Horse Shepherd Equine Sanctuary in Gordon, Victoria, Australia | Animal shelter

Horse Shepherd Equine Sanctuary

Locality: Gordon, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 400 743 188

Address: 160 Gascards Lane, 3345 Gordon, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.horseshepherd.org.au

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• Non-profit organisation
• Charitable organisation
• Animal shelter

25.01.2022 Welcome little old man HSES Shimmer - recently purchased as a companion pony and for the granddaughter to learn about horse care. It soon became obvious that he was very underweight, potentially with medical issues and older than the 20 plus years. And largely deserving of the right to retire. So little HSES Raspberry has gone to be the companion and receive the handling she needs. And HSES Shimmer will receive the specialist aged care he needs.

25.01.2022 Tomorrow has traditionally been called Ladies Day with the running of the Oaks raced by mares for a prize pool of $1m! Imagine how many horses we could help with a little of that! After the tragedy of Tuesday's big race we all still feel incredibly sad. We have a number of beautiful thoroughbred mares at HSES , thriving only through the generosity of you our wonderful supporters. Tonight we are launching our new range of rescue candles to bring some light back into our world.... Carefully crafted to reflect the grace, personality and style of some of our special residents - the first is HSES Ghost who came to the Sanctuary via a State Trustee in Sept 2019. Ghost, was heavily in foal at age 23, and gorgeous baby Casper soon made his appearance. She is a wonderful mumma to young Casper and we are so happy to be able to provide her sanctuary. If you love the warm scent of summer days, choose our frangipani candle, the queen of tropical flowers. This brand-new range is currently in production, please order now to receive in time for Christmas. : //horseshepherd.org.au/product/6909/

24.01.2022 Sorry HSES Norman it looked more blue than pink online! But then again you are a ladies man! Norman’s tongue hangs out 80% of the time so it’s critical it’s protected in summer even if the outfit isn’t flattering!

23.01.2022 Happy Halloween - TRick or TReat - the crew at HSES would love a treat! Or even better Treat yourself to one of our 2021 Calendars which are selling fast. https://horseshepherd.org.au/shop/

23.01.2022 Our beautiful HSES Georgie Girl must have broken the speed record for dry mare fostering today. As soon as she saw Sally she was in love! Surrendered several years ago with her daughter HSES Emerald (since adopted). These lucky girls were rescued and their rehabilitation was commenced by two lovely members of the police force prior to arriving at HSES. We love that she can help a foal in need, preventing any foal wastage and earn her feed this year.

23.01.2022 Make this Ladies Day at the races different - save the bet money, entrance fee or whatever you spent in the past and help our beautiful rescues while treating yourself or someone else you care for. The beautifully bred HSES Georgie Girl found her way to us a few years ago via two lovely members of the mounted police force who had rescued Georgie and started her rehabilitation. This gorgeous thoroughbred is sweetness and light, much like our gorgeous jasmine, petitgrain and h...oney Wattle candle. Georgie Girl gives back to the Sanctuary fostering foals in need of a mother’s love. Fill your home with the scent of the Australian summer, choose Georgie Girl Wattle Candle from our shop. https://horseshepherd.org.au//hses-georgie-girl-wattle-ca/ These beautifully scented, ethically produced candles are hand made to the highest quality, in Australia, with natural soy wax. They have a burn time of 35 hours and the handy travel tin has a multiple uses. Pre-order now, and be sure to receive them before Christmas. See more

23.01.2022 A huge thank you to a local family that have allowed a number of our horses to munch on their lush grass for a few weeks providing a rest for many of our smaller holding paddocks. HSES Stirling, HSES Roany and HSES Mia give the grass a big thumbs up! A great way to help us.

22.01.2022 The Golden boys HSES George and HSES Frankie have wintered well thanks to the support of their sponsors, albeit George had one rug while Frankie destroyed 3!

22.01.2022 Just 2 years ago - we received a call asking if we would take Miss Daisy - at 28 years young she went through the Echuca saleyards - bidded on and left at the sales. Of course we said yes! The drive home obviously influenced her name - the sweetest little standardbred mare - as so often the case we are only left wondering about her memories formed throughout those 28 years! Buying her candles helps us to keep her in the lifestyle she deserves - warm, healthy and well fed! Check them out on the link below. https://horseshepherd.org.au/product-category/candle/

22.01.2022 Shaving Cream Candle HSES Norman - HSES Norman at 35 is our oldest rescue, and is the heartthrob of many. Arriving at the Sanctuary with his paddock mate, Cherish. Greener pastures led Norman to Tootie then, a quick dalliance with Melodee, only to settle down with the elegant Miss Daisy. She likes him smelling nice, so Shaving Cream, a fresh scent combining cedarwood, bergamot, lemon peel, musk and fir needle is his scent of choice. https://horseshepherd.org.au//shaving-cream-candle-hses-n/

22.01.2022 Congratulations Shannon Zimmer guessing Norman at 417.4kg ! Please message us your address and we will post your 2021 HSES calendar! And we've decided as we had such interest we will weigh Normie today and hopefully there is another winner in the messages ! Not too late to add a guess under Normans post - or to buy a calendar online at https://horseshepherd.org.au/shop/

21.01.2022 We have a very special surprise! Introducing HSES Bella. HSES Bella is the foal born to a nanny mare - separated as soon as a more valuable stud foal is orphaned and a mother needed. We are thrilled that we were given the opportunity to provide her sanctuary and the chance to grow up. The second amazing horse in this photo is grand-dame HSES Tootie - who has taken on foster duties! Over the months to come she will provide the important life lessons that Bella needs to learn to grow up into a sensible young filly. At 32 Tootie is amazing and loves foals like no other mare we’ve had! The mutual grooming says it all !

20.01.2022 At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. According to the First World War page on the Australian War Memorial website from a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of which over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner. The latest figure for those killed is given as 62,000. Further - 8 million horses and countless mules and donkeys died in the First World War. They were used to transport ammunition and supplies to the front and many died, not only from the horrors of shellfire but also in terrible weather and appalling conditions. We will remember them.

20.01.2022 Come and meet Quinn at our Open Day. Thank you Racing.Com for a great article.

20.01.2022 In 2016 the "16 Greendale" little ponies arrived at HSES - dumped on the road in Greendale, a stallion along with his little herd of mares, colts and fillies. It didn't take long for more foals to arrive. The last foal born in 2017 was different, we suspected inbreeding and she has at times really struggled to thrive. We didn't rehome her as we weren't certain of her future. We named her HSES Buffy as she looked like a little buffalo with a head large and out of proportion with her body, and at times it almost seemed too heavy for her to lift. Along with a locking stifle, poor conformation and a face only a mother could love! However she is stuffed to overbrimming with courage and a desire to thrive. Four years on - she is HSES Buffy the Beautiful! Best friends with HSES Kylie they spend their days in the oldie paddock.

17.01.2022 In the middle of Winter - mid-June you may recall we were asked by the Shire to take a colt, stallion and a filly. Beautiful HSES Bear has thrived and now he is well-handled, next week he will be gelded. Bear is perfectly named - he is the sweetest little Q-horse.

16.01.2022 We are excited to share HSES Party - it explains why we love what we do! A huge thank you to everyone that donates, sponsors, shops in our shop, likes and shares our posts. The right diet helped enormously with his transformation, thanks to Poseidon Equine. We know Party would say thank you if only he could.

16.01.2022 We are thrilled with the results we are getting with the Sanctuary Horses on Poseidon Digestive EQ. If you use EQ please consider buying via our online shop to help support our work. https://horseshepherd.org.au/pr/poseidon-digestive-eq-15kg/

14.01.2022 Who is looking forward to 2021 we certainly are! Our calendars have left the printers and are on their way! Pre-order at https://horseshepherd.org.au/shop/

14.01.2022 HSES Shorty having fun on the trail - he's slightly chubby after a good summer. Certainly a good weight stress tester!

14.01.2022 We love how relaxed HSES Georgie is with her foster foal Sally.

13.01.2022 HSES Lawson - arriving last year as an unhandled stallion - now gelded, and more settled. Taught to lead by Klaus he is now showing his confidence around our new trail. Lawson is going to take time - he still doesn't enjoy being touched - although HSES Quinn is helping with that challenge.

11.01.2022 It's the eyes that you would often notice at the sales, the doubt, the worry, the uncertainty and for many the fear - and it's the eyes that change first - we observe them slowly soften. HSES Shaq one our longest Sanctuary lifers - now in his mid-20's, sadly the only bidder that sale day for Shaq was Laverton Pet Supplies relishing the $$'s the large 17hh stb body would make in pet meat. Fortunately he was one of the lucky ones that day - and was brought instead to the Sanctuary. Thank you to our supporters and sponsors that allow us to provide for the HSES Herd.

09.01.2022 For those that asked - HSES Tootie with little Bella and although those old boobs are very empty she allows a comfort suck, if Bella’s bucket is slightly late. This is not the first although it will most probably be the last baby Tootie helps raise.

09.01.2022 What a super pony HSES Louie is - seen here with "his girl" Holly. Only fate allowed him to exist today, his very aged mum was destined for slaughter from a South Australian outback station but was instead included in a truckload of horses we saved. Sadly we lost his mum last year. We will watch this relationship continue to build with interest. Merry Christmas from HSES Louie and Holly.

09.01.2022 From the moment he walked off the float - HSES Scoobie was a crowd favourite, all though very malnourished it was his best mate little HSES Frankie we were most concerned for. Despite laminitis and overgrown hooves, it was the pulling of a cart for kids despite a fractured hip that we felt the most for Frankie. Unfortunately we couldn't help Frankie beyond releasing him from pain. HSES Scoobie thrived at Horse Shepherd and made new friends easily. Once his rehabilitation was completed we were thrilled that many great homes were offered. HSES Scoobie is in heavy horse heaven with Robyn and we love our regular updates. Merry Xmas HSES Scoobie and the 4 HSES Donks - Basil, Sybil, Manuel and The Major also spoilt with Robyn.

08.01.2022 Black Friday, Cyber Monday whatever tickles your fancy - this candle is seriously on the cool side (hot when burning!). Its in honour of one of our longest residents the stunning black HSES Shaq. HSES Shaq, aged 23, lives in the mare herd and fools himself he's in charge! He’s a striking 17hh standardbred gelding that didn’t perform well on the track. His beloved paddock mate, HSES Big Grey sees only his goodness. She’ll tell you he’s fresh and invigorating, like a Freshly C...ut Lawn, a delicious blend of lime zest, lavender with milder notes of cedarwood and nutmeg. We are so grateful we could save Shaq, one of our first residents. He came from the Echuca sales, where the only other bidder was the now closed Laverton Pet Supplies. If fresh and invigorating is your thing, choose Shaq and delight in freshly cut lawn, without any effort at all. And of course helping to keep Shaq in the lifestyle he deserves. We are excited that candles have started to be shipped and for those hoping to buy direct from the Sanctuary - we expect them here early next week (AUSPOST dependent). https://horseshepherd.org.au/sponsored/

07.01.2022 A glimpse of the turnout at breakfast each morning as the oldies and a few special friends trundle in from the paddock !

07.01.2022 WE are thrilled to finally share our new obstacle trail - featured here with full enthusiasm HSES Blackie, HSES Pokey, HSES Tinkerbelle and HSES Brumby test pilots. Note - subject to availability adopted HSES horses have free access.

06.01.2022 HSES Little Grey

06.01.2022 Little HSES Diva has returned home to HSES and is going straight into the diet paddock! Over feeding is as problematic as under feeding.

05.01.2022 We will post a 2021 Calendar to the first person to post in comments HSES Norman's exact weight at Sunday's weigh-in. Excuse his grumpy 35 yr old face - he doesn't find it as exciting as we do! We continue to be amazed at his weight gain on Poseidon Digestive EQ. Visit our shop to buy your EQ and we will courier direct to you.

04.01.2022 We were thrilled to see little HSES Kaique now HSES Chevy leave for a wonderful new home with Mel and family as a companion pony.

03.01.2022 A big thank you to Spendthrift Farms in particular Ashlea for donating rugs and halters to HSES. What a haul we collected and for our old man HSES Gilbert who has destroyed 3 synthetic rugs this year the timing before this weeks rains was perfect. Also sporting his new leather halter! Thank you

03.01.2022 YOUR URGENT HELP NEEDED HELP US RACE THE RACE Today is day the Melbourne Cup, one of Australia’s richest races, is run. Whether you support racing or not, we are hoping you can help us help the 98 (!!!) horses in our care. Yes, all shapes and sizes including ex-racehorses. Our Sanctuary, like many other rescues, has been hit hard by the challenges we all face in a world of Covid. Feed prices are astronomical; and right now, we are operating day to day with restricted vol...unteering and rehoming. As much as we wish HSES was redundant, we know that sadly there will be more horses like the Bulla horses. Our commitment to sustainable rescue means that we are having to say ‘no’ more than ever. With your support, that can change. Last year we raised an amazing $13k on cup day. For those that love numbers we have 16 thoroughbreds at HSES, and 8 standardbreds. A recent announcement by Racing Victoria has set a target for our fundraising for the remainder of this year - $16k - the amount that could have been paid to put our THBS down. From the Sydney Herald - "Once the Flemington carnival is run Racing Victoria will launch its euthanasia assistance scheme, designed to encourage thoroughbred owners to put horses down at their own properties. RV general manager of equine welfare Jennifer Hughes says the scheme will provide $500 towards the cost of a vet visit and $500 towards the cost of carcass removal. If the scheme works as intended, it will remove the financial incentive for live horses to end up at the gates of a knackery.to trainers and breeders to euthanise their horses at home rather than send to the knackery". Can you spare $5 to donate to our campaign? If not, can you share? While research has demonstrated that donating has a positive impact on your wellbeing, we thought we’d sweeten the deal Once you’ve donated or shared, comment on this post (‘donated’ or ‘shared’).We will randomly select one person who has made one verified donation via this post, and one person who has shared. You will both get to choose one of the following: - A beautiful 2021 HSES Calendar OR - A tour of the Sanctuary subject to Covid restrictions * Travel/transport/associated expenses not included. While we welcome donations from our friends overseas, due to the nature of the prizes, only Australian participants will be eligible. We know that this is a big task, and a big target, but we are hopeful and excited! Can you help us beat ‘The Race’? The prizemoney from The Cup is $4.4 million, and only benefits a few. Every dollar raised for us saves lives and is tax deductible! Everyone wins! We have shared photos of some of our HSES Golden oldies yesterday for your pleasure, we were going to post some before and afters but we wanted to celebrate the beauty of our horses in the sunshine loving life!

02.01.2022 A huge thanks to our farrier Troy for working with HSES Yogi - his tricky dinner plate feet have always been a challenge . HSES Yogi will be in for sometime as we work on clearing his seedy toe. Although not the bravest horse at Horse Shepherd he is very soft and kind. HSES Yogi - a very strong percheron cross with a history of going through the Echuca sales - after multiple trainers he was rehomed to " a perfect home " only to end up again at the sales that same week! With fundraising support we purchased Yogi and since June 2015 he's roamed the paddocks of Horse Shepherd Park.

01.01.2022 When she arrived HSES Starlight's long hairy coat (the longest we've seen) hid a very malnourished frame - we are thrilled at todays weigh in she has added just over 20kg.

01.01.2022 Choose kindness. Phone a friend. Listen to a child. Carry your neighbour’s shopping. Donate to your favourite charity. Be kind to yourself. #kindness #animalwelfare #animalsanctuary #horsewelfare #bekind #savinglives #horserescue #charityfundraiser #rescuecandles #horsewelfare