Rapidan Equine Sanctuary

08/21/2026

We’re almost to 1,000 followers!!

Hey friends! Our quest to reach 1,000 followers is still going - and we’re almost there! Less than 100 to go. Remember, if you tag friends who don’t follow us, and they like and follow us, you’ll be entered to win a prize basket with an RES shirt, a custom made cup, and a $50 coffee gift card! Enter now, the odds are still great! Help us reach a broader community and share our mission of providing sanctuary to neglected equines while embracing the bond they share with humans. Thank you!

Hey friends, we are approaching a milestone in the social media world! We’re under 200 followers away from hitting 1,000 followers and we need your help to reach this goal!

We are working to grow our social media following not only so folks can appreciate our funny herd in action - but more importantly so that we can share the mission, vision and values of Rapidan Equine Sanctuary far and wide. We believe wholeheartedly in the work that we do, and want as many people as possible to learn more about our herd, equines in general, or resources for their own equine stewardship.

So, here’s where the help of our existing friends and followers is needed! From now until when we hit 1,000 followers on Facebook, we are offering everyone who recruits more folks to follow RES a chance to win a great gift basket with an RES shirt, a custom-etched mug, and a $50 coffee gift card! Here’s how to enter:
- tag friends and family on this post (on IG & FB) and let them know to follow RES
- every person you tag, *who then follows RES* is one entry
- when we hit 1,000 followers, we’ll randomly choose a winner from all the entries

Any questions? Just ask! We are grateful for your help in sharing about our mission to provide sanctuary to neglected equines while embracing the bond they share with humans.

08/20/2026

Thank you for featuring us on this week’s blog post, Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce! We’re so grateful for partners like you in our community!

An alarming number of mares (female equines) find themselves in animal welfare centers after a spiral of bad experiences due to human-equine miscommunication and a lack of leadership. We find mares are slower to trust than their male counterparts and more likely to take dominant roles in the absence...

08/19/2026

Beautiful reminder that RES is a sanctuary to more than just equines… taken today at the farm!

08/16/2026

To round out our new intake introductions, meet Lord Anthony!
Anthony is the youngest from the recent intake and is a 16 year old bay American Quarter Horse gelding. When Anthony arrived earlier this summer he was a little insecure in his new surroundings, but has settled in nicely with his friend George (see yesterday’s 🦕 reel!) and with Charlotte close by. Anthony is doing well transitioning to a forage-first diet, along with the appropriate medical, dental and farrier care. As Anthony has gotten comfortable, he’s shown himself to be an all-around really good boy. We’re so glad you’re here, Anthony!

08/15/2026

If you have gelding buddies, you probably see this almost daily. It doesn’t get old!

08/13/2026

Meet King George!
George is a 27 year old chestnut American Quarter Horse with a distinct white blaze. George came to us with Charlotte and Anthony as the oldest from that intake. When George arrived, he was underweight at a body condition (BCS) score of 2-3. BCS evaluates an equines body composition and runs from 1-9 with 1 being emaciated and 9 being obese. With tailored medical care and work on both his hooves and teeth, George is doing much better today at around a BCS of 4. He eats 3 meals a day and he’s a true gentleman, but you better move with purpose if you’re bringing his breakfast, lunch or dinner! We’re so glad George is home, and are grateful for the support of our team and our followers to continue to provide for George’s well-being. Swipe through to see George now, and what his teeth and hooves looked like at intake!

08/11/2026

Today we’d like to further introduce one of our new residents, Queen Charlotte. Charlotte is around 23 years old and is a paint mare. She and her 2 companions (to be introduced later this week!) came to RES with very poor teeth and hooves, and after visits from all our care providers the horses also needed some time to re-learn how to eat hay. As many mares are, Charlotte was guarded and watchful when she first arrived to RES. She has gotten used to her new consistency, home and humans, and can now be seen following volunteers down the driveway to say hello, and relaxing with softened eyes and the occasional nap during attention/grooming time. We look forward to this sweet girl continuing to come out of her shell. Please swipe through to see Charlotte now, and her fresh manicure compared to at her time of intake. Welcome home, Charlotte!

08/04/2026

We’ve had a lot going on at RES this summer! We’ve been sharing things like our newly open Maria’s Community Shed, and regular goings-on like farm maintenance & equine care, which go on rain, shine or heatwave. What we’re happy to share today is another piece of our mission to provide sanctuary to neglected equines - we have three new residents! These residents arrived earlier this summer and have been acclimating to RES, receiving specific medical care, and receiving lots of love from our team behind the scenes of our more public activities.

Please say hello to Charlotte, George and Anthony! This group came to us from a seizure situation and are settling in nicely after their quarantine period. Charlotte is a 23 year old paint, George is a 27 year old American Quarter Horse, and Anthony is a 16 year old American Quarter Horse. In the coming week we’ll share more about each horse including some then/now photos, but in the meantime please say hello to our new herd members!

08/03/2026

A few followers have recently messaged asking if we will accept used tack at Maria’s Community Shed - the answer is yes! Some of our followers don’t have messaging back enabled, if you are waiting for an answer from us about donations that might be why! We will accept donations of gently used tack during Maria’s Community Shed open hours (Fri & Sun 11a-1p), or if you would like to arrange an alternate time you can email us at [email protected]

Thank you!

07/31/2026

Every month, people show up for our herd without asking for recognition. They notice what we need, they lend a hand, they sponsor a horse, or they make a recurring gift that helps ensure we have everything we need.

Today, we want to say thank you to these people.

A special thank you to Linda Polcaro Jackson , who always checks in each month to see what the sanctuary needs most and always goes the extra mile with thoughtful in-kind donations. Fly masks, fly spray, halters, hay nets & shampoos are items we always use. Your kindness has become something we can count on, and we are so grateful for your continuous support.

We’re also incredibly grateful Lucy Prapuolenis who recently surprised our volunteers with thoughtful gifts to help keep them cool and comfortable while caring for the herd during these hot summer days. Our volunteers spend countless hours in the sun making sure every equine receives the care they deserve, and your generosity reminded them that they are cared for too! This is the second summer we have received gifts like these from you and our volunteers truly appreciate it!

We would also like to recognize our amazing recurring donors and horse sponsors. Your consistent support gives us the confidence to plan ahead, respond when emergencies arise, and provide lifelong sanctuary to the equine who call RES home.

Whether you give financially, donate supplies, sponsor a horse, volunteer your time, or simply cheer us on, you are part of this sanctuary.

From all of us, thanks for believing in our mission.