Join Our Herd!

Renee Avery & Family

Ashley Wickerson & Family

Christina Harmon & Family

Melinda Tomaino

Lee & Adrienne Johnson

Renee Avery & Family ⭐ Ashley Wickerson & Family ⭐ Christina Harmon & Family ⭐ Melinda Tomaino ⭐ Lee & Adrienne Johnson ⭐

Herd Membership

Thank you to our current Herd Members!

Sponsor the care of one of our residents, and gain exclusive access to our farm, events, and more!

One of our goals is to provide more opportunities for people to interact with equines. Herd membership is an excellent way to offer access to people hoping to learn more about and regularly spend time with horses, donkeys, and mules, without the commitment and responsibility of ownership.

What our members have to say…

“I have had the immense joy of being a Herd Member at ECC, and getting the opportunity to spend so much up-close-and-personal time with the herd has been truly life-changing for me and my family; it’s the next best thing to owning a horse of our own!”

“Such an impressive and rare opportunity to get to work with equines. I am a herd member sponsor of a donkey and I visit often. I really enjoy the sights, sounds, and love I get from these animals.”

Membership Levels

There are three Herd Membership levels, designed to make getting involved and supporting the sanctuary as accessible as possible. Platinum membership is full sponsorship, while Gold and Silver are partial sponsorships.

Review what is included in membership at each level below.

  • Platinum - $300/month

    Fully supports monthly care for an equine!

    Perks include:

    ⭐ Safety and basic handling training

    ⭐ Full access to the facility during operational hours to visit with the herd and to carry out approved activities

    ⭐Two EAL sessions each month with a facilitator to build trust, communication, and skills working with your equine partner

    ⭐ One complimentary item from our virtual store and discounts on future merchandise

    ⭐ Invitation to Herd Member Only events

    ⭐ Exclusive subscription to our Herd Members’ Newsletter to be notified of updates, upcoming events, and more

  • Gold - $200/month

    Supports the monthly cost of feed & forage for an equine

    Perks include:

    ⭐ Safety and basic handling training

    ⭐ Prescheduled access to the facility during operational hours to visit with the herd and to carry out approved activities with your equine partner

    ⭐ Discounts on merchandise purchases from our store

    ⭐ Exclusive subscription to our Herd Members’ Newsletter to be notified of updates, upcoming events, and more

  • Silver - $100/month

    Supports a portion of the monthly care costs for an equine animal.

    Perks include:

    ⭐ Safety and basic handling training

    ⭐ Four monthly scheduled visits to the facility to visit with the herd and to carry out approved activities with your equine partner

    ⭐ Exclusive subscription to our Herd Members’ Newsletter to be notified of updates, upcoming events, and more

FAQs

  • Anyone 18 years or old is eligible for membership! No experience required - we will train you and provide guidance on safety and handling as you build your skills.

    You must acknowledge and agree to all ECC rules and complete full safety training & assessment before your membership benefits will be in full effect.

    Memberships are for individuals only. If you are interested in extending membership privileges to include guests such as family members or friends, please contact us directly to discuss a custom plan.

  • We ask that you commit to a year of membership at a time, but you may cancel at any time with 30-days notice (you will be billed for one final month after your date of cancellation).

    Membership fees will be automatically charged to your payment method the first week of each month.

  • Caring for an equine animal can easily cost upward of $300/month depending on the animal’s needs, exclusive of facility costs (field boarding in Northern VA generally runs about $450-500). A general breakdown of our costs are as follows:

    Approximate, Average Monthly Expenses per Horse:

    -4 bags of pelleted feed, $120

    -Forage such as hay, $35

    -Supplements and Medication, $80

    -Half farrier cost for routine hoof trim (6-8 week cycles), $20

    -Staff time for care and training, $60 (minimum)

    TOTAL: $315/month

    Not included above:

    -Miscellaneous consumables such as barn stock medications, topicals, and treats

    -Replacement tack and gear such as halters, lead ropes, etc.

    -Weather related gear such as blankets, sheets, and fly protection

    -Veterinary costs

    -Annual dental care

    -Emergency or corrective farrier work

    -Semi-annual deworming

    -Facilities maintenance such as fencing, shelters, grounds upkeep, etc.

    -Care performed by volunteers, physical therapy sessions, bodywork, etc.

  • Monthly perks such as included sessions with a facilitator or scheduled access to the facility are good for each month only. Unused perks do not roll over into future months and are non-transferrable. We sincerely appreciate your support and want to ensure that you get the most value out of your membership by using all benefits each month whenever possible.

Interested in Herd Membership for your business?

Organizational Memberships are available for your to offer all the benefits of our farm to your employees while supporting the care of one of our residents. Make one of our animals your mascot! Contact us at info@equineconnectioncenter.com to learn more today!

Have you heard about virtual membership?

We understand that regular, hands-on interaction with the herd might not be possible for everyone! Work schedules, physical limitations, or geographic distance might make it challenging to enjoy the benefits of herd membership at ECC.

Consider Virtual Membership as a way to stay connected, support the animals, and receive exclusive insider access and updates!

Virtual Membership Perks include:

⭐ Weekly video message from the herd, just for you!

⭐ Giftable certificate featuring the rescue story of one of our animals

⭐ Discounts on merchandise

⭐ Exclusive subscription to our Herd Members’ Newsletter to be notified of updates, upcoming events, and more

Questions?