Days End Farm Horse Rescue Inc

If you care about horses, this is a very worthy outfit to get a bit of your money. Days End Farm takes in neglected and abused horses, gives them the medical and emotional care they need, rehabs them and then rehomes them via adoption. Large animal rescue is not an easy operation, but Days End has it worked out.

The greatest place on earth. I am a volunteer, donor and supporter of the fabulous work this organization does for neglected and mistreated horses. There are so many great people involved in this great organization as well that make it possible to rescue as many horses as possible. This organization also provided an amazing amount of education to the public, it’s volunteers and others interested in horse rescue. ❤️

DEFHR is a wonderful horse rescue that does their best to better the life of every horse that arrives. The staff, the volunteers, and the interns work long hours but always give their all and their heart.

I have been a volunteer at Days End for over 10 years and adopted my pony from them 6 years ago. Days End is an amazing organization that partners with Animal Control (actually trains the officers in large animal rescue) and rehabs the very worst cases of abuse and neglect. The staff and volunteers are highly committed and provide top notch care!

For over 3 years, I have been volunteering with and donating to Days End Farm Horse Rescue. I've seen so many horses arrive with a little mangy skin over protruding bones, full of parasites, suffering from neglect in every way. I still feel awed at the difference after several months of carefully planned rehabilitation, socialization with people and other horses, and training. Using their own extensive knowledge and drawing on veterinarians and farriers, the farm continually adapts rehabilitation plans tailored to each horse. The horses transform from barely able to stand to joyous, trusting creatures in the field or with riders. The farm uses funds very carefully, with each of their few, kind, and highly dedicated staff members and all of their expenses entirely focused on the horses' welfare.

Days End Farm truly puts the horses first! You can tell this after just one visit by the way the horses are cared for and loved. Volunteers are well-trained and staff is always available to help or teach. They love their horses and work hard towards finding them their forever home!

DEFHR is an amazing organization that is making a huge difference in the horse industry.

DEFHR is an excellent example for horse rescues across the nation. A group of very knowledgeable professionals with huge hearts and passion for the horses.

More horses keepcoming in every month. Starvations that no living thing should go through. And the fact that if the local authorities feel a procecution is warranted, they have the expertise to build the cases. Do you feel people that ABUSE and neglect should not be brought to justice???????

Some cases do not call for prosecution. But they are ready to help if it need be.

This organization assists law enforcement when horses are impounded due to abuse or neglect. The horses are taken from a bad situation and taken to Days End where they can get proper care and be adopted to a loving forever home. If that's not a rescue, I don't know what is.

This is not a 'rescue' as most people understand the term. This is an arm of enforcement which only deals with horses when enforcement involves them in a case. They are not neutral. They actually brag about helping to document and prepare cases for the prosecution!!! Seriously??? I'll send my money elsewhere!!!!

I have been involved with Days End Farm Horse Rescue for over 10 years and have seen first-hand the exceptional care and treatment given to the needy horses that find themselves needing rescue. I believe that Days End has raised the bar for horse rescues in both professionalism and standards of care.

I have been a supporter of Days End Farm Horse Rescue for many years, as a donor, foster care provider, and volunteer. As I work at the farm, I see the dedication of the staff and other volunteers, and I know the money I contribute is carefully used for a good cause. The horses are very well cared for, and even after they are placed in new homes Days End continues to monitor to ensure their well-being.

I have been involved with Days End in the capacity of a volunteer, an adopter, a donor and a board member and I can attest to the dedication of this charity to the welfare of horses. I have seen first hand the compassion and professionalism and have benefited from their services with the adoption of an incredible horse who has changed my life forever. The beauty of Days End is that while they are rescuing horses from criminal abuse and neglect, they are also touching people in positive ways. Witness the young girl who has a half ton horse trust her enough to do whatever is asked, even when it is completely counter to their survival instincts, and you will understand the empowerment that I am referring to. Talk to volunteers who have just saved a group of horses from intolerable conditions, battling through bad weather, exhaustion and scrambling to make things work, and feel the joy and camaraderie of doing a noble thing. While the mission of Days End is to save the horses, they accomplish so much more than that. As they give a second chance to the horses who deserve our reverence, they change our lives by giving us the opportunity to have these magnificent creatures in our lives. I am so grateful to Days End for all that they do and personally for saving my beautiful paint Nevada for me, he was a wonderful teacher and friend.

I have been a donor at DEFHR for over twenty years. I not only read reports, do internet searches, and look over budgets, but I also VISIT the farm. This charity is run efficiently, effectively, and directs its funds in a fashion to best benefit the horses. I have been at the farm immediately after snow storms, power outages and torrential rain storms.........the volunteers and staff ignore their own comfort and well-being to continue taking care of the horses 24 hours a day. One of my major donations was for a separate barn for the more critical horses - Robin's Nest. This barn has been used continually since its construction and I am pleased to say, that my expectations for the use of this fairly large donation, exceeded my expectations.

I have been volunteering for DEFHR for at least 10 years. I know they use their money VERY carefully, and they do great work for the horses. The staff is incredibly dedicated.

I have been volunteering at DEFHR for over 2 years and donating to them for too many years to count. I have found the entire staff to be caring, efficient and completely focused on rehabilitating the horses that come to them for care. I know some issues surfaced when DEFHR got some rare Polish-Arabian horses that had been impounded, apparently many people thought those valuable horses should be given to them for free rather than rehabbed in DEFHR's care. This was not an option, as the horses were involved in a court case and that needed to be settled before the horses could be sent to other farms. Many people don't understand how horses come to Day's End and this results in a lot of misinformation. All of their horses are legal impounds, not owner give-ups, and the legal issues need to be settled before the horses go anywhere. The staff at Days End works very hard, 24/7 if necessary, to try to save the life of each and every horse coming into it's care.

I have been so impressed with the work all of the folks at Days End Farm Horse Rescue do for the horses. I have seen them come in there on their first day and throughout their rehabilitation. I am always overwhelmed with the horses improvement, both in their spirit and physical condition. I hold the folks who do this wonderful work in the utmost highest regard. It has always been my pleasure to volunteer and assist in any way that I can. Just being there with the horses and the staff never fails to uplift my spirit too. It is a wonderful experience to visit or volunteer.

I have been volunteering for Days End Farm for almost a year now and I enjoy it immensely. This is definitely a place to come and help our community and be a part of something really special. All of the volunteers and staff work well together to make Days End Farm an elite organization. What everyone does for the horses is absolutely amazing. To see these fine animals finally receive the proper care they need and thrive, to be a part of that is a feeling like no other. When I first started, the staff mentioned working on the farm is a great stress reliever. And I can personally say yes it is. I never would have thought it would be, but when I am out there helping with barn chores, and be close with the horses, there is a sense of calm that comes over you. Days End Farm is the best volunteer decision I have ever made!

My wife & I have been involved with Days End for several years and they have always been a great place to volunteer and donate. They consistently excel at using the donor's monies wisely, are a great place for families to donate their precious time and do wonderful things for the horses they receive as a result of official impounds. If you live near the farm, attend one of their volunteer orientations and spend some time there, you'll probably be like many others and become addicted to the place!

Days End Farm is an organization of hope, care, and compassion. Through its staff and volunteers, it has helped save hundreds of horses from certain death as a result of starvation, lack of care, or abuse. This world needs more organizations built upon this type of foundation and which function as effectively as Days End. It often amazes me how people can jump to conclusions without having all the information needed to reach an informed judgment. The negative comments that have been written about Days End -- whose purpose is to help rescue and rehabilitate neglected and abused horses and to help educate the public about their care -- appear to be misinformed, unnecessary, mean-spirited, and ugly. Days End has been criticized for its policies that seek to ensure quality of life for the horses in its care. We have been faced with strong language and criticism due to our cooperation with Maryland counties who request our assistance during an animal impound. Days End has never initiated an impound of horses on private land. We always work at the request of and cooperate with experienced and qualified animal control and rescue agencies. The vision for this organization represents the work it does and what it stands for: rescue, rehabilitation, training, education, and finding adoptive homes for abused and neglected horses. We do this in order to achieve the ultimate creation of a closely bonded relationship between these horses and caring human beings. We also work to ensure this relationship is based on trust, respect, love, loyalty and humane care. As a Board member, I wish to extend a heartfelt "thank you" to all of the staff and volunteers who work to help the horses in Days End's care and who do it so well!

My sister has volunteered at DEFHR for several years and whenever I visit back home, I love going out there with her. The work these folks do is positively amazing! With virtually no outside help (i.e., taxpayer money), just volunteers and their own fund-raising efforts, DEFHR manages to bring life and dignity to beautiful animals that have been mis-used and abused by creatures who claim to be 'human.' I've seen nothing but love and caring and concern from the staff there - and trust in the eyes of the horses they care for. I honestly wish I lived closer so I could volunteer there as well (I live in Tennessee now). Days End is a blessing to the horses in their care!

This is possibly one of the best run horse rescues in the country. I am amazed at the wonderful, caring, thoughtful work they do. So many of the horses Days End deals with are in such horrible condition, it's amazing how they bounce back with good care. They have a bare bones dedicated staff and a very generous group of volunteers. The cost to care for these animals is large. Each year, I donate as much as I am able and always wish that I could contribute more. I am honored to support the work of this organization.

I have volunteered and donated to Days End for years. I have seen the deplorable condition of the rescue horses when they come in and have witnessed amazing transformations. The staff cares deeply about the horses and their welfare. I am proud to be associated with Days End and am looking forward to my retirement so I can spend more hours volunteering there.

I have volunteered at this rescue for over a year and experienced miracles there. Some of the conditions of the horses brought to DEFHR is unbelievable and just horrid.. these horses are given care, love and rehabilitation to become healthy and well adjusted horses. This charity is by no means rich and it needs substantial resources to rehabilitate the horses that are seized by governmental agencies and brought there. I would encourage anyone to come to the farm to see the horses brought in and the care they receive. The staff at the farm go above and beyond their required hours to make sure they are doing the absolute best they can for the horses. The Executive Director "lives and breathes" the farm and dedicates herself unconditionally to the farm.

As a volunteer for 10 years at Days End, I am consistently impressed and amazed by the high level of quality medical care and training or retraining that goes into these horses. Days End takes the most difficult equine cases and succeeds wherever possible to give these horses a new life. My most favorite current example is York, who came to Days End last fall and in addition to be being incredibly thin and having very difficult to treat digestive issues, he has now made a complete turn around. Now at 30 years old he is under saddle and is doing terrific. I tell his story because I personally witnessed his care from the beginning. Even at his very worst, he had heart and you just knew he wanted to get better. Days End made that possible.

I have only been volunteering with Days End for just over a year now and it is by far one of the best animal rescue groups I have ever worked with and for. The Arabian seizure case has caused a lot of confusion, mostly caused by mis-information. As some posts have noted, the State of Maryland decides when to seize the horses, not Days End. Days End merely provides support when asked by the State. Anyone who believes that Days End had some ulterior motive or something to gain financially from helping in the rescue of over 100 untrained arabians of all ages, may not have a sufficient understanding of the costs involved in the care of horses and the difficulty of adopting out that number of horses that have little or no human experience/training. Doing your homework with regard to where to donate your money is always a good idea, but in the case of Days End, research will only prove the soundness and greatness of this organization.

Please read this report from Dr. Henneke regarding a recent seizure conducted by Days End Farm horse rescue. I have donated to this organization in the past, I will never again donate to an organization that I have not researched extensively first. It is debatable if this organization has a goal of animal welfare, animal rights, or some other motivation beyond the interest of the animals they "rescue". http://www.bkglawfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/HENNEKE-REPORT.pd

I used to be a donor. I no longer support this organization due to its stated association with HSUS and its stance on animal RIGHTS, rather than animal welfare. Animals with rights are animals with responsibilities and that doesn't exist.

"Allan Schwartz has accepted a position on the Disaster Team of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

[snip]

As one of Days End’s co-founders, Allan will be sorely missed. Our heart-felt wishes for much success follow him as he joins our long-time partner, HSUS. "

In the past I have volunteered for DEFHR (early 2000s) as well as donated. While I spend most of my time working with another organization now, I have a great deal of respect for what they do and the manner in which they do it.

They have an excellent volunteer training program, and should be held up as a standard as to how they train and assign volunteers. Their additional training programs for first responders are excellent, and their contributions to emergency responses involving horses in the area shows that.

Days End is the best equipped rescue in the Mid-Atlantic region for cases of severe neglect and starvation, and they have repeatedly worked miracles for horses who were on death's door. They are also experienced and organized with large-scale seizures (all recent ones WELL justified, in my opinion, despite some comments here to the contrary*), and in my opinion the best rescue of its kind that I've seen.

Also, being involved in horse rescue and rehoming myself, I've come to understand the necessity of a responsible and objective euthanasia policy. It is never pleasant, but I think the policy of Days End is very responsible and objective, and I do appreciate and support that.


* it is worth pointing out that the review about the recent seizure of Arabians is erroneous on several counts, and casts Days End as the party responsible for the seizures, when, in fact, it was county animal control agencies responsible, and Days End was just ONE of the several rescues called in for assistance (as usual, with the worst cases, as they are best equipped to handle those). And frankly, if a farm has multiple starving horses on it, whether the others are "OK" or not is a moot point.

I volunteered for this rescue for well over 7 years. I did standard volunteer work such as mucking and grooming. It seemed like a nice rescue, though I did have a lot of complaints while being there.

I left the rescue in 2008 when they changed their euthanasia policy without telling the public about it. Days End euthanized many horses over the course of a few weeks. Most of the horses were said to have "medical problems" but there were no vet records to support DEFHR's claim. Two of the horses Mountain and Gatsby were euthanized for being "too old". This was a ridiculous statement because Days End literally had no idea how old these horses actually were. They said Mountain was 15, 18, 20, and 29 years old while I was volunteering there. They didn't know how old he was, they found him out in the wild on a mountain. It's impossible to know. He could've been 12 years old for all they know.

Anyway, when I heard they were going to be killed I worked hard to find these horses homes because Days End did not. Days End told me they would euthanize Mountain and Gatsby if they were not adopted within a specific time frame. If Days End REALLY wanted to find these horses a home, they could have. They have over a thousand contacts, but they did not get in touch with anyone to see if they wanted to adopt these horses. I emailed many rescues and got in touch with anyone I thought would be able to help because obviously Days End wasn't going to do it. I managed to find a very reputable rescue located in Iowa that was the 2nd longest running rescue in the United States. They had rescued more animals than Days End. The Iowa rescue said they would be more than happy to give Mountain and Gatsby a home- a permanent home where they would be retired in a safe environment. Days End flat out refused to send Mountain and Gatsby there because Iowa was "too far away" and they were afraid Mountain and Gatsby would be "too stressed". Instead of letting Mountain and Gatsby retire, Days End decided to kill them. Before Days End killed the old horses however, they put a description on their website about Mountain and Gatsby. The description I read of the two horses was probably the most disgusting thing I have ever read. It had nothing but negative comments about the horses saying they had physical problems (which they did not because there were no vet records), behavioral problems, fear issues, and they both needed "experienced handlers". Days End has or had a system in which they would label each horse with a colored tag on their halters. A red tag meant that the horse was very hard to handle, a yellow tag meant that the horse was somewhat hard to handle, and a green tag meant that the horse could be handled by anyone i.e. an easy horse to handle. Both Mountain and Gatsby had GREEN tags on their halters when I was volunteering there. It's a complete outrage that Days End would purposefully lie about these wonderful horses saying things about them that were obviously not true. Experienced handlers? I handled both Mountain and Gatsby when I was 10 years old. It's completely ridiculous. It's almost funny that Days End could lie so badly and still get away with it.

Mountain and Gatsby were not the only horses caught in a situation like this. There are many others like Java (who a staff member claimed had been improving for the farrier, yet a week later they euthanized her because she was "too dangerous") YaYa a 3 year old horse euthanized for being in "so much pain", (though I have known that horse for 2 years and she could gallop/buck/kick without showing any signs of discomfort), Maggie a 10 year old CHINCOTEAGUE pony killed for being too wild. How else is a Chincoteague pony supposed to be? Her story is a depressing one for sure. I put a link to her tribute video.

What I think is funny is that Days End euthanized YaYa, and a few others for being in "so much pain", when they really weren't, and they kept so many others alive who were actually experiencing REAL pain. Enya was a horse who could barely walk. She was in so much pain and was kept alive much longer than YaYa. I have a video of Enya literally limping across the indoor paddock at Days End. Her feet were always wrapped, she was always on stall rest, and she was always on bute. It's ridiculous they kept that poor horse alive in that much pain, and they killed YaYa (who was outside in a paddock not on stall rest) for the same reason.

The problem with Days End is that they are inconsistent with the horses and dishonest with their volunteers, donors, and the public. Like someone else stated, Days End only cares about the money and I believe that is correct. While volunteering at one of the Spring Carnival's Days End hosts, I witnessed horses being SEDATED in order to be used for pony rides. Horses that were too flighty or unpredictable were sedated then tacked up and led around a grass paddock with children on their backs. One of the horses they sedated for pony rides was the horse I adopted. She would've been fine to use for pony rides without sedation, so why Days End even drugged her is beyond me. In my opinion, if Days End had no horses capable of being used for pony rides, they shouldn't have had pony rides. Instead, they decide to drug the horses and exploit them in order to get more money. I have a picture of the sedated horses from the pony rides (for the record).

There are a lot of things I could say about Days End, and the majority of those things would probably be bad. I try not to think about Days End too much anymore because it just makes me really sad and depressed. It's definitely not a very happy place to be, unless you're completely oblivious to what is actually going on.

I have supported DEFHR for several years, financially, in person, and now administratively thus I have a good overview of all aspects of the charity's work.
During that time, I have seen a number of impounded horses and the condition they arrive in. I have also seen (and ridden one) many of the horses that recover and go on to live normal lives. This include Zodiac and his seven companions, one of whom died as it was too late for her. I did spend several nights at the barn, helping to feed him while he was hanging in a sling, unable to support himself and battling a multitude of physical problems. For months, he and the other six had to be fed every two hours, round the clock as they were that decimated.
With this perspective, I can offer a different view of DEFHR and their mission. I have not seen these latest impounded horses but spoke to a number of people who have been around them. Many of the horses are young, unhandled and feral. They are in a decent condition but below the minimum standards of horse care, widely accepted and recognized by horse industry.
Their condition is meticulously recorded for legal proceedings, not for public information at this point. Until the authorities and DEFHR obtain full custody, any releasable information is limited. This is the same procedure as in any other pending legal case. That is why the information is limited and restrictive, not for a lack of transparency or conspiracy. On the contrary, the impounding authorities and DEFHR meticulously follow clearly established legal procedures as the court case builds up.
The estimate cost per horse includes detailed veterinary exams, carefully recorded and available upon obtaining legal custody. In addition, all horses are evaluated for need of deworming, hoof and dental care, any special needs. Starved and/or neglected horses do not receive proper minimum feedings, let alone other basic care. They also will need to be evaluated as to their socialization and prior handling exposure and familiarity with humans. They also will have special nutritional needs, either for reconvalescing, senior, special feeding needs, or all of the above. Training alone will constitude an enormous effort that will take years.
In summary, from a personal experience and some familiarity with legal actions regarding a criminal court case, most of the accusations if not all of them are unfounded.
The issue at stake seems to be the fact that so many valuable breeding animals will be removed from the gene pool. Yes, due to a starvation or at least neglect. They will be evaluated and rehomed. The value of a horse is not measured by his/her breeding potential but the pleasure and companionship.

This rescue has participated in seizing horses which, if you review the video evidence provided by the news media, appear that the majority are of acceptable weight. DEFHR, however, reports that the horses have been starved, all the while posting inflammatory photos of the same old horses (half the horses are over 18, and 25 or more are over the age of 25!) rather than showing photos of each and every horse at the time of seizure when the video shown by the media clearly show most horses are of decent weight. DEFHR even acknowledges many are 4s on the Henneke scale. So why were thet seized? Perhaps for their fundraising potential? DEFHR refuses to allow members of the Arabian community (these 133 seized horses are Arabians) access to these horses and refuses to provide photos of the horses at time of seizure. This so called rescue has been a rescue long enough to know that you do not remove horses from the property seized without proper documentation. Why has DEFHR not followed standard rescue protocol when participating in this seizure? Food for thought, I think. Meanwhile, from the moment of seizure, DEFHR has been pleading for donations. And the estimated cost of rehab for each of the 133 Arabs is $5000 PER HORSE for 6 months. Perhaps that is why they refuse to show the photographs of the horses at the time of seizure - the photos would surely provide evidence that these 133 horses will not require 1 MILLION DOLLARS to rehab, as DEFHR wants the public to believe so the public will open their pcokets. THIS SEIZURE in Maryland is all about DEFHR and HSUS making money by fundraising and USING these horses to do it. Despicable in my opinion! Moreover, by putting DEFHR's goal of fundraising over the health of the horses, DEFHR requested media coverage to make a big call out for doantions, which resulted in these poor horses, some yearlings and many over 30 year olds, being run ragged for over two hours, in what must have been a terrifying event. Truly dispicable behavior. DEFHR should be ashamed that it puts fundraising above the health and emotional well being of horses it purports to be helping.

Require rescue to follow standard rescue protocol which requires adequate photographic documentation of each and every horse removed prior to it's removal from the owner's property. Their procudures should also preclude the use of helicopters, whether for media coverage or otherwise. The use of helicopters in this seizure surely terrified 30+ year old horses along with yearlings, while running them ragged for two hours. THAT should be prohibited for anyone, rescue or individual. Should be TRANSPARENT!