Central Virginia Horse Rescue: Together We Save Lives
Central Virginia Horse Rescue was founded by Cindy Smith in 2010. She lived in Brunswick County and saw a sad mule at auction who was turned away. She found the seller and bought Rosebud in the back of a parking lot for $25. Rosebud lived with Cindy for four years.
The rescue was originally located in Brunswick, they now have a permanent home in Fredericksburg, Virginia. When Cindy was diagnosed with cancer it became harder to maintain the rescue.
That is when her daughter Stacy Franklin took over the management of Central Virginia Horse Rescue as the Executive Director.
Stacy learned to ride horses before she could walk. A horse rider since she was 3 years old, she has a true passion and empathy for these magnificent animals.
They bought their property in Fredericksburg in August of 2022, just shy of a year old, this organization has made a difference for horses in difficult situations.
The horses come from a variety of places; however, they prioritize animal control and always maintain a spot for these cases.
They also get their horses from owner surrenders and occasionally adopted horses return due to the change of circumstances of the adoptee.
They have a max capacity of 34 spots. Thirty of those spots are for the big horses and four are for the mini horses.
They currently have 21 horses at the rescue right now. They are a publicly founded organization. This rescue depends on the donations of the community.
When you donate to the Central Virginia Horse Rescue you are donating for the veterinary care of these horses, their feed, their specialized medication, and their rehabilitation needs.
Stacy gives thanks to the volunteers, as the rescue only has 2 part-time employees. Currently, they have a volunteer base of 300 people, and they continue to grow.
They want these horses to go to adoptable homes to live out their lives in serenity. The challenge is that some of these horses have been through some trauma or are retired horses and they are not for riding. They are truly companion animals who just need a field to graze, and to be groomed and loved on.
This is why they have a true focus on re-training the young horses who can still work a farm to protect them from ending up on auction or being euthanized due to lack of training.
If you’re thinking about adopting a horse, come to the rescue and meet them. Stacy says, to determine what you are looking for and know what the expectations are. Don’t try to make the horse fit into a box, it’s not designed to fit. The staff at the center will help match you with your forever horse.
As a publicly funded organization, they are always looking for volunteers.
There are different ways to volunteer at the rescue.
Taking care of the horses
Marketing Help
Fundraising
Barn Maintenance
Lawn Maintenance
This beautiful property tucked in Fredericksburg is worth the drive. If you would like to support or volunteer at the Central Virginia Horse Rescue, please visit their website https://centralvahorserescue.org/
Neighbors of Courthouse want to feature non-profit organizations making a difference in our community. To nominate a charity for our Charity Spotlight email lizhensel@bestversionmedia.com
