Saving horses, stirring spirits
Our mission blends equine rescue with community empowerment, creating a haven for horses and humans alike.
Discover our unbridled committment
Freedom & Whiskey Equine Rescue rescues, rehabilitates, rehomes, and when necessary, provides sanctuary for horses and donkeys. We prioritize rescuing horses from neglect, abandonment, and owner surrender situations to provide relief and needed services in and around our community.
We believe in the power of collaboration to amplify our impact. By partnering with other equine rescue organizations, we’re able to share resources, expertise, and best practices, ultimately saving more horses and serving our communities more effectively. We are proving that together, we can achieve far more than we ever could alone.
Integrity and transparency are the cornerstones of our operations. Our commitment to open communication means that supporters can always see the direct impact of their contributions, from the hay in our barns to the veterinary care we provide, fostering trust and accountability in every aspect of our work.
Our story
Our story started back in 2014 with a sweet miniature donkey named Rollo who was one of the more than one hundred other mini donks that we helped save from a boxcar headed to a Mexican slaughterhouse. At this stage, we had two privately owned horses and a modest farmette in Loudoun County, Virginia. Little did we know that this, at the time feral mini donkey, would be the inspiration for a future nonprofit rescue.
From one mini donkey we graduated to adding full sized horse that needed a home, to moving the entire operation to a larger farm, adding more horses, rinsing and repeating for almost a decade before the birth of what is today Freedom & Whisket Equine Rescue. From 2014 until 2023, we took on approximately eight horses. We were self-funded with no help from the public, but on a path toward something really special.
In 2022, after almost ten years of saving horses and providing them a safe and loving sanctuary at our farm, we realized that we wanted to do more. We loved helping horses in need but as a self-funded operation, there was only so much we could do out of our own pockets. Freedom & Whiskey Equine Rescue was born from this realization and our labor of love to continue helping neglected, abandoned, and surrendered horses.
We are proud to say that our very first rescue, Rollo, is still with us to this day. He serves as a reminder of why we got into equine rescue and is a fan-favorite amongst volunteers and visitors to the farm.
Freedom and Whiskey?
We have an interesting name and it's the reason the number one question we get asked is, "Do you make whiskey!?"
Freedom & Whiskey Equine Rescue draws its name from the stirring poem by Robert Burns, “The Author’s Earnest Cry and Prayer.” In this work, Burns famously declares, “Freedom and whisky gang thegither!” (Freedom and whiskey go together!). This powerful sentiment resonates deeply with our mission. Like the freedom Burns cherished, we strive to liberate horses from neglect and abuse, offering them a chance to roam and thrive in safety. The whiskey in our name represents the spirit of warmth, community, and healing that we foster. Just as a dram of whiskey can offer comfort, our sanctuary provides solace to horses in need. We pour our passion into rescuing and rehabilitating these majestic animals, allowing their spirits to run free once more. At Freedom & Whiskey, we blend the intoxicating joy of liberation with the smooth, restorative power of care and compassion, creating a haven where both freedom and the life-affirming spirit of whiskey flow abundantly for every horse we save.
The horse methodology
We’re successful at rescuing and rehabbing horses and donkeys because of our balance of emotion and pragmatism.
We both bring our unique strengths and personalities to the rescue. Our complimentary balance of head and heart ensures that we have, what we feel is the perfect balance of compassion, empathy, and emotional appeal mixed with pragmatism, strategy, and objectivity. All of these qualities guide us to make informed decisions about the horses and donkeys that we rescue, rehabilitate, rehome, or in some cases, provide sanctuary to.
Observation and assessment are fundamental to our success as a rescue. We can’t save everything, so we have implemented some criteria that helps us identify which horses and donkeys we rescue. As a rescue, our primary goal is to rehome the animals that we take in. If we can’t rehome the animals we take in, eventually the resources we have will be full and we will be unable to continue rescuing horses and donkeys in need. Our criteria help us identify horses that are sound, young enough to be desired for adoption, and possess the temperament to be safe around people and other animals.
Our three primary functions as a horse and donkey rescue are to rescue, rehab, and rehome. First, we rescue unwanted, neglected, and surrendered horses and donkeys. Second, we rehabilitate them to ensure they are sound, healthy, and of a temperament able to find an adoptive family. Last, we pair our rescue horses with new owners that meet our strict criteria for adoption and rehoming.
Sometimes, despite the strategy, assessment, and painstaking work we put into a rescue they do not find their forever home. In these cases, we provide a sanctuary where the horse or donkey can live out its natural life in a safe, supportive, and loving environment. Our sanctuary residents help the newer rescues we bring to the farm assimilate to their surroundings and to provide them with companionship. Providing sanctuary to an animal that would have been slaughtered for its meat is both a moral and ethical imperative for us.
Many people are unaware of the tragic and often brutal realities neglected and unwanted horses suffer. We use our platform and every opportunity we are provided to share stories, news, and the ugly truth about horse slaughter to educate our followers, our communities, and those passionate about rescuing animals. Education is the first step to ending the brutal export and slaughter of equine animals for human consumption.
The team behind Freedom & Whiskey
Meet the amazing team of people that make Freedom & Whiskey Equine Rescue possible.
Wendy
President
Wendy is the President and inspiration behind Freedom & Whiskey Equine Rescue.
Stephen
Vice President
Stephen is the head cowboy, electrician, and web developer at Freedom & Whiskey.
Josh
Farm Hand
Josh is our main hand and has been with Freedom & Whiskey for more than 5 years.
Emma
Volunteer
Emma has become a fixture at the barn as our most frequent volunteer.
SignUp to volunteer!
Visit our SignUp to pick a date and time to volunteer by helping to feed, groom, and love the horses and donkeys here at Freedom & Whiskey Equine Rescue