Jaltemba Bay, Mexico - We would like to invite you to the first "Pony Up! for JEEP" Fundraiser and introduce you to Hilltop Refugio / Jaltemba Equine Education Project (JEEP,) a brand new project in Jaltemba Bay.

Hilltop Refugio was recently established by George and Loretta Leavitt (owners of Los Compadres Resort in La Peñita) and Donna Brownsfield to help large animals like horses, donkeys, and mules who are ill, malnourished, or being mistreated in the Jaltemba Bay area. George’s love of horses and his love of Mexico have been combined for over 35 years, and forming a large animal rescue group has always been his dream.

He and Loretta have donated a 3-acre site on the top of a hill in La Peñita for this project, but funds are desperately needed to build the refuge. Once completed, the general public will be welcome to visit, see, and help care for the rescue animals.

The Jaltemba Equine Education Project (JEEP) will operate in partnership with Hilltop Refugio. Their goals are to:

• Help equine owners understand and realize the full value of their animals and why it is to their benefit to keep them healthy.
• Educate children about why large farm animals, such as equines, are important to this agricultural area.
• Create opportunities for children to spend quality time with equines.
• Help the owners of these animals understand that equines can be enthusiastic and willing partners if only given the chance.

Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 23, 2013 and join us at the kickstart fundraiser for JEEP from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm at Los Compadres Restaurant. There will be gourmet pizza and drinks, music, a silent auction, a 50/50 draw, as well as some good old fashioned “horsing around.” Help us give rescued horses a chance at survival.

You can learn more about the "Pony Up! for JEEP" event here.

If you cannot attend, please stop by Los Compadres Restaurant in person or make a donation via PayPal (see the link below.) Funds are needed to pay for the ongoing cost of food, vaccinations and medication, as well as for fencing panels and shade that need to be constructed at Hilltop Refugio. The current expenses are approximately $1,500 pesos per month for each horse (there are 7 horses currently being cared for.) A community project of this magnitude needs continued local support.

Visit Hilltop Refugio/Jaltemba Equine Education Project for more information about the project. You can also read about the rescue of seven starving horses here.