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 was looking for a second horse as I was finally getting my life long dream of horses at my house. I went to a local "horse rescue" and I noticed quickly they did not have my or the animals they were fostering best interest at heart. I left sad and banged up from a terrible trial. I was at my tack store where the recommended Central Virginia Horse Rescue. I put in my application without a horse selection and asked them to choose for me based on my ability and land. I drove 100 miles to meet Cindy and the horses. Within 5 minutes she told me who she chose for me. 15.3 hands of goofy Missouri Fox Trotter! He has helped me so much with my anxiety riding. He is patient and forgiving! Cindy has a great ability to match people with animals. I would totally get another horse when the time comes from CVHR. I am happy to be part of their adoptive family!
I have been following CVHR for about 3 years now. The amazing work they do for horses, minis & mules is miraculous. Cindy does an amazing job bringing horses back to a healthy weight. CVHR ensures each adoption is the right fit for both horse and family.
CVHR is hands down the best horse Rescue there is. I got my big old baby, Indy, from them 3 years ago and I couldn’t be more blessed! They take in horses from so many horrible backgrounds and make them blossom. They give their horses the absolute best care and best attention there is. I love them so much :)
I LOVE This Horse Rescue!! CVHR ... I have been acquainted with this non-profit for about 6 years and find them the most caring, the most knowledgeable, the most transparent & honest financially, and the most dedicated to each horse they save. The animals get complete check-up care upon entry from the Vet, the Dentist, the Farrier and the nutritionist. They are given all the time they need to be allowed to heal and are gently appraised as they begin to get better. The adoption application to be a new home for one of their horses, mules, donkeys, minis is thorough and they really check prospective homes OUT! They make the calls to references and visit. They keep up with their critters. They willingly take adoptees back when theres issues.. Cindy, Randy and the staff of CVHR LOVE what they do and it shows!! I adopted my Donkey "Sirbeside" from CVHR who is a beloved babysitter to foals that are alone... what a character & centurion he is.. I highly recommend this group (Central Virginia Horse Rescue) as one of the most an outstanding Horse rescues in the United States.
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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 !!
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.
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
Impressed with the care, communication and rapid response. Advises of concerning situations during resolution.
I often follow their good works and amazing transformations with the horses.So glad they are able to rehabilitate and re home so many.
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.
