North Carolina - forming a horse rescue.

There is a need, but there is also a great risk in starting a rescue. When donations dry up, how do you feed the horses?

Rising costs increase horse neglect cases [link]
Rocky Mount Telegram | Sep 3, 2008

Rising fuel prices and increasing financial hardships have caused a dramatic increase in the number of abused and neglected horses across the country.

Feed prices continue to increase, forcing some longtime owners to sell some of their horses at prices well below their value. This has led to a flood of first-time horse buyers, many of whom don’t always realize the time and expense required to properly take care of a horse.

“These first-time horse buyers — who God bless them mean well — probably have wanted a horse since childhood,” says Elizabeth Loftin, who runs Healing Horses Ranch in Castalia. “But like the old saying goes, ‘If it seems to good to be true — it probably is.’ These buyers rush in without researching why these horses are suddenly available so cheap.”

Loftin and Daniel Paschall recently formed Safe Haven Equine Rescue, where they care for their seven horses and eight rescue horses, two of which they have adopted as their own.

“The Rescue is blessed with healthy pastures, shade and gorgeous sunrises and sunsets — and we’re blessed with the knowledge of how to care for the horses that come here,” Loftin said. “The only thing we’re lacking these days is the financial capability to continue to grow if something doesn’t change very soon.”

The rescue group is run almost solely on donations, but with the uncertain economic times many people face, those have been slow in coming. But a local store placed a donation jar on its counter, an area horse owner donated some feed and a retired professional rider donated horse supplies.

“It was a tearful union of giver and reciever as I realized she was giving all she had,” Loftin said. “We have become great friends, and I consider her a full partner.”

Loftin said the next step for the group is to find an attorney to help them organize as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organziation. But she also holds out hope that a big donor will some day emerge to help the group.

“I know there’s someone out there who can heal our financial problems — we just need to reach the right person,” she said. “But Alfalfa hay is our biggest need at this time to store up for the winter months.”

Hope won't fill an 800 pound animal's belly.