Sydney Hartzog
My Nurse Mare Foals Project helps to save newborn nurse mare foals. These foals are born solely for the purpose of their mother being able to produce milk to feed another, more expensive foal. Typically the foals are separated from their mother almost immediately and the mother is typically sent to nourish a thoroughbred foal. Soon after, the nurse mare foals are left to die, or are shipped off to whoever will take them in. Usually the chances of finding these babies a forever home is not high because it is extremely expensive and time consuming to care for a foal that is so young. Slaughter houses and meat industries are ready to snatch up these newborns, and I have been active in protecting, nursing and advocating for local nurse mare foals. A close friend and I participated in a small, self-made, t-shirt business in which we designed and sold t-shirts to raise awareness and encourage nurse mare foal adoptions. All profits went directly to a locally run farm that specifically raises nurse mare foals and advertises adoption. Along with following my passion and helping these threatened newborns, I have also been an active member in several school clubs that offer aid to our environment."I truly appreciate being selected for this award. Your contribution to our community is one that will not go unnoticed."