Hope’s Legacy Equine Rescue, Inc.
Why We Exist
Hope’s Legacy Equine Rescue is an all-breed rescue working to save equines from abuse, abandonment, neglect, slaughter, or when owners can no longer provide care. We take in animals regardless of age or disability. Our goal is to rehabilitate these majestic animals and find new loving homes for them.
We take in animals from law enforcement, who rarely have space to house equines, and from private citizens. Typically the owner surrendering an equine is female, over 60, owns 2 or more horses or donkeys, is low-to middle income, and is experiencing a crisis. Since the pandemic started, 98% of our rescues have come from owners in crisis.
We are also dedicated to working with our future generation, teaching them responsible equine care.
Since 2008 Hopes Legacy has taken in 440 equines, 101 in 2021 alone. In 2017 the Rescue purchased 172 acres in western Albemarle county, where we are building a working Farm. Thanks to our donors and volunteers, Hopes Legacy made the final payment on Castle Rock Farm 3/17/21. Our support comes from private donors (80%), foundation grants (10%), in-kind donations (5%) and adoption fees (5%). We receive no government support.
What We Do
Our primary service is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome Virginian horses, donkeys, mules, miniature horses and ponies. We assist both private citizens and Animal Control, either through court-ordered seizures or owner surrenders.
Our current outreach programs include:
Open House for Animal Control Officers (ACOs) at Castle Rock Farm. This is a twice-yearly event. We found many ACOs are unfamiliar with handling equines; the Open House gives them targeted, hands-on experience with expert guidance.
Books at the Barn. Children, ages 6-14, meet the horses and donkeys, learn about them and their care, and read to them at each visit. We partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters for this program. In 2021 we hosted 55 children at Books at the Barn.
Public Open Houses: self-guided tours are offered periodically throughout the year with a full staff of volunteers to help educate the public on why equine rescue is needed and about the different animals they see at Castle Rock Farm.
We also host 4H, Pony Club and youth groups, teaching proper horse care and maintenance, hoping to help reduce future rescue situations.
Who We Serve
Our two audiences are Animal Control agencies and private citizens in Virginia. Since the pandemic began, our rescues have come overwhelmingly from private citizens.
The person typically surrendering her animals to Hopes Legacy is a woman, 60 years old or older, who owns more than one equine, and is experiencing a medical, financial or personal crisis. We take in animals like Blaze and Bandit, whose owner, in his 70s, was physically unable to provide care for them any longer. Or Monty and Hooty, who were adopted through Hopes Legacy, but their owner was faced with a pending divorce. All animals adopted through Hopes Legacy have a safety net. Although it is rare, if for any reason our adopters can no longer care for the animals, we will take them back and find another home for them.
Animal Control seizures receive priority at Hopes Legacy because the animals they take in are neglected, abused and most in need of our care.
Since moving to our permanent home, Castle Rock Farm, our intake has increased 30% every year. From 56 in 2019 to 76 in 2020 to 101 in 2021. We expect 125 equines in 2022.
Where We Serve
Why Community Members Support Our Work
Horse rescue is a hidden need in Virginia. We estimate there are 4,000 unwanted horses in the Commonwealth every year. This is why Hopes Legacy has invested in a permanent location on the Albemarle-Nelson County border called Castle Rock Farm. We are building this farm from the ground up, primarily with volunteer labor, to:
1) Increase our Rescue housing capacity to 50 equines by 2024. In the past 4 years we have fenced 33 acres, installed 8 run-in sheds, a medical barn and hay barn, and we rehabbed a house into our volunteer center at Castle Rock Farm! We have much more to do! Our first permanent large scale building project, our INTAKE BARN, is planned for October, 2022. The Intake Barn increases our capacity another 26% at Castle Rock Farm.
2) Increase our outreach to the community through Books at the Barn, youth, 4H, and Pony Club programs, teaching respect for animals and proper horse maintenance. We believe this will help prevent future rescue situations.
3) Serve as a model of best practices for environmental responsibility through land and water stewardship.
How Volunteers Contribute to our Work:
Horse rescue is a hidden need in Virginia. We estimate there are 4,000 unwanted horses in the Commonwealth every year. This is why Hopes Legacy has invested in a permanent location on the Albemarle-Nelson County border called Castle Rock Farm. We are building this farm from the ground up, primarily with volunteer labor, to:
1) Increase our Rescue housing capacity to 50 equines by 2024. In the past 4 years we have fenced 33 acres, installed 8 run-in sheds, a medical barn and hay barn, and we rehabbed a house into our volunteer center at Castle Rock Farm! We have much more to do! Our first permanent large scale building project, our INTAKE BARN, is planned for October, 2022. The Intake Barn increases our capacity another 26% at Castle Rock Farm.
2) Increase our outreach to the community through Books at the Barn, youth, 4H, and Pony Club programs, teaching respect for animals and proper horse maintenance. We believe this will help prevent future rescue situations.
3) Serve as a model of best practices for environmental responsibility through land and water stewardship.
How You Can Offer Your Charitable Donations:
We welcome gifts in-kind, including:
horse related items; farm or roadwork implements; barn, lawn and garden equipment; building materials, horse books; grocery store gift cards; raffle and auction items we can use for volunteer and donor events
How Volunteers Contribute to our Work:
Horse rescue is a hidden need in Virginia. We estimate there are 4,000 unwanted horses in the Commonwealth every year. This is why Hopes Legacy has invested in a permanent location on the Albemarle-Nelson County border called Castle Rock Farm. We are building this farm from the ground up, primarily with volunteer labor, to:
1) Increase our Rescue housing capacity to 50 equines by 2024. In the past 4 years we have fenced 33 acres, installed 8 run-in sheds, a medical barn and hay barn, and we rehabbed a house into our volunteer center at Castle Rock Farm! We have much more to do! Our first permanent large scale building project, our INTAKE BARN, is planned for October, 2022. The Intake Barn increases our capacity another 26% at Castle Rock Farm.
2) Increase our outreach to the community through Books at the Barn, youth, 4H, and Pony Club programs, teaching respect for animals and proper horse maintenance. We believe this will help prevent future rescue situations.
3) Serve as a model of best practices for environmental responsibility through land and water stewardship.
Contact Information:
Maya Proulx
5145 Taylor Creek Road
Afton,
Virginia
22920