Howdy Folks,
Since 2003 Eagle
Hill Equine Rescue has found wonderful, loving homes for over 1,000 horses.
Their mission is to, "To provide a safe, loving environment for any horse,
but especially rescued newborn, weanling and yearling horses that would
otherwise fall into the wrong hands."
Foals and young
horses they rescue find "everlasting" homes where they can live their
lives as happy partners and family members, are the byproducts of a
sub-industry in the Thoroughbred Racing world known as "Nurse Mare
Foals."
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| Nurse Mare Foals arriving at Eagle Hill from Kentucky-Every sweet baby here was adopted into loving homes, |
What is a Nurse
Mare Foal? "These are foals that are orphaned, by design, and are in need
of being rescued as young as 4 days old. Their natural mothers are leased out
as 'wet nurses' or 'surrogate mothers' to support the newly born Thoroughbred
foals, and at times foals that have lost their mothers, or are rejected foals.
This practice allows the Thoroughbred mares to be immediately sent to breeding
farms to be rebred to produce yet another foal for the racing industry."
Explains Annie Delp, Executive Director of Eagle Hill Equine Rescue a
non-profit organization.
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| Jubilee was the "Nurse Mare Foal" in the picture above second from the front - here she is all grown up with her owner, Hanna |
Other rescues are
mares and foals from Pregnant Mare Urine (PMU) farms. In fact it was the
suffering of PMU mares and foals that first caused Annie to hear the calling to
open a rescue when she learned 12 PMU mares, due to deliver in a few weeks
needed immediate rescue from slaughter in 2003. She and her husband, Steve,
welcomed them to their 43 acre farm they'd purchased just months earlier to
fulfill Steve's dream of building a golf course. Those PMU mares, their soon to
be born babies, and their 5 personal horses, (3 they'd just recently adopted),
gave birth to a new life's direction from golf to helping to save and change
lives in both humans and horses.
The spirit at
Eagle Hill is one of helping, healing and changing lives. Over the years more
horses found refuge, shelter, healing and new beginnings under the watchful
eyes and tender care of Annie, Steve, and the growing numbers of devoted
volunteers, as new avenues of helping became obvious.
Support has
grown, and with it more opportunities to help within their community. Horizons,
a day program for mentally challenged adults visits weekly, and children with
special needs are always welcome to visit with Eagle Hill's mascot minis
Sampson and Delilah, who also visit pre-schools, local events, and nursing
homes. Eagle Hill also supports scouting activities and 4H groups, and helps
teach safety, the joy of volunteering, and the responsibility of pet owners to
give love and proper care to their pets.
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| Eagle Hill Birthday Party with Sampson & Delilah |
They also welcome
quite a few Off The Track Thoroughbreds horses. "They are easily adoptable
after a bit or re-training and many have gone on to show, while others are enjoying
a life of leisure being loved and enjoying trail rides." Annie explained.
This led to another new avenue of ways to help and change lives. Re-training
the retired race horses has allowed many individuals to experience the fun of
learning along with the horses.
"We are
blessed to have a wonderful volunteer trainer here 4 days a week and Jeff has
created a group of High School and College aged riders who are learning natural
training methods. And once trained they are ridden around the farm by his students
and adults who are once again entering in the equine world. Hundreds of
school age children are accumulating Community Service hours for school and
college applications. We currently have 6 former volunteers who are
attending college to study to become Veterinarians and 3 others who are
finishing their Medical Degrees." Said Annie.
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| Mouse loaded and ready to head out for his new "Everlasting Home." |
Serving those who
serve our country has always been a priority to Annie. Her father and husband
both retired from the Army. Annie serves at Arlington National Cemetery attending
Army funerals once a month, and both she and Steve volunteer for the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Fund. Introducing Wounded Warriors to horses, or encouraging
former riders to realize that disabilities can be overcome and their lives with
horses has not been limited by their disability, is paramount in their overall
recovery. Not all injuries are obvious and the healing that horses
provide is priceless.
Eagle Hill
continues to grow in knowledge and remains one of the larger equine rescues on
the east coast. "Many of our happy adopted horses leave Virginia for their
new homes throughout the East Coast." Annie said. "We currently have
about 50 horses up for adoption, ranging from Drafts, Thoroughbreds and Quarter
Horses to pony size horses that make ideal first horses for children."
Gitty Up ~ Dutch
Henry
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