Saved From Slaughter: Rescued Horses Have Their Day

The Bay Net Photos by Tom Latchaw

Next Saturday, May 19, will mark the inaugural adoption day at Freedom Hill Horse Rescue in Owings. 

Freedom Hill Rescues horses that would otherwise face slaughter or that have been neglected or abused.  Sometimes the horses have physical defects or have been mistreated, but often they are simply unwanted and neglected animals in search of a good home.

Adoption Day celebrates the adoption of horses in Southern Maryland.  There will be a bake sale, horse tack sale and a variety of candles for sale as well.

Potential adopters should contact Freedom Hill by email at poniesonly@yahoo.com or by phone at 410-474-7662.  Adoption candidates should have a place to keep the horse or pony and at least three references. Adopters are subject to a site check by Freedom Hill Volunteers.

Freedom Hill is in the process of expanding their operation to include orphan foals.  Orphan foals are the offspring of “nurse mares,”  which are bred to produce milk. However their foals are left without milk as the mares are taken away to provide care for other babies. These foals need a specially mixed milk substitute that costs about $500 per month per foal.

This high cost combined with the expense of expanding their barn means Freedom Hill really needs our help.  Contributions can be made by contacting Freedom Hill, or in person at the Adoption Day festivities.

The horses currently available for adoption include the pictured Belgian, a 2 year old gelding named “Babe,” and the painted mini named “Princess Fiona.”  Melody Parrish, Freedom Hill’s founder, explained Fiona’s name by saying, “she looks like an ogre, but she’s really a sweet little princess.” 

Babe and Fiona are pictured here, and pictures of the other horses ready for adoption – Annie, Summer, Maggie, Lance and Keystone are their names – can be found at this web link:  http://www.freedomhillrescue.org/catalog.0.html.

If you plan to attend:

To find the Adoption Day festivities, turn west off Route 4 onto Chaneyville Road and follow the signs.  The Freedom Hill Farms are on the right side of the road after about half a mile or so.