Kentucky Humane Society Equine CARE

11/24/2025

We're working alongside our partners at the ASPCA, Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) and Appalachian Horse Project (AHP), to assist 39 at-risk horses who were previously collected from a reclaimed mine site in Eastern Kentucky from an individual who didn't have proper authorization from local authorities.

The 39 horses were returned and immediately vetted upon their arrival by Dr. Rocky Mason from Lexington Equine Medical Group, who graciously stepped up on short notice to provide all 39 horses with necessary health assessments. As you can imagine, this is an extremely large, unexpected intake case, and each horse will need months of rehabilitation, training and ongoing medical care before they are ready for new homes.

We're grateful to the ASPCA for providing emergency support, and to our many community partners who have stepped up to ensure these horses have a safe place to land. But we still need your help.

Providing a high level of care to this many horses isn't cheap or easy. It will take a large amount of work from our team, along with a significant amount of our resources to get these horses healthy and happy again. So, please consider donating today and together, we can make sure these horses experience the compassionate care and second chances they deserve.

Right now is an especially impactful time to give, as longtime KHS supporter Janice Cooper is matching ALL donations made to KHS through 11/30. That means your gift will DOUBLE to support TWICE as many horses in need! Thank you so much for your support of our team and the residents of Willow Hope Farm.

11/24/2025

*Guessing has been closed since the situation was announced publicly, please be patient while we check out the comments and thanks for guessing, it was THIRTY NINE horses in this case, with some going to partner orgs, some coming to KHS, and many in temporary pasture boarding to help stagger intakes of the rest of them to KHS.*

We've been toiling away with friends doing some hard things helping horses lately. We can't wait to tell you what we've been up to, but you'll have to check back when we've had time to let the dust settle and take a breath! 😅

In the meantime, would anybody like to take a wild guess how MANY horses were in need in this most recent case? If more than one person guesses the number correctly, we'll put the names in a hat, and draw a winner for a Kentucky Humane Society Equine CARE baseball cap.

11/23/2025

11/23/2025

In light of the current EHV-1 outbreak, the AAEP and the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) have organized a horse owner education webinar to bring you the most up to date information on this issue.

Next Tuesday, join specialists Lewis R. “Bud” Dinges (Texas Animal Health Commission Executive Director and Texas State Veterinarian), Dr. Krista Estell (AAEP/EDCC) and Dr. Katie Flynn (USEF) for an informative discussion about what EHV-1 is, how to recognize it, and most importantly, how to prevent its spread.

This webinar is FREE, but registration is required. Register here: https://events.zoom.us/ev/AnIoJrASj0vuX7Q_K87mKEjg5bxeMAkqp7fpSoOgVtVm_Zgo1g5m~AiiV7ZQ3bbmlEW2iSkeRTSAfMCYf2QhFMoprr7WRbM_MsiJRcBGT1oLj0Q

*PLEASE NOTE: the attendee limit for this session is capped at 1,000. However, all who register will be emailed a link to an on-demand recording that will become available 24 hours after the live session ends.

11/18/2025

Thank You, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels! Thanks to a Good Works grant from the Kentucky Colonels , we’ve installed new security cameras in the quarantine and holding barns at Willow Hope Farm. These cameras will make a huge impact for the horses in our care – especially newly rescued horses and pregnant mares who may foal at any moment. The cameras allow our team to monitor horses 24/7 without adding stress, helping us respond immediately to emergencies. This upgrade is a true game changer for safety and horse care. Thank you, Kentucky Colonels, for helping us provide safe, compassionate care to Kentucky’s most vulnerable horses. 🐴💛

Did you know that the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels is a 501C3 that supports nonprofits throughout Kentucky? The “Kentucky Colonel” commission is an honorary title granted by the Governor of the Kentucky. Since 1951, the organization has pursued its mission through annual grants totaling $72 million to more than 1,700 nonprofits. Of those Colonels’ contributions, each grant is thoroughly vetted by the trustees and staff. Visit kycolonels.org to learn more.

11/17/2025

Just sharing a quick snapshot from a video update on the ever lovely War Envoy. We’d take a million adopters like his. He continues to build muscle and feels great as well. His adopter says he is a love and we think he sure is one lucky guy to have landed exactly where he belongs.

For someone to REALLY care about a horse, not for who they used to be, who their parents are, what they’ve accomplished, if they can earn anything - to just really care about them enough to meet their needs and keep them happy and healthy - it’s such a beautiful thing. ❤️

11/15/2025

Some candid images of our happy horses (and mules!) around the farm earlier today.

While we are frugal and make use of donated supplies, any halters that appear to be nylon halters are equipped with safety breakaway components, so that they would release in the event of entanglement. The horses also just take them off sometimes, we think they like to hear us slap our hands to our face, squealing in astonishment at the same culprits every day “You’re NAKED! 😮” as if we are genuinely surprised.

Everyone is starting to get a bit fuzzy as the days shorten. The littles have been successfully weaned and are receiving handling to prepare them for adoption. We look forward to the future with some of our equine friends about to start their learning journeys. As many things in nature are winding down for the season, many of these horses’ stories are just beginning.

11/13/2025

* We are told these critters are home safe, thankfully!*

STRAY ANIMALS between Harrodsburg and Lexington, KY

There were 3 horses and a donkey loose on Highway 68 toward Lexington as of about 30-40 minutes ago. They HAVE BEEN SECURED on a property to await claiming by their owner. Thank you Lexy Kendrick for posting on social media.

11/13/2025

Former free-roaming horse (adopted from Kentucky Humane Society) and adopter win most Competitive Mounted Orienteering points in the Kentucky/Tennessee chapter for 2025!

Adopter Regina, who has been a fantastic animal advocate and supporter of animal welfare, adopted one of the most notable horses to come through KHS, Hope. Hope was one of 3 survivors (and an extra she was carrying in-utero at the time!) from a large-scale free-roaming horse ex*****on of 20 or more horses in the hills of eastern Kentucky in late 2019. Our friends in Floyd County were quick to ensure Hope and her charges were captured after they splintered off from the herd, no doubt fleeing for their lives and somehow escaping death that awful day. The trio came to KHS where they could be safe. Hope and her young adolescent filly, as well as her nursing foal at the time, received the care they needed and later were put up for adoption. That’s when Regina found Hope. Don’t be fooled into thinking this relationship was only smooth sailing and an easy peasy fairytale though, Regina is quite humble but has invested a great deal of continuing education, not only into Hope but in Regina’s own horsemanship journey as well. Hope had saved her kids in moments when terror reigned across the hillside she called home, if any horse felt they could probably survive without humans, it was Hope. There were times when Regina was faced with a horse who did not want to do as asked now and then, so she worked hard on her relationship with Hope and both increased their skills while forging a bond worthy of a fairytale. Together they trail ride, enjoy obstacle challenges, compete in Endurance and Competitive Mounted Orienteering.

“Hope earned 102 points(…)! These bold competitors carried us over trails, through mud, across rivers and over obstacles. They have blazed new trails and endured our retracing of steps when we chose the wrong path. (…) These horses are rock stars!”

You’re a rockstar, too Regina. Congrats on the recent recognition. Hope, and the world, are lucky to have you. ❤️

11/12/2025

*Edit: Thanks everyone for the amazing response so far, we have some great leads and happy to hear from some of our friends as well! ❤️ Thank you SO much!*

ISO EQUINE TRIAGE FACILITIES to add to our POTENTIAL HELPERS list

As the weather grows colder and the grass dies off, most equine rescue and rehoming orgs see a surge in calls about owners who can't afford to feed their horses or even free roaming stray and feral horses who need help and have nowhere to go. In large neglect cases, as well as large feral herd removals, it often takes a village to accomplish great things. WE ARE LOOKING TO LOG A MAP/LIST OF POTENTIAL "HELPERS" across the state of Kentucky who either have a facility, a component of the rescue and removal process, or folks who possess special skills that may be called upon in times of crisis for horses in need when we work with other rescue partners to accomplish big goals.

We'd love a list of locations or people available to facilitate the temporary hauling, cataloging, sorting into groups for transport, feeding, etc for large rescue cases. Sometimes we just need a SAFE, neutral location after horses are removed from a large case, and when there's need we try not to haul them more than a couple hours for sorting/cataloging/vetting to limit the stress. So, if multiple organizations get a call from authorities about a large farm of neglected horses on the far east or far western sides of the state of Kentucky, we would be able to reference this list to see if there is help in that area for hauling, holding locations, etc when developing a plan of action. This doesn't happen SUPER often, but when it does - the ability of people to come together for a common goal to move animals into competent care and rescue is something to behold!

WHAT WE NEED FROM POTENTIAL LARGE SCALE INTAKE HELPERS:
You will not be *expected* to help, you're just agreeing to be contacted to see if there's availability when needed.
1) Are you
-offering potential availability of services or facilities FOR PAY?
- willing to donate your time or facilities?

2) What sort of potential large scale equine intake assistance can you potentially provide?
-facility - retired boarding facility, arena, large safe empty equipment sheds, unused barns, we are happy to take a look and let you know if we think we could potentially do great things at your place
-potential hauling
-hay dealers across the state willing to be contacted when horses need to be fed at a temporary location
- if you just do your own hay supply every year and don't mind being contacted to see if you have some to spare if there's a developing situation in your area
- strong bodies willing to help unload or load corral panels
- a tractor with a loader willing to travel- for helping to move around heavy duty panels or hay at triage facility
- any equine supply store managers who would like to be contacted in such an event to donate bedding/hay/buckets supplies for shoutouts on social media when caring for horses who may be between ownership/custody destinations

Thanks for any help you may be willing to provide as we add to our list of potential resources. Feel free to tag someone you think may be a helper, or share! You can PM this page, or email [email protected] with info on how you may be willing to be a helper-on-call. ❤

*The horses pictured were intakes in previous years where organizations worked together to disperse horses into qualified care and are not part of any developing situation

11/10/2025

This little cremello Kentucky Mountain-type mare was rounded up from a large free roaming herd near Martin County KY in 2021. Members of her herd were getting too comfy coming off the reclaimed mine site and crossing the divided highway in search of better grazing so they were removed for their safety. We called her Lucia at the time, and she has been renamed Kimber by her adopter. Kimber is thriving and doing great serving as a magical unicorn with a kiddo she seems to enjoy lately. Thanks to adopter Ivy for sending these in.

Thank you for supporting our work and making transformations like this possible, we couldn’t do what we do without such an awesome village of supporters and helpers! A special thanks as well to all of our adopters, past and future, for opening up your hearts and stables to horses in need of homes. ❤️

11/06/2025

Everybody needs a friend like Duke. ❤️
Duke is a companion Saddlebred gelding who loves making friends and receiving attention. He can hang out with older horses but he also likes to play with the youngsters when they ask. We like any horse that follows along without a halter and doesn’t even take up the slack in the loosely held neck rope walking to his open stall.

Duke will likely be looking for a home in the next several weeks as we work on brushing up some of our listings. He’s one of several good boys our staffers are extra fond of.