Winter is always a tough time, and we're finally starting to see the grass and leaves popping. 2008 was a tough year. We lost many of our elderly equines and a few others that had to be put down. Now it's time for a re-birth of life and sunshine. It's always hard to lose old friends, and these equines are all the best of friends. However, 2008 did bring some new members too, and several are of the miniature variety, including a miniature donkey. I never knew how much fun miniature donkeys could be, since he is the first to enter our gates. Other new arrivals that came in late 2008 include a very friendly elderly Saddlebred, a young Quarter horse with hip problems, a gentle Standardbred stud who appears to have has his spirit broken, a severely neglected Shetland pony mare, a really unusual Draft/Shetland crossed pony with a bad eye, but a wonderful personality, and more..... Not to mention the smallest miniature horse we have ever had, who has the loudest screetching whinney I ever heard. It always becomes competition between his screetching and the donkey's braying. Of course that's all part of the fun, and those two rule the roost.

Horses have always had the reputation of strength, the phrase "healthy like a horse" comes to mind. Yet, they are actually very fragile...... People often mistreat them and it's hard to accept what is done to many of them. Just like people, some die young, and others live a long life, but unfortunately many horses suffer at the hands of uncaring humans. I try to assist as many as I possibly can. There are many more who need help, but we can only help so many. All that come here are very special, and each gets the best care I can give them on limited funds and often a lack of volunteers. Besides equines, we often assist dogs, cats, rabbits, and other pet or farm animals. However, the equines are our main goal, and we try to ask people to take their small pets to the much more abundant small animal shelters. This means caring for all of God's creatures, if our farm can handle them.

Besides all the farm work and horse care, we are doing our best to try and obtain a 501c3. This is far more difficult that I would have ever imagined. While we have operated this rescue for nearly 15 years as a "Private" organization, we have had donors asking that we obtain this legal status for their tax purposes. I totally understand this need, but it's going to be costly as well as complicated to do all the paperwork. Please be patient as I try to accomplish this. I have to admit that I am not a "paperwork person". Give me a horse, a shovel, a tractor, a hammer, or a wrench, but please not a pen. It seems some of us are just not meant to do paperwork......=

Last but not least, Lucky the pony is doing well. Lucky was rescued last June, after losing part of one of his rear legs, and other very severe injuries. Like his name, he is LUCKY to be alive. His leg has healed well, and he has gotten quite sassy and "pony-like", after months of pain and suffering. It's quite amazing how well he healed, and he gets around quite well on his 3 good legs and his bandaged 4th leg which is about 5 inches short, without his homemade temporary PVC prosthetic. Now that Spring has arrived, one thing I want to do is make him a permanent prosthetic that is easily removed and changed. This is still in the works as to what will work the best. Time will tell.

You can see some of the early pictures and a brief history of Lucky on his own page, here: http://www.freewebs.com/cshrs/Lucky.html

As we approach warmer weather, we will try to update this website in between horse chores, building projects, tractor repairs, baling hay, and all the other things that we can not do during the winter, including some horseback riding fun too. Check back from time to time......

George (CSHR owner)

HOW YOU CAN HELP

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If you can donate, please send an email to: cshorser2@gmail.com

PLEASE DONATE - PLEASE DONATE - PLEASE DONATE

* Please remember the horses, even in this poor economy, they still need to eat, and feed prices have been high*

We can't survive without your help.........

Donate Central States Horse Rescue is a private non-profit, organization, we mostly operate from donations. Besides money donations, we always need HAY and FEED. This is our biggest expense. We also need a VETERINARIAN and FARRIER who could donate or assist at reduced cost. We also badly need someone to do MACHINERY repairs on our tractors and other farm machines. We also badly need the assistance of a LAWYER, CPO, or another professional person to assist with obtaining our 501c3. If you can help with this, it would be greatly appreciated.

Volunteer Central States Horse Rescue badly needs volunteers to help with our chores. This is a very tough time of year, because things tend to get pretty messy and or broken over winter. Besides this, we always need persons to groom, clean and just spend caring time with the animals.

Sponsor or Foster We are looking for caring persons to sponsor the cost of care for individual horses, and to foster one or more horses or ponies on their own property. Send email if you are interested. No horses will leave the prenmises here until we know they are safe. But you can sign up now. (email address below). <You must be pre-approved>.

All Volunteers and Foster people must provide references, and sign a contract, to protect everyone involved

This web page is entirely built and designed by Central States Horse Rescue. We Can Design YOUR Web Page, and ALL Proceeds are Used for the Care of the Horses. Send Email for Details......