| Newsletter January 2026 After reflecting on MVHR's record number of 78 horses cared for in 2025, we hit the ground running in the first week of January. Four horses filled up quarantine right after the New Year, and they are about ready to be merged with the herd. These numbers have been possible thanks to your generous support in 2025! We are busy with potential adopter appointments and the daily care of the 36 horses in the rescue herd. The continued dry weather makes day to day chores around the ranch easier, and the horses are enjoying their endless sun naps in the dirt, but we are all desperately hoping for snow and moisture so that Colorado can get back on track creating the much needed snowpack. Dry winters directly impact horses everywhere, and here at MVHR in a number of ways, most notably with less water to grow grass in pastures and hay fields which results in higher hay prices, putting horses at-risk. In addition to hoping for snow, January and February are also be the months when our team plans the community programs for 2026. In addition to existing programs like Mini Horse Heroes and Summer Day Camp, MVHR Program staff is busy creating additional opportunities for kids AND adults to interact with and learn about horses and the rescue herd. Watch for more info coming soon. In the meantime, we are excited to share that Vail Health will again be supporting our Summer Day Camp Scholarships for 2026! Continue reading for more details and updates from MVHR! |
| MVHR Horse Updates Horses are always welcomed back to the ranch after being adopted, no matter what. MVHR makes every one of them the promise that they will always be safe. So even if we are full beyond capacity, we create space for anyone who needs to come back to MVHR. This month, we welcomed back Bonita, a 4 year old Bay Mare who was recently started under saddle. She was adopted as a 2 year old and we look forward to see what she learned in the last two years. At the same time, we also welcomed back Buddy, a 31 year old American Warmblood gelding who brought along his friend Craven, a Saddlebred Paint Mare, when their elderly owners could no longer care for them safely. You will also find Lucy back in quarantine. She left for an adoption trial in November, which ended up not being a good fit, so she is still on the look out for her own person, and available for adoption again. Heartbreaking news is that Frankie passed away this month. This sweet Dun Mare arrived just a few months ago. She suffered a fall a week or so ago, while cavorting with her herd mates in the pasture, and we had been monitoring her resulting muscular-skeletal discomfort which was improving, but now believe she could have sustained internal injuries from that fall that lead to the event of her passing. We are heartbroken, as this sweet, well broke, beautiful little mare was a joy to each of us at the ranch who had the honor of handling her, and she was well poised to take a step into an adoptive home in the near future. With heavy hearts we say goodbye to Sweet Frankie. So as we head towards the end of January, MVHR has 39 wonderful horses who are waiting for their next loving home. Could that be with you?! A list of the Current Herd can be found by clicking below! |
| | |
|
|
|
| MVHR Community & Programs |
|
|
| Thank you Steam Master! MVHR is grateful to have been selected by Raj Manickam and the Steam Master team to be one of the three recipients of their 18th Annual Charity Golf Tournament, which took place on October 1, 2025 at Sonnenalp Golf Course in Edwards. We are humbled to be standing next to the other amazing nonprofits who benefited from this event; Vail Valley Charitable Fund and Eagle County Emergency Responders Fund. It was a beautiful day with 22 teams in the tee off scramble and a record amount of funds raised! Each nonprofit took home $10,693.00! Thank you Raj and Steam Master for supporting the MVHR Rescue Herd! |
|
|
| Volunteer at MVHR! Community Volunteer Days are coming up on: - Saturday, February 21
- Saturday, March 21
Community Volunteer Day is hosted from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Pancake Breakfast is served at 9:30am, after which we head out for a variety of chores to help the horses. No experience needed, and no need to RSVP either. Besides these Saturdays, we have Volunteer Trainings available on Tuesday Feb. 10 and Mar. 10. For more info click here! If you Complete a volunteer application, it will ensure you receive a separate volunteer opportunity email each month. Fun Opportunity for the Community! Versatile Equine trainers will be on site at MVHR February 7-8 and they will work extensively with the MVHR Rescue Herd. Spectators are welcome, and it is a wonderful opportunity for volunteers and other community members to watch & learn about horsemanship and horse behavior. More details TBD. |
|
|
| | Equine Programs for All! Our most beloved programs are back soon! Our team is planning dates for Mini Horse Heroes to return in March and looking ahead to our Summer Schedule; Summer Day camps will be back and registration opens on March 11th. Besides Horse Heroes, Horse Glamour and Hope Day Camps, we are introducing a new camp this Summer: Equine Explores Camp! More info Soon! We are excited to share that Vail Health will be supporting our Day Camp Scholarships again this year. Scholarship applications for 2026 will open on February 16th, ahead of registration. Also coming this year; Equine Enrichment workshops for adults! These will be learning days for horse people of all experience levels - from none to lots! With presentations and interactive opportunities on a wide variety of topics related to horse care, training, and connection. More information will be available in next months newsletter, so keep an eye out! |
|
|
| MVHR can welcome large groups and has free and per person fee programs. Are you an educator and looking for a service day or an educational field trip? We have curriculum for all grades that offer a connection with horses and outdoor ranch life. Is your business looking for a fun team building activity? MVHR got you covered, including large meeting spaces for company group activities. And as a reminder, MVHR can host a "Pony Party" for any age group, for any reason, at any time of the year. Looking for a birthday celebration, a fun day with friends? Family in town and want to do a unique activity? Come to the ranch in McCoy for a day with the rescue herd. Reach programs@mvhr.net for more information on all of the above! |
| |
|
| | Other Ways to help this Year End! Donating to help the horses can be done in many different ways! In addition to cash, check and online donations, volunteering your time and sharing MVHR's mission with others, read on to learn about some other ways to make a huge impact to the sustainability of MVHR for future generations to come! |
| City Market Community Rewards This program makes fundraising easy by donating to local organizations based on the shopping you do every day. Once you link your Shopper’s Card to MVHR, all you have to do is shop at City Market and swipe your Shopper’s Card. Click HERE to set this up today! Only takes a few minutes and helps the horses greatly! |
|
|
|
|
| | MVHR Brokerage Account with Edward Jones Did you know MVHR has a brokerage account that you can donate to…and that you can make a gift to the horses this way? Donating stocks offers benefits for both you and MVHR. We are so grateful for the donors that have already committed to doing so. For more information on how to donate to our account with Edward Jones, contact your broker or email marleen@mvhr.net. |
|
|
| MVHR Endowment Fund at YVCF As we reach year end, please consider donating to the MVHR Endowment Fund at the Yampa Valley Community Foundation. Your contribution to the MVHR Endowment Fund provides support for horses today, tomorrow and beyond, truly ensuring all MVHR horses have the care and love they need throughout their lives and for generations to come. If you'd like to learn more about donating to the Endowment Fund, please click HERE. |
|
|
| MVHR Planned Giving Create your legacy by making a planned gift to MVHR. Through a planned gift, you will be a part of making an everlasting difference in the lives of rescue equines long into the future. A hundred years from now, you will have an impact on the care of horses in need. Lend your Hopeful Heart to Helping Horses by making a legacy gift to MVHR today! Click HERE for more information. |
|
|
| ... and then there is MORE! Visit our Other Ways to Help resource page to learn about more ways to help MVHR anytime of year. We have information on our Amazon Wishlist and how to shop and support MVHR thru organizations such as City Market & Chewy Gives Back. Check it out and sign up for some of the shopping programs, or please consider helping out with much needed supplies from our wish lists. From all of us at Mountain Valley Horse Rescue, thank you for your continued support! |
|
|
| | Contact Us! Mountain Valley Horse Rescue
33933 Colorado River Road
McCoy, Colorado 80463
970-653-0185
info@mvhr.net |
| | |
|
| |
|
|
