Friday, March 1, is National Horse Protection Day — a holiday created to raise awareness about the abuse, neglect, homelessness, and slaughter  of horses in America and to promote public education about how people and communities can help.

HorseProtectionDayTo celebrate this year’s National Horse Protection Day, join Equamore staff and volunteers at the Ashland Art Center, which will host a special exhibit of paintings by Ashland artist and Equamore volunteer Dana Feagin.

The First Friday exhibit will feature five of Dana’s horse paintings—all residents of the Equamore Foundation Horse Sanctuary—and staff from Equamore will be on hand to talk about the sanctuary’s rescue efforts, to share success stories, and to let people in the community know how to help. With more than 170,000 unwanted horses in the United States, and with economic stress putting more at risk every day, many unwanted horses are auctioned for slaughter or die of starvation, neglect, or abuse — only a fraction find sanctuary at places like Equamore.

There are many ways to contribute to Equamore Foundation — and best of all, Dana will donate 10 percent of the proceeds from the sales of her new horse paintings to Equamore. Dana, a passionate supporter of animals, is well known in Ashland for her beautiful and whimsical animal portraits, many of which are shelter animals (she also does commissions for pet portraits!).

So come by the Ashland Art Center (357 East Main) on Friday, March 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. for wine, cheese, and conversation — and a fabulous exhibit that celebrates the beauty of horses, especially those who have found permanent sanctuary at Equamore.

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