Meadow Haven Horse Rescue

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10/21/2026

Another Court Date, Another Continuance — But I Am Not Backing Down!

Yesterday, I had a docket call for my 8 misdemeanor charges in Gonzales County. My attorney requested a continuance because of the enormous amount of discovery that has been turned over. She now has to go through mountains of material, much of which I believe is absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary.

Let me give you an example. A photograph of a single pile of horse manure! Yes, you read that correctly. A pile of horse p**p that someone apparently thought was important enough to photograph and include in the evidence. And now my attorney has to spend valuable time reviewing it along with everything else.

The ironic part? From what I could see, the manure looked perfectly normal! Moist, good fiber content, and nothing that appeared concerning to me after a lifetime of caring for horses.

My next court date is now February 11, 2027.

Another delay. More attorney fees. More time spent defending myself against accusations that I firmly believe are frivolous and unjustified.

I have spent decades caring for horses, including the old, the unwanted, the injured, and the ones nobody else wanted to give a chance. I know what proper care looks like, and I know the difference between a horse recovering from years of hardship and one being neglected.

This entire ordeal has taken an enormous emotional and financial toll, not just on me but on Meadow Haven Horse Rescue and Sanctuary and everyone who loves these animals.

But I want to make something perfectly clear.

I am not giving up. I am not going away. And I will not be intimidated into silence.

I intend to fight these charges, present my evidence, and pursue accountability for any wrongdoing that can be proven.

I believe the day will come when the truth about what happened to Meadow Haven and its horses is brought into the light. And when that day comes, I believe those responsible will deeply regret ever targeting me and the sanctuary I have devoted my life to protecting.

You may delay my day in court, but you will not take away my determination to fight for the truth.

— Darla Cherry
President, Meadow Haven Horse Rescue and Sanctuary

10/17/2026

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Court Reminder Darla Cherry - your court date is scheduled on 10/20/2026 09:00 AM at Gonzales County Courthouse with Judge Davis, Patrick C. for case GC-34133. Arrive early to complete security screening.

This makes me sick ever time I get one of these. Sad they don’t have real crime to worry about. What a waste of tax money, this is what Escobar chooses to do. There will be a reckoning. I have the list and checking it twice.

10/16/2026

Please understand that these posts are for ME. They are my way of expressing my grief, my pain, and everything I have been forced to endure. If you cannot or do not want to read them, I respectfully ask that you simply keep scrolling.

I have another court day on Tuesday and I feel like it will be another  continuance. 

I cannot wait for the day when I can bring everything I have uncovered into the light—the corruption, the alleged fraud, the deception, and the heartbreaking events that have unfolded since December.

What hurts me most is knowing that organizations calling themselves rescues, organizations that are supposed to protect innocent animals, were involved in or stood by while Meadow Haven Horse Rescue and Sanctuary’s animals were taken from everything they had ever known. I believe some of these individuals knew exactly what was happening and chose to do nothing because hurting me mattered more than protecting the animals.

Ten, possibly eleven, precious lives have now been lost. These were not just numbers. They were living, breathing souls who trusted us to protect them. They deserved compassion, dignity, and a chance to live. Instead, their lives ended under circumstances that I believe should never have happened.

And what about the MHHR horses I have reason to believe were sold right back into the slaughter pipeline? What about the donkeys who had called Meadow Haven home for nearly a decade, only to be scattered and discarded as though they were nothing more than old shoes?

They were not disposable. They were loved. They were family. And they mattered. And they all had names.

To those who knew what was happening and had the opportunity to intervene, I hope one day you truly understand the suffering these animals endured and the heartbreak left behind.

I am hurting more than words can possibly express. I believe some of those responsible know how deeply this has devastated me, and at times it feels as though my suffering is exactly what they wanted.

I have tried to remain quiet about the pain. I have tried to be strong. I have tried to hold everything together while fighting battles I never imagined I would have to fight.

But I cannot keep pretending that I am okay. Because I am not.

A therapist I have been talking with suggested that I start writing a journal to help process everything I have experienced. Instead, I have chosen to share my thoughts here. This is my journal. This is my outlet. This is how I am trying to cope with the grief, anger, heartbreak, and injustice that have consumed so much of my life.

For 22 years, I dedicated my heart and soul to saving animals that others had given up on. I gave them a home, safety, love, and a place where they could live out their lives knowing they mattered.

To watch so much of that be torn apart has broken something inside me that I am still trying to put back together.

I will continue searching for answers. I will continue documenting what happened. And when the time is right, I intend to bring the evidence into the light.

I will not forget the lives that were lost. I will not forget the animals who were taken. And I will never stop loving the ones who called Meadow Haven home.

If sharing my pain helps me survive another day of this nightmare, then I am going to keep writing.

Because this is my story, my grief, and my way of finding the strength to keep fighting.

10/13/2026

Let me make something very clear.

The court order called for a headcount (inventory as the referred to it as) of the animals. A headcount means exactly that—counting the animals, not conducting an unauthorized veterinary evaluation.

I strongly objected to David Fuentes and Dr. Susan Heath representing the American Humane Society being the individuals sent to my property because of their previous involvement in my case. I have serious concerns about their ability to remain fair and impartial.

When they arrived, they attempted to enter the horse’s pen and go beyond what I understood the court order to authorize. I immediately objected, and my attorney also intervened.

A headcount is not a veterinary examination. I was not going to allow individuals I believe have demonstrated bias against me to conduct an evaluation of the animals, especially without my own veterinarian present.

Apparently, enforcing those boundaries did not sit well with David Fuentes. Following the visit, he reportedly raised concerns about the welfare of the animals and is now seeking to have my bond questioned.

Let that sink in. I complied with what I understood the court to have ordered, stood up for my rights, and insisted that the individuals involved stay within the scope of that order. Now I am facing the possibility of losing my freedom over yet another dispute involving the same individuals.

There is a difference between following a court order and allowing someone to exceed its authority.

I am not refusing accountability. I am demanding fairness, impartiality, and due process. I have every right to question the actions of individuals who have played such a significant role in the accusations against me.

I will continue fighting for my rights, these animals, and the truth. Being accused does not mean being guilty, and standing up for my rights should not be treated as a violation of my bond.

I want to make one more thing perfectly clear. I would have gladly welcomed law enforcement officers from outside Gonzales County onto my property to conduct the court-ordered inventory, without hesitation or objection. I have nothing to hide, and I never have.

My objections were never about avoiding accountability or preventing anyone from seeing the animals. They were about the involvement of specific individuals whose impartiality I have serious reasons to question.

I have always been transparent, I remain transparent, and I will continue to be transparent. But transparency does not mean surrendering my rights or remaining silent when I believe those rights are being violated.

All I have ever asked for is fairness, honesty, and an impartial process. I do not believe that is too much to ask.

10/13/2026

I can’t yell corruption load enough. What Gonzales is trying to get away with is mind blowing.

MHHR family is the best. I ask, and you guys provide. I can’t thank you guys enough for the donations and prayers. I lov...
10/10/2026

MHHR family is the best. I ask, and you guys provide. I can’t thank you guys enough for the donations and prayers. I love y’all

Donations have almost completely stopped, but the bills haven’t.I’m still carrying around $2,000 in credit card debt fro...
10/09/2026

Donations have almost completely stopped, but the bills haven’t.

I’m still carrying around $2,000 in credit card debt from feed purchased for the rescue last year. Before everything that happened in December, those cards were always paid off. Now, on top of the feed expenses, I’m also dealing with attorney fees and the financial strain that has come with everything we’ve been fighting through.

So today, I’m asking for a little help getting these feed bills paid down. Our goal is $2,000, and truly, every donation, $5, $10, $20 or whatever you can spare, helps us get a little closer.

Meadow Haven Horse Rescue is still here. We may be temporarily held down by forces determined to make this difficult, but we are not giving up. We will keep fighting, keep standing our ground, and keep moving forward with the truth on our side.

If you can help us knock out these feed bills, it would mean more than you know.

PayPal.me/meadowhaven

https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3025653364424704322&created=1666462878.5366669&printed=1

10/09/2026

They are beautiful.

Dusty looking amazing and snooping around the feeder (caught red handed). We haven’t evaluated her yet with what I’m goi...
10/06/2026

Dusty looking amazing and snooping around the feeder (caught red handed). We haven’t evaluated her yet with what I’m going through. But she will need on-going work on her mouth due to the years of neglect. We have to replace her fillings every couple months. She’s gonna make someone a great little mare that is willing to work with her.

10/03/2026

I want people to understand what I have been going through and why I refuse to give up.
From my perspective, much of what has happened to me and Meadow Haven has been driven by personal hostility, jealousy, and people who were determined to see this rescue shut down. I’m not going to name everyone right now. There is a time and place for that, and when I am legally able to tell the entire story, I intend to bring the facts, documents, videos, and evidence into the light.
The deeper I dig into what happened, the more disturbing it becomes. In my view, this stopped being about the welfare of the animals a long time ago. It became about shutting down Meadow Haven and destroying something I spent more than two decades building.
Even my adoption fees have been criticized. My answer to that is simple: if someone believes an adoption fee is too high, they are free to adopt elsewhere. An adoption fee does not justify false accusations, misleading stories, or attempts to destroy a rescue’s reputation.
This fight has already cost Meadow Haven donations, and my legal expenses continue to grow. But I am not walking away. I have evidence, records, videos, and documentation, and I have the incredible support of the MHHR family standing beside me.
The repeated delays have made this fight more expensive and more difficult, but I am prepared for the long road. However long it takes, I intend to defend myself, defend Meadow Haven, and pursue the truth through the proper legal process.
I also have serious concerns about the roles and statements of individuals associated with TLPA, AHS, RCR, and RRR. Those concerns will be addressed with evidence—not rumors—at the appropriate time.
For now, I ask everyone who supports Meadow Haven to stay with us. Please don’t spread rumors or attack anyone on my behalf. Let the documents, the evidence, and the truth speak for themselves.
I have fought for animals that others gave up on for more than 20 years. Now I am fighting for Meadow Haven, my reputation, and my future.

I am not giving up.
Hopefully I get my chance October, 20 -9 am

Address

755 County Road 212
Smiley, TX
78159

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