With many area shelters dedicated to canine or feline rescue, horse rescues are sometimes overlooked. Elle Williams, the owner of HorseNet Horse Rescue in Eldersburg, founded her nonprofit in 2000.
“Here, we go by what thehorse says,” she said. “I don?t compromise on what I feel is best for the horse.”
Williams requires all potential adopters to work with the horse several times to be certain their personalities match. Then, Williams or one of her volunteers visits the place where the horse will be living, and checks several references.
“A lot of people think that you have to spend a lot of money for a horse in order to get one that has ability. Granted, a lot of the horses we get, we get because they have issues,” Williams said. “If a horse has leg problems, obviously he?s not suited to be a jumper, but it doesn?t mean he wouldn?t be a good trail horse.”
Fran Burns, the owner of Boxwood Farms, a horse boarding facility in Monkton, became involved with horse rescue in 2006 when more than 70 neglected and abused horses were seized from a farm in Sharpsburg.
“We started talking about how we could make a bigger impact,” she said. “So we donated over 2,000 bales of hay [to the Washington County Humane Society], 250 pounds of carrots and more. We made two trips with 11 trailers filled with hay.”
The horses are currently living at three separate farms in the state, under the care of the Humane Society, but Burns is actively campaigning to get them adopted. “There are so many horses out there,” she said. “And we?re looking for homes for them as we speak.”
“I?m hoping that people see that these horses are adoptable,” said Debi Fowler, a volunteer with the hay drive and owner of two adopted mini horses from the seize. “We want to see these animals go to good homes.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
2504 Arthur Avenue, Eldersburg
410-795-8989
If you are interested in adopting one of the Sharpsburg rescue horses, please contact Katherine Cooker at 301-733-2060 ext. 237, or email [email protected].
