Sixteen Hands horses around for Hayday

Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary hosted a free event for the public to learn about the rescue. 

The event was held Sunday, April 24, at the Hay Barn in Myakka City. Families and local residents got to pet some of the sanctuary’s horses, watch a Parelli Natural Horsemanship demonstration and learn more about the care and wellbeing of equines. 

The event was held in conjunction with American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal’s (ASPCA) Help a Horse Day, a contest held by the organization every year to bring awareness to cruelty to horses. Sixteen Hands is competing with other horse rescues across the country to win a grant.

Jay Leverone of Sarasota brought Terrell Jones, his little in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, because Jones has always liked horses, he said. Jones spent most of his time at the event feeding hay to the horses. 

“It’s good how they teach you about the care of the animals,” Leverone said.