Our Horses
Every horse has a story. Every story deserves a happy ending.
Our Beloved Residents
CDHR’s permanent resident horses typically cannot be adopted due to age, illness, or injury.
We do not come to that decision lightly, but we feel it is in the horses' best interests. They will live out their natural lives at Autumn Ridge. Because these horses are often with us for many years, they become dear to our hearts. CDHR also retains a very small number of Ambassador horses. These horses are often sent to CDHR with a specific role to play in promoting draft horses and the rescue by meeting visitors, representing us in parades, teaching skills to our volunteers, and appearing at special rescue events. Our permanent resident horses are all looking for loving Horse Angels to sponsor them.
Meet Pat & Sam
Pete (“Prickly Pete”) and Sam (“Slippery Sam”) arrived at CDHR in July 2022 after their owner unexpectedly passed away. From the moment they stepped through our gates, this inseparable duo brought energy, laughter, and plenty of mischief to the farm. At 10 and 11 years old, they’ve found their forever home here, and we couldn’t be more honored to care for them.
Pete & Sam would love a Horse Angel to sponsor their lifelong care. Our Sponsor a Horse program makes it simple — your monthly gift is set up automatically, with the flexibility to cancel anytime. Best of all, sponsors are encouraged to visit, connect, and get to know their horses. Come meet Pete & Sam on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am–12 pm, and experience the joy they bring firsthand.
“Fostering a Horse it opens up a space for the rescue to save another life. “
“My husband and I have been Fostering horses for CDHR since 2015. It's not a job for the faint of heart, definitely a roller coaster ride of emotions for sure. The day they leave for their forever home is always a mix of happy and sad tears, but we will keep on doing it. We feel it's a way to not only help the rescue financially, but more importantly, it opens up a space for the rescue to save another life. It also gives a horse more one on one time to help them become more adaptable. We provide, shelter, feed, training, and most importantly love. Our horse Magic is a fantastic Foster Brother, and helps settle them into our routine. The Fosters become a part of our family, and we are like proud parents watching them blossom and find their own forever home.”
Brenda and Douglas Vynalek (Magic too! )
Foster Parents, CDHR Volunteers
Strong hearts need gentle hands
Our goal is to find every horse a home where they will be loved and treated well for the rest of their lives, and to ensure that they are never in dangerous, neglectful, or abusive situations.
If you are interested in visiting Autumn Ridge, learn about our adoption process and please fill out our form to set up an appointment. We would love to show you around!
Meet Our Draft Horses
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Baby Mac
He is a 5 year-old Clydesdale gelding
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Belle
She is a 3 year-old draft cross mare
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Cuda
He is a 20 year old Belgian gelding
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Max
He is a 20 year old Belgian gelding
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Molly
Molly is a 26(ish) year-old Belgian mare
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Nash
Nash is a 16 year-old Registered Standardbred gelding
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Nomad
He is a 6 year-old Belgian gelding
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Polly
She is a Belgain mare who is 26 years old
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Shelby
She is a 13 year-old draft molly mule
Our goal is to place every horse in a safe, loving home for life.
To protect them, all adoptions are under a “lifetime free-lease,” meaning you care for the horse as your own, while we retain ownership as a safety net. If a horse is ever neglected, abandoned, or in danger, we can legally bring them back to safety. This safeguard is only used when absolutely necessary — our true mission is to place horses in forever homes so we can continue rescuing others.