Horse Rescue: Lost & Found Horse Rescue Foundation

There is something majestic and awe inspiring as in watching a horse as it gallop across fields with wind whisking through its mane and tail. It is exhilarating to watch horses race, be it locally or at a huge event like the Kentucky Derby. But when the race is over, when children lose interest in riding, or when economic troubles and foreclosures come, what happens to the horses? Unfortunately, greater numbers of them are being abandoned; that is why there is a need for Horse Rescue's.

Some horses are found at auctions by members of recue organization. These members actively bid against "Kill Buyer", who are anxious to send the horse to the slaughter house. Some are brought to the Rescue by tearful-eyed family's that must part with their beloved-four-legged-family-member/companion, because they no longer have the funds to keep them (the horse). Other animals that come to the Recue are former race horses, whose owners wrongfully thought that these animals have outlived their usefulness. For whatever reason, these horses are brought to local area horse rescues to live out the remaining years of their lives or to find new forever homes.

The Lost & Found Horse Rescue Foundation (L&FHRF) is located in York County Pennsylvania, is one such Rescue organization. The L&FHRF is committed to caring for all types of equines from horses to donkeys. They also desire to educate equine owners about the needs that equines have in order to be happy and healthy.

As with most animal shelters or rescue organizations, the goal at the L&FHRF is to find forever homes for each equine that hoofs it way through their gate, be they horse, pony, mule, or donkey. They eagerly look for volunteers in the community to aid in financial assistance, rescue efforts, veterinary care, rehabilitation, and to provide foster care. It takes 30 volunteers to keep the rescue operating on a day-to-day basis.

Founded in the 80's after one of the co-directors of the rescues watched the abuse of equines, the organization started with a small herd of three animals. It expanded to five in the span of a year. In 1997, L&FHRF achieve non-profit status. The Foundation now has 20 acres of land and more than 100 equines are helped annually. In an ideal world, there would be no need for horse rescues to expand, but as the current economic situations in the world worsen there is a need for places such as L&FHRF to expand. The desire of the L&FHRF is to eventually relocate to a larger farm; it would allow them to help more animals. At this time the Foundation only works with the horses from the following states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and West Virginia.

The L&FHRF is pro-active in the community and has spoken in community and civic groups to educating the public on equine needs and the need for equine rescue. They have also been asked to speak at congressional hearings to either help enact or reinforce legislation to prevent abuse of equines throughout the USA.

The L&FHRF has an Open House each Sunday (excluding holidays). It is open from 2:00-5:00 pm. Other times are available by appointment only. The contact information for the Foundation is:

Lost & Found Horse Rescue Foundation, Inc. (717)428-9701
852 Valley Road, Jacobus, PA 17403

http://www.lfhr.org/