H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue

02/15/2025

Eva and Huckleberry spending some quality time together this morning.

02/15/2025

It’s a great day to Volunteer! 🫏 🐴 We had a wonderful group, of all ages, out here helping us with farm chores and horse care today. 🥰

02/03/2025

Not just fixing things—making a difference. 💪🐴 From hanging cameras to helping out, it’s all about giving 100% for these animals.

01/24/2025

Winter storm 2025! We have been very busy dealing with all of the freezing temperatures and the effects around the farm of those conditions. This weather is not something we generally have to deal with here in the south.
We would like to extend an enormous thank you to our volunteer Feed team who helped us ensure that all of the animals were fed, warm and well taken care of throughout the storm. Thank you to those who have reached out to us directly to check on everyone. We truly appreciate your support and concern, as always! We have put together a short video to share with everyone. Just a glimpse into our frozen farm life this week.

01/10/2025

We are experiencing a wintery mix of weather here at HOPE today but thanks to some pretty amazing volunteers and donors our horses and donkeys are all bundled up! 🥶 🌧️ ❄️ 🐎 🫏😎🥰

01/05/2025

We have two donkeys, Amigo and Gracie, that came to us very obese. If you are considering getting a donkey, PLEASE do not expect them to protect your animals. They are prey animals, like sheep and goats. Livestock guardian dogs are a much better choice. ❤️🫏❤️

🫏 Donkey Hooves & Health Academy 🫏www.donkeyhooves.com

The myth of donkeys as guardians is outdated and harmful. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀—𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. Let’s honor donkeys for who they truly are—remarkable, sentient beings deserving of respect, compassionate care, and environments that prioritize their well-being above all else.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗱
The idea of donkeys as "guardian animals" is a harmful myth that compromises their well-being. While donkeys may stand their ground or chase smaller predators, this behavior stems from self-preservation, not protection. Here’s why this practice must stop:

𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀
Donkeys are prey animals whose natural response to threats is shaped by survival instincts. Unlike horses, they may stand their ground or drive off predators, but this behavior is about territoriality and self-defense, not safeguarding others. It’s a reactive behavior, not a deliberate act of protection.

Exposing donkeys to predatory threats as guardians puts them in harm’s way, often leading to injuries, chronic stress, and even death. They are not equipped—physically or emotionally—to handle the dangers of predator attacks.

𝗗𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱: 𝗔 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀
Donkeys are desert-adapted animals whose low-sugar, high-fiber diets are critical to their health. Guardian setups often force them to share calorie-dense feeds like grains and rich pasture grasses meant for livestock, which their bodies cannot process. This dietary mismanagement leads to severe, life-threatening health issues:

𝗢𝗯𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆: Donkeys gain weight rapidly on inappropriate diets, leading to large fat pockets of adipose tissue along their back, buttocks, and neck. 𝗔𝗱𝗶𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀, making obesity difficult to reverse. In severe cases, 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠, resulting in a permanently crested neck and chronic discomfort. Obesity also puts undue strain on joints and overall health.

𝗟𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀: This painful and often fatal condition, triggered by high sugar intake, results in inflammation and damage to the sensitive structures of the hoof, leaving donkeys lame and in constant pain.

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: Rich feeds and inconsistent access to appropriate forage disrupt the donkey's delicate digestive system, leading to colic and conditions like Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), which exacerbate their risk of laminitis.

A guardian setup makes it nearly impossible to meet a donkey’s specialized dietary needs, setting them up for a lifetime of preventable health problems. Donkeys deserve environments that respect their biological requirements—not setups that jeopardize their well-being.

𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆𝘀
Donkeys are highly social and thrive with other donkeys. Guardian setups often isolate them with livestock like sheep, cattle or goats, depriving them of the companionship and social interaction they need to live fulfilling lives. This isolation, coupled with exposure to stress and danger, compromises their mental and emotional well-being.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆𝘀
Using donkeys as guardians treats them as tools. While donkeys are intelligent and capable of forming bonds, they are not bred or suited for the role of a livestock protector. Expecting them to act as guardians disregards their natural behaviors, compromises their health, and exposes them to avoidable harm.
True guardianship requires intention and capability—traits seen in livestock guardian dogs, not prey animals like donkeys.

𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆
Donkeys deserve care that prioritizes their welfare, not practices rooted in myths or convenience. Instead of placing them in roles that harm them, let’s focus on their unique needs as desert-adapted, highly intelligent, and social beings. Providing donkeys with proper diets, companionship, and environments that align with their natural behaviors ensures they live healthy, happy, and meaningful lives.

Holistic Hooves LLC / Donkey Hooves & Health Academy

01/01/2025

As we wrap up 2024, we are reminded how truly grateful we are for the unwavering support you have extended to us during the year. 💝We have had an amazing year, filled with intakes, rehabilitations, adoptions, community events and numerous new volunteers who joined our HOPE family! Our mission to offer a safe place of healing is only a possibility because of the generosity of our community. Thank you for helping us make 2024 a year of rebirth, good health and peace for so many equines.

We are excited to welcome in the New Year 🎆and are looking forward to the growth and development that lie ahead for us as an organization. We have plans to enhance our partnerships with animal control agencies, expand our pasture space, broaden our educational impact and widen our community outreach. We look forward to ringing in this new year alongside our amazing community and our volunteers. We are committed to making 2025 the best year yet for those in our care and those yet to come. 🐴🫏

12/23/2024

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a Prosperous 2025! https://mailchi.mp/a30a0c1f2054/happy-holidays-from-hope-acres-rescue

12/16/2024

🐴✨ 'Giving is a way of receiving.'

We are so excited to drop another short doc, this one featuring our volunteers Carl Skal and his daughter Ava. It's not just about the horses—it’s about the joy, healing, and connection that comes from giving back. We're so thankful for the work Carl, Ava, and all our volunteers do.

It's because of them we're able to continue rescueing and rehabilitating horses. 💛 If you're interested in volunteering with us or donating, please send us a message. Every little bit helps, and as this story shows, even one person can make true and lasting impact.

12/10/2024

Do you remember Fabio? He came to us as part of a large seizure out of Kershaw County. A gorgeous Mustang, he was adopted by his forever partner Jacquelyn and now lives the PERFECT life in Colorado!! There is nothing that Fabio won’t try, and he and Jacquelyn have many more years of fun times ahead of them!!

12/05/2024

Tuesday was a busy day at the rescue, as Dr. Kay and Taylor from Charleston Equine Clinic came to check out some of our horses and donkeys. Vaccinations, blood draws (for Coggins), Xrays, teeth floating, and microchipping were some of the tasks accomplished. It was a cold and blustery day, but it is part of our mission. All horses and donkeys receive appropriate medical care upon intake.

12/03/2024

This , you can give neglected horses and donkeys a way to get the care they need.

Whether it's bringing a new rescue to the farm, taking them to the vet clinic, or delivering them to their new forever home, we have to be able to transport them where they need to go.

We have been so fortunate in our years of rescue to have the generosity and support of our community to help us provide reliable and safe transportation for all of the equines that find themselves in need. Our gifted trailer (pictured), has reached end of life. The frame is rusted beyond repair and the doors and dividers hang crooked and will no longer close. These deficiencies make the trailer unsafe for transport.

We hope that you will consider a gift to HOPE Acres Rescue today, on this GivingTuesday!

We are a volunteer operated, non-profit so rest assured that every dollar you donate will go directly toward the purchase of a safe, reliable and dependable mode of transport for horses and donkeys right here in South Carolina!

Together, we can make sure the equines of H.O.P.E. are never without a ride.

Make a gift of support to HOPE Acres Rescue here: https://hopeacresrescue.networkforgood.com/projects/241850-new-trailer

This , you can give neglected horses and donkeys a way to get the care they need. Whether it's bringing a new rescue to the farm, taking them to the vet clinic, or delivering them to their new forever home, the volunteers of H.O.P.E....

12/01/2024

Meet Journey! This mare is one of our recent intakes. She lived with Cayenne, who we recently introduced you to.

Journey needed quite a bit of grooming when she arrived and has been receiving just that from our volunteers! Many of the mats and tangles have been relieved since she first came to HOPE. She will receive her physical and vaccines this coming week and is on the schedule to have her hooves trimmed.

Journey is already making friends with several of the volunteers with her sweet and patient disposition. She has been a trooper standing for minutes on end to allow us to work through her mane and tail.

We are delighted to welcome Journey to our HOPE family and are equally as grateful for our communities love and support which allow us to be able to offer equines, like her, a safe place to begin their healing. ❤️🐴

11/28/2024

We would like to wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us at HOPE Acres Rescue!

11/25/2024

We have several new intakes to introduce you to that came in over the last couple of weeks but today we feature this incredibly sweet mare. She is already on her way to her best days!

Cayenne has settled in at the rescue and has begun her nutritional rehabilitation. She is doing fabulous thus far and we are all very hopeful that she will blossom back into the beautiful physique that she once had.

She is on the schedule to be fully vetted and to get her first trim!

If you would like to help support Cayenne’s recovery journey, please visit this link https://hopeacresrescue.networkforgood.com/projects/137178-sponsor-a-horse
to make your gift!

Thank you to all involved in saving this precious soul. We truly appreciate your partnership and efforts. We are certain that Cayenne echoes our sentiments. ❤️🐴❤️💯

11/22/2024

Being in animal rescue is hard! 😞

I will apologize now if this post ends up being a lengthy one, but there are currently so many emotions running rampant in my heart that I felt like I needed to put these thoughts and feelings in black and white. Perhaps it’s my way of dealing with the anger, frustration , sadness, and pain that comes with the responsibility of rescue. Often times these feelings are dealt with internally and act as a fuel that reignites determination and then at other times the emotion becomes so overwhelming that it can make a person feel defeated.

This last week or so has been one for the books. Days filled with phone calls, assessment and care conversations, emergent medical calls and visits, transport coordination, agency support requests, pasture preparations and much anticipation for the new journeys that lie ahead with each case.

Having been in equine rescue for 15 years and seeing well over 100 cases come in, you can never really say, “I’ve seen it all”. Inevitably there are more “firsts” coming your way. No need to go into the details here. I truly believe these instances are just His way of reminding me that I’ve got this and that He’s got me!

Nevertheless, you can continually give each intake your all, utilizing the experience you have, rally the troops of experts and team of volunteers – with everyone putting their best foot forward and still lose the good fight. The key is to not give up.

This morning, my heart is sad, but I am also finding that underlying determination. This is a new day - filled with possibilities and promise. Here’s to everyone involved in rescue, from those on the front lines to those behind the scenes, keep fighting the good fight!

With love and respect for all,
Tracey
President
HOPE Acres Rescue

11/09/2024

Come visit with us at the Coastal Carolina Fair. We’d love to meet you!