I was following the OTTB from Louisiana just before all the mud started to get stirred up about them. At the time I had set aside funds to donate and help them out. I decided to wait for all the mud to clear first. The mud has not settled and it seems to be getting worse. I am the type of person that likes to go to the source for answers so recently I posted some questions on Hicaliber's face book page. I did not get answers from any of the rescue's administration, and instead my questions and comments were removed. If a rescue claims to be transparent it should not have been an issue to answer my questions and address my concerns. This is just my opinion.
If ZERO stars were an option, I would select it.
This is not rescue. This is fraud and abuse disguised as rescue.
They fail every horse that gets into their grasps.
They are enabling horse abusers by purchasing sick and injured horses from these individuals in the parking lot of the Ontario Auction every week. They should do the right thing and report these abusers to the proper authorities.
They have too many horses on their property (last count as of 1/21/17: 187; they have approximately 10 usable acres out of 14.82). They don't have enough knowledgeable volunteers to care for these horses. The people who live on site who are all affiliated with the organization are too lazy to do the daily care tasks themselves.
The organization's founder self-diagnoses horses and euthanization consists of this person shooting them in the head with a 22 caliber handgun.
The majority of supporters are out of state and have no horse experience. The ones that supposedly have horse experience makes me question their equine abilities.
This rescue needs to either scale back to a reasonable number of horses and properly care for them or get out of the rescue business completely.
HiCaliber Horse Rescue is a horse rescue nightmare. They truly are doing a lot of damage to the horse rescue world by giving rescues a bad name. There is no accountability or transparency. This rescue is one of the worst I have ever seen. They use fraudulent diagnosis to shoot horses so that they can collect 'responsible rescue fees' and claim to make $85k a month in donations. There is over 200 horses on 11 acres with most being wormy, sick, unhandled, stressed and some thin due to lack of proper nutrition. These 'rescuers' are no better than the flippers and dealers they claim to save the horses from when in reality they strike deals with them to beat out every last penny from their 'villagers'. They are nothing but scam artists and should be audited and shut down as soon as possible.
One of the worst I have ever seen, and I have been an Animal Control officer. They are scammers, they protect the worst abusers in SoCal. They are ignorant of the most basic horse knowledge. They lie and lie to get donations, and they live high on the hog on donor dollars. The volunteers are kind hearted and do their best, but the management of this faux rescue are absolute scammers. No, no, just no.
I love this rescue, I volunteer, foster, donate and am an adopter. They send me their skinnies (emaciated or underweight horses) to rehabilitate that have been rescued or purchased from auctions (which they attend weekly faithfully and wholeheartedly).
They are transparent and bring live updates and current situations to their "village of supporters". They tell it like it is and don't mince words or sugarcoat situations. I may not always agree with the choice of verbiage but I do stand 100% behind them their hearts are 100% in the right place, I am not in their shoes and don't feel the looming pressures they do with some of the most heinous crimes committed against some of these horses and dealing with the stuff they have to deal with. There are some horses that are rescued that don't do well at the ranch and need 1 on 1 attention, a quiet environment or don't do well in herd situations (there are only so many corrals at the ranch), for these horses they make a plea to the "Village" for fosters to come forward to benefit these particular cases. Unfortunately most of the publics horses today spend their lives in 12 x 12, 24 x 24 corrals with limited time (if any) in turnout so they are most comfortable in their own stalls so being turned out and having to deal with other horses is a huge issue. They always welcome volunteers, fosters for weigh gains or training and also welcome visitors.
While horse slaughter is illegal in the US for now, horses purchased for slaughter are being transported to Mexico & Canada and it is a very real thing! There are horse buyers (termed kill buyers) who do go to auctions purchase horses and sell them to kill lots and that is what HCHR is there to prevent, no horse deserves to die the horrible death in a slaughter house or en-route, the deprivation of essential water and food resulting in weakness and the inability to stand while en-route to their final destination is unspeakable, many horses die before they even get to slaughter. Not every horse saved at auction is healthy, some require euthanasia because their owners failed them and wanted to squeeze the last buck out of them instead of doing right by their old or injured horse by having them humanely euthanized when their time has come. Some horses have serious and dangerous behavioral issues caused by lack of training (once again owners faults). Most of their rescues are trained or re-schooled and adopted into new forever homes. I do not know of any rescue in California that saves the amount of horses they do during an average month or even year. Unfortunately with the huge success has come the haters. They always welcome working with other rescues and sanctuaries to ease the burdens of rescue. What totally amazes me is how people that hate them for the good they do don't do anything to help the horses themselves. I have volunteered for other local rescues and just encountered blatant lying, jealousy and drama. If you are in Southern California and are looking for an amazing rescue to adopt from, donate to or volunteer for I highly recommend HiCaliber Horse Rescue.
My friend and I toured HiCalibur recently. We were so very impressed. Loved the volunteers and horses. I know they have had to euthanize some horses but when they sadly do that, it is not the horrible way that the slaughter houses do it. The horses that go out of state and out of country for kill buyers are terrorized. HiCalibur gives the horses respect and dignity. I know this group and they love their horses. The best thing someone can do is support them. Some rescues only rescue the beautiful horses. HiCalibur rescues every horse they can. I loved the property and the horses. If you can help out you will be doing horses a favor.
Love this horse rescue! They have saved and rehabilitated hundreds of horses that are broken, beaten, abused, starved and dumped at auction for slaughter. The love and care they put into these horses is second to none. I know people who have adopted horses from HiCaliber, and they all are repeat clients. I must say though, it pains me to see people come here (among other places,) to badmouth HiCal and organize hate groups (more like lynch mobs,) due to personal issues. This rescue saves, rehabs and adopts out an astounding amount of horses and the individuals trying to bring it down over childish issues, will only hurt the horses. Take a minute and visit their Facebook page. Checkout the before and afters of many horses and see the blood, sweat and tears the HiCaliber crew puts into saving these horses. They are the BEST!
I am shocked and saddened by the OUTRIGHT BLATANT LIES being written here and those lies have been perpetrated by an organized group who have unfounded grudges against HC. I have been a HC supporter and done my homework. HC Supporters don't blindly follow ..... they are able to participate and many visit and donate not just money but time and energy. It's easy to find the truth. Just show up at HC and see the awesome life saving work they do. God bless them!
Love this place! Everyone here is a hard worker. Horses are well taken care of. I love coming out to work and help out.
I previously supported this rescue both by sharing posts and monetarily. However, about a year ago, they made a big show out of eating horse testicles from a recently gelded horse. I was very surprised and questioned why they would do such a thing and I was verbally harassed and promptly blocked from their page. Of course I never donated again however please be forewarned that HCHR does not provide documentation on money received or spent and I was never thanked for any funds I provided. After a horse I gave money towards was shot (they don't do chemical euthanasia) I was never told or informed and I believe that money should have been offered to be refunded. HCHR may have started out on the right path but now they house almost 200 horses on 11 acres and frequently euthanize horses to make room for more as that's how they currently get most of their funding. Plus they've lie about horse slaughter and how it works here in the states (especially California) to pull at people's heart strings to get more money. Everything I've written has been posted on their FB page. Well, except for the missing horses that are presumed dead.
Please pass by this one. Donations seem to disappear into swimming pools, fancy houses. BMW new trucks and trailers
Horses have no shelter in some their small pens. No autowaters. So horses stand in heat with no water.
Thin and sick. Always begging for money. Look and do your research to find out where your donations go.
They aren't truthful as to where the money you donate goes. They won't respond to questions and will block you from their FB page if you ask. Adoption fees vary depending on if they like you or not. Do your research before donating to them.
(Former volunteer)
Scam scam scam!!! As a 501c3 y'all are required to produce proof of funds & where they're spent! This place is a joke that doesn't have a problem shooting a healthy adoptable horse to make room for new ones they can raise money for to just shoot. Donors money goes to a horse that 9 out of 10 will end up shot! This is NOT ok! They hoard & have way too many horses & not enough people to take care of them properly! Y'all are in socal & it's hot! The horses need shelter & WATER! You people suck! When y'all come crashing down there will be a huge party! Stop the lies!
this is not a rescue. It is a hoarding situation. Too many horses on too little land. Horses don't even have the basic needs met. 15-20 horses standing in an arena with no shelter and having to fight for food doesn't sing "rescued" or "safe" to me. Seems like they are standing on a different feed lot from which they were "saved" from.
Misappropriation of funds, health code violations, founder practicing vet work when not licensed to do so. I feel sorry for any horse that is at this "rescue" - not to mention the poor people who continue to donate to them
Thank goodness for legitimate organization's like yours.
Be Carefil
FACT CHECK FOLKS
We were scammed
Evicted Rescue on the Run with 80 Equine
The realest, hardest working, most bad ass group of people working for an amazing cause, saving lives every day and kicking the rescue games butt! Hicaliber is the best there is and you'll never see anything like em! Support 100% can't wait to meet them in person!
I love this rescue. Yes they compasion pull some horses, but what is the option to let them go to slaughter or back with the person that abused them. And they work with Voldy, anything to save a horse. you armchair quaterbacks how many horse are you saving? My neice is an equine vet and she loves them.
HiCaliber is awesome ! Very transparent. Always keeping followers up to date on all the horses. I love the fact that they post copies of the vet bills and show videos of the horses on intake day. I love hearing from the vets themselves through video on what procedures they are doing and why.
Wow! HiCaliber is amazing! I was on my search for my first horse and after a few disappointing test rides elsewhere, I decided to give HiCaliber a try. When I showed up to try a few horses out, I was extremely impressed with how up kept the property was. I mean, it's hard enough when you only have a couple horses, let alone 100+. Anyways, through the whole process they were extremely transparent with each horses personality and likes/dislikes. I ended up falling in love and very quickly signed a foster to adopt contract. Almost a year later (with a few visits afterwards) I am still in love with this rescue. They still follow up to make sure everything is going ok and are still rescuing horses from the slaughter pipeline.
I'm so proud to say I got my horse from this rescue and will continue donating as well.
My family for the past two years. They are some of the best people you could meet and they are all there for over reason, the horses. The founder, Michelle is one hell of a woman who devotes her life to the rescue and the horses. Love them
Amazingly transparent and inclusive group. They basically grabbed my heart and they've been squeezing it for me for the last.. uhm.. i think it's two years now. Despite living on the other side of the globe (UK) from the action you get taken long on live feeds, meetings, parties and you get the share the highs and lows equally. I can't say enough about this place, it's amazing.
HiCaliber has been an amazing experience for my 14 year old and myself. Life-changing, really. We have learned so much, and worked hard to help these horses that come in each week. We see the vets, the farrier, the riding team and the general volunteers just like us, come in each week and give 100% to as much success as they can for these horses. It has created an incredible community with other rescues, ranches and communities as well. We help write for the kid's page now and we are part of the compassion team. The community has had a significant impact on the direction of this ranch and wants us to help with the compassionate euthanizations as well as the rehabilitated adoptable ones, and we are grateful to be a part. Incredible stories ever week of horses going to their forever homes and getting a secomd chance at a better life.
The work this rescue does week after week saving horses is amazing! Wish I lived closer so I could volunteer.
Amazing place and people. Somewhere I can go and not feel judged for being a bit different and still get to help the horses. They help the people that visit there almost as much as the help the horses.
I found HiCaliber when I was looking for a horse. I started following them. I am a volunteer; have fostered and adopted.
I liked their transparency and how they tell it like it is. They're edgy and aren't afraid to put themselves out there for the horses. They are one of the few that actually rehab and adopt out the horses.
They are great at fitting the horse and human. They have a strict adoption contract all to protect the horse.
This is a rescue that is utterly legit, open, and VERY good at what they do. I'm a donor and a volunteer and have followed Hi Caliber for a bit over 2 years now. I've seen them work miracles before my eyes. These amazing humans are the real deal, and they have the courage and strength to make the right decisions for the good of the horse, always.
I have seen this rescue grow in amazing ways in the past two years!
These guys are da bomb! I am so proud and very honored to be a very small part of the Hi Caliber "village".
This place is a legit slice of heaven. You will come to see horses and get sucked into the amazing village of volunteers and supporters. They have 2 cows that come when you call their names. Don't have experience? There are live classes, guest speakers and online training opportunities.
I am a volunteer but I am also a regular donor. In fact, I became a volunteer because of the transparency in how our donations are used and HiCaliber's mission is one I could readily get behind. Week after week, horses come through auction with separated hooves, festering abscesses, skin on bones, PTSD, and other battle scars that clearly come from years of neglect and abuse. Our donors go to extraordinary lengths to help us save every soul we possibly can, and we try. Oh Lord, do we try! If there is a snowball's chance in hell, we're on it. Not once, not twice but as many times as we can stand but when it's clear that any horse is heaven bound, we switch gears fast despite what our hearts feel they can endure. We take every measure to give each soul the love, comfort and attention they deserve before humanely ending their suffering. Our donors know this and they applaud it. This is why our donors continue to show up with their encouraging words, their big hearts and their busted piggy banks. I am overwhelmed by their capacity for compassion and the trust they show us despite often never having met in person. When I think about it though, it makes sense. We attract people like ourselves, people who are devoted to the cause and would go to the ends of the earth to make a difference, to prevent unnecessary and humiliating suffering of such incredible animals. Rescue is no bed of roses, I'll admit, but with our village, we are the most fortunate people I know.
A previous reviewer mentioned they don't like the compassion program. While I know it's not for everyone, it's something I really like about Hicaliber. Rather than send that animal to Mexico, or have someone buy it, realize it's hurt, and either dumping it at another auction or letting it die. We give each horse love, attention, lots of carrots, and we kiss them on the nose when it's time to let go. I know very little about horses, and I came to Hicaliber in hopes of learning, and boy have I learned. They have welcomed me, a member of the Don't Know Squat Club, and have never once judged me or been upset if I couldn't/didn't know how to do something. Michelle, Romney, Robyn, Leah, Kim, and everyone else I don't know how you do it, but I'm glad I'm allowed along for the ride. Thank you for creating my escape. My home away from home. Most importantly, thank you for saving these horses. I can't wait to have my skills grow and help you all in more ways.
HiCaliber is by far the most effective and accepting rescue I have ever been in contact with. Every single week they save horses not only from slaughter, but from situations where the horse would be neglected, abused, or misunderstood. Every single horse is given unlimited love and consideration, with all decisions made with the best interest of the horse in mind.
I love the philosophy of this rescue! They truly do everything in the best interest of each individual horse. The group of people who make up hi caliber are volunteers who graciously give their all for the horses. I've been watching them on Facebook for quite a while, and began volunteering for them back in March 2015. I can honestly say that they are as upfront and transparent as you can get with regard to expenses, training, progress, and yes even euthanasia. One reviewer pointed out that they do compassion pulls from auction, which is true, but only a small part of what they do. Horses that no longer have a good quality of life even with veterinary intervention deserve a compassionate ending rather than finding that end in a slaughterhouse. I stand behind this rescue and the decisions they make about any of their horses 100%.
Amazing place with a lot of love to share. I have never seen horses so grateful for the care they receive. I volunteer and donate what I can. Compassion pulls are hard and seem like a waste of money, but for the horse it means the difference between a peaceful death and a painful slaughter process in Mexico or Canada :-( Luckily, compassion saves are only a small part of what they do. Their REHAB , RETRAIN and REHOME program is phenomenal
These group of people are beyond phenomenal. Yes they do compassion pulls at auction to euthanize humanely but why shouldn't they? These horses have given their lives for people to put through the horrible experience of slaughter is sick...so they give these horses a loving and peaceful last days. But they also do so much more with donations. They rehabilitate...At the horses pace not at their pace which I love! They give back to the community through kids programs and military outreach. I rescued one of my mares from them and I couldn't be happier. They have an amazing gift and I love seeing their facebook posts whether I laugh and/or cry they keep their members involved. Thank you!