Epona Horse Rescue Inc

Founded in 2004, Epona Horse Rescue is dedicated to helping equine that are unwanted, abused, or simply if the owner is no longer able to care for them. Since the beginning, we have saved over 150 horses.  

Each horse has its own story, and its own reason that it touched our hearts.  Most recently, the story of Destiny is why we rescue!

On a warm Saturday in October, Lin, our Director, and Jodi, our Fundraising Coordinator made the decision to visit the Palmyra Sale Barn Horse Auction.  This is never an easy decision, as there are always more horses than we could possibly hope to save.  However "something" kept telling Lin that day that we needed to go.

When we arrived, we walked through the sale pens, stopping on our heels at the very last pen.  Standing there, with truly a heartbroken look was a very young mare, nothing but skin and bones, and bleeding from gaping wounds. The Sheriff was there, but told us he didn't see anything wrong.  At that moment, we knew it was destiny that we went to the Sale Barn that day.  

Thanks to the generosity of a beloved donor, we were able to win the bid and rescue this sweet girl.  We learned that she was somewhere between two and three years old, and has only recently been sold to the individual who consigned her to the sale barn.

We took her home that evening, and bedded her in a safe, dry stall, and had our veterinarian come assess and begin treating her wounds.  

Within a few weeks of healthy groceries, and good wound care, the girl we named Destiny began to gain weight and heal, not only from her wounds, but from her wounded spirit. Her eyes began to sparkle, and she began nickering greetings to us.

Then, in January, we discovered our sweet girl had apparently met up with a fliratious stallion at some point. She was pregnant! Without knowing her background, we could only assume we would have a foal sometime between April and September.

Being that Destiny is a walking mystery, it should come as  no surprise that she gave us no indication of being in labor in early April.  On Monday morning, April 4th, Lin went to the barn to do chores - guess what?  Peeking from behind Mama was the sweetest little face you have ever seen.  Princess Buttercup was born sometime between 10 p.m. on Sunday, April 3rd and 7:30 a.m. on Monday, April 4th.  After a colic scare with Destiny, we are happy to report Mother and Baby are doing well.  

Without your generosity, stories like Destiny and Pricess Buttercup have a much different ending.  Many thousands of horses go to slaughter each year, or die waiting for someone to love them.   Thank you, for caring, and for helping to save lives like Destiny and Buttercup!