ABOUT US

In The Beginning
The Equine Rescue League was founded by Pat Rogers in 1990. In its first year at Chruchland Farm in Leesburg, Virginia, The Equine Rescue League provided care and shelter to over 100 horses and ponies. Most of these abused, neglected and unwanted equines were placed in qualified homes.

Pat and Cheryl at an open house.

ERL's Goals
The Equine Rescue League is an organization that supports the responsible use of working, sport and pleasure horses and ponies. Our goals are to:

	Provide care, rehabilitation and training for horses and other large animals at the ERL farm shelter, and to adoption them to qualified persons.
	Provide transportation and holding facilities for animals seized by county and state humane officers and for unwanted animals.
	Create educational programs (on the subjects of basic health care and horse abuse) for horse owners, youngsters and humane officers.
	Create public awareness about horse neglect and abuse issues.
	Investigate, in coordination with humane officers, to reduce abuse and neglect occurrences in the Greater Washington area.
	Provide humane euthanasia services for aged or ill horses to prevent these animals from being subjected to the horror of auctions and slaughter transportation.

Bitsy-The Mare Who Started It All
The Equine Rescue League did not exist in time for Bitsy, a 7 year old Thoroughbred mare who was so weak she was whipped to make her stand and go through the auction ring, where she brought $7.00.

She probably didn't survive the grueling truck ride to the slaughterhouse.

At the time this photograph was taken, Pat Rogers, ERL's founder, was assisting with investigations into conditions at auction yards. At this particular sale, she didn't even have with her the seven dollars to buy Bitsy, nor did she have a place to take her. Pat had to walk away from Bitsy, but the memory is still fresh in her mind.

Pat Rogers promised this mare with the pleading eyes that she would devote her life to stopping abuse. In 1990, Pat founded the Equine Rescue League in Leesburg, Virginia. (Picture of Bitzy courtesy Gail Eisnetz for the HSUS. Taken November, 1989, at an auction in Northern Virginia.)

Our Farm and Benefactor Program
The Equine Rescue League is currently located Promise Kept Farm, near the city of Leesburg, Virginia.

The Equine Benefactor Program's purpose is to guarantee the existence of the ERL as an equine humane organization while at the same time, honoring some of our supporters. The Benefactor Program gives individuals, corporations and other organizations a real opportunity to invest in the ERL's efforts to prevent equine abuse and neglect. In recognition of your generosity we will graciously dedicate a stall, barn, or field, or the entire farm shelter in your honor or in memory of a loved one. All dedications will be displayed at our current shelter and will move with us to the new facility. Following is the contributions schedule and their corresponding dedications. (All are in monetary or its non-monetary equivalent.)

Please note that all donations are tax deductible and that you may designate whether your contribution is to be used for buying a new farm, defraying the operational costs of the shelter or both. If you would like to participate in this program, please contact ERL at (540) 822-4577. Thank you for your consideration of the needs of the equines in our care.

What IS an "equine?"
An animal referred to as an "equine" is any member of the genus Equus.

Wild Members:

	Zebras (Equus grevyi, Equus burchelli, and Equus zebra)
	Asiatic Asses (Equus hemionous)
	Przewalski's Horse (Equus przewalski) also known as the Mongolian Wild Horse

Domestic Members:

	Donkeys, or burros (Equus Asinus)
	Horses, Ponies, and Miniature Horses which are all Equus caballus
	Mules, which are are hybrids of donkeys and horses

Why a Rescue Organization for Horses?
In today's society, many horses are owned as companion or sport animals rather than as a working part of a farm or other business.

As such, horses are subject to the same forms of mistreatment as cats, dogs and other companion animals. They are victims of outright neglect. They are sometimes abandoned in fields or left locked in barns. They are whipped, beaten and kicked into "submission". They fall victim to poor health as a result of inadequate care from well-meaning, but uneducated owners. And they are subject to one cruelty our dogs and cats are not... the slaughter house.

The ERL provides a haven for mistreated, neglected and abandoned horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules. We also take in horses whose owners can no longer, for whatever reason, care for them properly. In essence, ERL provides the same services as a humane organization dedicated to house pets, just on a "larger" scale.