Meet the Animals of Bluemont

Roxy was the very first rescue at Bluemont. After many happy years at our sanctuary living her out retirement, she sadly passed away in 2023. Her special memory lives forever in our hearts and she serves as the inspiration the Bluemont has blossomed into. 

Viva is an Oldenburg that was imported to compete in the show world. Her owner turned her over to our sanctuary at 19 yrs old when her injuries prevented her from riding. Viva now spends her days flirting with our geldings and getting fat on hay. 

Tess is 15 year old thoroughbred who never raced. Contessa endured a tragic accident at a horse show where she broke her back and found herself in need of sanctuary. She’s the fastest and spookiest horse in our pastures. 

Sparkys quirky personality and sunny disposition are contagious. This 15 year old Arabian cross served humans for years and found himself in need of sanctuary due to severe back pain. 

Beau is a Tennessee Walking Horse. In his previous, Beau was a field dog trial horse where people hunted off his back for sport. After going blind in one eye, Beau was discarded and ran through several auctions, eventually ending up in Texas. He was found partially blind and covered in melanomas. No one wanted Beau because of his medical issues. An amazing woman named Alyssa pulled Beau to safety and helped rehabilitate him on her own. She then asked if Beau could have a forever home here at Bluemont. Now Beau roams freely in pastures, eats to his heart's content, and is with his love, Winnie.

Felora, an Irish Sport Horse, retired here at Bluemont from a local lesson barn. Felora’s owner responsibly secured her a soft landing after she stopped riding her after discovering Felora has a neurological disorder called EPM. We believe that there is a place in rescues to support offering pasture homes to horses before they end up in the auction/kill pen pipeline. She’s living the dream with her best friend, Tess.

Midge came to us from a New Jersey neglect case at Twist of Fate. While Lesley, one of the founders of Bluemont, was loading another horse onto the trailer, she locked eyes with Midge, who was almost completely hidden by weeds. She knew that Midge needed to come to Bluemont. When our farrier gave her hooves a trim, he informed us that she had a condition called windswept legs. This condition requires specialized care, which includes prosthetics. Midge was in desperate need of rehab because she was also loaded with parasites, and an ultrasound revealed she had bad teeth and bad feet. Midge has a permanent home here at Bluemont with her two best friends, Jovie and Cinder. 

Cinder was being ridden by Amish children much too big for her to carry. She was treated more like a toy than like a horse - something no animal should ever have to go through. When she came to us, she was very guarded and showed consistent signs of stress when interacting with humans. She is now living her best life at the sanctuary with her best friends, Midge and Jovie.

Snowy came to us from a kill pen with oral issues and has had multiple surgeries since she has been with us. She used to be the type of horse that kept to herself and was not inclined to interact, but since sharing a paddock and bonding with her best friend Awesome, she has learned to come out of her shell and is now allowing us to love on her!

Walter is a dwarf mini horse who had been used in a petting zoo. Because of his breed, he has special needs and his congenital issues must be monitored and managed closely. Through his time at the auction with Odie, one of our rescue goats, the two had bonded deeply. Walter lives bonded with our goat herd!

Odie was pulled from his mother when he was just a week old and had been sent through 3 auctions before we reduced him. He was extremely thin and had a high load of parasites and lice. Without nourishment from his mother’s milk, he was forced to learn how to eat whatever hay was given to him on his own. At auctions he was shoved into holding pens with larger animals, which made him susceptible to injury or worse. Through his time at the auction with Walter, the two had bonded deeply. Once we rescued him, Odie fell extremely ill and was fighting for his life in the hospital. Thankfully, he is now stabilized and is enjoying spending his time with his best friend, Walter. 

Sam, an off the track Standardbred, was posted to Facebook with an ad which said “if you want him show up with a trailer’”. No one would take him, and luckily even the traders and kill buyers skimmed right over his post due to his extremely fragile condition. We reached out to Sam’s owner and learned that Sam was “retired” from racing when he sustained a serious injury, and had been with them since he was 2 years old. He was essentially forgotten in a backyard but is now flourishing here at Bluemont.

Bucky found himself in the hands of a horse dealer who wanted to sell him as a riding mini horse. Bucky was much too small and was in desperate need of nourishment, medical, and farrier care. After he was rescued, Bucky’s calm personality flipped completely, and became a bit of a feisty troublemaker. Bucky is a happy mini who grazes on the pastures and learned that humans can be kind and gentle. He is still known to bite in a volunteer's bottom if they are not looking.

Sully, a blue roan quarter horse, was discarded by a local man who had the ability and finances to care for Sully but had no desire to pay for his medical expenses while he could use his stall for a boarder. Sully, once a beloved horse for this gentleman's granddaughter, was now displaced and disgorged. Sully found Bluemont as a soft landing where he will always find love and a home. 

Mochi and Puffin were rescued from a farm in South Jersey who sold them for angora pelts. Today the goat crew hangs with their buddy, mini horse Walter, and soaks up everyone's attention.

Mochi and Puffin were rescued from a farm in South Jersey who sold them for angora pelts. Today the goat crew hangs with their buddy, mini horse Walter, and soaks up everyone's attention.

Hedwig and Cupid were later rescued right before Easter from the same farm in South Jersey that Moshi and Puffin came from. Once at risk of being Easter dinner, they spend their days frolicking in the goat paddock.

Cupid and Hedwig were later rescued right before Easter from the same farm in South Jersey that Moshi and Puffin came from. Once at risk of being Easter dinner, they spend their days frolicking in the goat paddock.

Pumba was thought to be a cryptorchid which means his testicles have not descended and are somewhere floating around his abdomen. His castration surgery would be expensive and is a medical necessity as he would be at risk for torsion which is a life threatening condition which is why Pumba was being discarded on Facebook. Pumba has had a successful surgery and has found a new home at Bluemont with Walter and the goat crew. 

Goose was separated from his mother at auction as a yearling. A horse trader purchased him and immediately ran him through another auction. Goose had lost weight, was depressed and was very sick. We rescued him from the 2nd auction and immediately got him the medical care he needed. Now he lives carefree and loves to run and play with his best friend Maverick. 

Maverick was brought to auction at 4 months old. A follower sent his picture to us and asked if we could help him. We knew that 4 months was such a fragile age and immediately called the auction house to secure Maverick. He was completely shut down when he arrived but now has the cutest little personality and zest for life. 

Xena came to Bluemont as an unhandled quarter horse rounded up on a ranch in Texas after her owner passed away. She had spent her entire life as a broodmare. Bluemont found her in an auction house with her baby foal and the auction sold her separately. When Xena came to Bluemont, it took almost a year of love and compassion to teach Xena to trust humans – she is now a big love bug.

Eva was an Amish broodmare. Her owner purchased her with another pregnant mini, Juna. Their new owner had them in a petting zoo until they both foaled at the same time. Their owner said that it was too hard to wean both foals and sold them, causing both Juna and Eva to fall into a deep depression. The petting zoo was a bust, and their owner posted them for sale on Facebook. We stumbled upon their sale listing and rescued both mares. Eva and Juna were two of our first residents at Bluemont to enjoy love and forever safety.

Juna was an Amish broodmare. Her owner purchased her with another pregnant mini, Eva. Their new owner had them in a petting zoo until they both foaled at the same time. Their owner said that it was too hard to wean both foals and sold them, causing both Juna and Eva to fall into a deep depression. The petting zoo was a bust, and their owner posted them for sale on Facebook. We stumbled upon their sale listing and rescued both mares. Eva and Juna were two of our first residents at Bluemont to enjoy love and forever safety.

Charlie, a Mini Casanova, almost lost his life from being passed around the trader/kill pen network and starved nearly to death. When Bluemont rescued him, he was sent straight to a clinic in North Carolina with a 20% chance to live. He defied the odds and can now be found playing in the fields with his best friends Silver and Rue.

Charlotte and her son Taz came to Bluemont from a wonderful couple that rescued them, but did not have the space to care for them long term. In order to let them continue living their best life, they were brought to Bluemont. Today, she’s still a sweet mama to Taz and cares for everyone in her donkey herd.

Wren is a Dutch harness horse who worked with the Amish as a buggy horse. Wren had a bone chip in his knee and could no longer work as he once did. Wren was brought to auction as little more than bones. Since being rescued Wren has grown stronger physically and mentally, becoming more loving and brave each day. He now loves to wait by the fence for visitors with treats!

Roseanne is an older draft cross horse who came from a starvation hoarding case. Luckily, she was able to overcome her past and build bonds here at Bluemont both with other horses and people. Roseanne leads her herd with pride. Although her two most special bonds in her life have passed away, she is still loving and caring towards everyone she meets.

Taz came to us with his mother Charlotte when he was just a few months old. At their old home, they were taken care of well, but the couple that originally rescued them was running out of space. Taz is now a rambunctious donkey with a lot of love and a playful spirit in him. However, he is still a mama's boy. 

Dixon came to Bluemont from a kill pen and was extremely sick. The vet initially told us that it was unlikely he would survive due to the severity of his illness when he first arrived. Today Dixon is the leader of our Donkey herd, strong yet kind and playful.

Gemma and her baby Jax were in danger of being sent to a kill pen in North Carolina called Tar Heel. Bluemont stepped in to rescue Gemma and her 2 month old baby, Jax. We were lucky enough to also find Gemas' mate, Mason, protecting them when we arrived for transport. Now, these three special donkeys live together happily here at Bluemont. 

Jax came from a kill pen when he was just a few months old with his mom, Gemma. Despite suffering for the beginning moments of his life, he has been at Bluemont for the majority of his life and runs freely in the paddocks with his donkey herd and mother.

Mason has the sweetest eyes but is afraid of human interaction. We know little about his background and assume he was a guardian to other animals previously. He was rescued along with his mates, Gemma and Jax. Although he is still fearful of humans, Mason has come a very long way and is happy in his herd of Donkeys at Bluemont.

Silver Song is a palomino mini horse who was dumped by his breeder because they did not like his body structure. Silver has bowed back legs and isn’t “breeding stock”. He was sold cheaply to a trader who sent him through multiple auctions. He was eventually posted on a kill pen Facebook page when no one bought him. Due to a high parasite load and emaciation, he almost passed away, and was also struggling with a serious viral infection. Once Bluemont rescued him, he required intensive medical care to become healthy again. Silver is now happy with many friends and will never go hungry again. 

Winnie, a 34-year-old magic hat paint horse, came to us from another rescue that was closing its doors. She is our oldest horse at Bluemont, and has made many friends since her arrival, especially her partner, Beau. She is receiving treatment here for cancer in her eye, but nothing is stopping her from being a sweet and loving mare. 

Willy, an Amish Standardbred, came to us from an Amish farm. He was working as a cart puller and discarded into the auction pipeline. He has undergone many treatments for his bad leg, with the most severe problems coming in the fall of 2022. His loving and beautiful personality shines through and he spends his days with his bonded mate Viva eating hay and soaking up the sun.

Rue is a mini mule, and she is the only equine who was born at the Bluemont Sanctuary. Hazel, her mother and another Bluemont rescue, had a stroke while delivering Rue. Hazel’s health progressively declined and eventually passed away. Today Rue is protected by her 3 best friends and guardians, Silver Song, Charlie and Bluemont’s German Shepherd, Zolie.

Mama, her daughter Daisy, and Buster came to us together and have been a pack for almost two decades. When their owner lost her home, she searched for a forever sanctuary to keep the trio together. Mama has experienced severe medical issues throughout her time at Bluemont, but with love and strength she has powered through and enjoys her days with her daughter and rest of the mini herd. 

Daisy came to us with her mother Mama and companion Buster in 2022. She suffers from uveitis, a degenerative disease of the eyes and today can only see shadows. However, her herd, best friend Juna, and mother Mama help guide her around their paddock.

Buster in his earlier years was a breeding stallion who came to have a loving home with Mama and Daisy. Buster came to Bluemont in 2022 when the bonded trio found the need for a new home as their loving owner lost her home and searched for sanctuary for her beloved horses. Buster is one of our oldest residents and he is very wise and soulful.

Poet is a feral mustang, born in the south to a mother who was adopted by a Bureau of Land Management program while pregnant. Poet, although never branded, was born of a wild American mustang. The horses at the barn where Poet lived were left feral for close to 20 years until the farm was auctioned, at which point a mustang lover bailed them out from being slaughtered. Poet was then taken to two different quarantine homes before eventually being found by Bluemont. After spending two months in training at Bushel Barns, Poet still has trust issues, but is getting better every day!

Jane is an off-the-track thoroughbred that ended up in a neglect case in Hunterdon County. She came to us with another horse, Stevie, and was severely underfed and was days from death. Jane’s road to rehabilitation was long. Today, she is one of our most beautiful horses, healthy and happy, found munching grass with her best friend, Stevie.

Stevie, a warm blood cross, was used as a surrogate through the implantation of embryos of higher-bred horses into her uterus, carrying and nursing the babies until they were taken away from her to be sold as competition horses. Stevie was later abandoned once she had passed her reproductive prime. She was in a severe neglect case with another one of our rescue horses, Jane, and nearly starved to death. Today, Stevie is happy and will never want for food again.

Glowy, a Standardbred, was found starving in a backyard just five minutes away from the sanctuary after breaking through a fence to search for food. Fortunately, a woman who saw her managed to return her to her pen and reported her situation to an Animal Control officer and the ASPCA. Despite the owner's reluctance to help, Bluemont fed Glowy through the fence until they were eventually able to rescue her with the help of local authorities and bring her to the sanctuary.

Jovie, originally named Stevie, was found in a kill pen in 2018 and was unable to be ridden or easily cared for because she is blind. She was eventually picked up by another rescue called Twist of Fate, which had turned into a major neglect case being shut down in 2022. Jovie was found abandoned in a field at Twist of Fate, infested with maggots and other bugs. She was days if not hours away from death. After five months of recovery, she was healthy enough for surgery. She had both of her eyes removed due to the pain she suffered as a result from an eye condition called uveitis. After the procedure, Jovie's name was changed to reflect her new outlook on life and she became known as "Jovie," meaning "happy."