What Are Horse Helpers’ Goals?

Horse Helpers’ goal is to rescue and rehabilitate equine in need, additionally, we strive to find the best possible home for our rescues. We do not sell horses! We attempt to successfully adopt/match a horse with an adopter. This is one reason we require the completion of a lengthy adoption application and a home visit. The better we understand your needs, the greater the chance of a successful adoption. With these goals in mind, we agree, and require, that should a placement not work for any reason, the equine will be returned to us. As an adopter you will be agreeing to provide your adopted equine with appropriate housing, feeding, and health care. You agree to never use your horse for breeding, resale, or give the horse away. You will not relocate your horse without permission from Horse Helpers.

What Is the Process?

Before a Horse Helpers equine may be adopted the following steps must be followed:

• An adoption application should be completed including the submission of two personal references.
• Upon receiving the application, Horse Helpers will contact your references and schedule an appointment to do a home visit of the property where the horse will be kept. If the horse will be kept on your private property and be cared for solely by you, we will assess your ability to properly care for the horse.
• Home visit (steps 3 and 4 may occur simultaneously).
• Next, a decision will be made regarding your application. If we do not have a horse that fits your needs at such a time, your application will be kept on file and you will receive the first opportunity to adopt a compatible horse when one becomes available. Understand that not all applications are approved. We reserve the right to deny an adoption for any reason and we are not obligated to state that reason.
• Generally, during a scheduled appointment, you will work with the horse in which you are interested with a Horse Helpers representative. Before commencing this evaluation session you must sign a Release Form. This time allows you, the horse, and representative to evaluate and ensure the compatibility of horse and rider.
• When all requirements are met and adoption approval confirmed a permanent adoption contract will be completed. This document specifies all the terms and conditions required to adopt a Horse Helpers rescue.
• Payment in full of the adoption donation must be made at the time of adoption. We accept cash or check. A Coggins test is required for all equine traveling on public highways; this cost is covered by Horse Helpers. We can deliver your horse for a $40.00 equipment use fee plus $1.00 a mile round trip. Your new horse must be picked up or delivered within ten days of the completion of the adoption contract. If the horse is not picked up within those ten days a boarding fee of $10.00 per day will be assessed and must be paid before the equine leaves Horse Helpers’ facilities. If, after one month the horse is still in the Horse Helpers care it will be placed back up for adoption and the adoption fee will be considered a donation to Horse Helpers.
• If you plan to board your horse, a boarding form must be completed by the boarding facility.
• After the adoption is completed Horse Helpers reserves the right to conduct unscheduled follow-up visits, at minimum, on an annual basis. Further, we may require you to submit health statements from a qualified vet and or farrier. If we determine the equine is not receiving the necessary care Horse Helper may immediately repossess the equine at your expense. You will not be reimbursed for the adoption fee. We do not take repossession lightly and first will attempt to help you remedy any perceived problem. Should there be no satisfactory remedy we will reclaim the equine. Some examples of situations that might warrant reclamation include danger to the horse or to you, neglect, or lack of feed.

How Are Fees Determined?

Adoption fees vary depending on a horse’s rideability, preexisting health problems, the history, age, etc. A horse’s rehabilitation costs are not considered; we are not trying to make a profit! We want to educate people and support the rescue of equine in need. Often, very often, the expense of a horse far exceeds their “market value.” Thus we believe a price should be based on a horse’s ability, training, and future use, among other things. The cost of a companion horse/pasture pal ranges from $0 to $300. Horses suitable to be ridden range in price from $300-$1200.

Why do I have to Pay an Adoption Fee?

If you evaluate the expenses involved in the care of each horse you will understand that adoption costs of any of our rescues is very reasonable. Horse keeping requires a tremendous financial and personal commitment. Horse Helpers is dependent on donations from people like you and money from grants to rescue, rehabilitate, and maintain the animals in our care. Your adoption fee only begins to cover our expenses. We have no management expenses, no paid employees, all of our donations are returned directly to the rescue. All work is accomplished because of your support and through volunteers. When you pay a fee the money goes save another needy equine.

To your benefit, you can rest assured that you are adopting a horse that was fully evaluated for health or behavioral problems. Long term issues are represented to you up front. The horse will have received its annual vaccinations, any transient illness will have been resolved, and all dental and hoof work up to date. This costs the rescue a tremendous amount of money and time. You will find horses much cheaper, but you may not have the benefit of the owner’s knowledge about the horse and it will probably not have had its hooves, teeth and other health care up to date. You can also find horses for more money or the same amount of money. Usually, all the benefits listed above will be available to you. What you won’t gain is the joy of saving an animal in need. Rescuing and working with a horse to overcome its fears and anxiety builds a bond unmatched with an animal that has never known need!

Why Don’t I Gain Full Ownership of a Horse Upon Adoption?

As we mentioned above, our rescue is about saving animals in need, and then rehoming them. We are not selling horses; we are not horse traders! To protect all of our rescues we must hold co-ownership of any animals we adopt. This protects you from a possible crisis; you know that we are always there to protect your horse if circumstances are such that you are unable to—and it protects the horse so that it may not be bred, sold, or sent to auction or slaughter.

How Can Horse Helpers Help You?

Throughout the adoption process we are evaluating which horse/s best suit your needs and ability. You are gaining the combined years of knowledge available from Horse Helpers and their experts. A horse is delivered wearing a halter and using a lead line. These are yours. In addition you receive detailed instructions regarding diet and health needs. Unlike dog rescues, we spend a tremendous amount of time with each equine that comes to our facility; we readily share the knowledge we gain about your new family member, including available history, training tips, and personality. We remain available to you long after the adoption. Horse Helpers is there for you for “the long haul”!

What Horse Helpers Will Be Looking for at a Home Evaluation?

When we come to your home or facility for the home evaluation or later when we visit after your horse is adopted and settled into its new home, we will be looking at the shelter, outdoor facilities, feeding habits, available water, fencing, and vet and farrier care. Many things involved in the care of equine seem fundamental. For example, all equine must have some form of shelter in all weather conditions; you must have access to some sort of contained area in case of injury; and all horses must have a companion like a goat, horse, or pony. If you are a first time horse owner and plan to house the horse on your property you have to exhibit the ability to properly care for your horse under normal circumstances. Below are more details regarding the things we look for when we visit. If you are interested in adopting a special needs equine this list may include other areas of evaluation.

Shelter

• Reliable and sufficient electrical lighting to daily assess your equine’s condition.
• A designated area for the disposal of bedding material, manure and other debris to reduce the risk of vermin, odors, or disease.
• Availability of mineral supplements or salt block.
• First aid materials for equine.
• Tools for grooming, feeding, clean up, storage of food, etc.
• The shelter must include, at least three sides and a roof and be structurally sound.
• Trash and other debris should not be accessible to the animal.
• No standing water.
• Shelter must be of adequate size for the number of horses and size of horses intended.
• Opening to shelter must be large enough to reduce tension among the animals in the pasture.
• Shelter must be well ventilated.
• Stalls must be adequate in size and height to the horses if your horse is stabled in a barn. They will have box stalls not standing stalls. They shall be made out of materials designed to house an equine without risk of injury and to protect them from neighboring horses.
• Bedding in stalls or shelter must allow for comfort and safety.
• Shelters and stalls will be kept clean, dry, and free from excessive mold, dust, ammonia odors, or manure.
• If a shelter or stall floor is concrete or wood, mats shall be provided.

Feeding Habits

• All grains should be kept in clean dry storage secure from horses and free of contaminants,
• Hay must be nutritionally appropriate and free of contaminants or mildew,
• Hay must be stored in a well-ventilated dry area,
• Square bales of hay are less susceptible to mold and mildew and thus are better suited to horses’ digestion.
• Grain should be fed in sufficient quantity with appropriate nutrition based on health, age, breed, and work.
• Horses must be fed separately to ensure that each horse receives a sufficient quantity.
• Natural forage or hay should be available on a daily basis.
• When feeding grain horses should be fed two times a day.

Water Supply

• All water and water receptacles should be free of contaminants.
• Water should be continuously running if it comes from a stream or pond and free from ice in the winter.
• Water containers should be heated in winter or in some way kept free from ice.
• Sufficient quantities of water and water receptacles must be available.

Outdoor Facilities

• Areas where horses are turned out should be free of debris or sharp objects.
• Fences and gates should be sturdy and in good repair. Gates must have secure latches.
• All outdoor areas should be free of poisonous plants, trees and shrubs.

Fencing

• Fencing should be comprised of three board fencing with wood posts or vinyl fencing, wire mesh squares with wood posts if wire mesh squares are too small for a horse’s hoof, electric fencing.
• Barbed wire can be used in small areas; it may be acceptable in large pastureland depending on the quantity of animals on the pasture.
• Most fencing will be evaluated case by case depending on the horse and environment.

Necessary Veterinary and Farrier Care

All horses adopted from Horse Helpers should receive immediate veterinary care in the case of known or suspected injury, signs of shock, colic, founder, tremors, broken bones, inability to eat or drink, blistering as a result of fire, acid, etc., irregular or abnormal breathing, partial or total paralysis, signs of disease, severe parasitic infestation or infection, loss of appetite, weight loss, abnormal skin condition or hair loss, temperature fluctuation, persistent diarrhea, lameness or other such signs.

The following are required for all adopted equine:

• Hoof Care-Hoof care maintenance and trimming shall be done every six to eight weeks. (Some equine may require more frequent care. If so, that will be listed in the adoption contract.)
• Parasite Control-Horses must be dewormed every six to eight weeks.
• Dental check up and necessary treatment.
• All Horse Helper horses must be vaccinated by a VET with EWT, Rabies, Rhino, Flu & PHF. Your veterinarian, due to your specific area or locale may recommend other vaccinations.
• Additional care will be listed in your adoption contract.

Additionally

• All horses housed on the property shall be in good health with no obvious eye problems, open sores, or unattended injuries. Hair coat should be good quality.
• A minimum of three acres of land is required to house two horses.
• Some adopted horses may have special requirements based on their limitations.

• Horse Adoption Application
• Horse Adoption Contract
• Horse Foster Contract
• Dog Adoption Application
• Dog Adoption Contract

If you see the neglect or abuse of an animal the first place to contact is your county animal control.

Ashe County Animal Control

Avery County Humane Society

Mountain City Animal Control Shelter

Watauga County Animal Control

For information about how to determine if a horse is starved go to this site that lists and explains the official scoring method for a horse’s weight. The site includes other relevant material about horse rescue : Henneke Body Condition Scoring System at Habitat for Horses

North Carolina Equine Law

Information on Federal Laws pertaining to Equine, notably the controversial Horse Protection Act – USDA Animal Welfare

HealthCare Horse Advice for a wide variety of information from hoofs to health care to nutrition.

Southern States Cooperative devoted to equine offers information on nutrition, training and a variety of other topics.

Today, Horse Helpers is located on Wisteria Farm west of Boone, NC. We are the only 501c3 equine rescue serving Watauga, Ashe, and Avery Counties in North Carolina and nearby Tennessee. Our main goal is to offer aide to horses, donkeys, and mules although we have helped to rescue fawns, dogs, cats, lambs, sheep and even chickens. We also provide a forum for education on animal care and humane communication.

Wisteria Farm is located on 5 acres in a mountain farming community. We have a main barn that allows us to have up to 10 rescues at a time along with a quarantine barn for newly arriving horses. We have private paddocks for sick horses and rent an additional 25 acres of pasture. At the moment we have two main auxiliary locations, one that house up to seven horses through the generous support and work of the property owner and in the summer we have another 10 acres available. This kind of flexibility has allowed us to create compatible herds of horses (we have a senior center and our herd of ridable horses) as well as paddocks in which we can separate sick or injured horses from the main herds.

Our volunteer support and community support continues to grow as awareness of Horse Helpers increases. We are supporters of the local sustainable development community as well as links to Appalachian State University and Watauga High Schools Mountain Alliance.

Meet our Board of Directors

• Amy C. Hudnall, President
• Lee Rankin, Vice President
• Andy Koch, Treasurer
• Andy Rowell, Secretary
• Allison Crowe
• David Linzey (Grants)
• Debbie Linzey
• Megan Miller
• Betsy Nicholls (Volunteers)
• Robert Rowell
• Frank (Ham) Wilson

Running a rescue requires constant attention and it is something that takes a community, not just a few people. We can use your help! There are many ways to support Horse Helpers. The obvious way is through a monetary donation but we also need the help of volunteer time and foster homes. You can donate money for specific items (see our wish list below), for the general fund, or you can sponsor a horse.

Monetary Donations

Direct monetary donations help the Rescue in two important ways. First, monetary donations also help us be good stewards of your donations because we can be planful about the expenses of the organization. Second, because we cannot predict when we will find a house who needs our help, sometimes it can be hard to predict when we will have an immediate, emergency need for funds. Unrestricted monetary gifts allow us to respond the needs of the whole organization when they arise.

Sponsor a Horse

For just $50 a month you can sponsor a horse that is growing from abuse, neglect, health problems or having been unwanted. Your gift of $50 a month shows that the horse does have a place and that you want to help it. Your gift includes shavings for the stall, feed, and supplements. If your horse finds a forever home, we will help you select a new horse to sponsor. If $50 a month is not possible for you, you can still be a Horse Helper and sponsor a horses’ feed and hay for only $30 a month.

Volunteers

As with any nonprofit, volunteers are at the core of the success of the Rescue. Your time may be tax deductible and the benefits for your heart are priceless.

Fostering

Today’s economic crisis greatly increases the risk of animal abuse. As a rescue we are being stretched beyond our capacity trying to help. You can help by fostering a horse.

Collect Southern States Legends, Reliance, or Triple Crown Feed for Dollars

If you use Southern States Legends, Reliance, or Triple Crown feed for your horses start collecting the proof of purchase seals on the outside of the bags. Send us your seals and we can redeem them for money toward feed. Use our Contact Us form to get the details of where to send the seals.

This may seem like a small thing, but if enough people will keep us in seals we can have a large part of our feed bills paid for. After we receive your first set of proof of purchase seals we will send you a self addressed stamped envelope as a reminder to collect them.

Contact us to submit your coupons.One of the greatest needs we have is for food.Horses come to us malnourished and literally starving. The photos of Buttercup below show how she came to us and how she is now. Food that we can buy with coupons really makes a difference.

Donating Items

As the rescue expands so too do our needs for specific items. Maybe you own some of the things we need and would like to donate them. Here are some of the specific things we need for the rescues growth. They are small and some are big. Use our Contact Us form to let us know what is on your mind.

Wish List

Our wish list is varied and changes as Horse Helpers donate things on the wish list. Take a look at our current list but make sure to keep checking back. Use our Contact Us form to let us know what is on your mind.

• brushes
• buckets
• building materials to finish interior of barn
• corral panels
• fencing
• fly spray
• gates
• hay
• horse first aid supplies
• LED Spotlights, battery powered
• sand or gravel dust
• shavings
• sign making skills
• Southern States Feed
• tires for the horse trailer
• welding skills
• wormer

Donor Circle

You can be part of the Donor’s Circle. Horse Helpers of the High Country is a registered 501 (c) 3. Your donations are charitable contributions. Horse Helpers will provide you with a certificate of donation and a receipt for your tax purposes.

You can chose to donate at multiple levels.

• Triple Crown — Donations over $10,000
• Winner’s Circle — $5,000 to $10,000
• Champion — $2,500 to $5,000
• Prime — $1,000 to $2,500
• Contributor — $500 — $1,000
• Horse Sponsor — $50 per month or $600
• Horse Helper — up to $500 per year

Consider including Horse Helpers in your planned charitable giving in your will.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss how you can best contribute to Horse Helpers.

The Horse Helpers of The High Country is a North Carolina horse rescue farm situated in a beautiful and peaceful valley just outside of Boone. We provide a safe haven for our rescue horses and other animals, as well as many community services such as speaking engagements, farm tours/school field trips, conflict transformation, internship opportunities, and matchmaking. For more information on our work in each of these areas, please see a more detailed description below of our programs and initiatives.

Speaking Engagements

We are available to speak to your club or organization about Horse Helpers in the community.

Good animal care fosters life long lessons in community building. Did you know that animal abuse is one of the four indicators used by the FBI for assessing future violence? In addition, 88% of children abused also report pet abuse. How we care for our animals teaches us how to care for each other. Support your local equine rescue, support a better community.

Contact us to discuss your group’s needs so that we can tailor the talk specifically for them.

Farm Tours – School Field Trips

Here at Horse Helpers of The High Country, we offer a wonderful setting for a school or organization field trip. Kids of all ages love the experience of our farm tour and so do our horses!

A wonderful opportunity to come get up close and personal with the rescue horses, our school field trip and barn tour program offers students, youth organizations, and other groups the chance to touch, feed, brush and offer companionship to our four legged friends.

Groups that enter the haven of Horse Helpers have a chance to learn about the rescue program, have a few laughs, and, most importantly, give the horses the love and companionship they so long for. Contact us today to learn more about our field trip program or to schedule your very own peaceful and fun experience.

Conflict Transformation

We, as humans, are often deeply dependent on the use of language to express ourselves. Yet too often, it becomes apparent that language alone is insufficient, or that we may interpret the same words or ideas differently then the person with whom we are trying to relate. In addition, we unconsciously respond to the body language of others, sometimes without an awareness of what our own body language is projecting. Horses, on the other hand, are some of the most sensitive animals to body language in great part because they are herd animals and prey animals. Their skills can be a gift to us, teaching us how to better communicate with others.

By using a horse’s intuitive response to our movement, they can teach us to be more aware of the cues we project. We can learn how to better resolve a problem by transforming it and how to communicate with other people when a language and/or cultural barrier exists. Further, the workshops can strengthen your leadership and communication skills.

Join us and learn from the horses. Contact us regarding Conflict Transformation Workshops

Internship Opportunities

The Horse Helpers of The High Country Internship Program is designed to immerse participants in the daily operations of a non-profit horse rescue by giving them an unique opportunity to work with neglected and abused horses.

Through education and interaction, students gain experience working with equine professionals and the public throughout the rescue and rehabilitation process. Interns can expect to gain significant equine experience, recognize equine cruelty and neglect, receive training in basic rehabilitation, and learn about horse psychology and its application in training.

Join us and learn from the horses. Contact us regarding horse rescue internship opportunities.

Matchmaking

Horse Helpers of the High Country helps connect people who have horses that need to be rehomed with people who would like to rehome a horse. While we are not directly involved in the adoption process we are pleased to make initial introductions. Together the people with horses to rehome and those who would like to rehome a horse can determine if they would like to work together.

For more information about assistance in horse matchmaking, please contact us.

• Name: Sugar
• Age: 10
• Height: 12 Hands
• Color:
• Adoption Fee: $0
• Location: Boone, NC

Sugar is a 10-year-old Quarter Horse cross standing 12 hands. She came to us two years ago in a seizure of 4 horses. She was adopted to a loving home but in the winter her owner was diagnosed with cancer and unfortunately he passed away this spring.

Sugar came back to us and is now looking for a home again. She is initially very scared of people but once she knows she can trust you she has a heart of gold. She becomes very gentle and kind–although she does love to be in charge. Before she came to us Sugar had a serious injury to her back right leg and she is permanently lame. The lameness is not noticeable at a walk but when she moves to a trot she clearly is lame. Sugar was ridden and appeared to be well broken even with her injury. However, riding her, at least adult size and beyond a trot is not in her best interest. Sugar is available as a pasture pal and would like to be a great friend to someone.

She is up to date on all vaccinations, Coggins and worming. Her teeth have been recently floated as well as her hooves. She loads well, bathes, and is good for the farrier once she trusts him. She is an all around great little horse.

Click on the pictures below to see bigger images.

• Name: Pocahontas
• Age:
• Height:
• Color:
• Adoption Fee: $450
• Location: Boone, NC

Pocahontas is a wonderful Appaloosa mare surrendered to our rescue last summer. She is dependable under saddle and has the ability to be a beginner or intermediate rider’s horse as she tailors her behavior to her rider.

Pocahontas came to us Western trained with moderate experience. She has been under saddle all summer and fall and gained further experience in trail riding and some arena work. Pocahontas is a horse that you can ride everyday or once a year and she will always be the same, great for occasional riders. She has good transitions, responds to leg cues and has been started in sliding stops and rollbacks. She is a typical appaloosa with a strong personality, very smart and people oriented. She is very conscious of her rider under saddle and protects her rider.

She loads, crossties, bathes, longes, rides bareback and western, and is great with the farrier. She is 14.3 but very sturdy and can easily carry a rider up to about 220 pounds. She is up to date on all vaccinations, Coggins, and teeth floating. She is blind in one eye, we think from very early on, and although she is a little spooky on the ground on the right side, under saddle she is very steady; the blindness does not affect her. She is sound with no health issues and is an easy keeper.If you are interested in learning more about her email us.

Click on the pictures below to see bigger images.

• Name: Rosie
• Age:
• Height:
• Color:
• Adoption Fee: $0
• Location: Boone, NC

Rosie is a chestnut Tennessee Walking Horse/Saddlebred cross who is 30 years young. Rosie lived her entire life on the same farm with the same family. Unfortunately due to her owner’s health it was best for Rosie to live somewhere else. She has come to Horse Helpers to live out her life or to go to a new family who can love her and care for her in her final days.

Rosie was ridden extensively when she was younger but over the last few years she has just had the run of the farm. She is friendly, although a little shy at first and really loves people once she gets to know you. She is good with other horses and dogs. She has always lived in a run in shed until this winter. But she is adjusting to being stalled at night. She becomes very attached to the horses in her herd and if she is concerned she will be separated from them can be agitated.

It is likely this comes from having lived most of her life alone. Now that she has buddies she doesn’t want to take the chance of losing any of them. She is extremely healthy and hardly looks as if she is almost 30 years old. She moves easily and exhibits none of the typical senior health problems. Can Rosie come and live with your family?

Click on the pictures below to see bigger images.