MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
Rising Starr Horse Rescue saves, rehabilitates, retrains, and rehomes abandoned, neglected, or abused horses. Through equine interactive programs, we educate the public about at-risk horses and the importance of protecting them. By giving America's horses a second chance at life, we give the community the chance to experience the love, patience, and compassion horses have for humans.

Our organization provides programs involved with equine rescue, adoption & retirement
Our organization conducts Equine Assisted Services in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS).
Our organization provides outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of equines involved in our programs.
100% of our total programs and services are equine-related.

Our organization CURRENTLY uses satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities which adhere to all the policies, procedures and practices of our organization or did in the previous year. Facility information is provided for the organization's main, satellite and overflow facilities.
Summary of organization's recent accomplishments, goals, strategies to achieve the goals, and capabilities to meet the goals, including its long-term plans to sustain its programs:
2025
     We are proud to be accredited or members of:
     EQUUS Foundation Mentor
     TAA
     TCA
     GFAS
     USEF outreach organization
     USHJA Outreach Organization and Approved Riding School
     Fleet of Angels
     Homes for Horses Coalliation
     A Home for Every Horse
     
     RSHR has partnered with StandFast Alliance to offer StandFast Equine EAS programs to Veterans, First Responders, and Active Military free of charge.
     
     Our 154-acre farm in VA will be up and running in 2025. The raw land is under construction. We will have an address for you soon; raw land in VA has no address. We did just get approved by VDOT for a driveway ( other than farm access), so we should have that soon.
     
     We are almost done with our new onsite housing to better care for our employees, along with our health care and 401K to ensure a competitive and healthy working life.
     
     We have a 3 year plan to redo and expand the 30 stall CT barn to included 6 stalls relocated and to be 10 x 10 ( they are just smaller pony stalls now) add a heated viewing area, private office and a new bathroom - all handicap accessible and able to move wild horses from a stall to a working covered round pen safely for them and staff. We will take a five-acre spot currently not used for a track system.
     
     We have a 5-year plan to build our sanctuary in VA to a 50-horse facility. This includes
     a new 2 stall, 2 working bay( vet, blacksmith, bathing) housing above, new run ins, hay storage and covered mud-safe feeding areas, several large fields, "soup kitchen area for old or debilitated horses, 25 acres of track system to ensure exersize, 4 yurts or small cabins for our EAS programs.



Please describe what steps your organization takes to ensure that:
1) all interactions between your equines and people are mutually beneficial and conducted in accordance with the Guidelines for Human-Equine Interactions stated below;
2) all equines in the care of our organization and/or equines that participate in the organization's program have access to clean drinking water at all times; nutritious food in sufficient quantity, including natural forage such as pasture grass and/or hay; appropriate veterinary, farrier, and dental care; shelter and protection from the weather; sufficient safe space to move around comfortably on a daily basis; and daily opportunity to freely interact and have contact with other equines:

Our multiple programs are all geared toward human and horse interactions. The more the community is involved, the more horses we can train for forever homes. RSHR prides itself on self-care as well, taking care of the people who care for the horses. Our Junior board continues to grow as well as our show team that puts horsemanship above all.
     
     
     In 2025, we have partnered with Purina to custom fit feeding for our horses to be at the optimal body condition, partnered with Stable secretary that houses feeding, vets, farrier, dentists and training; this allows for easy daily updates to what each horse needs. Our farrier is on site at least once a week and we keep a standing monthly appointment with our dentist.
     
     
     RSHR has partnered with Agriventures Agway to purchase farms of hay that ensure some consistency in our hay; the weather, of course, dictates much of this. We keep a week of hay (approximately 150 bales in the hayloft and a tractor-trailer on site). RSHR also keeps 2 weeks of grain and weekly deliveries. Our VA property yields 600 large round bales, properly horse cared for, a cutting to ensure hay for our growing VA herd.
     
     Both farms have access to clean, fresh water 24 x 7. Hands are on every horse daily.
     
     Having 2 3500 dually trucks and 2 horse trailers also ensures horses in need can get to the vet, rescued or to events in a timely manner.
     
     Every horse, living in a barn or in pasture, has access to safe shelter, water, grain as needed and forage. All horses get food and water at least twice daily, some up to 8 times depending on body condition. The majority of the horses are turned out with others. on occasion, we have some that either need time, babysitting management or behavior management before they can safely be with others. We have had older stallions, gelded and not be safe for anything other than turn out individually. This certainly is not our preference.
     
     RSHR has a volunteer program geared toward learning, the most important thing being safe. Horses and volunteers are color coordinated to help ensure safe matches for people and horses.
     
     We follow and teach the 5 domains of horse welfare.

Equine Transition Services:
Overview of our programs involved with rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, re-homing and/or retirement:
     Executive Director of Rising Starr Horse Rescue, fields phone calls, email, and social media contacts from individuals, law enforcement, and other organizations regarding horses in need. Incoming horses are quarantined off-site if medically necessary or directly brought to RSHR for quarantine, evaluation, vet check. All horses are photographed and brought up to date on Vaccines, worming, dental and hoof care. Horses are then started in a custom program training or rehab program and offered for adoption.
      Our horses will be introduced to the public at our fundraisers, on and off-site events, in email, social media, and posted to our website. Training by our trainers and the volunteers continues until they are rehomed.
      We offer limited boarding for horses adopted from Rising Starr.

Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
Our organization provides the following Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
    Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology
    Personal Development Learning

6: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at Rising Starr Horse Rescue