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2021 Intakes

We have had a busy month and a half at Central Virginia Horse Rescue! So far this year we have taken in a total of 7 horses, all from owner surrender situations.

In January, we brought in Shadow and Marcus through our Safety Net program. Their owner was unable to keep them and needed a place for them to go. Marcus was adopted privately through a rescue staff member and Shadow has been receiving the care that he needs to be ready for adoption. Shadow is an almost 23 year old branded Standardbred. Shadow has tested well with everything and was formally made available for adoption after his farrier appointment this week.

The next three intakes also came back to the rescue through our Safety Net program when their owner was no longer able to keep them. Little Hope is back with the rescue and after an evaluation period will be available again. Hope was broken under saddle last year and is a petite Arabian/Quarter Horse mare. She is approximately 10 years old.

Along with Hope, we also brought in her pasture mates, Zeus and Artemis. Zeus is a senior branded Standardbred that is approved for light riding due to a previous injury that he had. We haven’t noticed any soundness issues with him but will be monitoring for any issues during his evaluations. Artemis is a senior tattooed BLM Mustang. Artemis has tested well in all situations and we are awaiting nicer weather to test her under saddle. She loaded on the trailer, stood for the farrier and has been enjoying being spoiled by our volunteer team.

Intakes 6 and 7 were also in the first week of February. Bo and Susan arrived, through our Safety Net program as well when their owner needed to find a home for them due to circumstances beyond her control. Bo and Susan came in as a bonded pair but they are adjusting well to being a part of the mini herd.

Susan has proven to be a little challenging to catch and our volunteer team is working with her on socialization so that she will be able to go to a good home. Bo appears to have settled in better and will come up to visitors when in the pasture.

As we finish up the evaluations and determine their needs, our newest intakes will be made available. Some may be available earlier than others depending on their own individual needs.

Each incoming horse receives an evaluation and has services scheduled as needed such as vet exams, farrier care and dental floats. Through our rescue supporters and donors, each horse is able to receive this necessary care to prepare them for their adoptive homes. Your donations help to provide these horses with a second chance.

The current pandemic has been hard on the horse community in general. There are a lot more horses needing your help more than ever. We thank you for making it possible for us to be able to care for these beautiful animals.

We thank you for your Support of our residents and adoptable horses!

New Horse Farrier Care

New Horse Dental Care

New Horse Health Package

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February Volunteer of the Month

We would like to introduce Carly as our volunteer of the month of February. Each month, our volunteer team votes on a volunteer that is the “Volunteer of the Month.”

Carly was nominated by multiple people for the passion and drive she brings to the rescue. Carly is one of our newer volunteers and while she is not a current horse owner, she has previously ridden dressage with her previous horse, Chief.

Carly had approximately two days of training before I was diagnosed with COVID and as the saying goes, she was “baptized by fire.” Carly stepped up and was at the farm every opportunity that she could be here to help ensure that the horses were cared for.

On Carly’s volunteer inquiry, her answer to why she wanted to volunteer was because she was really missing the connection with horses that she had after losing her horse in July and moving to the area in October.

Carly continues to be a huge asset to the rescue in her dedication to their care and also assisting in training of new volunteers as they come in. Please join us in not only welcoming Carly to the CVHR team but also in being nominated and chosen as our Volunteer of the Month of February!

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Not So Baby Chase Heads to Boot Camp

In late 2018 we pulled a dapple gray BLM Mustang mare we named Fable and her little baby colt from a kill pen in Oklahoma.  The colt we named Chase and we watched him grow alongside his mother at our farm in Kenbridge.

Baby Chase with his mother in 2018.

Chase was moved to our Fredericksburg farm location in June of 2020.  When his pasture mate was adopted we sent him on a training foster with one of our volunteers.  At that time, Chase was unable to be handled in the slightest bit.  His halter remained on at all times with a lead dangle at the bottom so that you could grab him if you needed to.  The sound of the clip from the lead line would cause him to bolt.  Cindy had made great progress with him before his gelding but the gelding process set him back again and we were starting over with gaining his trust.

Chase at his foster farm morning February 7, 2021.

Chase has remained with his handler until today when we were able to successfully move him from their barn to the Advantage Horsemanship barn in Stafford.  Moving Chase to the Advantage Horsemanship barn was a task but with a lot of teamwork from both locations we were able to get him onto the trailer and then off of the trailer and into the corral they set up specifically for him.

Chase has proven to be an incredibly intelligent horse through his training however that also makes his training a little more difficult.  Chase remembered his touch training that he had been doing with his handler today with Scott during his initial meet once we got him to their barn.  He was curious enough to want to come up to us while we had him corralled and would continue to take treats or his feed from our hands.  Eventually, after a lot of patience and work, Scott was able to get the final clip attached on Chase’s halter and we all decided to leave things on a good note with him at that point.

Scott’s initial work with Chase on his halter.

We are looking forward to seeing Chase progress further with Scott at their facility.  You can follow his progress on their Facebook page, Advantage Horsemanship with Scott Purdum.  Additionally, we will be sharing progress reports through our website and social media.  We know great things are in store for Chase and we are excited to give him this opportunity to advance his training.

You can sponsor Chase’s training through PayPal, Facebook or Venmo.

Chase’s Sponsorships