What is A Horse in Need (HIN)?
When a horse owner hits hard times — economic setbacks, health issues, or natural disasters like the wildfires that have ravaged Northern California for the past four years — their horses often suffer too. Every year Sunrise Horse Rescue receives an average of 120 requests from distressed owners or concerned neighbors about horses whose health and safety are in jeopardy. Some of these calls come from as far away as Oregon or Arizona. These can be emergency situations where the horse owner is no longer able to provide care and there is an immediate need for hay, feed, or veterinary attention.
Sunrise’s commitment to providing assistance to horses in need is unique among equine rescues. We have a dedicated Horse In Need (HIN) staff member who is available to respond to calls, offer compassion , and connect owners with resources. Our HIN Committee of board members and dedicated volunteers, guided by our on-staff veterinarian, then goes to work to triage these calls and create a response plan. When faced with an HIN case, our first goal is to determine whether we can direct resources and care to the horse’s current situation, or if circumstances require the horse to be relocated, sometimes to a loving foster care home or into sanctuary care.
Having a focused HIN team allows us to offer horse owners hard-to-find assistance in accessing equine care. With over a decade of experience, SHR understands that many times what’s most needed to ensure a horse’s welfare is to educate and provide resources for the humans in that horse’s life.
-Help us reach more horses - be a Horse in Need Hero!
With the ravages of wildfires over the last 4 years exacerbated by the pandemic and the resulting economic upheaval since early 2020 , many equine rescues can no longer respond to calls for help. Sunrise Horse Rescue is now one of the only operating equine rescues poised to respond between Oregon and Napa County.
By donating to the Horse In Need fund, you will help sustain our central mission and ensure that Sunrise has the available funds to provide life-saving help to horses.
Contributions are 100% tax deductible.
This is how your donation can have an immediate impact:
HIN Monthly Donor
Your ongoing support of any amount of your choice will offer sustained support for our HIN program. Always an appreciated donation choice!
$Please click on the categories you would like to help donate. Make sure to scroll down to see our full list of available donation levels.
Initial Baseline Exam by Vet
This is a vital diagnostic step in evaluating how to treat a horse. It is the critical first step because it allows for a full assessment of the condition of the horse, directing the next steps towards care and wellness. When a horse is out of the Napa County area, we will engage a veterinarian in the area of the horse and pay for the cost of the exam. (Cost $150)
$Feed Support at Home
Many owners, for a variety of reasons, can no longer pay to feed their horses. We provide assistance for feed and hay to ensure the horse(s) remain safe, healthy, and in the continued care of their owner.(Cost one month $200)
$Farrier Visit
Soundness for all horses begins with hoof care and horses need regular care from a farrier to have healthy hooves and to maintain a good quality of life.(Cost one visit $100)
$Dental Exam/Float
The care of a horse’s teeth is an essential part of a good health care program for a horse. If a horse’s teeth are neglected, they can suffer nutritionally because it will prevent the proper digestion of feed. Dental care also reduces the risk of choke and colic.(Cost $300)
$Foster Care
Sunrise will provide the monthly support to a foster care home. Since there is limited space at our Napa County facility, being able to utilize a foster care home is an extremely important part of our HIN program as it allows us to move a horse out of a neglectful position quickly.(Cost varies based on need; Average is $450 month; Can be as much as $650 per month ($8000 year)).
$Last Act of Advocacy, Humane End of Life
We believe that every horse deserves a dignified end of life option and the most humane way to end suffering is through a peaceful euthanasia in the presence of a caring veterinarian.(Cost $300)
$Under $100 options that make a difference
Microchipping
$Supplemental Feed
$Fecal Test
$2 Bales of Hay
$Bag of Horse Treats
$Vitamin E for 1 Month
$Dewormer
$Salt Lick
$Kids Club HIN Hero
$Contributions are 100% tax deductible.
*These funds can be used for any HIN purpose.