Services
Our Services Include; But Are Not Limited To...
Cydnee Smith & Yuma
She was rescued from slaughter.
Horses & Other Equines - The adopting of an equine through our organization is fairly simple and easy to do just by following the simple steps in our adoption process.
The same applies to any Hooved Friend Adoption.
Meet Black Jack...
He was unwanted.
The adoption process may include, but is not limited to: a background check, an on-site visit to the home the horse will be residing at, the signing of a promissory note, the payment of adoption fee for adopting the horse, any owner training that is needed, proper adopting transportation (in which must be verified by BRR), and any follow-up visits made by Blue Ridge Rescue as stated in the promissory note.
Rowdy Smith and Red
He was rescued from slaughter.
Policies: We are primarily a rescue for adoptable slaughter-bound equines.
We have chosen this as our rescue because of many young, healthy, sound-minded, docile and/or ridable equines being sent to face an inhumane death at slaughter. Many equines are in a kill pen due to ignorance about auction & slaughter and/or greed; not necessarily due to being problem equines. We have adopted many sweet slaughter-bound equines with potential out to lifelong homes. Slaughter-bound equines are at their last stop before facing an inhumane brutal trip to an inhumane death. These equines are our primary focus because they have no one else to help them.
We try to focus on saving adoptable equines that will make nice family pets or mounts that are safe and enjoyable for kids and the entire family. If an equine is not considered safe for children it will be stated on their description. If an equine has a known health issue we will also add that in their description. We do save some slaughter-bound equines that have disabilities such as blind horses as long as they are adoptable. We try to give each rescue a strong foundation with training before leaving to its new home.
For equine owners that want to surrender an unadoptable horse or equine to our rescue due to health issues or behavioral problems because of tax purposes or because of not wanting to take responsibility for the equine or its humane death we can no longer take them due to filling the spaces for adoptable equines that are facing slaughter or adoptable equines being donated to our organization. It is your responsibility as their owner to give your equine a humane way of exiting life when unusable/unwanted, suffering and in continuous pain or misery. Do not take away the spot and funding from adoptable equines by trying to fill a spot with an unhealthy or unadoptable equine. Be responsible for your equine and do what is right for your equine at the end of its life. If you need help in euthanizing your equine - rather than taking to auction - Blue Ridge will help assist in euthanizing - there is a small fee to cover costs. Call us before sending your equine to auction.
Blue Ridge can make exceptions when we feel necessary. In some cases where an owner has become terminally ill, in poverty, or passed away we may intervene in order to help place these equines but an interview, proof or references may be asked to be provided.
We occasionally take in an unwanted equine even with a disability if the equine is adoptable. All of the above still applies. If we approve, may be put on a waiting list for an opening and a minimum fee of $100 may be applied. We would also appreciate a donation. For equines under 1 year we will take into serious consideration even if it hasn't been handled yet.
Equine owners that have unwanted equines try to find a home for them first. There are many free equine web sites to post your unwanted equine on. However, if your equine is for "free" make sure you interview the buyer, ask for a home visit and Veterinarian & Farrier reference to keep your equine from being taken by a trader who will take them to auction. Don't expect a rescue to place an unwanted equine as an easy way of relinquishing your ownership rights. Try it on your own first. With serious effort if you do not find a home then consider calling a rescue.
We absolutely DO NOT pick-up or deliver equines for free unless it is an emergency situation or special accommodations on our behalf have been made.
In order for an equine to be donated to our organization it has to be healthy, sound, desensitized, gentle, and adoptable. No fees apply but it has to have training and a value exceeding our rescues and adoption fees. For example: we have had several healthy highly trained and safe horses donated because they trust our judgment in finding a safe home for their equine; NOT as a way to dump their responsibility on our rescue but in order to raise money for our rescue and to have the peace of mind knowing their equine found a safe lifelong home.
Equines that are impounded by the Sheriff's Department because of abuse or neglect we will only take into our rescue if the owner's rights have been signed over or ceased by a court.
Blue Ridge Rescue is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization.
We run this from our farm in order to help make a difference in equine's lives and the horse industry. We get no state or federal help. We chose not to have a work force but instead everything is done by volunteer work. We chose to keep our over head low in order to help as many equines as possible. We are not a fancy dancy facility however we do provide a safe and happy place to reside until the equines find their lifelong home and owner.
PLEASE BE RESPONISBLE FOR YOUR EQUINES.