It is our continuing opinion, based on personal, direct experience with this organization, their staff, the students they serve, and the property they use that not only is this organization an excellent fit for the space and the Town, but it is an exemplary fit in support of the people they serve, stewardship of the land and buildings, care for the horses they stable and recreational and service opportunities for the residents of Monroe County, including the Town of Rush.
In addition to many 2024 winter and spring visits to the site for community birding opportunities, I personally led an educational bird hike for A Horse’s Friend’s students in May. Fifteen, 9-11 year olds attended. The kids literally “ate up” being outside learning new things – for two hours. We stopped mainly because thunder threatened! Each student was asked to state at least one thing they had learned so they could share it with AHF Executive Director Matthew Doward. They recounted favorite birds they had seen, habitat information, delight at specific bird characteristics, and one even re-sang a bird’s song I had taught them! Inner city children engaged in nature – what a gift A Horse’s Friend has brought to them. We need young people in nature and excited about the environment now more than ever
For the 5th year in a row, Rush resident Nick Kachala and I again co-led a 2024 May birding hike for the Rochester Birding Association. As in the past, we found a wonderful array of birds, experienced the AHF space in excellent, welcoming condition and introduced another ~15 people to the site. As always, AHF staff were both welcoming and enthusiastic to have more people visit. The property and horses were in outstanding condition, as always.
This spring, a Rush resident brought guidelines for appropriate horse pasturing to my attention. I personally gave the written guidelines to Director Matt and he assured me that AHF uses and meets the guidelines in the care of the horses and property as standard operating procedure. It is obvious that this is true to anyone who visits the property and sees the quality of care implemented. The students are taught this as a part of their equine practical experience.
In addition, A Horse’s Friend has gone out of its way to host many open house events for the community in an effort to help more residents understand and appreciate the many positive impacts of their program.
Had A Horse’s Friend not been in residence, in our opinion the property would have continued to deteriorate, been an unsafe blight to the area and unavailable to Rush residents for recreational purposes.