Central Virginia Horse Rescue

I have followed and been a supporter (and adopter, twice!) of CVHR for over 10 years and have visited twice from out of state. This family has become my family. The horses well being comes first, always. There are no hidden agendas, no scams, no dishonest- EVER. Hands down, the best rescue I have ever had the pleasure to be a part of. ❤️

I have been a donor for some time now. Though times are tough and I wish I could give more, I know whatever I give is put to good use. I love watching the progress of these beautiful beings, but sad to see them in this situation. They are fortunate to find themselves at CVHR in their time of need as the staff is so dedicated and compassionate. I will continue my support and hope many more will follow suit. Thank you for all you do.

I've been a financial supporter and long time admirer of CVHR for twenty years and applaud their dedication to the care and well being of the horses. They are a talented team of hard working, horse loving people.

CVHR is an amazing and welcoming organization. I started volunteering regularly with my two children and they love it. It is a wonderful experience caring for and learning about horses. The entire CVHR team has all the horses best interest in mind and work very hard to rehabilitate the horses.

CVHR is an amazing organization! The team works tirelessly to ensure all rescue horses in their charge receives top notch care that is backed by veterinarians, farriers, and other horse care professionals. It has been operated in this manner for over a decade and I have worked with this rescue as a volunteer, adopter, and donor in this timeframe. They also keep their promise to any horse adopted out with check ins and put the integrity of the horse above all. Highly recommend this rescue as one of the most ethical, professional, well-organized, and transparent organizations out there. Keep doing all the awesome things! The horses are so thankful for you!

I didn’t know very much about horses before I started volunteering at the Fredericksburg location when CVHR first relocated to it about a year ago. I have a learned so much since then about how to properly care for horses and help them become great candidates for adoption. CVHR cares so much for every single horse they are able to help. They put so much time and effort into making sure they have the best diet, veterinarian care, and have the best overall quality of life while they’re at the rescue and when they go to their adopted homes. Everybody at the rescue is so incredibly passionate about the horses. I’m truly thankful I have had the opportunity to volunteer at CVHR.

I’ve been around horses almost my entire life and leaving my barn that I know and love to go to college hurt my heart. I did some research and found CVHR!!! As much time as I could squeeze into my schedule I would come out to the barn. I love everyone that I volunteer with and it’s a place where questions and learning is encouraged. The way CVHR cares for their intakes warms my heart and I have seen a handful of horses come to us in rough shape and leave looking so much better with a new loving owner! This place makes being away from my home barn while at school just that much better. I was also lucky enough to be able to ride some of our precious horses that have now found their forever homes :)

My family adopted Buster, a quarter horse, from CVHR in September of 2020. After adopting Buster, we decided to volunteer for the rescue. Over the past 9 months, my children and I have learned a great deal about the health and well-being of horses. In December, we adopted Kash, another CVHR rescue and in January, we adopted Sugar! I am so impressed with the care and training provided by CVHR. The dedication to the overall well-being of horses is amazing! Thanks CVHR for our horse babies and for all you do!

Cindy was so patient and kind. She found me Sasha. Sasha was such a blessing to me, and I am forever grateful for the blessing of her unconditional love. She was a true unicorn. This rescue loves and cares for so many horses and they allow adopters time to find your perfect match. You and your volunteers are amazing! God bless you all. You are blessed and a blessing. ❤������

I adopted 3 pieces of my heart from Central VA Horse Rescue. I had always dreamed of owning my own horses and thanks CVHR and the knowledge I learned from them,my dream finally came true. Everyone there is great and I know if i ever have a question about anything or need help I can reach out and ask.

I volunteer weekly at CVHR. As a former Pony Club kid, I'm SO impressed by the care and standards the rescue delivers and upholds. Everyone cares so deeply for these horses, and their recovery is astounding. I'm so grateful to have found CVHR and to have the opportunity to donate and volunteer here.

Volunteering at central virginia horse rescue helped me experience working with horses they do a great job taking care of the horses and rehoming them they give the horses that come into their rescue their all it’s a great place

I found my unicorn at Central Virginia Horse Rescue. This rescue is great, and very knowledgeable. I was looking for my first horse. I had a list of potential horses from the website. Cindy helped us narrow it down. We met Dusty, and the rest was history. He is our forever horse.

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.

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

Great rescue , they do a great job taking in horses in dire need and rehabilitating them.

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!!

Have followed their wonderful rescue stories for many years and have donated.

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.

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.

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!!

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.

Central Virginia Horse Rescue is a wonderful non-profit that helps many different kinds of horses that might otherwise go to slaughter or be euthanized. My husband and I have been following the rescue on Facebook for years, have been to the farm several times, and have had nothing but wonderful, warm and professional interactions with the director, Cindy Smith, and the volunteers. We donate and we have adopted from them and considered several other horses for adoption. Ms. Smith is a sharp business woman who makes tough decisions about which horses she can truly help and which she must turn away. It is heartbreaking, but she does it for the greater good of the ones that can find a future in another home. She has a crack team of caretakers with the vets and farriers she uses. We cannot say enough good things about what a wonderful job this organization does to help many horses recover and find forever homes while being fiscally responsible, even when often they are pretty much forced to take animals that law enforcement brings them. Please consider donating to them.

CVHR is a very efficiently run rescue. Their passionate leader, Cindy, is tirelessly working to not only rescue but to rehab and place horses. The volunteers are also amazing in stepping in and helping as needed.

I admire CVHR so much because there is no discrimination. Any horse,pony, or breed is welcome. And they take on some tough cases. Plus they don't give up. My heart goes out to them.

My all time, one and only, love of my life favorite rescue! If you have even a dollar and want some good karma in the bank, this rescue has my heart. Transparent, honest, trustworthy and welcoming. Horses are well evaluated , trained, and/ or rehabbed before being carefully and lovingly placed. As a supporter, visitor and adopter, I can not say enough good things about Central Virginia Horse Rescue and the entire team.

I hate seeing great horses being thrown away (so to speak). No horse deserves being tossed when they have so much to give and can help train a rider or give someone therapy that they need. No horse should be starved or beaten half to death by non-responsible owners. I love CVHR because they have faith in every horse they rescue. They have patience, wisdom and love in doing what ever they can to help heal a horse physically and mentally. I feel like they deserve it. Thank you Cindy and staff of volunteers for all your hard work and dedication!

I have been a volunteer at CVHR since 2010 and have adopted two incredible horses from there. They do the very best they can for every horse that they rescue ...getting veterinary care, special feed if needed and being available 24/7 for the horses needs. They aren't afraid to make the hard calls (although it will break their hearts ) but will not allow any horse to suffer when no hope is left. They are an outstanding organization !!

Its very easy to donate to CVHR and know exactly where the funds are going. Cindy & the volunteers do a great job with the animals and the farm

A marvelous organization that does work that, at times, seems almost impossible. Having known Cindy for quite some time, I know how dear this dream was for her and how truly passionate she is about these glorious animals. She has truly committed her life to this vision and I have unending respect and pride at the success they have achieved. The values and integrity that she, and by extension the entire organization, brings are incredible and my only wish is that we had more we could provide.

Scott purdum of advantage horsemanship had sexual relations with my wife, his student, in his horse trailer while his pregnant wife slept next door. Keep your wives and daughters away from this degenerate.

I adopted my sweet Standie from CVHR. She went from harness racing to broad mare to Amish to Camelot. I am so grateful they rescued her! They do amazing work! My daughter and I donate regularly to CVHR so they can continue their rescues.

I met Cindy, before she started her rescue. I purchased a horse from her, from just talking to her on the phone. She was very honest, with everything she told me about the horse, and even delivered him to me. I have been following her rescue from the start. I am amazed at the work she has done and continues to do. She has over 20,000 likes in 4 years, and a lot of the other rescues take 10 years to get that many. That should tell you she is a good person, and runs a great rescue. I don't have a lot of money to donate, but I do love her sweatshirts and tee shirts, and I buy them and support her. I have learned a lot from following her as she always puts out very useful information on horses. Everyone is put on this earth for something, and this is her calling. I wish her all the luck in the years to come. I bless all of her volunteer's as I know how hard they all work. I hope she can get her farm, so she can continue to save horses. and place them in forever homes. She is my number one horse rescue. God Bless!!!

We have been donating to CVHR for a couple of years and will continue to do so. When they intake a new horse they evaluate what the needs are for this particular animal and work to achieve those goals so that the horse can become adoptable into a new and loving family. We feel that CVHR is a very deserving Rescue. Cindy and the volunteers are all amazing and have helped so many.

Equine Welfare Society collaborates with CVHR to help give unwanted horses the health and skills needed to find new homes and happiness. Cindy and her staff have been nothing short of amazing. Most refreshing and encouraging is that they support and encourage fellow rescue organizations to work together for the welfare of horses. Thank you!!

I have been following and donating to CVHR for several years now. Although I have not yet had the opportunity to meet Cindy, or visit the rescue in person, seeing the wonderful care given to many unfortunate horses, donkeys, etc. really touches my heart. With the knowledge and networking they do at CHVR, many other rescue organizations could learn allot from them. CVHR keeps its followers and financial supporters updated with great pictures and bios on its website and Facebook. Its always so very sad to see these horses come to the rescue pretty much starving to death...to see them come along their journey at CVHR...gaining weight, being loved, trained and valued as we are meant to do is heartwarming to say the least! I hope someday to adopt our next horse from CVHR. They do an excellent job!

I first learned about CVHR in early 2013 when we moved to Spotsylvania, Va and bought our "dream retirement" farm. I have always had a soft spot for animals in need and I knew I wanted my first experience as a horse owner to be with a rescue horse/pony. I originally contacted CVHR regarding Bogey, and Cindy arranged for me to come have a visit to meet him. Cindy was wonderful when I arrived at the rescue with my two kids, 1 other child who was visiting with us and one of my rescue pups I brought back from the streets of Italy. Looking back, I realize this was not the ideal way to meet a horse and have a conversation with Cindy about horse ownership; I am certain she was fairly concerned that I brought along so many little bodies with me, BUT she still made me feel welcome. She allowed me to visit with Bogey and understand my own comfort level with him while we talked. Although I decided I was not ready for him at that point (because I was completely green as a horse owner), she understatedly allowed me to come to this decision on my own. I am sure she was thinking the same thing about my greenness and how nervous I was around him. But, I took this experience and and over the past year I have gained so much confidence around horses by observing others, listening to experienced horse people, taking riding lessons with my daughter with a professional trainer, and reading/watching videos about horse care and training. Through this learning process we did end up adopting a rescue pony from a wonderful woman who rescued him and who supports local rescues and after a month of having him, the same woman helped me find my Haflinger mare who needed a home (who I am completely in love with). This past year has been one of the most wonderful learning experiences of my life and we are now a confident horse family. Our little rescue boy has his own professional pony trainer who is working wonders with him under saddle. He now has a plan for his future and it has been so great to see him find his potential. I have CVHR to thank for our success and happiness on this journey just by staying abreast of their updates and information on their website and their Facebook page I become more educated on a daily basis. We definitely have room for 1 (or maybe 2:)) more horses on our farm in the future and regardless if the horse comes directly from CVHR, they do influence our choices. I really appreciate the helpful links, shares and amazing work Cindy and all of her volunteers do tirelessly. Simply amazing the work they do.

Found CVHR through Facebook and have been following their posts ever since. They sometimes rescue horses from Camelot which I am familiar with. I have the utmost respect for everyone at this organization. It brightens my day to see via their pictures and posts what they do day in and day out to help equines in need. You can tell they are extremely transparent in everything they do and their love for these animals is evident. This is one rescue organization that I would donate to time and time again without hesitation. If I lived close by, I would be there every day to lend a hand and do whatever needed to be done. It would be a pleasure to work beside them to accomplish the amazing things that they do for these wonderful animals in need.

I found CVHR on FB one day and I have been hooked ever since. My daughter and I volunteer, when we can, to help with the horses. I am very amazed at all of the horses that CVHR has helped in the few years I have known them. I think they give an excellent opportunity to many horses that would have been passed by. So many of their rescues just needed a soft place to land to recover from what life has dealt them, and they have gone on to be fantastic pets and companions. Many have moved on to have great jobs as riding/trail buddies. I love the opportunity to help. They keep everyone up to date on the progress through FB and their web site. I do not think there is a more devoted group of people in the area...

CVHR is one of the few rescues who go above and beyond for each horse they take in.
They not only rehabilitate , they nurture and retrain each case according to that horses
needs. I only hope they can continue to get the support to continue to save horses and be able
to make a difference in their lives. I also adopted a horse thru them and his story was he needed $7,000.00 + in medical care, and he received it. Fabulous rescue.

CVHR is truly a remarkable place! I see pictures of all these sad horses that need help so bad and if they don't get the help they need, they will die. This organization is the BEST in my opinion. Just look at pictures of before and after and you can see what super care and concern and love all of the horses get. This place deserves every donation possible so they can continue to carry on and save more horses. I send donations when I can and I think every cent is put to great use. It makes my day so much better seeing all the updates on progress these horses are making, please help them carry on!!

I first saw this group on Facebook through a friend. In the nearly two years since, I have been to visit twice and seen with my own eyes the miracles they perform on a daily basis, transforming starved and neglected horses inside and out into the beautiful beings they were meant to be. I donate and have also volunteered with them when I can. I truly believe in Cindy Smith, her team of volunteers, and their mission to rescue and find safe homes for horses in need. Truly angels on Earth!

II have been volunteering at CVHR for over 2 years now and it has been an extremely rewarding way to spend my time. Horses in desperate need of help come and blossom into wonderful, healthy, well-behaved animals.
And it isn't just the horses who benefit. Everyone that spends time at the rescue is welcomed to watch, to help, to learn- it is a great experience for everyone, from longtime horse owners to the children that come to camp and experience their first sight of a horse... or their first lesson in grooming.

I like to take my 4H club over to the rescue to see what happens to horses when people have no follow through. They get a good healthy dose or reality and it makes them strive to take the best care of their equines and if they need help not to feel bad about asking. Teaching our youth at a fairly young age the reality of the horse situation makes them better advocates in the future. So thanks Cindy and CVHR for driving home the point everytime I bring new kid's over it's working I see it in their presentation topics and what they want to do as they move on through the club. They will always get a non sugar coated answer when they ask questions and they love to come over and do chores to help out around the rescue be it grooming, bathing, cleaning stalls or water tubs we are so fortunate to have such knowledgeable people running this rescue..... So kudos to Cindy and her happy volunteers you all are doing a fantastic job...

I first heard of CVHR about 3 years ago when it was just getting going well. On my first visit, I knew it was going to be special. At the time, I was in driving distance and could volunteer. Since then I have moved too far away to be there in person, but based on my personal experience, I have total confidence that my donations will be well used and continue to send what I can regularly and for special causes. Cindy keeps us all very well informed about what is happening, progress, set backs, successes and losses. It is wonderful to watch the volunteer base and donor list continue to grow. I can't say enough about the wonderful work being done for equines AND for people. Many of the rescued horses have become companions and best friends for people with special needs.