Hope's Legacy Equine Rescue Inc

Since 2008 Hope's Legacy Equine Rescue has been saving horses, donkeys, minis and mules throughout Virginia. We've helped over 365 equines and currently have 43 in residence. Horse rescue is a hidden need in Virginia. Our organization was started in part because Animal Control agencies usually don't have housing for equines. And we take animals from people who, due to health, age, finances, divorce or death, can no longer care for their animals. With the pandemic, we have seen a huge increase in owner surrender requests. Most of these people are female, over 60, low-to middle-income, and own multiple equines. We are also most often rescuing our nearest neighbors in Albemarle, Orange, Nelson and Augusta counties.

In 2017, Hope's Legacy has invested in a permanent location in southern Albemarle county called Castle Rock Farm. Here, we are building a community resource from the ground up.

Hope's Legacy operates with 2 employees, a Board of 5 Directors, and 80 awe-inspiring volunteers who feed, groom, mow, bush-hog, build, stack hay, and do just about anything you can think of to create a safe, loving environment for the animals in our care.

Hope's Legacy's goals are to: 1) increase our housing capacity from 20 to 50 by 2022. 2) Increase our community outreach. In 2021 our outreach programs from Castle Rock Farm include "Books at the Barn," a reading program for kids 6 to 14 years of age; a new Veterans Program; and Animal Control Open Houses. 3) Prevent future rescue situations through education and clinics. 4) Be an example of best practices for horse and land management.

Hope's Legacy's financials are listed on GuideStar, where we have a Platinum Seal of Approval. Hope's Legacy has also achieved Guardian status with the Equus Foundation for our transparency and horse practices; and has been accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. We are a member of the Virginia Alliance of Equine Rescue Organizations, and the national Homes for Horses Coalition.

We rescue, rehabilitate and adopt out horses, mules, minis and donkeys. We are a community resource for law enforcement and private citizens who can no longer care for an animal.