About Us

Care For The Horses is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit program run entirely by volunteers.  The program began in 2002 when Ann Jost, founder of CFH discovered eleven starving horses while trail riding in southeastern Arizona.  Those were the first of many that CFH has rescued.

Many of the horses who come into our program are in a severe state of starvation.   Special attention is given to the nutritional requirements  that need to be met to bring the horse back to good health.  This may take several weeks to months for the horse to recover.  Once the horse is healthy again it is then evaluated to determine it's ride-ability and temperament so that the right home can be found for permanent placement. 

Give A Horse A Chance

If you love horses, you have come to the right place.  Care For The Horses (CFH) is a non-profit organization run solely by volunteers who are committed to rescuing abused and neglected horses, and coming to the aid of horse owners who either can no longer care for their horses or who need short-term assistance with the cost of feed or veterinary care.  Our services are entirely free.*  So what's in it for us?  We are awarded for our efforts every time a sick horse becomes healthy, a starving horse becomes nourished, and an abused horse learns to trust.  For us, that is reward enough.

*CFH does not charge a fee for its services.  However, owners whose horses are in our Feed and Veterinary Assistance Program are required to reimburse CFH for veterinary and farrier care, as well as feed.

How You Can Help

There are many ways you can help horses through our program, from making a donation to adopting a horse.  Whichever you choose, you will be making a big difference in the life of a horse.

Make a Tax-Deductible* Donation

Care For The Horses is funded solely through donations.  Gifts of money, items for our garage sales and items on our Wish List are always appreciated.

*Care For The Horses does not offer tax advice.  Please ask your financial planner or accountant about tax-deductible donations.

Our Latest Rescue

We recently took in a small pony that had been abused and neglected.  While he was sick with colic his owner sold him to a novice family who did not know how to properly care for him.  Sometime during the days when he was colicking, a hose had been inserted into his rectum to flush or lubricate him so he would go to the bathroom.  He was put on a 4-acre lot full of fresh green grass to feed him.  Thus he became more ill.  We were called by an interested party to see if we could help.  The pony was evaluated and determined to be septic, very lethargic and could barely walk.  He was wobbly and had no gut sounds.  Additionally there were many open wounds over his entire body and head.  It appears he has rope burn trauma on his head and hind legs.  He also had numerous old wounds that were full of flies. The owners were not going to be in a position to provide any veterinary care and he was signed over to CFH to get him the needed medical care he urgently needed.  The vet was on site within the hour to see if he could be saved.  He was in critical condition.  We did IV fluids throughout the night, pain medication and antibiotics are continuing.  He did make it through the first 12 hours and appeared to be holding steady.  However, he has started to have some setbacks tonight.  His care is costly and we are asking for your help to cover hid medical bills.  This little guy will have a long road to recovery and we are all praying that he will make it through this ordeal.  You may help us by sending a donation for him to PO Box 884, Sierra Vista, AZ  85635.   We are going to call him Toughnut as we think he strong and to tough to die, just like the city of Tombstone and their very famous road Toughnut.  Thank you for your support.

Update 8/26/10 - bloodwork shows increased white blood count, elevated liver enzymes, low calcium and severely low protein resulting in his running fevers and causing the edema under his belly and in his legs.  We will run some protein fluid with calcium through him today and see if that starts to make a difference for him.

Today 9/1/10 we finally have some improvement.  The wounds are healing nicely.  The 2"x3" wound that is about 1-2" deep under his chest has broke open and is draining nicely.  His temperature and HR are stabilizing.  We are in need of LARGE, XL, XXL or larger long and short sleeve t-shirts.  We are using these to protect the open wounds from the flies while they heal.  If you have shirts you can donate, please call Cyndi at 520-559-1697 and they can be picked up or you can even call Cyndi to make arrangements to see Toughnut and see how the shirts will be utilized.

                                            

Here is Toughnut 9/3/10, his vitals are stabilizing from the trauma and the massive infection he had from all his open wounds.  The shirts work well to protect the sores from the flies.

Massage Clinic Fundraiser

Want a happier healthier horse? Then sign up for a massage and help raise funds for CFH at the same time! 

Audra Werkheiser, C.E.M.T. of High Desert Massage, has kindly offered to hold massage clinics in September and October to benefit CFH.

Dates for the Equine Massage Clinics are:

September 12th, September 26th, October 3rd, and October 17th

Massages are done one on one with you and your horse.  There is a limit to 4 horses per day so sign up early.

This event is taking place at our CFH facility at 9001 E. Canada Dr., Sierra Vista, AZ.

Cost is $40 of which $15 will be donated to Care For The Horses.

For more information see the flyer in our link "Upcoming Events".  Please calll Ann Jost at 520-559-2224 or Audra Werkheiser at 520-803-6956 to make your appointment. 

Feed and Veterinary Assistance Program

Our Feed and Veterinary Assistance Program offers assistance to individuals who may have come into temporary financial difficulties due to loss of a job, illness, divorce or some other reason, thus causing hardship in keeping up with the cost of feeding their horses(s).

Individuals may contact us via e-mail or by phone to request assistance. After discussing what type of assistance is requested a contract is signed to verify that both parties are in agreement of the assistance that will be received. The contract clarifies what type of feed or veterinary assistance will be provided and for the length of time it will be offered. Terms also cover the repayment of the funds used for assistance; generally this will be $25 per month until the assistance is paid in full. In cases of veterinary emergencies, your vet may contact us and we will pay the bill so care can be immediately provided to your horse.

Farrier assistance can also be provided if your horse(s) needs hoof care. We can either pay your farrier or can arrange for a farrier for you. The standard contract would apply for repayment.

ALL CONTRACTS FOR ASSISTANCE ARE FOR REPAYMENT OF THE ACTUAL COSTS ONLY - WE DO NOT CHARGE ANY MORE FOR OFFERING YOU ASSISTANCE.

Currently Available for Adoption

Horses Currently Available for Adoption

After being rehabilitated, our horses are ready to be adopted by good and loving owners-like you!  Adopting one of these animals is easy and the adoption fee is only $250.00-$400.00. Members of the program conduct interviews of applicants seeking to adopt the horses. These interviews are done to ensure that the best match is made both for the horse and the perspective new adopter, and to see where the horse will be stabled. This assures that the needs of the horse will be adequately met prior to placement. Upon completion of the 1-year trial period, the ownership is turned over to the adopter if the care provided has been consistent per the contract. Prior to adoption horses are vet checked, wormed, teeth floated, feet trimmed, and shots brought up to date. Please fill out our Adoption Questionnaire to get the adoption process started.

Have You Found A Horse Or Lost One?

If you find a stray horse or have lost your horse you can call the Arizona State Agriculture office, Livestock Division at 1-800-294-0305 for assistance.  You may also contact Care for The Horses at 520-559-224 if it is an emergency on the weekend.  If you have lost your horse and want to know if it has been found, you can check the Arizona State Livestock Lost and Found website at http://www.azda.gov/lostFound/webView.aspx to see if the horse has been located and who to contact to get it back.

Care for the Horses Officers and Board Members 2010

President:  Ann Jost
Directors: Cyndi McLemore, Vicky Rae, Thomas Schumacher, Shawna McHargue, Ruth Graber, Tammy Slough, Sheri Lipscomb