How Hooves on the Ground Is Evolving to Better Serve Vieques’ Horses and Community

Every year, Hooves on the Ground takes a step back to evaluate what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can better serve the horses of Vieques while staying responsive to the community that cares so deeply about them. Growth isn’t just about doing more—it’s about doing things better.

This year, we’re making intentional changes that allow us to be more effective, more organized, and more focused on what matters most: the health, safety, and humane treatment of Vieques’ horses.

Streamlining Communication to Serve Horses More Effectively

In the past, we’ve tried to stay accessible through multiple communication channels—including a phone line, Facebook Messenger, and email. While well-intentioned, managing messages across several platforms made it difficult to ensure urgent concerns were addressed quickly and consistently.

Through experience, we’ve learned something important: Facebook Messenger is the primary way our community already communicates. By centralizing all communication there, we can respond faster, keep conversations organized, and reduce the risk of missing time-sensitive situations involving horses in need.

Our Updated Contact Method

📩 All questions, concerns, and reports should now be sent via Facebook Messenger (direct message).

This streamlined approach allows our small team to work more efficiently—and ensures your message reaches us where we’re most active.

Redirecting Resources Directly to Animal Care

Eliminating our phone line also allows us to reduce recurring costs. Those funds don’t disappear—they’re reallocated directly to the horses, supporting medical supplies, treatments, clinics, and emergency care.

For a grassroots nonprofit operating on an island with limited resources, every dollar matters. Streamlining communication helps us put more of those dollars where they belong: on the ground, helping animals.

What Hooves on the Ground Provides

Hooves on the Ground focuses on practical, humane, community-based solutions for equine welfare in Vieques.

Our Core Services Include:

• Free monthly equine health clinics for the community

• Population control, including free castrations

• Free veterinary care for roped horses with an identified caretaker who can administer the treatments we provide

These programs are designed to support both the horses and the people caring for them, while addressing long-term welfare and population challenges on the island.

What We Are Not

It’s important to clarify expectations:

🚫 Hooves on the Ground is not a horse sanctuary.

All horses on Vieques are owned, even if they are free-roaming. Our role is to support humane care, education, and medical intervention—not to house or relocate animals.

What to Do If You See a Horse in Distress on Vieques

If you encounter a free-roaming horse that appears injured, ill, or in distress, please follow these steps:

1. Call the police first to report the situation

2. If assistance is not provided, Hooves on the Ground can step in to offer same-day humane euthanasia when necessary to prevent prolonged suffering

This protocol ensures animals receive appropriate intervention while respecting legal and community processes.

Growing With Care, Clarity, and Compassion

These updates reflect our ongoing commitment to evolve responsibly—listening to the community, learning from experience, and making decisions rooted in compassion and practicality.

By streamlining how we communicate and focusing our resources, we’re better equipped to protect Vieques’ horses today and into the future.

Thank you for growing with us, supporting humane equine care, and helping ensure that Vieques remains a place where horses are respected, protected, and treated with dignity.