Friends of Horses Rescue and Adoption is a horse rescue center located in Centennial Colorado. This equine rescue got its start back in the nineties. Bill Stiffler picked up over thirty horses going to Colorado State University. Many of the horses had Strangles. Strangles or equine distemper is a contagious upper respiratory tract infection. A specific bacterium causes this disease. Friends of Horses Rescue and Adoption got the horses proper care. Then the rescue found the horses reliable and safe new homes.
The rescue was founded in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) not for profit. It has expanded to include community service, therapeutic riding, education, and rehabilitating abandoned, abused, unwanted, neglected or slaughter-bound horses. In 2002 their dreams became a reality when they got the opportunity to consolidate from five locations into one facility. They’ve called this new place home for the last 16 years (the former El Jebel Stables). Friends of Horses currently occupies the ten acres of land equipped with an indoor riding facility.
The rescue’s proximity to Cherry Creek State Park is ideal; it is only steps away from a sprawling prairie surrounding eight hundred and eighty acres of reservoir. Their horses come from owner surrenders. They also rescue horses off the track. This includes Thoroughbred racehorses doomed for euthanasia, as well as horses bought from slaughter auctions. Unfortunately, they sell horses by the pound and slaughter them for their meat.
Friends of Horses Rescue and Adoption
Friends of Horses Rescue and Adoption offers a number of community activities such as riding lessons, pony camps, equine educational programs, fulfillment of service hours for school scholarships or court dictated hours. Also, coming up again this June, the rescue will be offering their eight weeks of summer camp for children ages seven through thirteen.
