Diamonds in the Rough Rescue

04/02/2025

Last year we had taken in 5 horses from a seizure case in Carrollton. It was a particularly gruesome case involving 40 dogs and 5 horses. Little Girl was of particular concern as she was high risk being a pregnant dwarf. We reached out to The Peeps Foundation as they specialize in dwarf minis. They gave her and her unborn baby a home for life. Well, this morning, Little Girl gave birth to a healthy mini filly. Mom and baby are doing great! Thank you to everyone that made this possible! Huge shout out to Fleet of Angels for getting her there!

Please consider making a donation to the wonderful organization that made this possible:

Paypal:
PayPal.me/peepsfoundation

Venmo:
Venmo.com/ThePeepsFoundation

03/29/2025

DITR: Where friends come in all shapes and sizes 💙

Here we have little Snowy (available for adoption) meeting our new mounted police retiree Jackson (available to sponsor), who was amazed to see a horse so small.

We had another wonderful volunteer meeting today and enjoyed the warm weather outside with lots of our rescues. Next week will be our fourth new volunteer orientation of the year and if you would like to visit our equines and join our absolutely amazing group of volunteers consider joining us next Saturday!

03/23/2025

Deepest gratitude to the Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol for having us and to everyone that came out. The sale was a huge success!! The money raised goes towards our mission of Rescue, Restore, Retrain, Rehome, and Retire the area horses that come through our doors. We are an all volunteer non profit organization that helps local horses in need.

03/22/2025

Snowy is still available for adoption! Please read the ad below for more information. ❄️

03/22/2025

Just some of the items we will have for sale tomorrow! Western and English saddles, girths, bridles, and some beautiful dressage tack and apparel. EVERYTHING MUST GO!!!

03/21/2025

Getting set up and ready! Unloading blankets and fly sheets!

Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol

03/11/2025

Huge Used Tack Sale to Benefit Diamonds in the Rough Equine Rescue - Saturday March 22 from 10-3 - VA Beach

Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol

03/10/2025

March 9, 2025

Animal Rescue Explained

The neglect changes you.
The abuse hardens you.
The suffering breaks you.
The ignorance angers you.
The indifference disturbs you.
The injustice destroys you.

On a daily basis…your faith will be tested.
Your heart will be wounded....
Your soul will be altered.

On a weekly basis…you’ll question yourself.
You’ll question your strength.
You’ll question the world.

On a monthly basis…you’ll fall down.
You’ll get up.
You’ll go on…

On a yearly basis…you’ll look back…
You’ll see faces…
You couldn’t save them.
You’ll learn to mourn.
To grieve.
To sob.
You’ll learn to trust a little less.
To do a little more.
To fight a little harder.
You’ll learn to try.
To hope.
To pray.
You’ll learn to fail.
To succeed.
To accept.
You’ll learn when to hold on.
When to give up.
When to let go.
You’ll learn who you are.
What you stand for.
Why that matters.

Then… at times… you’ll forget why you matter.
You’ll question what you’re doing.
You’ll wonder if it’s worth it.

But…here’s the good news… When you forget…
When you question…
When you wonder…
All you have to do…
Is take a look around…
And you’ll see them.

You’ll see their faces.
You’ll see their smiles.
You’ll feel their love.

In their eyes, you’ll see their journeys…
You’ll remember their beginnings…
You’ll know how far they’ve come…
You’ll remember when they didn’t know you…
When they didn’t trust you…
When they’d given up.

You’ll remember how you healed them…
How you loved them…
How they loved you, too.
And as you look back…
You’ll want to move forward…
For them… and because of them.

In your darkest hours, you’ll look around…
To find the differences made…the hope given…and the lives saved…
Because you existed.
In those moments, when you look into their eyes…every doubt will be erased.
Every question will be answered.
Every worry will subside.
Because in that instant…in each of your hearts…
You both share the very same thought: “Every bit of pain was worth it…for this moment here with you.”
And honestly…no matter what else happens…
Those moments hold all the strength you need…
To keep going.

Rescue is pain.
Rescue is joy.
Rescue is worth it…because they are worth it.
And that’s the honest truth.

~ Ashley Owen Hill

Stormy, our first Diamond💎, who started it all.

03/07/2025

Welcome Jackson! Jackson served as a Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol for several years before serving as a therapy horse at EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program. Thank you to his connections for entrusting him to our care. Stay tuned for updates!

Friends of The Virginia Beach Mounted Police

03/05/2025

Volunteers work together to evaluate new diamond, Twiggy, a 7 year old miniature horse who was trying so hard to trust the team enough to let them get close.

03/03/2025

At Diamonds in the Rough Rescue we are honored to have some of these 4 legged officers at our farm. This is a great post on the history of the riderless horse. The link provides some great insight to the history of mounted policing.

There has been a lot of discussion on the reel of the riderless horse tribute at the funeral procession for Virginia Beach Police Officers Girvin and Reese. Here is a bit of background on the tradition:

“So what is the root of this tradition? After looking into this custom it is believed to date back to the time of Genghis Khan, when a riderless horse was led to the burial site of his rider and sacrificed alongside his deceased equestrian. Presumably the reasoning behind killing the horse was to carry the fallen warrior into the next world. This practice of horse sacrificing so the animal may accompany their owners into the afterlife continued well on into the 14th century.
In more recent history, a very different version of that same Middle ages one is much more typical. That tradition – which is frankly much less foreboding for the trusty steed – is the riderless horse, with the boots reversed in the stirrups. This practice is upheld to symbolize the image of a fallen leader looking back on his troops for the last time. These days, the riderless horse is most typically used to honor fallen police officers but it is also used for military officers whose rank is that of a colonel or above, as well as state and presidential funerals. The riderless horse is sometimes also referred to as a caparisoned horse meaning decorated with ornamental and protective coverings.”

Friends of The Virginia Beach Mounted Police is honored that through the support of the general public, with the backing of the The City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Beach Police Department, that the Virginia Beach Mounted Patrol and our horses continue to serve the citizens and represent our great city in all aspects.

More history on the roots of mounted policing can be found on this previous post on our page:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AFUBb1tjT/?mibextid=wwXIfr

03/01/2025

We appreciate those that donate more than we could ever express. Today we received two bags of feed from our Chewy wish list. The donations of gift cards have not gone unnoticed, but this was the first time we received wish list items, so we were pleasantly surprised. We have updated our wishlist with some additional needed items for the rest of the horses we have coming in. Thank you so much💗

02/28/2025

Remember our new volunteer orientation is tomorrow morning! And we're definitely looking forward to it being warmer than the last one, Stevie included!

Please remember to fill out and print a volunteer application to bring with you tomorrow. The link to our volunteer application can be found below! ⬇️

https://www.adoptditr.com/volunteer-your-time

02/24/2025

This is the official fundraiser for Officer Girvin’s family. Our thoughts and prayers are with these families. Virginia Beach Police Department 💙

Officer Cameron Girvin valiantly served his community with the Virginia Beach Police D… Heather Rosales needs your support for Aid for Officer Girvin's Family