environment.

The Pony Project understands that the measure of success will be different for each pony. While the majority of the ponies come from stressful or traumatic environments, they have different personalities and different fears and methods of coping. Each pony will come with its own set of challenges. What makes our program different is the acute individualized focus and care for each pony. We assess each pony carefully, identifying character traits, fears, and wellness needs. Milestones are reached at the pony's pace, not our schedule. We dedicate focus to one or two ponies at a time, and carefully document progress to be able to make final determinations for the ponies' future placements. While the goal is to give the time and training needed for successful placement in qualified forever homes, certain outcomes could result in the determination that a pony would be best suited in a sanctuary.

While some latter parts of our confidence building may involve trainers, we do not use a training approach during the first stages of our program. Our initial stages focus on RESPITE (Decompression and Healing), and REHAB (Physical and Mental Recovery).

CONFIDENCE includes daily activities, routine and care which occur on a regular basis in the program. We afford a great deal of time and patience to allow the ponies to finally feel control over themselves and their surroundings. Most ponies cooperate with kind, soft guidance, and naturally and instictively find their way into the routine following The Heart Herd.

We are proud to collaborate with Equigility Horse Confidence Courses and Program Trainers to support our ponies in the process of desensitization and general confidence. When Equigility Trainers are brought in, it is a good sign. It means the pony has reached a level of comfort that allows us to introduce new people, and desensitization activities that will prepare the pony for new environments and interaction. A pony being able to complete this part of the program can be the determining factor in a pony's successful transition and placement into a (qualified) new loving home.

The Pony Project is grateful for support with the mission to save souls! While donations are appreciated, supplies are extremely helpful too!

To inquire about helping as a farm hand or by providing a donation, please email:

Savesouls@ponyproject.com

or reach out through our contact page!We appreciate your support!