Our Equine C.A.R.E. (connect, assist, rescue, educate) Program focuses on horses in transition, helping them find new careers. We move horses from crisis into safe homes or rescue, provide re-homing services to horse owners who can no longer keep them, match horses with adopters, and make educational resources available to our equine community.
Equine C.A.R.E. is a member of The Right Horse Initiative – a collective of equine industry and welfare advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. We are located at Willow Hope Farm in Simpsonville KY, and are Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries Certified.
To learn more about our Equine program, contact us at 502-272-1068 or [email protected].
Trouble Keeping Your Horse? Call our Horse Help Line
Is a financial or other crisis making it difficult to keep your horse? Call contact us at 502-272-1068 or [email protected].
Willow Hope Farm
The Kentucky Humane Society’s Willow Hope Farm in Simpsonville KY is home to our Equine programs. The farm has 42 acres of pasture, 38 stalls, a quarantine barn, and an indoor arena for year-round riding and training for our adoptable horses.
The farm is named after Willow, an abandoned and extremely malnourished horse. Her will to survive inspired KHS to name their new barn in her honor.
“We chose the name Willow Hope Farm because of the willow tree’s ability to survive and even thrive despite harsh conditions. Willow trees show us that even through great challenges, we have the ability to grow – an apt metaphor for horses in transition,” said Lori Redmon, KHS Equine Director.
Willow Hope Farm is a working farm and is open by appointment only. We are unable to accommodate walk-ins. Directions
Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries Certified
In August 2024, the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) – the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries – re-awarded Accredited status to the Kentucky Humane Society Equine C.A.R.E. Program. Accreditation signifies that our program meets GFAS’s rigorous and peer-reviewed equine care standards which are confirmed by a comprehensive site visit. Accreditation also signifies adherence to standards addressing the sustainability of the organization, ethical principles, finances, staffing, education outreach, security and safety and other operational aspects. More about GFAS accreditation
The Right Horse
As a partner in The Right Horse Initiative, we’re proud to support a national movement reframing the conversation about equine adoption. Kentucky Humane Society Equine C.A.R.E is working with The Right Horse Initiative to promote equine adoption as well as the bond between horses and humans. We are good people for good horses, and everyone who loves horses has ownership in this movement. To learn more about The Right Horse Initiative, visit righthorse.org.
Women Warriors Program
In collaboration with the Veteran’s Club, KHS’ Equine C.A.R.E. team proudly launched the Women Warriors program in 2023. This initiative brings female veterans and first responders to Willow Hope Farm for transformative Equine Facilitated Mentorship (EFM) sessions. During these sessions, women are provided with a safe space to develop strong support groups, to work through life’s challenges, and to have fun. At the heart of the Women Warriors program is the profound connection between humans and horses.
Participants are invited to take a brief break from busy schedules and to shed the labels of mom, daughter, wife, boss, employee, etc. and to focus on making their own health and well-being a priority. KHS is grateful to offer Women Warriors at our Willow Hope Farm. This addition to our equine outreach efforts is a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between KHS and our community. Interested participants can learn more on how to participate by visiting the Louisville Veteran’s Club’s website at veteransclubinc.org.
Lori Redmon, KHS Equine Director, co-facilitates the sessions with a member of the Veteran’s Club team. Lori is certified through the Equine Experiential Education Association as well as trained in Natural Lifemanship, a trauma informed equine assisted learning organization. All horse activities are from the ground with no riding involved and no experience with horses is required. Sessions are free to veterans and first responders.
