HERD'S STORY
It all began in 2015, when Heather & Scott’s farm helper, Charlie Petty, saw a beautiful pinto horse at an auction where he was buying cows for his herd. Charlie was outraged to see a man buying up horses to be shipped to slaughter in Mexico, for their meat and hides. That kill-buyer turned out to be living in the area. Heather started tracking this kill-buyer's Facebook page, where they promote horses for sale before they were shipped to Mexico in large cattle transporters. Horses are weighed for meat value & thus a price to bail or save the horse is established. Heather saw the pinto horse Charlie reported and was determined to save him. The only thing we knew about the horse was that he was 16.1 hands and could be saddled and walked. Heather & Scott posted the pinto’s bail for Charlie. Off the trailer, he came to a secure pasture, severely underweight, but joyous to roam and trot in the large green field. He was dubbed Superman on the spot. Superman recovered, received professional training, and found his forever perfect home with a wonderful family in Florida.
This is how HERD was born as an all-volunteer organization. In November 2016, HERD was established as a 501 (c) (3), and the rescue operations expanded. While founded in the Carolinas, HERD also expanded into Central Florida in 2019, when Heather and Scott purchased a 70-acre ranch in Eustis, Florida. This afforded them the room to welcome considerably more horses into the rescue program.
We save, rehabilitate, train, and rehome approximately 15 to 20 horses each year. A few equines end up in sanctuary care in HERD. Most of the very young horses grow up and receive groundwork training in Florida. Once they are old enough to begin under-saddle training, after age three, they move up to professional trainers. We believe a trained horse is a safer horse, as they are much more adoptable and worth every penny of our time and funds to invest in these equines. HERD also has a well-supported foster program in the Carolinas for young equines, where they reside until they are old enough to start under-saddle training. HERD horses are capturing blue ribbons at horse shows, in eventing, and winning the hearts of many owners who adopt from us. Our rescue continues to grow, thanks to an equine network of loving, caring, and concerned people just like us.
HERD MISSION
Save as many horses as possible from the slaughter pipeline to Mexico and Canada
Restore rescued horses to their best possible physical and mental health
Carefully evaluate and professionally train each horse to allow them to maximize their potential - to find what they love to do
Based on the horse’s capabilities, match every rescue to an appropriate, loving, caring forever home
Provide ongoing support and monitoring to horses and owners post placement
THE HERD PROGRAM
Horses coming to HERD are housed at facilities and pastures provided by four farms owned by volunteers and members of the HERD rescue team
We focus rescue efforts on horses with the greatest chance of full rehabilitation and rehoming
Occasionally we can take in babies or extremely debilitated cases knowing they be with us for a longer time
Every horse’s progress, treatments and training are carefully tracked in detail
Horses in HERD's care receive professional training at least 2 times per week
HERD is a 501c3 tax exempt charitable orginization.
