PICASSO

A registered American Paint Quarterhorse, Picasso arrived at BCHR from our local animal control. He’s a gentleman who still loves to run with the other horses in the south turnout. He’s loving, kind and patient with volunteers and the other horses.

BEN

Our beloved Belgian draft horse, the gentle giant Ben, crossed the Rainbow Bridge in January 2022. He arrived at BCHR from a neglectful situation but made quick friends with the other horses, especially mini horse Summer. When he stepped off of the trailer he stood at 19 hands but was severely underweight and wobbly. However, after only a week or so Ben began to gain weight, feel strong and was able to run across the pasture with the other boys in the front turnout and most recently with his best friend Murphy. Rest easy, Big Ben. We’ll miss you.

KODA

Meet our sweet boy Koda! He arrived from North Carolina after his farm suffered damage from Hurricane Florence. He walked off of his trailer and straight into our volunteers’ hearts.  Koda’s story is especially inspiring. He escaped one of the most notorious kill pens in Texas and made it to the Believe Equine Rescue in Roseboro, N.C., where he was rehabilitated by their wonderful volunteers. Unfortunately Koda has some special needs and suffered an injury to his back leg/foot, but with much love and professional veterinary care he’s able to run around the front turnout with his pals.

LAZARUS

We spotted this underweight, discouraged soul on a Facebook horse auction site and we knew he needed to be rescued. On Thanksgiving eve, a Facebook message was shared with friends of BCHR, who showed up early on Thanksgiving morning to clean a field area near a stall and build a temporary turnout in which to quarantine Laz. You’d never recognize this frisky, energetic fellow now as he tears around his turnout, throws his head and shakes his mane with sheer joy!

RAIN & THUNDER

Miniature horses Thunder and Rain were rescued by the BCHR from a New Jersey horse auction facility. They both quickly adjusted to life on the farm and delighted visitors and the other horses.

Now they share a forever home in Saddle River with several retired racehorses after being adopted by a caring horse owner. Adoption is part of our mission of Caring for Horses Mind, Body & Soul and we’re thrilled they’re being loved and cherished by their new owner.

JACK

Our sweet mule Jack arrived at the Rescue from a farm that was forced to close due to financial hardship. The owner contacted us and asked if we could take him, and we were thrilled! Jack lives contentedly among his equine pals in a large turnout. The lone mule at the Rescue, Jack is like the lovable little brother to all of the other horses.

LUNA

Several years ago a horse dealer's trailer broke down by the farm. The driver asked if we could keep his horses in our stalls overnight until his trailer was repaired. Once it was fixed he drove off with his horses. Or we thought he did. Several days later, however, BCHR volunteers discovered Luna in one of the stalls: the owner had secretly left her at the rescue. He then contacted Erin to keep Luna, and she readily agreed, as Luna’s her next stop was to a kill pen, because she was elderly and had back and hip issues. This all transpired even before BCHR became a horse rescue. Fortunately Luna now has a permanent home at BCHR.

SKIPPY

Abandoned by his original owner, this quiet and thoughtful fellow used to be seen standing alone in his turnout munching his flakes of hay.  But recently he’s become very attached to one of our volunteers who has been working closely with him, and now he’s become sociable and friendly with the other horses. You can find him sparring with his twin Koda, and we’ve even caught the two standing up on their hind legs playing! He’s a lovable and patient horse who now comes to the fence to greet visitors.

MURPHY

This handsome young Irish Sport Draft Cross already stands at 19.1 hands and will continue to grow!. Murphy came to us from an auction house/kill pen in Pennsylvania.  You can find him loping across the front turnout or racing with Oscar against the fence line. He’s friendly, frisky, curious and so lovable.

KONRAD

Our beloved elderly gentleman passed away peacefully in late summer, 2021. His final years of life with us were spent happily with his pals Laz, Picasso and Papichulo in the south turnout.

OSCAR

BCHR founder Erin Giannios tells the story best about how sweet Oscar arrived at his new home from a nearby horse auction:

“I was drawn to him…something in his eyes, his face, his presence. I knew his deadline was up and that he’d be sent to slaughter the very next day, and I got an overwhelming feeling that I had to save him. He was simply abandoned. There was nothing wrong with him and I saw this. As soon as I walked into his stall he knew he would be okay. And so did I. I knew rescuing him was right.”

The day Oscar walked off of the trailer and into his new home at the farm he looked around, saw the group of volunteers who rescued him, and immediately decided he belonged here. He is quite a character, grinning at volunteers and visitors, playing with Patches and prancing and running with the boys in the front turnout.

GOLDIE

Our beloved Goldie passed away on February 4, 2019. We are devastated and tremendously sad, but know he enjoyed a long, wonderful life. Goldie was 43 years old and happily roamed the farm with his best pal, Summer. He was always content, got along beautifully with the other horses and gratefully received love from visitors and volunteers alike.

He taught us all about grace, patience, wisdom and love. 
Rest in peace, sweet boy.

LEO

Leo arrived in the U.S. from Mexico, living first at local farm before arriving at BCHR. Saucy and spirited yet patient, loving and incredibly intelligent, Leo has established himself as the leader of his herd in the front turnout. He has a special friendship with Jack the mule and acts like his big brother. Leo also has a deep and unique connection with special-needs children. Ever nosy, he’s always the first to run to the fence to see what’s going on!

PAPICHULO

Papichulo, a curious, sweet-tempered Appaloosa who is blind in one eye, was abandoned by his owner and was living temporarily at another boarding facility. The facility’s owner was in debt and planned to send Papi and several other horses to auction to earn some extra cash. Fortunately BCHR heard Papi’s story and rescued him before he was sent to auction where, if he wasn’t sold, might have been sent to slaughter. Papi has developed a deep friendship with Laz, who acts as his seeing-eye horse around their turnout.

PANDA

Panda, an American Paint/draft cross, came at the rescue from a New Jersey farm, where the owner there rescued him from an Amish farm in Pennsylvania. Upon arrival Panda incredibly frightened and afraid of any close human contact. However, with much patience and love received from the many BCHR volunteers who spoke softly to him and gently scratched his ears, he’s now settled in his turnout with his pals Dusty, Jesse James and Vegas. This gentle giant is the first in his herd to trot to the fence and lean his head over the top rail to greet little children, whom he seems to adore.

PATCHES

Patches is a majestic American Paint horse who arrived at the rescue after being abandoned by his owner. Patches and his pal Bailey were originally borders at Mahrapo Farm, where they became attached to Erin, who covered their veterinary bills and expenses. Sadly, Bailey passed away at 32 years old, but his beautiful spirit still inspires the many volunteers at the Rescue. Now Patches keeps a wary eye on everything that goes on at the farm. You’ll often see him in the front turnout with Leo.

EMSY

Emsy came from a thoroughbred breeding facility many years ago, but was considered too small and too slow to race. Over the years, several people have cared for him but without any consistency. Because of this, he's one of our permanent residents and is loved by everyone at the rescue, especially his friend Friendly, who never seems to leave his side.

SATURN & JUPITER

These chestnut beauties arrived on a cold, blustery day in March from Tar Heel, N.C., the day after a fierce blizzard. Warily, Saturn cautiously stepped from her trailer, Jupiter close at her side. Within an hour the two were interacting with our volunteers, eating apples and carrots. What a transformation these two spirited beauties made! With much love and attention from our volunteers they have become gentle, loving and friendly. When they sprint together in their turnout it’s like copper magic!

TUCKER

This feisty 15-year-old chocolate palomino pony arrived at the rescue in October 2021. His loving family wanted to insure his safety and continued well being, as well as give him the chance to live as a horse should: in a herd, foraging, learning his place among the other horses and living as a horse should live. Tucker has settled into the south turnout with his new pals, who are his guardians and big brothers!

FRIENDLY

Friendly is one of our original residents at the farm. He’s a handsome chestnut and is loved by everyone at the rescue, especially his friend Emsy. They’re rarely apart and wander together in the front turnout.

PHOENIX & OLIVE

This regal jet-black mare and her foal were adopted from a New Jersey horse auction after Erin was contacted by a horse  advocate seeking their rescue. At that time there were six pairs of mommas and babies that were dropped off at auction. Fortunately the other pairs were rescued, and Phoenix and Olive were the last to be adopted. Buyers were hesitant to adopt them as they were considered completely feral. However, now these two coal-black beauties roam a large, grassy turnout next to the creek, and have become attentive and allow our volunteers to scratch their noses .