On July 21, 2008, we had visitors, reporters from KELO TV in Sioux Falls, SD. Angela Kennecke and Cameraguy Mike. We only had a few days notice that they were coming. DoubleHP Director Cindy Murphy and her friend Joey were available though, to help with the event. And Darci's husband Greg Schjodt was able to make it home for the event too! It was fun. The horses were all so very well behaved and most of them actually loved being filmed. The only real mishap was that right before Angela asked Darci her first question in the actual interview, a bird pooped on Darci's shirt so she had to run up to the house and change real quick. The horses were all in the barn because the farrier had been there that day too. But that evening, Cameraguy Mike came back and filmed the horses having their supper outside.ABOVE PHOTO: Greg helps Angela and DoubleHP Prince get ready for the filming of the introduction to the story.
Angela interviews Greg & Darci, DoubleHP founders. DoubleHP Hero listens in.
Cindy and Angela make a plan for Cindy's interview. DoubleHP Princess listens in...
...and is very happy to hear the part about getting brushed and filmed.
Trainer Kinsey Risty was there too, for a lesson with DoubleHP Lily. Lily always enjoys the attention.The story was televised on July 28, 2008
The KELOland story is perfect. you can watch the video from our website home page at www.doublehphorses.org
The KELOland story is perfect. you can watch the video from our website home page at www.doublehphorses.org
Or just read it here:
07/28/2008
Unbridled Passion
You've heard of puppy mill raids and people being charged with neglecting dogs and cats. But horses are big in this area too and not everyone takes care of them the way they should.
One Crooks woman with a passion for all things equestrian has made it her mission to stop animal abuse and neglect as much as possible.
A business called Horse Help Providers is coming to the rescue of horses otherwise left to die.
Horses appearing happy and healthy and are truly loved by Darci Hortness. But Hortness remembers all too well how sick they were when they arrived.
At one time, you could see their rib cages and starvation threatened to take their lives. Hortness is often on the scene to rescue starving horses.
“They don't all live," Hortness said. "They die of starvation. It's always very heartbreaking, but they don't all die.”
The ones that live are lucky enough to have Hortness watching over them, making sure all their needs are met.
Double HP Rescue began seven years ago when six neighboring horses were left abandoned and there was no plan in place on what to do with them.
“Nobody even had a network," Hortness said. "They didn't even have a list of people to call with trailers or foster homes for horses. It was always just starting over any time a horse had to be rescued. That's how Double HP started, we were a list of people and our phone numbers who law enforcement or other animal rescue places could call if they needed help transporting horses or feeding horses or fostering horses.”
When Double HP first started, it took in horses for a variety of reasons, often just because their owners didn't want them anymore. But now the horse rescue has evolved to just taking in some of the worst cases of starvation.
Horses like Lily, who was rescued in February. You'd never know by looking at her five months later what she'd been through.
"When we got there we thought she was a little Shetland Pony she was so little and scrunched up," Hortness said. "She was very dehydrated and the starvation; she was ready to give up."
But with the help of Hortness and other volunteers, Lily didn't give up. The man who was supposed to be taking care of Lily was charged. “The guy is in jail right now and he has to pay restitution and fines and the horse has been signed over to us," Hortness said. "She's registered paint, so we're hoping to get her papers soon.”
And then there was a group of five horse found starving outside of Mitchell.
“They had never had shots, hoof care; never had anything, basically,” she said.
DoubleHP Hiroki (Hero)
The colt's mother had a broken hip and had to be euthanized, but the rest have recovered and are now getting used to people.
“The ones that have just been starved, they love people because they just hope anyone has a little bit of hay for them," Hortness said. "The ones abused, beat or mishandled or through a horrible training program, they're different. They have serious trust issues and we've got a couple of them here too.”
Once Doulbe HP gets the horses, it tries to get them into foster homes and eventually adopt them out. The non-profit organization also relies on donations and volunteers to keep going. Cindy Murphy is a horse lover who was deeply touched by Double HP's mission.
"The first time I went to the website after I talked to Darci, I must have cried for an hour some of the stories on there," Murphy said. "And then I've been to a rescue with Darci and seeing conditions some of the horses are in; it's pretty sad."
Murphy's done everything from fundraising to working in the barn. She hopes to change the way some people view horses.
"If anybody can really get to know horses and what they can do for people then I think some of the cruelty, there wouldn't be so much of it," Murphy said. "If people would open their eyes and realize horses are just great therapy.”
Hortness carefully chooses the homes where these horses eventually end up. And it's always tough on her to let one go.
"Especially for the ones that have been so starved and to see them come back to life, they're really so appreciative and then when it's time to adopt them out, it's hard," she said.
Up to 50 horses are now in new homes thanks to Double HP. Hortness says even if she just makes a small dent in ending animal neglect and abuse she can face the ones she can't save.
"The hope that with each one that doesn't make it, the stories we can tell will save another one from just not going through that and educate a whole bunch of people around here on how to take care of their horse," she said.
Hortness says that would be a great way to ride off into the sunset.
It costs between $1,500-3,000 a year to keep a horse at Double HP. The rescue is now promoting a calendar with its horses and local horsewomen that it's selling on its website http://www.doublehphorses.org/ for $25 apiece.
Angela Kennecke
© 2008 KELOLAND TV. All Rights Reserved.
07/28/2008
Unbridled Passion
You've heard of puppy mill raids and people being charged with neglecting dogs and cats. But horses are big in this area too and not everyone takes care of them the way they should.
One Crooks woman with a passion for all things equestrian has made it her mission to stop animal abuse and neglect as much as possible.
A business called Horse Help Providers is coming to the rescue of horses otherwise left to die.
Horses appearing happy and healthy and are truly loved by Darci Hortness. But Hortness remembers all too well how sick they were when they arrived.
At one time, you could see their rib cages and starvation threatened to take their lives. Hortness is often on the scene to rescue starving horses.
“They don't all live," Hortness said. "They die of starvation. It's always very heartbreaking, but they don't all die.”
The ones that live are lucky enough to have Hortness watching over them, making sure all their needs are met.
Double HP Rescue began seven years ago when six neighboring horses were left abandoned and there was no plan in place on what to do with them.
“Nobody even had a network," Hortness said. "They didn't even have a list of people to call with trailers or foster homes for horses. It was always just starting over any time a horse had to be rescued. That's how Double HP started, we were a list of people and our phone numbers who law enforcement or other animal rescue places could call if they needed help transporting horses or feeding horses or fostering horses.”
When Double HP first started, it took in horses for a variety of reasons, often just because their owners didn't want them anymore. But now the horse rescue has evolved to just taking in some of the worst cases of starvation.
Horses like Lily, who was rescued in February. You'd never know by looking at her five months later what she'd been through.
"When we got there we thought she was a little Shetland Pony she was so little and scrunched up," Hortness said. "She was very dehydrated and the starvation; she was ready to give up."
But with the help of Hortness and other volunteers, Lily didn't give up. The man who was supposed to be taking care of Lily was charged. “The guy is in jail right now and he has to pay restitution and fines and the horse has been signed over to us," Hortness said. "She's registered paint, so we're hoping to get her papers soon.”
And then there was a group of five horse found starving outside of Mitchell.
“They had never had shots, hoof care; never had anything, basically,” she said.
DoubleHP Hiroki (Hero)
The colt's mother had a broken hip and had to be euthanized, but the rest have recovered and are now getting used to people.
“The ones that have just been starved, they love people because they just hope anyone has a little bit of hay for them," Hortness said. "The ones abused, beat or mishandled or through a horrible training program, they're different. They have serious trust issues and we've got a couple of them here too.”
Once Doulbe HP gets the horses, it tries to get them into foster homes and eventually adopt them out. The non-profit organization also relies on donations and volunteers to keep going. Cindy Murphy is a horse lover who was deeply touched by Double HP's mission.
"The first time I went to the website after I talked to Darci, I must have cried for an hour some of the stories on there," Murphy said. "And then I've been to a rescue with Darci and seeing conditions some of the horses are in; it's pretty sad."
Murphy's done everything from fundraising to working in the barn. She hopes to change the way some people view horses.
"If anybody can really get to know horses and what they can do for people then I think some of the cruelty, there wouldn't be so much of it," Murphy said. "If people would open their eyes and realize horses are just great therapy.”
Hortness carefully chooses the homes where these horses eventually end up. And it's always tough on her to let one go.
"Especially for the ones that have been so starved and to see them come back to life, they're really so appreciative and then when it's time to adopt them out, it's hard," she said.
Up to 50 horses are now in new homes thanks to Double HP. Hortness says even if she just makes a small dent in ending animal neglect and abuse she can face the ones she can't save.
"The hope that with each one that doesn't make it, the stories we can tell will save another one from just not going through that and educate a whole bunch of people around here on how to take care of their horse," she said.
Hortness says that would be a great way to ride off into the sunset.
It costs between $1,500-3,000 a year to keep a horse at Double HP. The rescue is now promoting a calendar with its horses and local horsewomen that it's selling on its website http://www.doublehphorses.org/ for $25 apiece.
Angela Kennecke
© 2008 KELOLAND TV. All Rights Reserved.
