A winter fundraiser was sponsored by Foundation friend and teacher Joan O’Connell at the school where she teaches. With the money raised by the students, Kaeli’s Foundation rescued a 15 year old mustang mare. She was purchased at an auction in upstate NY on Feb. 19, 2010. The Foundation outbid a well known “killer buyer”, who was the only other bidder. If this individual had purchased the mare she would have traveled over the border, under the most inhumane conditions, to be slaughtered for food. She is currently at a Pennsylvania farm where she is settling in and enjoying a fresh start. To begin her new life,the students held a contest to name her. She is now called Abigail, Abby for short, after their school which is known as the Abigail Adams School. The students also read books about the mustangs and learned about their place in American history. Many wrote book reports. One fifth grader, Tahiya Choudhury, authored her own well written and compassionate book about horse care which we intend to use in our equine care program.
Teacher Joan O’Connell and her students