​Get to Know the Horses of Hattingh Equine Rescue

​The Herd at our Farm Started with Casey. He was not a rescue – he was in fact a gift to Michele from her husband John as a measure to counter Michele’s emotional turmoil and periods of depression and anxiety. While on a holiday, she had an opportunity to do some trail riding, and found a calmness on the back of a horse that John had not seen in a very long time. It was the beginning of something beautiful, and important. Casey and Michele shared love at first sight, and soon it was clear that he was going to need a pasture mate. Horses are herd animals and can only thrive when in a group.

The search for Casey’s mate began, and Michele’s love of Fresians, a graceful and nimble breed from The Netherlands, soon led her to the lovely Wasabi.

Even though Michele had no experience in the Equine world, it didn’t take long to learn that not all horse owners treat their animals fairly. In fact, there was far more abhorrent treatment of horses than there was of dogs. Michele had seen the worst of dog treatment, having worked with rescue dogs for many years. This realization awakened the horse rescuer in her, and a mission was born.

Her first step was to work on donating the ‘bail’ that other rescuers needed to save horses from certain death at the hands of kill buyers who ‘harvest’ horses for meat. Soon, Michele was not only donating bail but paying for them to travel to her home in Virginia’s Loudoun County.

• Dante and Lily were narrowly saved from being slaughtered for meat in 2018
• Apple came to the farm after not being adequately fed or cared for in 2019
• Annie was saved from being euthanized when she no longer offered monetary value to her owners after being with them for 23 years.  Sadly after a very brave 2 year fight against EPM, Annie passed away on December 17th 2022.
• Hank, Gallico and Emma are thoroughbreds who came off of the racetrack – ready to retire, they were washed up and considered an unnecessary expense to their owners when they were no longer winning prize purses.  They were rescued in 2018
• Olga an off the track thoroughbred, who had been used as a broodmare with her foal, that I named Oscar I rescued off a derelict farm/barn run by an evil Trainer who worked out of Charles Town Race Track.  They were part of 15 Starving Mares and Foals.  Oscar and his mom were the worst of the herd.  I removed both immediately. They were rescued on the 27th February 2023
• Winter was from NYC and was purchased and rescued in 2019 from an impending physical breakdown that would have happened if he’d not been pulled into a safe environment.

For those who share the love of horses and wish to see them in safety, it’s especially important to note that these rescues are not free. Apart from Annie, every horse was purchased at a price paid by our rescue, and their ongoing care bear's significant expense. When I say purchase, I don't mean I bought them just to help them, monies paid are what the auctioneer, kill buyer, abusive owners or trainers want for their release into our custody. Every horse in our herd came to us with emotional and physical health issues, and ALL of them are gifts from God to Michele.

The herd will stay together, in safety, and this is their home for as long as we are able and living.
​

Will you consider donating to help us with our mission?

Casey was my first horse. His job was to help me get over PTSD and severe depression and suicidal ideation. I never wanted to leave the confines of my home, until Casey came along. I had to get up and feed him and groom him and then to ride him He truly was every single thing that a horse lover dreams horses are. Casey is retired now, but he is out Head Therapist for horses and humans. He has such a calming demeanor, that the worst of the worst in emotionally broken horses or humans, he reaches down and connects with them.

Dante is a Morgan that we saved from a horrific end at a slaughter. He was not working hard enough for the Amish and so he was tossed out. Dante is the most beautiful soul in out barn, he loves everyone especially out little visitor Everly

Winter is a Holsteiner, that sadly experienced severe abuse during his training with a Spanish trainer. He had so many physical scars, but emotionally it has taken a while to earn his trust.

Hank - Racing name Myth Master needed a 2nd chance after doing whatever was asked of him while racing. After an injury, he retired and came to us by way of a Thoroughbred Organization that looks for the perfect home for these gorgeous angels

Gallico came off the Charles Town Track. He was covered in rain rot, Scratches and emotionally and physically abused He knew the whip very well. Gallico was born in 2010 and came to me in 2017. He is my riding horse, he knows his mom loves him

Donate Here