Local draft rescue giving horses a second chance at life

BraveHearts Equine Center, located in Paris, has become the largest draft rescue in the state of Kentucky

PARIS, Ky. (WTVQ) — Central Kentucky, and Lexington in particular, is known as the “Horse Capitol of the World,” but many are unaware of the dark underbelly that plagues the horse industry.

Horses that are overworked, sick, injured or suffering from old age are often sold to what are known as “kill pens” and sent on a one-way trip to slaughter.

That’s where organizations like BraveHearts Equine Center come in. BEC is the largest draft rescues in the entire state, although they rescue other horses and burros as well.

On an overcast April morning in Paris, it’s move-in day for eight horses at the farm. All of them varying in age, condition and background. One thing they all share, however, is a second chance at life.

“Love is never rushed here,” says Tammi Regan, the Director of Equine Care at Bravehearts Equine Center. “We take the time it takes to build the trust so that we can create a good, healthy, strong foundation for the horses.”

On the sprawling, rescue farm located in Paris, more than 130 horses and burros — that otherwise would have been sent to slaughter — are rehabilitated, either to eventually be adopted to their forever home or live their lives out as sanctuary animals. Many of them, arriving in poor or critical health.

“We’re talking about severe neglect,” says PR Specialist & Philanthropy Director Erica Bivens. “Hooves that are disfigured, open wounds, infection, diseases. And draft horses in particular, a lot of them spend their entire lives working on a farm only to be discarded when they become too old to continue to do that work, or maybe they become sick or injured, and the owner just either doesn’t want to pay for their vet bills, or perhaps they can’t afford to. So oftentimes, a lot of these horses ended up in these kill pens.”

Just 24 hours earlier, these horses were rescued in Stroud, Oklahoma — just outside of Tulsa. Nearly all of the horses at the farm were rescued from similar kill pens in the south.

The operation at BraveHearts Equine Center and rescue trips rely largely on donations. This trip in particular, was made possible by a $7,500 donation from Leonard Johnson, a Florida attorney and supporter of BEC.

“I’ve known [BraveHearts Equine Center founder] David Waronker for several years in a business capacity, and we developed a friendship along the way. I have seen David get enthusiastic about real estate projects over time, but never have I seen the level of enthusiasm that he has shown for Bravehearts Equine Center,” says Johnson. “His enthusiasm was infectious, and the job that they are doing rescuing these beautiful horses, many after a lifetime of very difficult labor, moved us to feel like a contribution to help the cause was very worthwhile, and very much needed. We’re happy to help, and so excited to see how much good can come of our contribution.”

The eight horses were safely transported from Stroud to the farm in Kentucky overnight.

“We have had horses come into our facility with body condition scores of two. They have been on death’s door with the recommendation of humane euthanasia,” explains Regan. “There are so many miracle cases here. So many horses that we have been able to physically, mentally, emotionally and nutritionally bring back to life.”

“You start to see that there’s this other side of the horse industry,” adds Bivens. “[That’s why] David and Ruth Waronker, who founded this nonprofit, started to realize that there was this horse crisis going on and there are just so many horses that need a really good home.”

From the moment the horses arrive at the farm, the staff focuses on making the horses comfortable.

“It begins with the connection,” says Regan. “We don’t have the connection and the trust, it’s really hard to care for the animals.”

And once that trust is established —

“We give them all the tools that they need to self regulate,” continues Regan. “They start settling down, and in their mind settle down. Once that mind settles down for us, we can then start addressing all the other stuff.”

After testing their vitals, horses are given veterinary analysis, body condition scores and a nutrition plan for their road to recovery.

“It is daily gratification like I told you it tears glow often here I think about these horses 24/7,” says an emotional Regan. “I give them that my heart and my soul. You know when in return I get there’s we all get theirs and there’s just no price you can put on that kind of love, trust and commitment that you get back from these animals. You should really never trust a human again.

“These transformations that happen in particular with these rescue horses, is really remarkable,” says Bivens. “It’s also testament to the incredible hard work that goes into that care by the BEC team here.”