Hooves, Paws and Claws Benefit for Aiken Equine Rescue Event to Feature BBQ Cookoff, live auction, and music
If asked to name the most admired nonprofits in our community, many people would put Aiken Equine Rescue (AER) on or near the top of their list. Don’t miss a great opportunity to support them in their endeavors at their first Hooves, Paws and Claws event to be held March 8 from 1 to 8 pm. Partnering in the event is Mollie’s Militia, which rescues dogs and cats from shelters that need a little special care before moving on to their forever homes. Held on the picturesque Aiken Equine Rescue property at 532 Glenwood Drive in Aiken, the family friendly event will feature a BBQ cookoff as well as a live auction, music, and more.
To date, $2000 in cookoff prize money has been sponsored. The total prize money will be split evenly between the two categories, BBQ and chili. In each category the first, second, and third place winners will receive 50%, 30%, and 20% respectively. “There’s so much interest in the cookoff competition! We’ve got lots of entrants already and everyone is excited about it,” Caroline Mustay, rescue manager, enthuses.
Admission to the event is just $10 a person at the door; admission includes five voting tickets. The winners in both the BBQ and chili categories will be determined by the attendees’ votes. Of course, free samples will be provided by all the contestants, and full servings can be purchased as well.
A wide variety of items have been consigned or donated for the auction. Tack, trucks, trailers, farm equipment, and farm supplies are among the items expected for the auction, but there will be all kinds of other items in all price ranges. There will also be a 50/50 drawing with $200 added, which could add up to a big payday for the winner.
Founded in 2006, the rescue is nearing a milestone of adopting out 1200 horses. Its popularity, of course, is partly due to Aiken’s long history as a “horsey” town. But many people who are not involved with horses have high praise for this 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization because it does so much more than help horses.
Caroline emphasizes, “Our philosophy is that we are supported by this community; we would not be here without this community, so we give back as much as we possibly can.” She describes some of the programs at AER. “For the past six years, we have been part of the Saratoga WarHorse program for veterans.” The mission of that program, which is offered in various locations throughout the country, is “to improve the physical, mental, and emotional health of veterans with post-traumatic stress by providing a healing, equine-assisted experience utilizing off-the-track Thoroughbreds.” It is a perfect tie-in with the rescue’s many Thoroughbreds as they transition from racing to second careers. Caroline explains that the WarHorse program runs rain or shine. The organization is grateful to a local group of people who held a fundraiser a few years ago expressly to help build the covered arena that makes it possible for the program to go on uninterrupted in bad weather. The group donated half of the cost and Jim Rhodes, president of AER, chipped in the other half.
Caroline notes that the rescue has just launched a program for women who have been trafficked, and they are working on developing a program for children with hearing disabilities. All of these programs are offered to the participants free of charge.
The rescue regularly works with at-risk youth and the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide service hours. Community service programs for adults are offered as well.
Situated on 90 acres, Aiken Equine Rescue has two missions. First, they take in and re-home Thoroughbred horses directly from racetracks. “We work with owners and trainers who genuinely care about what happens to the horses after their racing careers,” Caroline explains. “We give them an outlet for the horses to go on to do other jobs. Some have gone on to foxhunt, event, play polo, and even barrel race. We’re sort of a halfway house for those horses,” she adds with a smile.
AER’s second mission is to aid abuse and neglect cases. Caroline gestures to four small quarantine paddocks, each holding two horses in terrible condition. “We got a call from South Carolina Humane Society, with whom we work very closely, at around 2 pm last Sunday afternoon. We were on the road within half an hour to pick up these poor horses in Laurens County,” she says as she puts more hay in one paddock. Both horses gaze at her gratefully as they begin munching the hay. “Some donations are coming in especially earmarked for them, but cases like this are draining; it will take a lot of money and a lot of time to get them back in shape,” she notes.
On average, there are 65 to 70 horses on the rescue property at any given time and only three staff members: Caroline, Caitlin Brady, who is assistant manager and volunteer coordinator, and Brandon McKie, who is in charge of maintenance. Caroline emphasizes, “We are primarily run by volunteers. They really do all the mucking, watering, grooming, and help with events. We are just so fortunate that we have a great group of volunteers. There are many opportunities for volunteers at the rescue that do not require handling the horses or really any horse experience.”
Caroline points out the large run-in sheds that are available to the horses in each of the eight large pastures, as well as a smaller version in each of the 13 individual paddocks, which are typically used to acclimate a horse to the rescue before it joins a herd in a large pasture. She explains that a group of men come out almost every Wednesday to help with the maintenance projects that are always present on a farm of this size. “Last summer they took on a really big project, refurbishing all of the wooden sheds that were originally built in 2005 and were very weathered. They put on all new siding, repaired the roofs, and repainted them. They haven’t planned this summer’s big project yet, but I’m sure they will find one!” she says with a chuckle.
“We have other various church and school groups that come out on a regular basis,” Caroline says. “We’re always happy to have them and can certainly find an appropriate project for any group!”
Information for potential volunteers can be found on the website at AikenEquineRescue.org or by calling 803.643.1850. Those who can’t volunteer are encouraged to come by and see the rescue first hand. Visitors are welcome to stop in Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.
Even with all the generous help from volunteers, the cost of running the rescue is enormous. Food, vet bills, horseshoeing fees, and general maintenance are some of the ongoing costs. The rescue insists that every donation, big or small, is helpful and much appreciated. Donations are tax deductible and can be made online or by check. The rescue is also happy to assist horse owners in providing for their horses in their estate.
Hooves, Paws and Claws –
BBQ cookoff, live auction, music, and more
Sunday, March 8 • 1 – 8 pm
Aiken Equine Rescue
532 Glenwood Drive, Aiken
Benefiting Aiken Equine Rescue
and Mollie’s Militia
