MIDDLEBORO — They didn’t horse around when it came to holiday spirit at Oak Point.

Visitors arrived on horseback Sunday, Dec. 11 to spread holiday cheer to residents of the 55-plus community and to increase awareness of Amazing Grace Equine, a Middleboro non-profit that helps save horses from potential slaughter by finding them new homes.

The annual visit from horses and their two-legged companions takes place shortly before Christmas to “spread holiday cheer,’’ said Derel Lee Twombly, founder and director of the equine rescue. 

The horses that visited Oak Point were not necessarily rescues but all the riders were avid supporters of the organization, Twombly said. Many sported colorful holiday-inspired attire.

“We’re spreading holiday cheer,’’ she said.

In turn, the residents chose to give gifts to the riders, for a total by day’s end of $157 donated to the organization.

“That’s fantastic,’’ Twombly said. “That will buy a few bags of grain.’’

Bags of grain come in handy for the group. 

The organization is dedicated to ensuring that horses that people can no longer keep receive good homes. Twombly creates videos of the horses in need of re-homing and posts them on the organization's Web site, amazinggraceequine.com,  in an attempt to draw attention to the animals.

“An act as simple as sharing a video can save a horse’s life,’’ she said. “We act as an agent of the horse to keep the horse safe.’’

Although the bulk of her rehoming happens online between individuals, she has several “emergency’’ stalls in Middleboro for horses that need immediate placement to avoid the horse facing a dire fate, including potential slaughter.

Horse slaughter is illegal in the United States, so unwanted horses sometimes are transported across the border to their death, she said. “Inhumane would be a euphemism,’’ she said. “Inhumane would be a gross understatement.’’

Her organization works to instead find a “safe landing’’ for horses, she said.

Seeing horses flourish in new homes, particularly those who might otherwise face a tragic fate, brings year-round rewards, Twombly said.

“Christmas is a time of caring and giving,’’ she said. “I get that Christmas feeling year-round.’’

To learn more about Amazing Grace Equine, visit amazinggraceequine.com or, for the most updated information, check out the group’s Facebook page facebook.com/wesavehorses.