SWFHR, Located 4 miles north of the Lee Civic Center across from Babcock Ranch, has operated in Punta Gorda, FL since 2014.
- - - THEN - - -
Originally founded to do their part in their local community by rescuing and rehabilitating only 2 horses at a time, founders Tina & Matt started a small private horse rescue in North Fort Myers, FL in 2010. Obviously, 2 horses became 3 became then 3 became
way more, and as they say, "It was over after that". In all fairness, the need was high and not fully expected at the beginning. So, by 2011, new limitations were set at 10 horses at a time. Using vetted foster farms all over SW Florida was the only way this could be done, as the founders operated on 5 acres and had their 4 personal horses at the time. By 2012 the interactions that Tina & Matt had in the community, paved the way for becoming a registered non-profit the following year. The highlights of the 2012 year: in February the name South West Florida Horse Rescue was chosen and SWFHR was to be branded as the name for what was "Tina & Matt who rescue horses", in June the official website was created to gain support and communication, in December SWFHR was featured in the NewsPress article called "12 Day's of Giving" and big changes were on the horizon after that. In 2013 a lot happened, thanks to the newspaper article and Bill Cross the individual who sent the reporter Amy Bennett Williams to Tina & Matt. A private family foundation aided in the advancement of the movement created by Tina & Matt, helping to fund the filing for non-profit status in February. By November, SWFHR was approved as a non-profit and on the search for a property to run a much larger operation than planed. After 6 months of searching SWFHR in April of 2014, with the help of a realtor JT Thomas, found a defunct and run-down 40-acre property in Charlotte County perfect to establish as a premier "Horse Rescue" facility. The very same foundation that met and continued to follow Tina & Matt in 2012, awarded the new non-profit SWFHR a grant to cover the full purchase of this property and provide some start-up funds. The property that is known today as the SWFHR Facility was not developed for a horse rescue. Not a stitch of fencing nor barns for horses. But SWFHR was going to make it happen one way or another. By June 2014 the first fence post went in and over the year, much more fencing happened. SWFHR started to shut down its foster program as paddocks became available starting in July. By December all foster farms were discontinued and the horses of SWFHR were all located on one property, the "SWFHR Facility". As the requirement for Foundation Board approval for the grant SWFHR had to provide a Business Plan and Plan of Development which entailed a 10 yr development completion. Over the next 2 years, 2015 & 2016 much building continued, as well as the establishment of a "Volunteer Program" and early assistance and education programs. By 2017 the facility was established enough in April, for SWFHR to host an official "Grand Opening" event to denote the availability of its operation.
- - - SWFHR FACTS - - -
To date, the SWFHR hosts:
[20] ACRES developed for the Rescue Program, of the total 40 acres of land owned completely by SWFHR.
[12] PADDOCKS officially, 1/2 to 3/4 acres size, with space available for no more than 2 horses per paddock.
[9] BARN officially for rescued horses, 8 built as 2 stall shed row barns, 1 used a 3 stall barn.
[20] EQUINES is the operational norm (capacity) albeit at times more or less but not by much. Many ask what our limit is and the answer to that is based on 3 components (space available, fund, and manpower. Every year moving forward SWFHR make development strides to continue to improve the quality behind the operation for our communities equines, whether it be throughout the facility or in the community.
