http://AppalachianLegacyInc.org/

Appalachian Legacy, Inc, Lexington, KY (2025)

11/20/2025

Little Penelope is still needing a sponsor for her recent vet visit ✨️

She had a rough time with weaning and is dealing with a heavy worm load. Her foster/future adopter has been doing such a great job getting her back on track and teaching her all the big girl things.

This is her last step towards adoption. Her total bill was $531, can you help us get Penelope's bill covered so we can get her adoption finalized?

Every bit goes a long way!

Donate directly through our website at AppalachianLegacyInc.Org

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11/14/2025

❗️❗️ Long awaited update ❗️❗️

There is so much to share once these last few loose ends are tied up. Thank you to everyone who has reached out 🩷

What we need right now: Donations!

🌲 We have quite a few vet bills from horses going into foster or adoptive homes that need sponsored.

🌲 Transportation costs for ALI assets still in the area and ongoing transportation costs for horses traveling all over to get to their hones.

🌲 We also have a a few outstanding balances that we need help to settle.

None of these things have been able to be publicly fundraised for until myself and the horses were safe. Being a publicly support nonprofit, we rely solely on the ability to fundraise for the needs of the organization. We do not receive county, state or federal funding or grants, the entirety of our work is publicly funded.

With that ability taken away and propelling local push back, ALI and our mission has been shaken.

Here's the positive:

Once we get these last things finished up, I will finally be able to honestly share with all of our supporters an AWFUL lot of things that we have had to remain silent on for far too long.

Until then, we need your support to help is through this unsteady time. Please consider giving towards these last few expenses and help us continue to bring brighter days for the horses of Coal Country 🩷

AppalachianLegacyInc.Org

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*Note, please do not send to our post box*

09/12/2025

Gerald enjoying the morning sun from the Iron W**d patch 💜

09/08/2025

Did you know that in the last 2 years since having a stationary home base, Appalachian Legacy has been a hub for stray dogs too?

Within rural central Appalachia, animal welfare rates amongst the lowest in the nation. Kentucky is actually 47th in the US in regards to animal protection. In 2016, we rated 50th.

Most counties do not have a shelter or any animal services what so ever, let alone assistance or adoption programs.

With that said, we also have one of the highest ranked homeless/stray animal populations by far, heck, even the horses we help could really be classified as descendents of strays.

Our own home county has a very small shelter but they are only able to hold 6 dogs at a time. In the last year there have been a few wonderful people who have stepped up to make things better there, but the reality is the shelter is wildly underfunded, understaffed and what space they do have is in extremely high demand.

When you're driving around, you're garenteed to see a stray pack (or three) roaming around, trying to get by. A few surrounding counties have larger shelters, but again their space is so very limited and in high demand.

Since having a stationary property, we have been able to fill this gap to some degree.

51 strays have come through our doors, each one in desperate, deplorable condition. Each one needing a safe landing. Each one we have given a chance. All at no cost to our county or state services.

After rehabilitation, some basic training and most importantly time and kindness, they have gone on to loving, incredible adoptive homes or networked to reputable rescues outside of the region. Most have needed extensive time working through major trust issues or behavior problems that would have made them nearly impossible to get through to in a typical shelter setting.

Our home pack helps more than anything getting new dogs adjusted to things and showing them the ropes, welcoming them to the good life.

This is something we have never fundraised for and in order to ensure this side quest didn't interfere with our mission to help the horses, we have worked out incredible deals with our local feed store who helps us support the extra mouths.

We are so beyond thankful to be able to offer this service to the animals who had no choice but to try and survive on their own, even if it isn't really our missions purpose.

Photographed below is Ray. A senior, vision impaired, feral Rough Coat Collie. For as long as anyone could remember he ran the roads, stealing what he could and dodging people as best he could.

When he first began showing up, he was like a ghost. I'd only see a glimpse of him as he ran past the cabin or darted out of a bush as I passed. He was hands down one of the most fearful, distrustful animals I have ever encountered. His whole body was matted and dreadlocked.

But over 2 years time, he has let go of most of his human related baggage and has blossomed into a loyal member of the home pack and coyote chaser. Most importantly, he has become a dear friend 🩷

Photo by the talented Fox Trot Photography - Traveling Equine Photographer last fall 🍂

09/07/2025

Babies always look so silly this time of year when they start shedding out thier foal floof.

This little fella is shedding into a really neat liver chestnut color but at the moment he has some highlights going on 😍

09/07/2025

Ferin, from Rocky's Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation Inc. has settled beautifully into her new free-roaming life at Elsewhere.

At first, she struggled with the sheer number of miles the herds travel each day, but now she’s building muscle and learning to handle the constant movement with much more ease. The herds still cover 12–15 miles daily, sometimes even more, as they rotate through the Elsewhere ranges. This is a natural travel pattern for wild and feral horses, but for a semi-feral mare who spent most of her life in pastures, it’s a major adjustment.

Forage in the wilderness is also very different from what you’d find in a traditional pasture. In open prairie land, the horses don’t just graze on grasses; they browse on a wide variety of high-fiber, high-protein options, including tender sericea lespedeza and even the occasional autumn olive bush.

Ferin is the first horse we’ve released into sanctuary life who wasn’t born in the wild or at least, not that we know of. She remained completely unhandled until finding rescue with Rocky’s, where they first began working with her.

But Ferin proved to be dangerously shut down toward humans. More concerning, she didn’t care if she hurt herself as long as it meant escape. When an animal of any size is acting out of fear based behavior it's dangerous but if they have no self preservation in those behaviors it takes things to an extreme level. Even after months with a trainer, she made little to no progress and eventually reached the point of facing behavioral euthanasia.

This would have a very valid decision given her level of trauma and explosive nature.

Horses like her are rare. Most can overcome incredible trauma and with time and consistent, compassionate training, eventually become safe, trusting partners. For many years, my work revolved around “fixing” horses like Ferin. The broken, downtrodden outcasts who might try to take your arm off a few times before ever letting you in. I’ve seen only a handful as deeply troubled as Ferin and maybe a few even worse.

There was a time I might have tried to “fix” her too. I do think with years of training she could be reached.

But today, as I watched her step out of the brush onto a wide mountain top, following the herd she’s grown so deeply bonded with, I was reminded that not every horse needs to be “fixed” to live a fulfilling life. Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is give them space and to simply let them be horses. Watch over them, assist as needed but to simply allow that to be enough.

Ferin has given us the chance to prove that a model like Elsewhere can provide true sanctuary for horses like her: a safety net for those too damaged by people to have anywhere else to go.

For Ferin atleast, it has been exactly that 💓

09/05/2025

No more bugs for this Chicken 🪰🦟

After a bit of mild panic and some thinking time in her favorite bush, she settled down and decided the sheet wasn't going to eat her. However, the mask and boots will take some more time to get in. She was not a fan.

Her yearling buddies are not so convinced 🫣

Such a huge thank you to great people who help keep things going 🩷

08/30/2025

It's feed store day today 🌻

Our local Tractor Supply gives us an incredible deal on their premium feed brands which helps us out a TON and helps us stretch each dollar that much further.

Right now we have two mares with foals on a grain heavy diet and the yearling pasture is going through a bag a day. And of course Gerald who is still gaining each day and goes through a few compressed Alfalfa bales each week.

Our feed bill runs right around $300 per week even with the discounts. If you'd like to contribute towards this weeks feed haul, we could sure use it.

Rescues everywhere are feeling the pinch, I know we are. We are so thankful to our local store who helps us continue to help more and to our supporters who make it all possible 🩷

AppalachianLegacyInc.Org

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08/29/2025

Nothing in the world quite like moving a whole herd of horses using only time, trust and good horsemanship 🌻

The Big mares are back behind the gated areas on Elsewhere to wait out the holiday weekend. It will be interesting to see where matriarch Autumn takes the herd. Redford and his herd have staked out one of the big mares usual and most favorite ranges.

There are also a few new areas that we've been hard at work clearing and opening up new semi-wooded grazing areas.

The herd dynamics of Elsewhere have been absolutely fascinating observe and document.

08/29/2025

It's been so busy around here I kept forgetting to snap a picture of the selenium blocks as they went out 😅

The Elsewhere herds have been rotating to block stations nicely and have sure enjoyed them. I was able to catch this Momma and yearling on them the other day as a foal waited to see if there was anything extra in the truck for him.

Sodium and selenium are both incredibly important minerals that are not found on reclaimed surface mines. During mining, the mountain top is removed to expose coal seams. Through the reclamation process, soil (often sterile) is added back ontop of the exposed rock and vegetation is planted to hold everything together.

This often means, anything that grows there has very low mineral value creating a deficiency in the animals who live there. Not only do the horses take time each day to hit a block station or two, but the wildlife they share the mountain top with. Everything from Rabbits and Turkey to Deer and Elk have all spend time at the stations.

Being a good land steward means looking out for all the creatures who live there, not just the horses we focus on 🩷

Thank you to all who gave, we will have another round going out very soon!

08/29/2025

Chicken update 🐣

We recently posted about Chicken and how she was being targeted all of a sudden by relentless flies, seemily only on her one side.

While the phenomenon only lasted a few days, they still seem to get at her more than any of the other horses. After talking to some folks around the area, they reported similar fly swarms the same week. Best we can tell, they left as quickly as they came 🤷‍♀️

We'd still really like a fly sheet for her since bugs in general tend to target her so bad. As of yesterday morning, none have come in the mail..

The original post got a bit crazy and has since been taken down but I remember a few folks willing to buy her a new one instead of waiting.

Right now there is a good Labor day sale, so if you'd like to sponsor a fly sheet for Chicken they are currently marked down to $75 (with shipping) or $90 with a matching fly mask + boots. Ideally we could get 2 covered so if she destroys one in her adventures around the pasture, she has a spare ready to go.

To sponsor:

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[email protected]

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Thank you 🩷

Appalachian Legacy, Inc

11/20/2025

11/14/2025

09/12/2025

09/08/2025

09/07/2025

09/07/2025

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