The Brighter Days Horse Refuge, Inc.
A 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit Corporation

Recently a television news team visited the Brighter Days Horse Refuge in Pipe Creek, Texas.  What was suppose to be a plea for assistance, turned into a frenzy of telephone calls and visits to the Refuge. Unfortunately, the television team made a mistake, implying BDHR had horses to be given away.

"Within 24 hours after that segment aired," said Jeannie Weatherholtz, "we received 200 or more telephone calls. As soon as we hung up with one call, the telephone would ring again."

The next day on their 12 O'Clock News, the television station corrected their error, but most of the viewers were at work and didn't see the news.

To set the record straight, BDHR is dedicated to the care of mistreated and unwanted horses and is one of the few organizations of its kind in the country funded solely by private donations.  Incorporated in 1987 by Jeannie and Bill Weatherholtz, it is currently home to 64 various types of equine.

Horses arrive at the Refuge in various stages of starvation, blindness, crippled, injured or abandoned. They are nursed back to health in body and spirit, and when possible placed in adoptive homes.  Others remain at the Refuge to live out their days in peace.  The few that are beyond veterinary help are swiftly and painlessly put to sleep.

The Refuge has also received, although not very often, sound and healthy horses to be placed with caring new owners who will provide them a good home.  These horses are donated to the Refuge because owners can no longer take care of them, they must move over seas, or in some cases have been given to BDHR by an estate or left to BDHR via a will.

Available to the Hill Country and surrounding counties, the Refuge is a placement facility located in Pipe Creek, used by law enforcement who have seized abused horses in animal cruelty cases.  Where horses were historically destroyed or sold for slaughter, they can now be rehabilitated and placed for adoption.  The Refuge has educated many horse owners in the proper care and feeding of older animals, to avoid the need for seizure.

Committed to maintain this safe and rehabilitative haven for horses, the Refuge depends on the generous contributions of individuals with an appreciation of horses.  Their vet bills have been running $400 per month, $250 per week for a farrier, $450 per week for grain, and approximately $1,000 per month for hay.

The Refuge maintains a Sponsorship Program for their older, crippled and retired horses and ponies.  To become a sponsor the Refuge asks that you come and visit to fully understand their operation. The Sponsor receives a Sponsorship Certificate and the cost is $25-50 per month for a horse and $15-25 per month for a pony.  These horses and ponies are in retirement or are unable to be ridden and will live out their lives at the Refuge.

The Adoption program is very strict, with good reason.  Many of the horses and ponies have already experienced starvation and or cruelty and the Refuge wants to ensure these trusting creatures never have to experience mistreatment again.  To adopt a horse or pony from the Refuge the individual or family should visit a few times to get to know and bond with the animal.  There must be sufficient space and shelter for the animal at their new home. The horses and ponies up for adoption may be adopted for $400 to $700 each.

Brighter Days runs a Thrift Shop on the property and 100% of the proceeds from the sale of donated items goes for caring for the horses and ponies.  If you have used items such as furniture, exercise equipment, tack, household items…anything at all, BDHR will give you a receipt for your donation and you will feel good that 100% of the proceeds from your donations will help with the every day maintenance and rehabilitation of these wonderful animals.

Over half of BDHR's 64 residents are retirees, either through advanced age or previous injuries.  Others are younger, but haven't been ridden in a long while.  BDHR is in need of sponsors for many of these horses and monetary donations would be greatly appreciated to help with the ever-increasing expenses.

This is a horse (shown at right) that could use the help of Brighter Days - unfortunately, this horse was moved when the owner received visits from the local law enforcement.