June 27, 2023
The mission of the Sanctuary, has been about education; sharing our experience and knowledge about keeping and managing horses and ponies. A lot of animals have been cared for in the past 40 years or so, and they had a few health and behavioural issues. Not many sound horses were donated. We like to share our experience with hands on teaching. It is taking a while, but we are finally getting our summer activities organized. Zoe Novaczek is our barn leader and manager, although her first love is the art world, she has been a trailblazer for over 25 years, she spent some time in Europe interning at a horse farm. Zoe has much horse wisdom to share. Our usual youth programs “Trailblazers” (youth 10 and up) will be Saturdays 9.30 – 2pm. The “Smalls” (6 – 9 years) program will be on Saturday afternoons, 3 – 5pm. Zoe started the “Smalls” program in 2009, and it has continued through the years with different leaders. It is so good to have her back imparting her knowledge to the young ones. I believed education should be free, but the directors would prefer a donation if you can. The donation box is on the post beside the stairs.
Our one commercial endeavor is Summer Camp. It is $40 for the day. Tuesdays will be Camp day starting July 4th at 9am. We can accept 10 campers every Tuesday. Contact us at handibearhills@gmail.com to register. I can do e-transfers now. You laugh, this is a big thing, as I am the quintessential techy klutz. I am working on the “never too old to learn theme”.
Have you heard the disturbing news? Health Canada with the help big pharma is planning to ban all health supplements in the nation. They want us to be sick so they can provide more chemicals to make us sicker. Please provide opposition to this plan. We live in a place with long winters, very little access to healthy fresh foods during that time. Factory farming does not provide many nutrients from the soil. We do not have a lot of exposure to the sun, that provides us with a lot of Vitamin D. I wonder how many of us stand out to get sun when it is 20 below, not I!. There are so many vitamins and minerals that we need for good health. They are not available through processed foods. A good source of reliable vitamins and minerals will keep us healthy, and we will not be a burden to our rocky health care system. It is time to speak out. Heath are you hearing me?? Next thing I know they will be denying my herd their essential vitamin and mineral supplements.
Today I am proud of my team of students, we did some prep at the Picnic Place. This is a place I provide for anyone that wishes to enjoy a lovely hilly vista complete with a herd of horses.. A fire pit is there and we have a lot of wood provided by Fiona. Primitive facilities are provided. One “Loo” suffered from Fiona’s attention. Today the students used simple physics with poles and ropes to put it back on its’ moorings. The second “Loo” only needed to be swept clean of the Butternut shells. I share the Butternuts and the Loo with the squirrels. The gateway is open right across from the Adams road on Rte 231. You are more than welcome to come and enjoy this special spot. Handibear Hills is featured in the book of “Must See” in PEI. Visitors are welcome to the Sanctuary, we love to introduce you to the herd and this wonderful spot on the hill in South Granville. The farm truck is in good health, inspected with a new bench chair in the truck box. Let me take you for a drive up and down our hills.
Hay time is coming close. I would like to remind you to clear your fields of Tansy Ragwort. The horses do not need the damage it does to their liver. Do not let those lovely yellow daisy like flowers go to seed. Pull it PLEASE!! Roots, leaves are lethal, it is a nightshade plant. Do not compost, it should be burned. I wish all your horses good health.
Love and hugs from Yogi and the Herd.
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