National Riding Stables Horse Rescue

To identify and rescue distressed horses from abuse, neglect, and slaughter.

To heal and rehabilitate rescued horses, in both body and mind, to train them for a new life as trail horses or companion horses.

To adopt horses out to permanent retirement homes as trail or companion horses.

To provide a safe and secure lifetime home for horses who are not adopted.

RIDE INTO HISTORY

Provide guided horseback tours of Gettysburg National Military Park to raise funds for the care of the horses, and as a principle means of raising public awareness of the wonderful world of horses and the desperate need to raise funds to save, heal, and find retirement homes for distressed horses.

ADOPT A HORSE

A successful adoption requires a partnership that creates a bond of trust and friendship for both horse and rider. Evaluate potential adopters' "feel" for the horse, to see if the horse returns the affection that is offered.

Potential adopters must demonstrate that they have the right combination of experience, the potential for mutual bonding with the horse, and can provide it a safe and healthy home.  Potential adopters must sign a no auction/no kill contract.

SPONSOR A HORSE

Promote the "sponsorship" of a rescued horse, for those who don't have the ability or time to adopt a horse of their own. Sponsors may “own” one of our rescue horses by sponsoring it's trip through healing, rehabilitating, retraining, and waiting for a new permanent home. Horses may be sponsored on a one-time basis (for a month or a year), or until that happy day when it leaves for its new retirement home.

VOLUNTEER

Selectively recruit volunteers. Volunteering at the National Riding Stables Horse Rescue is hard work. It's often muddy, dirty, repetitive, hot or cold, and sometimes frustrating. But there's nothing better than getting to know a horse on an individual level, and few things more rewarding that the gentle nicker of a horse that is glad to see you – unless it's the thrill of seeing a distressed horse gain weight, heal from wounds, and gradually lose its fear and regain confidence.

Experience with horses or riding is not necessary. We will assess your knowledge and abilities and provide personal training in horse care and horsemanship. What is necessary is patience, good will, and an infinity for God's creatures. Your reward will be to experience the special sense of bonding with a horse.

Volunteer duties would involve typical horse care such as feeding, watering and grooming the horses, calling them in from the pastures in the morning, turning them out in the evening, cleaning and re-bedding stalls, and other typical stable maintenance duties.  Advanced volunteers may perform as wranglers, tacking horses up for rides across the battlefield, and accompanying the rides on either foot or horseback.

DONATE

Promote financial support of our mission which is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.  Seek donations of all sizes – in either cash or kind – to help us provide our rescued horses with the very best of care while they are waiting for their permanent home. Whether small or large, donations may be the difference in enabling us to rescue another distressed horse suffering from neglect, abuse, or shipment to a kill pen.

We have the means and the capabilities to house up to 30 horses at our stables, given the current status of our fund-raising programs, our revenue-generating programs, and our physical space. Our rehabilitation and retraining programs are directed by Terry Latschar, who has owned and trained horses for 49 years. We are most fortunate in having a highly-experienced and highly-dedicated veterinary and farrier as partners, and have been very successful in recruiting and retaining a staff of dedicated and skilled wranglers to provide day-to-day care of the horses.

Since our incorporation as a non-profit in July 2018, we have rescued 42 horses and have adopted out 16 to permanent retirement homes. We currently have 25 horses under our care; 13 are rehabilitated and used for program services (trail rides) and 12 are retired at pasture while waiting for adoption.