I have spent a lifetime around horses; and well understand the realities of surplus unwanted horses and marginally qualified owners who make poor choices and can no longer care for their charges. I have witnessed many well-intentioned folks try to "rescue" horses and end up in unsustainable situations which further hurt the horses. These life experiences have made my interactions with CVHR all the more remarkable, What Cindy Smith, her volunteers and supporters have accomplished is to build a professional, sustainable and effective rescue network here in Virginia. The horses they are able to accept are carefully brought back to their maximum potential for quality of life. They are assessed and worked with to give them the maximum life skills to ensure they can have happy and fulfilling lives. They are then matched up with carefully screened adopters who will be able to go the distance and provide for the horses' well-being permanently. The CVHR professionalism and knowledge into the ways of business and horses is exceeded only by their passion and boundless energy to serve those horses that are most at risk. Our interactions with CVHR and Cindy Smith have been wholly positive, there can be no higher standard of conduct than that displayed by this organization. I am blessed to have found CVHR, and my life is richer for having adopted one of their wonderful rescues several years back. Together we can all make a difference.
I keep up with this great on Facebook. They are a caring, hard working organization helping these horses to get a forever home.
Well my daughter had been watching videos on horses on youtube, and she wanted one of her own. So I looked around our area and found CVHR. I contacted Cindy and told her my daughter's plan. Well we started going to rescue every weekend working and interacting with the horses. Cindy (the owner) was great. She showed us everything we needed to know, what needed to be done and what Not to do. We watched a number of horses go from skin and bones to full fledged healthy beautiful animals. All because of what CVHR does for these animals. I regularly follow the rescue on social media. We now have 2 of our own horses. All thanks to CVHR
Central Virginia Horse Rescue does much needed and valuable work in saving horses-we are very thankful that someone is there for horses in difficult situations who need help. They always go the extra mile, whether for veterinary care, training, and eventual rehoming of these wonderful and very deserving horses.
Such an amazing group. What they do is not an easy task, physically or emotionally, and I am not sure I could do it. I wish I loved closer as I would be there every day after work.
Amazing wonderful angels! So grateful for what they do every single day...takes perserverence, bravery and guts to do what they do and stick with it! Amazing rescue!!
I recently adopted a horse from this group.They were very prompt and efficient with the adoption process.They were very thorough with making sure the horse was going to someone that could and would take care of it.I am so impressed with the good work these people do.Thank God groups like this exist.They really put lots of time and money into each and every horse.They need help to accomplish all this.Sincerely, Dina Honeycutt
CVHR is the model equine rescue. Led by Cindy Smith, who works tirelessly to not only save so very many horses in need, but rehabilitates so very many of them. Many of these horses go on to new loving homes because of what CVHR does. My daughter works at a horse rescue and tries to implement many of the strategies used at CVHR from fun rasing to refeeding to training. An awesome rescue run by an awesome lady and her staff and volunteers!
I have talked to a couple of the people that run the rescue and they are all the nicest people and truly care about all the animals, a lot of my friends adopt from them and I plan on using them when I get another horse
This is a rescue you can not only trust, but then want to stand behind and support any way you can, even after adopting one of their horses! Ask any questions, go visit, they are as accommodating as they can be within realistic expectations. I love Cindy and all she does for the animals in her care. Fantastic work. Very highly recommended!
CVHR is a wonderful rescue that takes great pride in caring for the animals they rescue. I had the pleasure to volunteer with my daughter and a friend today. Not only was it very rewarding, but also a great learning experience. I look forward to helping out again and hearing about the great adoption stories for each of the animals.
Cindy does a wonderful job of keeping the horse first. It is all about the horse and for the horse. She is positive, informative, communicates with everyone. I have learned much from her concerning horses and the horse world. She has her values and sticks to them. She is one fantastic person. I especially appreciate the fact of keeping the bashers silent. More information will flow if people are not afraid to share. Cindy encourages this. I like the way she works with the horses in public to increase her adoption rate. This shelter is an excellent resource for anyone even thinking about getting involved in the rescue business.
I am both a volunteer and a donor for this wonderful rescue. I first became aware of CVHR and its founder, Cindy Smith, while working with an online rescue organization dedicated to finding second chance homes for auction horses that did not sell through the ring. CVHR would raise money for and pull the most difficult horses to find homes for, the ones with training or physical issues that just sat in the kill pen. As the Rescue was not too far from me, I drove down for their third anniversary party to see for myself how it was run before committing money to it. What I saw was a place of love where every equine was treasured and cared for. Some were permanent residents due to factors that either made them difficult to adopt out, or were complicated to deal with, so Cindy kept them herself to ensure their care and happiness. I was impressed with Cindy and her volunteers then, and have only become more so over the ensuing two plus years. Cindy runs CVHR with business acumen coupled with love and compassion, a tough combination to beat. She has taken in so many horses at death's door and brought them back that it seems routine, but it is most assuredly not. Her "miracles" are the product of her deep knowledge of horses, a wonderful team of dedicated volunteers, and her love and determination to save every horse that comes through her gate.
Cindy just opened a new facility near Kenbridge, VA in a carefully considered and managed expansion which will enable her to do more community outreach as well as help more horses. It is called Miracle Meadows, and it couldn't be more aptly named.
Year after year, I am so impressed with CVHR. Cindy and the rest of the volunteers work so hard to do the good work. There are so many stories created at this magical place and so many horses we will never forget. It warms my heart to see the many success stories coming from this rescue, which wouldn't be possible without the dedication and teamwork found at CVHR. It truly takes a village to run a rescue and every single person involved, each donor, supporter, volunteer and board member is essential to success. CVHR is professionally run and managed and is growing each year. I am proud to help in the small way that I am able. :) A big thank you goes out to Cindy and all of the amazing volunteers, supporters, and donors that have worked together to make happy endings for the horses! It is often thankless work and I want everyone to know that CVHR is making a difference. Thank you!
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CVHR is my absolute favorite organization. They do a fabulous job saving horses from all walks of life; stepping in when necessary for owner surrenders, AC seizures, auction horses, and even by sending grants to horse owners in short-term crises. CVHR is transparent--you can really see how your donations are put straight into the rescue and how you help them help the horses! Over the years CVHR has grown from a small rescue to a successful organization at multiple locations. Of course, all of this is only possible with the continued support of our dedicated volunteers and wonderful supporters.
Throughout the years, I have helped CVHR as a volunteer by writing their monthly newsletter, donating items for auctions, raising funds with bake sales, and putting jars out at the feed store to collect donations. "Every little bit helps," has been my mantra when working towards helping this amazing rescue move onward and upward in the world! CVHR is by far the best organization I have ever had the pleasure of working with.
We have 2 adopted equines from Central Virginia Horse Rescue. Cindy is giving of everything she has to save as many equines as she can manage. And she is always taking "one" more even when she is not certain she has the time or space. She always makes it work. We love our pony "Miss Halley" and our donkey "Mr. Merlin" aka "Fireball." They both have been awesome additions to our family. We love them both dearly. Thank you Cindy for giving both of them a second/third/fourth chance!
If I had more space I would adopt another rescued horse or pony from CVHR.
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We adopted a pony and donkey from Central Virginia Horse Rescue. We love our pony, Halley. She had been abused in the past and is very scared of adults. The rescue was not certain she would do well in a home with small children. We drove to the rescue to meet Halley and we were happily surprised that she took to all my girls. We have had Halley for almost a year now and she is doing remarkably well in our home. CVHR makes sure all rescues go to the best homes for that particular horse/pony. They are are great nonprofit and very deserving of status as a GREAT nonprofit.
CVHR is dedicated to the rescue of equines. Take a moment to see all the critters in their rescue. You will find mules, mini horses, ponies and horses. This rescue is dedicated to the rescue of horses but they want turn away a Jack or Jenny :-). Vet bills grow quickly with healthy horses. Vet bills become mountains when dealing with starved , abandoned and abused horses. Feed/hay for one healthy horse is approximately $50 a month and thats a healthy a horse. Rehabilitation of one horse the cost of feed alone could easily be 5x this.
Horse rescue is expensive and takes heart. This group has lots of heart . Donations keep them in feed,supplies and vetting. Please donate today!!
There is are not enough words to tell the Peeps about the wonders of Cindy & Randy @ CVHR . They LIVE & LOVE & EAT & SLEEP Horse Rescue. Their transparent dedication is beyond description. Every horse in their care is special...every horse in their care gets treated to lovin' spa days, an individual diet, exercise, veterinary & farrier & dentist, and given EVERY chance for a second career or family. Each Rescued Horse is given the opportunity "to be a horse" and have the freedom to discover their snug haven. New owners are screened & scrutinized to insure the safety of the animal and in the event that things don't work out... CVHR takes them back. Cindy, if you meet her or know her, has a fantastic practical loving nature that is interwoven with humor. She can "tell you like it IS" and then make you laugh. She knows her stuff and works tirelessly to save Horses. I recommend this Nonprofit with every ounce of me.
3 THUMBS UP !!
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Once Again...I sound like a broken recording but the longer I know this Rescue and it's People...the more impressed I am. Cindy and Randy have hearts the size of Mountains but their compassion is coupled with practical good sense. They reach out in many areas of the USA but easily Central Virginia Horse Rescue is the finest Equine Rescue in Virginia. Cindy also PATIENTLY answers 100's of questions each week on a full range of Equine subjects to help novice owners better care for their own horses. This Rescue is a bright shining star....in a gray paved equine world.
