As a last resort, severely injured or habituated horses must be removed from the wild. Fractured bones, deep wounds, and severe colic are causes for rescue intervention.
Recently, the Fund was given the opportunity to purchase the Betsy Dowdy Equine Center, a 31-acre facility in Grandy where our rescued mustangs have been residing since 2014. Rescue and conservation are key components of our mission and we have recognized the need for a permanent “off-island” sanctuary.
Every horse that requires removal from the wild has a stable, permanent home on our farm. It is a peaceful, quiet place where injured, ill, or otherwise suffering rescued horses can decompress, heal, and be slowly domesticated. They will receive the specialized veterinary care that they need as they adapt and adjust to human contact and a new diet. After that, they may enter into our adoption program or they may live with us forever if they require special care.
Since purchasing the farm in the fall of 2018, we have been working on many improvements at this facility. We not only improved the water supply and electrical systems but also added fencing of new pastures and put up new shelters for the horses. Each year, we plan to continue with enhancements to make this wonderful facility even better for the care of the horses.