This is Bree and Milo. Both were rescued by VEWS and rehabilitated and have recently been adopted to their "forever homes". Bree came to VEWS last December after being found tied to a tree just skin and bones. She was full of rain rot and her feet were in need of serious attention. Milo came from the New Holland Auctions and was bought from a "kill buyer" to prevent him from being taken to slaughter. VEWS has only two other horses that are ready for adoption...please visit their web site @ www.vewshorses.org for details.

                                    Bree                                                                     Milo
              
            

Watson - Monty's Mates Bulldog Rescue

Thanks Kim for putting this together. "It Matters to this one"
Hank and Kathy

This is Watson! He is our newly adopted English Bull Dog. Watson came from Monty's Mates Bull Dog Rescue in Pennsylvania. He is quite a character and fits in well with all of us other rescues here on our farm.

This is Bree! She came into the VEWS Program on December 20, 2012. Bree is a two year old Filly that was turned over to VEWS after being surrendered to a local ACO. Bree came in at only 515 pounds (very emaciated) and full of rain rot! She stayed here at Preference Farm for her 30 days of quarantine and went to the VEWS Rescue Barn on January 20, 2013. She is doing well with the other horses at the barn and has grown over two inched since her arrival making it hard to see her weight gain but it is happening. She is much stronger and happier and we expect a full recovery and rehabilitation for her.

Peace in Goochland

Normally I dedicate this Blog to our horse rescue efforts, however, just this once I would like to talk about Peace in Goochland!
Recently our Goochland County Board of Supervisors approved a Conditional Use Permit for Orapax Farm to operate a Sports Clay Shooting Range over the recomendation of the County's Planning Commission and objections from MANY of the Orapax neighbors. The CPU will allow the operation of the shooting range from September through April on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. It allows for a potential maximum of 18 shooters per day or a potential of 900 shots during this 6 hour period and our Supervisors don't think this will disrupt the Peace in Goochland, effect property values in the area or cause the potential for lead pollution to the wetlands bordering the James River? During a Sound Test, not a live fire demonstration, 15 shots were fired and heard from a distance of two miles from the site. I have lived in Goochland for 17 years and my property is just a little over 1 mile from this site. I can hear every shot fired from Orapax clearly and if our Supervisors doubt that they are all welcome to visit with us when this noise polluton gets started and hear for themselves what they have caused. Maybe they feel that as time passes their decisions will be forgotten but I can assure them that the surrounding neighbors will have 900 reminders per day, 4 days per week and 8 months per year (115,200 potential reminders) to remind them of this and how to vote in the next elections.

VEWS Update

WOW! I have neglected my own Blog what with all the happenings at the VEWS Barn! To date VEWS has rescued 6 Horses and has had 3 of them adopted. Duke, Finnegan and Sierra have gone to their new "forever homes". We currently have 3 horses at the barn is various stages of rehabilitation. This is BREE. She is our most recent rescue. She is a 2 year old Filly that was surrendered to a local ACO who call VEWS for assistance. As you can see, BREE is very very thin and is covered in rain rot. BREE weighs only 515 pounds and is a body score of only 1.5! Please visit the website at www. vewshorses.org or friend us on Facebook for more information. Oh well! blog spot won't let me upload her picture so go to the website to see her.

New Horses at VEWS Barn

This is Sierra a 13 yo TB Mare

This is Finnegan a 24 yo Registered QH Gelding

Two horses coming to our new barn

VEWS is taking 2 horses into their new barn on Sunday the 16th. It has been a long time coming but we are all excited to have these two horses coming into our program. One is a 13 year old Mare and the other is a 24 year old Gelding. Both horses are in relatively good shape but are in need of some Farrier work on their feet. More details and pictures of these horse will be coming soon

Vews new Barn and Web Address

A most generous couple in Powhatan County, Virginia has donated the use of their barn and pastures to VEWS for their work in rescuing and rehabilitating horses in need. It is a very nice facility and is a great place for VEWS to continue with their mission. Supplies are needed to ready the barn for the first horse(s). Anyone wishing to donate either supplies or money should go to the new VEWS website address at www.vewshorses.org and go to the donate page for a list of much needed supplies. You can donate money through Pay Pal from a link on their site.Thanks in advance for your help.

JJ at the June Yard Sale in the big City

JJ was a crowd pleaser and the attention getter at the June Yard Sale to benefit Virginia Equine Welfare Society. The sale was held June 2nd in the Museum District of Richmond. Thanks to all  the volunteers for their hard work in making the sale a success.

J.J. at the Farm Day Event

Here are a couple of pictures of J.J. at the Farm Day Fundraiser Event. Sarah and McKenzie  were a big help with her that day. The weather wasn't the best but it turned out OK. Thanks Terry for the great shots.

VEWS Director's Meeting and other VEWS events

The next VEWS Director's Meeting will be April 1, 2012 @ 6:30pm. Ideas and suggestions to complete and improve the web site will be on the agenda.
Other upcoming events are April 15th a meeting for the volunteers will be held at the Quarterfield Stables @1pm. All Current and new volunteers are encouraged to attend to be updated on our expected timeline and discuss fund raising, a most important and necessary topic. Also, we have been offered around 200 bales of hay and we  will need to co-ordinate picking up this hay and moving it to the barn.
On April16, 2012 Susan White and I are going to a conference of Commonwealth Attorneys being held in Norfolk,VA to set up and information booth.
On April 28, 2012 Hertzlers will be holding their annual Farm Day with lots of vendors and specials. VEWS will have a presence at the stable with an information booth. JJ is coming (with tack) for pictures with the children
The Preference Farm Blog can now be accessed through the VEWS website at WWW.vaews.org  Look for the link on the right side of the Home Page just under that "most important" Donate Button.

www.vaews.org

Virginia Equine Welfare Society published their new website to the web yesterday evening. Please visit www.vaews.org and learn more about our new organization. Check back often for updates and newly added information. Hey and don't forget that little button on the right side of the page.

VEWS ( Virginia Equine Welfare Society)

The next scheduled Board of Director's Meeting is scheduled for March 6, 2012.This meeting will determine the next important steps to be taken concerning the direction of our new rescue. We expect our first horse(s) to arrive around April 1st. Our website should also be up and running by that time, including the Pay Pal options for those who care to donate. The web site will also include information on volunteering, fostering and adopting horses and contact information. Check back here to see our progress and to learn how you can help us help these horses in need.

Virginia Equine Welfare Society

On January 25, 2012 The State Corporation Commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia approved incorporation papers for "The Virginia Equine Welfare Society" (VEWS ) and authorized them to do business in the State of Virginia. This Society was organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, more specifically to rescue abused, neglected and abandoned horses.
 Kathy and I are excited to be among the founders of this dedicated group of equine lovers and professionals and we look forward to getting our first rescue(s). Our leased barn is open, staffed with volunteers and ready for business. Over this weekend it was stocked with grain, tack, accessories and 100 bales of donated hay. Watch our blog for upcoming news about our progress. The new website is under construction and should be ready soon. Lots of fun new things will be happening quickly from this point on.