Singing Holiday song to rescued Equines

This is a clip of me singing a holiday song at an amazing equine sanctuary. The back story: On a recent December Sunday I visited Equine Advocates Sanctuary in Chatham, NY. I have visited the sanctuary multiple times since first hearing about the rescue of a NYC Carriage horse named Bobby. For me, any time a carriage horse is off the streets is a happy ending. To learn Bobby was initially headed for slaughter then saved to live his life out in a sanctuary, I was curious to see for myself his new home. Since then I have happily performed for various events benefiting Equine Advocates.  

Susan Wagner the President and executive director and her sister Karen invited me to return to walk through pastures singing a holiday song Susan adapted for a virtual Holiday Greeting card.  Always one for a good time, I grabbed my guitar and with friend and EA board member Elizabeth Hess, we met Susan and Karen to film the song set to the music of Winter Wonderland. We had a blast wandering around each paddock inviting the equines to join in.  I learned that equines have a good sense of humor and fortunately for me they weren't spooked and neither was I.

I hope you enjoy this fun little holiday greeting as much as I did.

Here are some past clips I made of my visits to the Sancturary:

Bobby Rescued Carriage Horse

In my first visit to EA Bobby a NYC carriage horse had arrived after being rescued from slaughter. 

Speaking with Susan Wagner I asked her my favorite question "What's Your Inspiration?" Her inspiration for starting Equine Advocates was a rescue horse named Gandolf, but her inspiration in life is fear of doing something everyday that she can't stand, so she did something that she liked to do-rescue equines.

Return vist for Bobby's 1st year "Re-Birthday" at Equine Advocates

June 25, 2010  Cathy and Ron Wong are Bobby's sponsor.  You too can sponsorone of the many equines at the sanctuary

join my newsletter for all the latest news 

Bobby and Me Summer in the country

As the summer intensifies so does the subway and I find myself staying longer in my country get away up in Columbia County....

It was rainy last weekend when I went to visit Bobby 11 Freedom, the rescued NYC Carriage horse, now living at Equine Advocates Sanctuary in Chatham, NY. It's one year since Bobby was rescued from slaughter. Equine Advocates President & Founder, Susan Wagner and the rest of us were caught in a sudden rainstorm, but it didn't dampen the high spirits. 

Bobby was rescued on June 25, 2010 by Equine Advocates and the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages.  He was then shipped to Equine Advocates Rescue & Sanctuary in Chatham, NY where he has been retired. Bobby is sponsored by Cathy and Ron Wong. You can sponsor one of the many equines rescued and living at the sanctuary. contact Equine Advocates Sanctuary

Here's a clip I made of his re-Birthday celebration:

Elizabeth Hess an Equine Advocates board member, avid animal rights activist and author (Nim Chimpsky), brought me along to the party.  We took my two poodles Etta and Lily who loved the attention.

I'll be heading back to the subway after a summer break excited to know Bobby is retired from the city grind living happily at Equine Advocates.  

The birthday celebration was written about in an article about Bobby by Karrie Allen of The Chatham Courier

Here's a previous clip I made from my intial visit to the sanctuary when Bobby first arrived.

Fall Colors up-state of bliss

I am writing from upstate NY where I've been all week.  The fall colors are amazing now finally transitioning from sharp fluorescent to muted golds and reds. I visited Equine Advocates a horse sanctuary as a guest of author and animal rights angel, Elizabeth Hess. And then on to Spruce Ridge Farm an Alpaca farm, to film clips for my Art For Animals benefit concert November 19th in Hudson, NY (I'm sharing the stage with Laurie Anderson, Joy Askew and Ruth Reichl will be curating food for the cocktail party beforehand). I plan on performing to a clip I'm creating featuring people and the animals that Inspire them, much like the clip I made for my Joe's Pub gig to share why I perform in the subway.

Equine Advocates is in Chatham, NY where I had an amazing tour from none other than director and visionary Susan Wagner and her sister Karen.  I met Bobby the rescued New York City carriage horse, (read my blog about Bobby) now living in horse heaven, he looks fantastic and happy.  On November 6th, Equine Advocates is having an amazing benefit and dance performance with horses, if you're in the area should not be missed.  Actress Joan Allen is hosting, follow this link to learn more.

Later in the week on another gorgeous Fall day, (so beautiful in fact that I had a hard time imagining I would be back performing in Grand Central next Tuesday) I visited Spruce Ridge Farm owned and operated by Jeff Lick and Steve McCarthy. Watching the strangely other worldly looking Alpacas frolicing in the pastures was breathtaking. And talking with the guys about their inspiration for changing their lives dramatically to live and work on a farm, inspirational.

Filming and talking with Susan and her staff at Equine Advocates and Jeff and Steve with their Alpacas, gave me a deep sense of their shared commitment and love for animals. 

If you find yourself in Columbia County NY, I encourage you to call and visit these amazing farms.

Stay tuned for my latest clips of Inspirations from my visits!

Susan Wagner, Equine Advocates

Jeff Lick and Steve McCarthy, Spruce Ridge Farm