News – Page 4

Theft at New GSA Location

May 23, 2017 By Karen White

On the morning of Tuesday, May 16, 2017, LeighAnn Hittle arrived to feed the horses. She discovered that our tack trailer had been broken into and $25,000 worth of our tack (e.g., saddles, girths, halters, helmets, boots) had been stolen.

THE BREAK-IN

The door of the trailer and the screen were bent and ripped. The tack portion of the trailer was almost empty.

KTVT NEWS STORY

Joel Thomas and a cameraman from KTVT arrived that afternoon to do a spot for that evening’s 5:00 newscast. They interviewed LeighAnn (the volunteer who discovered the theft), Terry Wade-Ottley (GSA’s founder and Executive Director) and Morning Star (a horse). You can see the story at: http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2017/05/17/thieves-steal-from-nonprofit/.

RESULTS

Since the story aired, several people and organizations have stepped forward with donations of saddles and other tack. However, we need more to accommodate the LISD agricultural and FFA students. Our needs include: more saddles, halters, bridles, bits, girths, safety helmets, and boots. Also on our wish list are: a round pen for training horses, a tractor to haul hay, and a new truck. Monetary donations can help us with daily care of the horses or in saving up for the large items on our wish list.

To donate money, click on the Donate button on the GSA website: www.gabbysark.org. There is also a volunteer sign-up form on the website. To contact us about anything else, email Gabby’s Sanctuary ARK at: info@gabbysark.org.

Lancaster Students Visit GSA at RCAC

May 15, 2017 By Karen White

The first class of Lancaster 9th and 10th grade agricultural students took a field trip to the Roy Crawford Agricultural Complex for a tour. We were impressed with their total interest, great questions, and awesome attitudes around the animals.

The RCAC is home to more than just Gabby’s Sanctuary ARK. We have:

CHICKENS, DUCKS, AND GEESE

The chickens, ducks, and geese are housed in a miniature farmyard where the buildings are actually coops with laying boxes where the eggs can be gathered easily.

SWINE

Two pigs currently call the Agricultural Complex home. The second one looks pretty chill!

HORSES

Gabby’s Sanctuary ARK houses their horses at the Agricultural Center. Patrick graciously took part in a demo and allowed the students to pet him. Patrick is a retired show horse who loves attention. He definitely got what he loves with our visitors.

Do you get excited about new shoes? A farrier came out to shoe some of the horses, and the students were able to watch and learn about the care of horses’ hooves and the shoe fitting process.

We at Gabby’s Sanctuary ARK look forward to working with more of the students and faculty of Lancaster ISD!

We’ve Moved!

April 27, 2017 By Karen White

Our New Location

Gabby’s Sanctuary ARK has moved to the Roy Crawford Agricultural Center at 2415 Sunny Meadows Rd., Lancaster, TX. We will work with the Lancaster Independent School District to bring the students hands-on experience in working with large animals, produce, and other agricultural interests.

Barn and Arena

Getting The Barn Ready

LISD spent a lot of time and funds to paint, repair, and improve the entire facility. In the final preparation of stalls for occupancy by horses, we lined the stalls with wooden panels and secure gates.

*Paneled Stall Before Floor Mats and Shavings*

Because the concrete floors can be tough on a horse’s unshod hooves, the floors were then covered with rubber mats and wood shavings.

Terry Wade-Ottley Spreading Shavings in Stalls

We owe a debt of gratitude to our many volunteers who worked to prepare for our current horses. However, we still need help in finishing the remaining stalls.

HAPPY HORSES!

Upon arrival at the new location, the horses immediately started to enjoy their new surroundings: the green grass, room to run, larger stalls, run-in shelters, etc. First to arrive were Foxy and Morning Star.

Foxy surveying the new pasture

Foxy Checking Out the Run-In Shelter

Morning Star and Foxy Enjoying a Run

THANK YOU!

Thank you, donors, sponsors, LISD, and volunteers for helping make our dreams come true!

We’re Making Progress!

February 22, 2017 By Karen White

Gabby’s Sanctuary ARK and the Lancaster ISD have been working on the Roy Crawford Agricultural Complex and facilities. The barns and stall bars have been painted, improvements have been made, and necessities installed.

You Can Help!

If you can swing a hammer or saw lumber, we could use your help us install wooden panels in the horse stalls on Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m. at the Roy Crawford Agricultural Center, 2415 Sunny Meadows Rd., Lancaster, TX. We need 13 stalls to accommodate the current GSA horses. There are 24 stalls in total that must be finished.

You Can Give!

Another way you can help is to sponsor a stall. A donation of $250 will pay for the paneling for one stall, thanks to a generous discount from Home Depot. A plaque showing your name will be attached to the stall that you sponsor. Additional monetary donations will help us to install the rubber mats needed to protect the horses’ hooves from the concrete floors, and add a few other items to make it safe and comfortable for the horses and LISD students.

A New Direction for a New Year

January 7, 2017 By Karen White

Roy Crawford Agricultural Center entrance.

Gabby’s Sanctuary ARK and Lancaster ISD are working together to bring FFA and agricultural sciences back to Lancaster, Texas. Within the next few weeks, the Gabby’s Ark family will be moving to the Roy Crawford Agricultural Complex, which used to house FFA and the agriculture classes for the district, but hasn’t been used for several years.

We will work with the teachers and their curriculum to help educate the students in age-appropriate hands-on work with the animals in our care, help with students’ FFA projects, and continue our mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and reintegrate animals in need.

The complex includes a large arena, classrooms, large stalls for the horses (holds up to 24), small stalls for smaller animals being raised by the students, and 10 acres of grazing land.

Repair and Maintenance Funding Needed — Repair & Maintenance Funding Needed

Repairs, changes to accommodate horses instead of cattle, and improvements are still being made prior to the move. We hope to get started during the Spring 2017 semester, but do need more funding to reach that goal. If you can help financially, please send a tax-deductible donation through PayPal at our Virtual Feed Store.