"Together we can do so much!"
Collaborating with others gives Brook Hill Farm the opportunity to have a greater impact on the community, and as a result, the farm is able to help even more people and horses every day! Brook Hill Farm’s mission begins with education, and collaboration is a great way to educate the public about rescue horses and the benefits of Equine Assisted Services.
Our Community
Bedford County Animal Control
Brook Hill Farm has partnered with Bedford County to provide rescue services to horses in need. This agreement ensures that all horses donated from the county will receive immediate care including feed, medical attention, rehabilitation and foster care as set forth in Brook Hill Farm’s policies.
Padfoot came to Brook Hill Farm through Animal Control. Take a good look at her feet. Thanks to lots of TLC from the farrier, she is now in her adoptive home, with proper foot care!
Bedford County Public Schools
Brook Hill Farm partners with the Bedford County School system to help the youth in the alternative school graduate from high school in the Schooling with Horses program. This partnership has been so valuable for the students and Brook Hill Farm, helping both students and horses succeed!
Colleges and Universities
Brook Hill Farm partners with the local colleges in the area providing internships and volunteer opportunities, as well as offers classes and guest lectures at the following colleges and universities: Randolph College, University of Lynchburg, Liberty University, Sweet Briar College, and Central Virginia Community College. The Executive Director, Jo Anne Miller is always away on Wednesday afternoons teaching Equine Science classes at Randolph College, helping to fulfill the mission of equine education.
Our State
VAERO
The Virginia Alliance of Equine Rescue Organizations was begun with the idea to unite the non-profit rescues or shelters in Virginia that care for horses in need. Because rescuing horses is expensive, stressful, and requires lots of hard work, Brook Hill Farm, Equine Welfare Society and White Bird Appaloosa brought the rescue groups together to help each other. The VAERO alliance allows all of us to better share resources, network, and support each other in working to support horses in need.
Virgina Horse Council
The Virginia Horse Industry Board promotes and develops economic opportunities for the betterment of the horse industry in Virginia. The Virginia horse industry is an important broad based, multi-faceted segment of state agriculture. The board was established in 1994 as the result of legislation and a statewide referendum. This board operates through the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Our Executive Director, Jo Anne Miller is honored to serve on the board.
Virginia 4-H
In conjunction with Virginia Tech, Brook Hill Farm has a 4-H Horse and Pony Club open to participants. The 4-H Horse Program teaches equine selection, nutrition, management, riding, recreation, fun, and horsemanship. The 4-H program believes that horseback riding provides an outdoor sports fitness program for physical, personal, and emotional development, including confidence building. The sport can develop into a life-long hobby or business. Our Executive Director, Jo Anne Miller and our Assistant Director Tracy Russler, serve on the Central District Horse Council administrative board and the State Equine Advisory Council, helping to promote the educational programs in both the district and the state. 4-H members can participate in Equismartz, the State Horse Show, State Fair, the State 4-H Horse Camp, the Mary Cole 50-mile Horsemaster Trail Ride, Horsemanship Skills, the 4-H Horse Ambassador Program, curriculum development, and other horse programs.
Old Dominion Region United States Pony Club
The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., develops character, leadership, conficence, and a sense of community in youth through a program that teaches the care of horses, riding, and mounted sports. The Assistant Director has served on the Old Dominion Regional Board promoting sportsmanship, stewardship and leadership through horsemanship.
Our Nation
United Horse Coalition
Brook Hill participates in the Equine Welfare Data Collective, a collaboration that accumulates, analyzes, and reports data to enhance programming for transitioning and at-risk equines.
Equus Foundation
The Equus Foundation is the only national animal welfare charity in the United States 100% dedicated to safeguarding the comfort and dignity of America’s horses throughout their lives and sharing their magic and power with as many people as possible. The organization’s mission is to protect America’s horses and strengthen the bond between horses and people. Our Executive Director is the Chari of the Equine Welfare Committee, and helps with educational webinars for the organization
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
The 501(c)(3) nonprofit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association Inc., the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals, and other industry groups. Since 2012, the TAA has granted more than $10.8 million to accredited aftercare organizations. Currently, 64 organizations (with approximately 180 facilities and 7,000 horses) hold TAA accreditation.
The TAA’s Code of Standards and accreditation process have been reviewed and approved by the American Humane Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and has received the 2013 Special Eclipse Award honoring extraordinary service, individual achievements in, or contributions to the sport of Thoroughbred racing.
Brook Hill Farm is proud to be fully accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Brook Hill works as an adviser with other thoroughbred rescue organizations in order to meet the standards needed to reach full accreditation by this important organization in the aftercare of thoroughbreds.
Homes for Horses Coalition
The Homes for Horses Coalition is a national coalition dedicated to increasing collaboration, professionalism and growth in the equine rescue and protection community. The members are committed to ending horse slaughter and all other forms of equine abuse. The coalition is a joint initiative of the Animal Welfare Institute, the ASPCA, and the Humane Society of the United States. There are currently more than 440 members representing horse rescue and sanctuary throughout the United States and beyond.
Jo Anne Miller, the Executive Director has worked closely with this organization at its annual national conferences supporting the education of the coalition members.
Our World
Human and Horses Research Foundation
The Human and Horses Research Foundation was created to invest in rigorous research, serving as a catalyst to advance global knowledge of horse-human interactions and their impact on health and wellness. Brook Hill Farm works with this organization, helping to facilitate investment in their visionary research.
Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries
Every day, all over the world, wild and domestic animals are abandoned, displaced, or injured by natural causes and by humans. The sole purpose of The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) is to ensure that these animals receive the highest standard of care during rescue, rehabilitation, and for the rest of their lives.
GFAS is the only globally recognized organization to certify that a facility meets their very rigorous Standards of Excellence, and recognizes such a facility as a true “sanctuary”. As such, facilities around the world, large and small, come to GFAS for guidance and support to strive for, achieve, and maintain the coveted “GFAS-Accredited Sanctuary” status.
The Vision:
A world in which sanctuaries provide lifetime humane care to all animals in need.
The Mission:
To continuously improve the quality of care for animals requiring sanctuary by:
Accrediting sanctuaries based on worldwide standards of excellence
Facilitating operational and financial support
Enhancing effectiveness, recognition, and collaboration
Brook Hill Farm continues to meet those rigorous standards, and is proud to be fully accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. Brook Hill helps and supports GFAS’s educational programs in a number of ways, including providing a webinar on how to create a business plan, and reviewing educational modules for the organization.
PATH International Premier Accredited Center
Mission
The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl) promotes safety and optimal outcomes in equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs.
PATH Intl. Vision
The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) is a global authority, resource and advocate for equine-assisted activities and therapies and the equines in this work that inspire and enrich the human spirit.
What is PATH Intl.?
PATH Intl. was founded in 1969 as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) to promote safe and effective therapeutic horseback riding throughout the United States and Canada. Today, PATH Intl. has more than 880 member centers and more than 8,000 individual members in countries all over the world, who help and support more than 66,000 men, women and children–including more than 6,200 veterans–with special needs each year through a variety of equine-assisted activities and therapy programs.
Though PATH Intl. began with a focus on horseback riding as a form of physical and mental therapy, the organization and its dedicated members have since developed a multitude of different equine-related activities for therapeutic purposes, collectively known as equine-assisted activities and therapies. Besides horseback riding, the organization includes work in therapeutic carriage driving, interactive vaulting, equine assisted learning, hippotherapy, and equine facilitated psychotherapy. The PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes®, uses a variety of disciplines specifically to help war veterans and military personnel. In addition, many PATH Intl. volunteer-driven committees are working on identifying and refining even more disciplines and activities that might be put to use in the world of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies.
Many of the staff works with PATH International in providing articles for their Strides Magazine, presents educational sessions at the state and national conferences, and served on the Equine Welfare Committee, the Programs and Oversite Committee, and the Inclusion and Diversity workgroup.
The Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International AISBL
With members in over 45 countries worldwide, the Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International AISBL is a non-profit organization established in 1974. Their mission is to facilitate the worldwide collaboration between organizations and individuals whose objectives are philanthropic, scientific and educational in the field of equine assisted activities and therapies. HETI has held 16 International Triennial Scientific and Educational Congresses and has an annual peer-reviewed journal ‘The Scientific and Educational Journal of Therapeutic Riding’ with an archive containing over 20 years of publications.
Jo Anne Miller, the Executive Director, was proud to present Brook Hill Farm’s research on Equine Assisted Learning at the 2018 HETI World Conference in Dublin, Ireland.
The International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO) is the global association of organizations that provides international leadership in advancing the field of Human-Animal Interaction. This is accomplished through research, education, and collaboration among the membership, policy makers, practitioners, other human-animal interaction organizations and the general public.
The Executive Director, Jo Anne Miller participated in the international conference at Green Chimney’s in Brewster, NY in 2019 for the 5th Trienniel IAHAIO Conference. She presented Brook Hill Farm’s research in Equine Assisted Learning in Education to the attendees.