our mission
Our mission is one of permanence, where every rescued soul is truly home and at peace. Many of the equines we save have never known true love and devotion, and we won't fail them in their time of need. Here, they're given excellent care in every way, and sometimes that means hospitalizations. Along with offering physical sanctuary, we advocate and help change hearts in our direct community and throughout the world.
Black Beauty, a book ahead of its time, changed horse welfare forever by raising awareness around the drawing rein. Bluemont has lots of black, brown, grey, paint, and palomino beauties who have so much to say to the world.
Thank you for believing in the power of sanctuary. Together, we change the world for the equines that call us home, but we also fight the industry that makes sanctuaries necessary in the first place.
"From an early age I knew that saving animals was my calling."
- Lesley, Co-Founder of Bluemont Sanctuary
"I've always had a lifelong dream of creating a safe place for animals..."
Sanctuary is different than volume-based rescue.
Another rescuer once to me, "Just think of how many more you could save with these funds". I understand this mindset, but philosophically, it doesn't align with our mission.
No one, and I mean no one, will rescue their way out of the current throw-away culture of equines in our country, and in the world. We cannot rescue and then adopt out senior, unridable, and special needs horses back into the very industry and community that displaced them in the first place.
Yes, we know there are the needle in a haystack homes out there, but overwhelmingly, the community wants healthy, rideable, and usable horses. Equines are still beasts of burden - The majority are discarded when their usefulness wanes.
from the founders
"You see it in the eyes of the animals and you see it in the eyes of our staff and volunteers. There aren’t really words to describe seeing an animal find true peace for the first time."
- Carl, Co-Founder of Bluemont Sanctuary
"What we do is challenging and trying at times, but it is also magical and rewarding."
Our Story
The road to bluemont
We purchased our dream farm in Colts Neck, NJ and began renovations. This included a much needed updating of the barn, run in sheds and paddocks. Shortly after moving in, we got a call about a horse named Roxy that needed a forever home.
Roxy was a beautiful 17.3 hand imported Hanoverian who had a successful jumping career for many years. Unfortunately, she wasn’t offered a soft place to land for her retirement by any of her previous owners. She was no longer “useful” in the horse community because chronic lameness and arthritis prevented her from being able to do a job. If Roxy’s impeccable breeding, world class training and amazing personality couldn’t secure her future in a private home then what does that mean for the thousands of other horses that find themselves displaced every day?
We began tirelessly researching to educate ourselves on how horses find themselves on hard times.
We were shocked to find out that horses are often treated like sports equipment and discarded when they are no longer “useful”. Unfortunately, the average horse has 7 different owners in their lifetime. Approximately 100k horses are exported to Mexico and Canada to be slaughtered each year.
Roxy sparked a passion, and our family felt compelled to step up and get involved on a deeper level.
We wanted to make a real impact by taking in unwanted and injured horses who need a forever home. The sanctuary is now home to nearly 60 residents, including horses, donkeys, ponies, goats, and miniature horses with dwarfism. Our entire family works the farm alongside over 65 volunteers who care for our animals everyday.
Our residents live with their hooves on the ground and sleep under the stars.
They live in small herds and bond deeply with one another as horses should. They have access to fresh hay or grass at all times and are fed a nutrient dense individualized diet. Additionally they receive extensive veterinary care and rehabilitation.
They live in small herds and bond deeply with one another as horses should. They also have access to fresh hay or grass at all times and are fed a nutrient dense grain free diet. Additionally they receive extensive veterinary care and rehabilitation.
Our residents live with their hooves on the ground and sleep under the stars.
meet our residents
ACCREDITATIONS & TRANSPARENCY
from the founderS newsletter
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