Giving Back at New England Equine Rescue
If you've spent time around horses, you know there are a few universal truths. One of them is that it takes a village.
Whether it's helping a friend wipe their boots before stepping into the show ring, lending a trailer in an emergency, or staying late to finish barn chores as a team, the horse community has always been built on people showing up for one another. Recently, our SmartPak team had the opportunity to do exactly that.
Alongside our friends from Chewy (and one from Purina!), we spent the day volunteering at New England Equine Rescue – North (NEER North) in West Newbury, Massachusetts. Their mission is simple but incredibly important: rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome horses, donkeys, and mules in need throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. We were connected with NEER North thanks to Chewy and Purina's partnership with A Home For Every Horse, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between rescue organizations and those who can assist them.
Since 2008, NEER North has provided a safe haven for equines coming from difficult circumstances, giving them the medical care, training, and second chances they deserve before matching them with forever homes. Caring for the dozens of horses that arrive and leave the NEER facility every year takes a tremendous amount of work, which is where volunteers come in.
Their regular crew consists of about 80 individuals helping with mucking out stalls and sheds, scrubbing buckets, filling hay nets, and all the other day-to-day requirements for healthy, happy horses. But when it comes to those “we’ll get to those later, when we have more time, when we have the energy,” projects, there’s rarely enough of either at the end of the day, especially at an operation this meticulous about their daily care. With lots of eager volunteers of our own, we were happy to provide both the people and the energy to make some of those projects happen.
The Important Part
When NEER North told us they'd "put us to work," they were serious (and we were ready!).
Armed with work gloves, wheelbarrows, mat-grabbers, shovels, scrub brushes, and plenty of sunscreen, our team tackled projects across the property designed to make daily life a little easier for both the horses and the volunteers who care for them. We learned about NEER’s facility, some of their residents and success stories, and got straight to work scrubbing vinyl fencing and hanging feed pans.
One of our biggest projects involved refinishing the flooring inside multiple run-in sheds. We pulled up heavy rubber mats, removed old bedding and dirt, leveled the ground underneath, added fresh footing, then wrestled the mats back into place. There was plenty of measuring, some creative trimming, and more than a few rounds of "Okay... everyone pull on three!"
By the end of the day, we'd completed that work on over seven shelters that will help the volunteers clean the bedding out quicker and easier and keep horses more comfortable for seasons to come. We even tackled a few wasp nests around one of the sheds, making future chores a little safer for NEER's incredible volunteer team (thanks for that one, Brian!).
The Best Part
Between projects, we had the chance to meet many of the horses, donkeys, and mules who call NEER North home.
There were ponies like Iron Man learning to trust again. Curious mules like Sadie and Snickers, eager for new friends. Miniature horses like Rosie full of personality. Every animal had their own story, and every story was a reminder of why organizations like NEER North matter so much.
As we toured the property, we heard about successful adoptions, rehabilitation journeys, and the commitment it takes to care for every horse that comes through their gates. One thing became immediately clear to each and every one of our team: each stall, paddock, fence board, and shelter exists because people care enough to give their time.
And no visit to NEER North would be complete without meeting Tom.
Tom is the rescue's 17-year-old barn cat, professional greeter, expert mouse patrol officer, and arguably one of the most beloved residents on the farm. In fact, when NEER North needed to relocate years ago, a generous supporter made a donation with one heartfelt request: make sure Tom always has a home with the horses. It was that generosity that helped make their current farm possible.
While we loved meeting and learning about all the equines on the property, it was really incredible how it all came back to Tom and his dedicated team who continue to make NEER what it is today. It was a beautiful reminder that sometimes helping one animal can end up helping dozens more.
Why Rescue Matters
In 2024 alone, NEER North rescued 32 equines and welcomed back a few former adoptees whose families could no longer keep them, because once a horse becomes part of the NEER family, they remain part of that family for life.
They also found new homes for 33 horses and donkeys, thanks to dedicated staff, trainers, veterinarians, adopters, and their incredible network of volunteers (shoutout to Vanessa for their equally incredible volunteer-organizer!).
We thought those numbers were pretty impressive. But after spending a day there, what stood out most wasn't the statistics. It was the people. The volunteers who show up week after week. The staff who patiently help horses prepare for new careers. The team of veterinary, farrier and medical professionals who play a huge part in each rescue’s journey. The adopters willing to give an animal a second chance. And everyone behind the scenes making sure another horse has a safe place to land.
We're incredibly grateful to the NEER North team for welcoming us onto their farm and showing us the impact they're making every single day. Spending a day helping improve the lives of horses is time well spent, and we're proud to support organizations working so hard to give equines the second chances they deserve.
If you'd like to support NEER North, consider volunteering, donating, shopping at their used tack store, or simply sharing their mission with another horse lover.