The Dorset Equine Rescue Inc.

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The Dorset Equine Rescue Inc.

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating neglected horses. Welcome to the Dorset Equine Rescue! Thank you!
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If you are new to our page, we are glad you’re here! Here’s a little bit about us and what we do:

The Dorset Equine Rescue is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in the beautiful mountains of Vermont. We were founded in 2012 and our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home abused, neglected and slaughter bound horses. We pride ourselves on being a very transparent organization and are rated at the platinum level on Guidestar. We are blessed to have a wonderful team of volunteers, staff, and Board of Directors who help out in various ways behind the scenes. Our awesome team evaluates every incoming horse at our organization and provides vet care, rehabilitation and training to better prepare him/her for adoption. To date, we have helped about 400 equines from various neglectful situations. We are proud to be accredited through the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and also be an EQUUS Foundation Guardian. It truly takes a village to do what we do and we are so glad to welcome you to our page so that you can join us on this incredible journey of helping horses in need. If you would like to learn more about The Dorset Equine Rescue and keep up to date on all of our events and activities, please sign up to receive our emails through this link (Don’t worry...we don't send out too many):

https://dorsetequinerescue.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/connect-with-dorset-equine-rescue

Please also visit our website to learn more about us: dorsetequinerescue.org

Our organization runs 100% on donations made by caring animal lovers just like you. Without this support, we wouldn’t be able to help so many horses in need. Contributions are always greatly appreciated and can be made through our website, or a check can be mailed to:

The Dorset Equine Rescue
P.O. Box 92
East Dorset, VT 05253

Whether you are new to our organization or have been by our side for a while, we are so grateful to share our stories and progress with you. We appreciate your support more than you know. Jen Straub
Founder/Executive Director

10/31/2026

For Dolly, healing begins with trust. ❤️
Dolly is one of the 11 horses we welcomed following a large-scale law-enforcement seizure on August 18, connected to an animal-welfare investigation. Many of these horses were feral or had very little handling, so even something as routine as picking up their feet has required time, patience, and consistent work.

We’ve been working with Dolly to help her feel safe and become more comfortable with having her feet handled. The significant distortion of one of her front hooves was a concern, and we wanted to better understand what was happening beneath the surface.

Thanks to the progress she’s made with her handling, we were recently able to safely sedate her and take X-rays of her front feet. We were relieved to find no serious abnormalities in the underlying bone structure! The distortion appears to be the result of a prolonged lack of proper hoof care.

With consistent farrier care and corrective trimming, we are hopeful that the affected hoof will gradually grow out straighter and healthier. Any areas that continue to flare can be addressed along the way. It’s a slow process, though, as the damaged hoof needs time to grow out, and improvements won’t happen overnight.

For now, we’re celebrating this important step forward and every little moment of trust along the way. Dolly has a patient and dedicated team beside her, helping her feel better, one hoof trim at a time. ❤️

10/30/2026

Lola’s favorite workout? Chasing a Kubota full of hay up the hill at dinnertime!

She likes to make sure dinner gets where it’s going—and June is coming along for the dinner rush!

Nothing like a hay delivery to get these girls moving. ❤️🐴

Thank you for the video Annabelle!

10/28/2026

BREAKING NEWS: The NY slaughter truck horses have officially been surrendered! ❤️

They can no longer be returned to the kill buyer in Pennsylvania or sent on to slaughter. This is an enormous milestone, and we are so grateful to everyone who helped make it possible.

There were 25 horses on that trailer—drafts and many Standardbreds. Young horses with so much life ahead of them, and older horses who deserved comfort and kindness in their later years. Every one of them was headed to Canada for slaughter. Every one of them needed help.

When New York State Police stopped that truck, their journey toward safety began. Now, with the surrender official, we can breathe a little easier. After so much uncertainty, knowing they are protected from being returned to the slaughter pipeline means more than we can say.

Pictured here are some of their faces. Each one is an individual, with their own personality, needs, and story. Each one deserves to be known, loved, and protected.

Animals’ Angels USA’s investigation helped bring this situation to the attention of law enforcement. Since the truck was stopped, our friends at the New York State Humane Association (NYSHA) have taken on the enormous responsibility of coordinating the horses’ care. The hours, resources, and dedication their team has poured into this complicated case have been extraordinary.

Here at The Dorset Equine Rescue, we are caring for a record number of horses across our East Dorset and Rupert locations while also helping NYSHA with this effort. Our team has made multiple trips to New York to provide hands-on care, spent hours on the phone, and helped coordinate placements with fellow rescues as horses receive veterinary clearance to leave.

We are also welcoming three of these horses into our rescue: Mystic, Tigger, and Musical Moon. Mystic arrived last week, and Tigger and Musical Moon will join us once they receive veterinary clearance. Until then, they remain at the undisclosed foster location where they have been cared for since they were seized. We look forward to giving all three the care, comfort, and kindness they deserve. ❤️

Behind every placement is a horse waiting for somewhere safe to go—and people working hard to make that possible.

We are deeply grateful to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital for providing the veterinary care these horses so urgently needed, and to the rescues and organizations opening their doors to them.

Most of the horses have already reached their new homes. A few others have placements waiting and will be leaving soon. Every departure for a safe home is a moment worth celebrating.

Rescue continues long after a truck is stopped. It is the daily feeding and care, the veterinary treatment, the patient work of earning trust, and the search for a home that can meet each horse’s needs. It takes time, resources, and people who keep showing up.

These horses have been through so much. They deserve to graze beside a friend, enjoy meals they can count on, feel gentle hands, and settle into a place where they are wanted.

Your kindness and generosity help make those ordinary, beautiful days possible. They support the horses already depending on us and allow us to keep answering calls for help.

There is still so much work ahead. But today, we are grateful to know that the threat of these horses being returned to the slaughter pipeline is over.

Thank you for caring about them and standing beside everyone working to help. Their lives matter. ❤️

10/27/2026

Our sweet Ivessa has found her forever home! 💛
Yesterday, this special girl made her way to West Place Animal Sanctuary to begin her next chapter. We will miss her dearly, but we are so happy for her!

For those who are new to her story, Ivessa came into our care on June 17, 2025, when The Dorset Equine Rescue assisted Vermont law enforcement with the seizure of 39 horses from a Friesian breeding farm in Townshend, Vermont. Across several seizures, we helped remove a total of 74 horses from that same property.

When we first found Ivessa, she could not bear weight on her front left foot. She was standing on bare concrete in her own waste, without bedding or mats. An untreated hoof abscess had progressed into a severe infection in her coffin bone, threatening her life.

We transported her directly to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Saratoga, New York. Saving her required surgery to remove infected bone, antibiotics, and specialized treatment—including medical maggots to remove the remaining infected tissue. Her recovery involved weeks of hospitalization and a return to the hospital when further concerns arose.

Following her hospital care, the long work of rehabilitation continued here at The Dorset Equine Rescue. Our staff carefully cleaned, packed, and bandaged her hoof every few days, managed her protective hoof plate, and provided the nutrition she needed to regain her weight and rebuild her strength. Working closely with her veterinary team, we guided her through months of stall rest and gradually increasing turnout.

Through it all, Ivessa was an incredibly gentle and patient girl. We watched her regain weight, grow stronger, and finally return to enjoying life in a paddock with friends.

By her final hospital checkup this spring, she had been cleared for full turnout without a protective shoe, pad, or boot—a wonderful milestone after everything she had endured. Ivessa also has an allergy to insect bites and needs protective flywear during bug season to help keep her comfortable and protect her skin.

After everything she had overcome, Ivessa was ready for this wonderful next step—a forever home of her own.

To our dedicated staff, the exceptional veterinary team at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, our veterinarians at Arlington Equine veterinary clinic, and every supporter who helped make her treatment and recovery possible—thank you. Your generosity and compassion helped carry her from a life-threatening emergency to this happy goodbye.

And thank you to West Place Animal Sanctuary for welcoming this beloved girl into her forever home.

We love you, Ivessa. Watching you heal and thrive has been a privilege. 💛🐴

Please look in the comments for photos from throughout Ivessa’s rehabilitation with us. She has come such a long way! 💛

10/26/2026

Exciting news—Eve has been adopted! Our beautiful girl left for her forever home over the weekend, and we couldn’t be happier for her!

Congratulations to Eve and her adopter, Barb! Wishing you many wonderful years of love, friendship, and adventures together. 💕

Thank you to everyone who helped make Eve’s second chance possible!

10/25/2026

Introducing our newest resident, Mystic, who arrived on Friday! This sweet three-year-old filly was one of 25 horses aboard a truck headed to a slaughterhouse in Canada when it was stopped in New York several weeks ago.

She is still so young, with so much life left to live. We’re grateful we can give her a safe place to heal and begin again.

In the weeks following the truck’s interception, we worked alongside the New York State Humane Association, dedicating many hours to hands-on care, coordination, and helping find rescue placements for these horses.

Mystic is the first of three horses from the group we are welcoming to The Dorset Equine Rescue.

We’ve known Mystic since she got off that truck, and she is an absolute sweetheart. Her ribs and hips are still visible, and she has weight to gain and continued healing ahead.

Here at The Dorset Equine Rescue, we will build on the care she has received since her rescue—with nourishing feed, veterinary treatment, farrier care, and the patient, daily attention of our staff. We look forward to watching her grow stronger and seeing her thrive.

Will you help us give Mystic the care she needs?

A donation of any amount will help support her daily care and rehabilitation, along with the other horses who depend on us. Your gift helps give Mystic what she should have had all along: safety, compassionate care, and a future.

Donate online:
https://dorsetequinerescue.networkforgood.com/projects/60596-donate-now

Or mail a check to:
The Dorset Equine Rescue
P.O. Box 92
East Dorset, VT 05253

Welcome, Mystic. Your next chapter starts here.❤️

Thank you, friends, for helping us make it a kinder one.

10/24/2026

A special thank-you to Pat, who joined us for nearly every volunteer day this season! Her hard work, positive attitude, and wonderful team spirit mean so much to us.

Thank you, Pat—and all of our amazing volunteers—for giving your time and kindness to help our rescue and the horses! 🐴❤️

10/24/2026

Happy Saturday from Phoenix! For those who don’t know this handsome boy, his journey is a special one.

We rescued Phoenix after a rodeo company discarded him and 25 other horses at a kill pen. Some of the horses in his group were confirmed former rodeo bucking horses. While we don’t know whether Phoenix himself was ever used for bucking, he arrived absolutely terrified of people.

For several months, we couldn’t even get near him. It took eight months of patience, gentle encouragement, and earning his trust before we could put a halter on him.

We let Phoenix set the pace. Every small step forward was a big accomplishment—and slowly, he began to understand that he was safe.

When he was ready, Phoenix went to our wonderful friends at Horses with Hope to continue his training. Their caring team helped him build confidence, and the sweet, funny horse beneath all that fear began to shine. We are so grateful for the love and patience they gave him.

During his continued training, Phoenix was diagnosed with a bipartite navicular bone, an abnormality in a small bone within his hoof. His veterinarian confirmed that his condition is degenerative, meaning it will worsen over time, and that he cannot be ridden or used for work.

Phoenix has since returned home to The Dorset Equine Rescue, where he will remain as a cherished sanctuary horse for the rest of his life. While we cannot know how long he will remain comfortable, he is doing extremely well right now and enjoying life simply being a horse.

We will continue to monitor him closely, with his comfort and quality of life guiding every decision. Whatever the future holds, Phoenix will always be safe, cared for, and loved.

Phoenix is now relaxed and happy here with us at The Dorset Equine Rescue—his forever home, where he can simply be himself, safe, cherished, and loved. 💛

Thank you for the photo Darlene.

10/24/2026

Mary is available for adoption! 💗

10/22/2026

Help us build a lasting home for horses in need! ❤️
Over the past 14 years, together with our incredible supporters, we have rescued and rehabilitated nearly 700 horses—giving them compassionate care, dignity, and a second chance.

Some arrived starved. Some had spent years neglected. Others had endured unimaginable suffering. Because of you, they have had the opportunity to heal, regain trust, and begin a new chapter.

As our rescue grew, we outgrew the backyard property in Dorset where our work began. In 2024, we invested in the future by purchasing property in Rupert, Vermont, giving us room to grow. While that land provides pasture and hayfields, it lacks the infrastructure needed to bring our full operation together.

Then an extraordinary opportunity emerged: our neighbor offered us the chance to purchase her established equestrian property.

With an indoor riding arena, an outdoor arena, a horse barn, staff housing, and office space already in place, this property offers facilities that would take years and millions of additional dollars to build ourselves.

We have signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement to acquire it. We will keep our existing Rupert farm and combine the two properties to create the Forever Farm—a permanent rescue campus with both the land and facilities our horses need. Completing the purchase depends on raising the remaining funds—and we need your help to get there.

Since launching our $4.5 million Forever Farm Capital Campaign in August, our community has met the initial $250,000 matching challenge, bringing our campaign total to $1 million! We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this milestone possible.

An additional $1 million dollar-for-dollar matching challenge is now underway. Every gift toward this challenge will be doubled. With our first $1 million already raised, completing this new challenge would bring us to the $3 million needed to purchase the neighboring property.

Beyond the purchase, our full $4.5 million campaign will support essential improvements, equipment, and an endowment to help sustain this work into the future.

Together, these properties would allow us to care for more horses, provide year-round rehabilitation and training through Vermont’s long winters, and bring our operations together so our team can spend more time caring for horses.

Our vision is a lasting home for The Dorset Equine Rescue—a place where horses can find safety, healing, rehabilitation, and loving adoptive homes, with lifelong sanctuary for those who need it.

We are also deeply honored by the opportunity to become the next stewards of a property lovingly cared for with such respect for horses, wildlife, and the natural world. Preserving what makes this place special is an important part of our vision.

If The Dorset Equine Rescue has ever touched your heart, please consider making a matched gift to The Forever Farm Capital Campaign. Gifts of every size bring us closer to making this lasting home a reality.

Please follow the link below to read the full story, see photos, and make your gift:
https://dorsetequinerescue.networkforgood.com/projects/303817-the-forever-farm-capital-campaign

Gifts of stock are also welcome and eligible for the matching challenge. Please email me at [email protected] for transfer instructions or to discuss supporting the campaign.

Sharing this post is another wonderful way to help us reach people who believe in giving horses a second chance.

Thank you for believing in our mission, our horses, and the future we are building together. ❤️

With heartfelt gratitude,
Jen Straub
Founder & Executive Director
The Dorset Equine Rescue

Address

P. O. Box 92
East Dorset, VT
05253

Website

http://www.dorsetequinerescue.org/

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