Welcome to Ups & Downs Acres Rescue

Our mission is to assist and provide sanctuary and comfort to abused, abandoned, discarded and unwanted horses.  Our goal is to rehabilitate not just the horses we can help, but also to allow these rescued horses to help humans cope with life's challenges as well, through equine-assisted activities. 
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HELP WANTED!!

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~~ Volunteers Needed ~~

Chores we could use help with~
- clean stalls / manure management
- fill hay nets
- help with blankets and feeding
- check/clean/fill water tanks
- pasture and fence maintenance


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Skilled riders
always welcomed and needed
to work with rescued horses --

This affords you free riding in exchange for your efforts
(free lease also available).

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NEWS:

 - 'Tis  (almost always) the Hay-Buying Season! 
     We have had a pretty great first few years as a non-profit rescue!  But, we always have very great needs...

If you have the ability to:
 
(Donating Time and/or Sweat) 

 OR
 

 your GENEROSITY will go a long way and be 
GREATLY APPRECIATED...

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 - Please see the "News and Updates" tabs to get updates: News, Events, and Planned Activities! 
   I was unsure if I would update the page frequently (or even do a blog), so I started putting news, events, and planned activities here.  But it looks like that will get too long, so I am redirecting traffic from here.  Thanks for visiting!

NOTE: This webhost is apparently unable to keep up with my posting a blog, so I have had to separate the blog posts into several pages: one from 2021-2022, and an archive (prior to April 2021) and the recent postings.  The archives are DEFINTELY worth checking out so don't skip them...!
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"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."
Quote attributed to:
~ Winston Churchill
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"Unwanted Horses"
        Have So Much Love to Give
The rescue of these horses from the unspeakable horrors of horse slaughter is the mission in our life.  But what we didn't know was how much meaning and fulfillment the horses -- once abandoned and rejected -- could give us in return.  The rescues we have all have such interesting and distinct personalities, and can draw out the best in us.
      We believe they could do that with you too...
If you have a troubled past, with trauma or abuse, you may be surprised of the benefits of just hanging out with a horse.
   Horses do not judge.
   Horses can speak to our insides, and help us release our tension and fears.
   Horses inspire.
   Horses can heal. 

 <--Note: This image provided by web host, so no privacy blurring. 
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Horses Can Heal!
So many people are finding the benefit of working with horses!  One does not have to ride in order to connect with a horse -- and to re-connect with themselves!
No better view, than that between the ears of a horse!
Whether you ride or not, it's an amazing feeling, the power of a horse.  When they let you into their presence, their guard drops -- and so will yours.
Some days, my horses are the best part of me.
When I don't feel like *doing* anything; when I don't feel like "me" anymore, I just need to connect with my horses.
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Brief Background:
Ups & Downs Acres Farm has been a working horse farm since 1975.  And long before that...  In fact, it was a working dairy and hog farm until 1972, when our family "bought the farm!" 

Rescuing Horses:
        As a kid, we always had our show ponies and horses, but my mother always had a couple of "nags" around on the farm.  They probably would have been called "rescues" if they used that term back then, because they were old, broken down, injured and "pasture sound" only; and "not useful" to anyone....  We always loved them anyway, and never thought much about having "worthless" horses on the farm along side our "valuable" performance horses.  So I guess it was ingrained in us at an early age...

      In May 2008, we took in our first rescued horse.  With that, our life's mission was discovered, and the rescue and sanctuary was born.  We took our next rescued horse in just 3 months later, and have helped 24 horses through our rescue.

      We currently offer sanctuary to 13 horses. (and many, MANY barn cats...).

      Since 2013, we have offered a volunteer "work-to-ride program," in which volunteers could donate 2 hours of work on the farm to earn about an hour of riding and horsey-time.  

     February 2018:  While we have been rescuing horses since 2008, in 2018 we made it official!  We filed our nonprofit organization with the State of Pennsylvania!

      April 2018:  We officially became a 501(c)(3) charity!  We received our IRS determination letter, and can officially start accepting donations!  Any help you can provide to help with the horses, via donations or volunteering, we would greatly appreciate.
~ Thank you so much for ANY help you can provide*!

With the change in our official status to a charity organization, we will now be able to accept financial donations in addition to -- or instead of -- volunteer work!  We are excited about this opportunity.  Why?  Because the costs and expenses of caring for the horses are so high!  (especially for neglected ones, like the "unwanted" horses we tend to take in = higher medical bills, rehabilitation, special diets, more supplements, support gear, etc.) 
     If you would like to spend time with our horses, and/or if you have interest in riding with us, please inquire about opportunities!

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How to Find Us or Contact Us:
Location:
    We are located just south of Liverpool, PA, and are an easy, half hour drive north from Harrisburg, or south from Selinsgrove. Please consider spending some time with us, volunteer your time to help us care for the horses, or come re-charge your soul, with these magnificent animals. 

   Please contact us to determine how you may help to serve our horses.  Appointments welcome!  Thank you!

   upsanddownsacres@gmail.com      

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DONATIONS:
We have obtained our tax exempt status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity! We may accept donations!

Donations would be WONDERFUL to help us help the horses --  ANYTHING you can provide would be SO GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Thank you!