By Jenna Lookner

BLUE HILL — An equine rescue based in Brooksville has gained pasture and barn space on Beech Hill Road in Blue Hill. Through an agreement, Bagaduce River Equine Rescue is now utilizing a five-acre property owned by a Blue Hill resident who recently purchased it with conservation in mind.

When Kelly Saunders and Mary Cockburn met while working at Maine Coast Veterinary Hospital in Blue Hill, the two women became fast friends and bonded over their mutual love of horses. When Cockburn was offered a horse that needed a home, Saunders had a stall in her Brooksville barn. Soon, the women began Bagaduce River Equine Rescue which was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2018.

Earlier this year, the rescue had reached a pivotal point.

“We were going to have to get smaller or bigger,” Saunders said. “This opportunity just kind of plunked in our laps.”

The flagship Brooksville sanctuary is Kelly’s childhood farm.

“I grew up at home on the farm,” she said. “I have been riding since I was in my mother’s belly.”

Now, after seven years and 76 intakes, a barn space in Blue Hill has emerged, allowing BRER to breathe a little easier. The barn has five stalls. Saunders and Cockburn said they envision keeping two to four horses there with a spare stall.

Over the summer, land owners Aaron and Natalie Stuart approached the rescue with an idea: Would they like to keep some horses on their recently purchased Blue Hill property? The property has a barn, but no residence.

Saunders said that the offer was generous and she immediately began considering the property. Saunders and Cockburn were concerned about having horses at a location where neither of them lives, but an established volunteer and local resident Makallie Jenkins offered to manage the Blue Hill site, now called “BRER Blue Hill at Mac Sang.”

Jenkins is now a staff member and visits the barn multiple times each day. The facility is also equipped with cameras.

“It’s a huge leap,” Saunders said of adding a second location.

Cockburn echoed Saunders.

“This was all serendipitous,” she said.

The site became home to its first two residents in August with bonded geldings Romeo and Nick. Both have some health and mobility issues, but in two short months they are improving. Saunders and Cockburn said that they are optimistic that the geldings will be healthy enough to find a permanent home at some point, but until then they are safe and loved at BRER Blue Hill.

About a third of the horses BRER rehabilitates are later given new homes, Saunders said. Another third becomes permanent sanctuary residents, and the final third are evaluated and humanely euthanized if their issues are too impactful for them to enjoy a reasonable quality of life, they said.

“Over the years we have become more sanctuary than not,” Cockburn said. She encouraged horse owners with challenges to reach out for advice and resources if they find that they are overwhelmed.

“It’s often the best thing you can do,” she said.

***Romeo, one of the horses at the new Blue Hill location. Photo by Jenna Lookner.***

Statistically, most horses will have six owners during their lifetime, Saunders said, adding that it takes a full year for a sanctuary horse— one that has experienced trauma, neglect, medical issues, or other circumstances that are particularly difficult— to settle in and feel safe and secure in a new place.

“They have been moved so much so often,” Saunders said. “We feel it takes them at least a year to believe that they are finally home.”

BRER currently has 11 horses in Brooksville and two in Blue Hill. The Brooksville herd includes two donkeys and three ponies, along with six horses. BRER acquires horses through several channels, with “surrender”--meaning given up for adoption– being one of the greatest. But the group also receives animals that have been destined for slaughter or purchased at auction from a kill pen in the nick of time.

Cockburn and Saunders said that BRER also works to assist people in placing their horses or solving problems that cause them to struggle to keep their animals. In addition, they have relationships with other rescues in the state including Horses with Hope located in Hope, Maine. BRER recently hosted a class on large animal rescue.

“We’re doing more education during the past few years,” Saunders said. “Giving back and teaching is important. The more we educate horse owners, the less likely they are to need us.”

One of their constant needs is feed and hay. The group says it is fortunate to have a small reserve fund for hay, as well as additional funds to help horse owners with expenses including gelding their male horses and a fund to assist with the expense of euthanasia so that horses do not suffer at the end of life due to a lack of funds.

Still, there is always a need on the horizon and BRER relies on donations and grants. With winter around the corner, horse care needs and expenses will increase, said Saunders and Cockburn, both of whom are volunteers.

The women said their horses only go to homes with other horses, and that the rescue retains permanent ownership of the horses they place to ensure their long-term wellbeing.

They recounted one story of a stallion that had been surrendered to them. The horse was gelded just before arrival and they consulted with the trainers at Horses with Hope about his training prognosis. He had lived in a field of mares just acting like a stallion, they said. The training evaluation went so well that he went to Horses with Hope for training where he was adopted by one of the trainers. He now lives what Saunders called “one of the most exciting lives” of any of their placements.

“He went from a delinquent to an all-star,” Cockburn said.

The BRER location on Beech Hill Road will hold an open house on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 1-3 pm, and the public is invited to tour the facility. To learn more about the organization, visit their website or Facebook Page.

Horse rescue organization expands to Blue Hill

Unusual boat taking shape in Brooklin