Halo's Haven Horse Rescue

Horse Rescue

Few people view horses grazing peacefully in a field without admiring the beauty of these noble animals. But sadly, since they are bred and sold as a commodity, the fate of many horses is far from peaceful.

Horse ownership requires time, money and dedication. If an owner’s commitment or finances dry up, the animal can suffer neglect, abuse or worse. Although horse slaughter has been eliminated in the United States, every year tens of thousands of horses are shipped, under appalling conditions, to Mexico and Canada, where they are slaughtered for human consumption in Europe and Asia.

While many opponents of horse slaughter are working to cease this inhumane act, Michelle Louis of Halo’s Haven has taken the fight one-step further. Two years ago, intent on saving as many horses as possible, Ms. Louis attended a notorious auction in New Holland, Pennsylvania. Utilizing her expertise riding and training first-class show horses, she selected five horses, all in deplorable condition. Where others saw hopeless cases, Ms. Louis saw promise. “I was literally bidding against meat people,” she recalls.

“These were forgotten souls. I won’t allow them to be forsaken again.”

Putting up the winning bids was only the beginning. Undernourished, suffering from upper respiratory infections, devoid of grooming, hoof and dental care, each horse required immediate medical attention. Once the horses’ health issues were resolved, psychological rehabilitation and training began.

Ms. Louis trains the horses to obtain a certain level of performance, which makes them more suitable for adoption. Her goal is to place the horses with responsible owners, but it takes time and patience to achieve that level. “Just gaining a rescue’s trust is an accomplishment,” she explains. “Many have been mishandled.”

Although income from the sales helps fund Halo’s Haven, Ms. Louis is resolved not to rush the training. “I don’t want these horses to wind up back where they started,” she says. “Nothing good comes easy. You must put your heart and soul into it to do it right.”

Horse rescue facilities in Maryland typically operate as non-profit organizations, receiving support through grants and donations. Halo’s Haven is currently a private operation run by Ms. Louis and her husband, John V. Louis, D.M.D., an Easton periodontist, and their partner Bill Daffin of Frank E. Daffin General Contracting. Ms. Louis acknowledges that the rewards from running the rescue operation are not monetary. “Horses bring so much into our lives,” she says. “This is a passion.”

To finance an endless list of expenses while waiting for its non-profit status to be approved, Halo’s Haven offers year-round vacation rentals on its picturesque waterfront property, which is located near historic St. Michaels, a popular tourist destination. The spread’s luxurious five-bedroom farmhouse offers sweeping vistas of the Chesapeake Bay and views of the horses grazing in surrounding pastures. Visitors have access to a pool, dock, paddleboat and sailboat, as well as kayaks and bicycles.

Between raising three school-aged children, caring for the rescue horses and managing the vacation rental, Ms. Louis has a full schedule, but she is fueled by dedication. “These were forgotten souls,” she says. “I won’t allow them to be forsaken again.”

Halo’s Haven Horse Rescue
9195 New Road
McDaniel, MD 21647

www.haloshaven.com

Pictured: Ginger, John-Vincent, Ava, Dr. John and Michelle Louis
Photography: Steve Buchanan