Welcome to US Horse Welfare & Rescue

Sitting high atop Nod Hill we’re working to save the lives of America’s horses.

US Horse Welfare & Rescue Organization in Avon, CT is dedicated to protecting America’s domestic and wild horses through rescue, education, and advocacy both locally and nationwide.

Our sanctuary is home to 15 rescued horses who receive lifelong care while helping our community through educational riding lessons as well as therapeutic, wellness, and educational programs for children and adults of all abilities.

Our nurturing environment fosters a deep bond between horses and humans, emphasizing the transformative power of equines. We strive to make a difference in the lives of both horses and individuals every day.

SUMMER CAMP enrollment is open

SUMMER CAMP enrollment is open

SUMMER CAMP enrollment is open!

Register Now!

Upcoming Events

Ladies Riding Group

Join a riding group, either Friday evenings or Saturday mornings. Next session begins February 20th.

for ages 21+

Register here

Barn Buddies

After school time with horses! Next session starts Monday, March 2nd.

for ages 6-14

REGISTER HERE

Equestrian Academy

for ages 6-18

Register now for the Equestrian Academy program, running Tuesdays 4:30pm-6:30pm.

Read more

Valentine’s Day
Hug-A-Horse

Join us for a special Valentine’s Day with our horses (and cello!) From 12-3pm on Saturday, February 14th.

for all ages

Buy Tickets

Fiesta Fundraiser

Spice things up at dinner while helping the horses! All night from 3pm on, Thursday, January 29th.

for all ages

Get Details
  • A person gently petting a chestnut horse, holding its halter in a parking lot with cars in the background.

    Saving Horses (& Humans)

    With your support, we protect America’s horses—wild mustangs and domestic companions—from abuse, neglect, and slaughter. We provide crisis assistance to at-risk owners (feed, farrier, veterinary and safe-surrender support), rescue and rehabilitate horses with top-tier healthcare, nutrition, and training, and advocate and educate nationwide for humane, on-the-range management that keeps wild families free where they belong.

    At our farm, horses regain trust—and people do too. Through equine-assisted programs, veterans, youth, and neighbors find confidence, calm, and connection. Together, we’re building a sanctuary where horses and humans heal and thrive.

    Join us: Donate • Sponsor a Horse • Volunteer • Foster/Adopt • Advocate for Wild Horses

    about us
  • A boy grooming a brown horse with a red brush inside a wooden stable.

    Make an Impact

    Make an Impact—for Horses and for People

    Be part of a community where every action changes a life. At US Horse Welfare & Rescue (USHWR), rescued horses find safety, love, and purpose—and they help people grow in confidence and connection. From lively fundraisers to hands-on programs, there’s a place for you here.

    Join us for fun events, educational programs, youth camps, riding lessons, and meaningful volunteer opportunities. You’ll be welcomed into a warm, volunteer-powered barn family where people of all ages and backgrounds belong, contribute, and feel the joy of working together toward something bigger than ourselves.

    Ways to get involved:

    Attend & Celebrate: Hoedown for Horses, benefit nights, community pop-ups, and more.

    Volunteer Your Talent: Barn care, horse support, events, admin, photography, marketing, grant help—there’s a perfect role for everyone.

    Fuel the Mission: Sponsor a horse, become a monthly Barn Guardian, host a fundraiser, or donate supplies.

    Every ticket purchased, lesson taken, hour volunteered, and gift given directly advances our 501(c)(3) mission: rescuing at-risk horses, providing lifelong care and second chances, and delivering equine-assisted programs to our community. All proceeds help cover hay and grain, farrier and veterinary care, rehabilitation and training—so horses can heal, and help people.

    How you can help
  • A woman riding a white horse in an outdoor riding arena during daytime.

    Horseback Riding Lessons & Equine Assisted Programs

    Check out our kids’ or adult horseback riding lessons!

    Ride & Learn: English riding lessons (beginner–advanced; hunter/jumper & dressage), small groups and privates. We offer horseback riding for youth and adults.

    Grow Young Leaders: Youth camps and horsemanship academies that build skills, confidence, and friendships are “Valley Favorities”. Our unique hands-on unmounted programs Our programs include horsemanship classes teaching all levels of horse care, fun after-school programs, equine-assisted therapy, veterans programs, and more.

    Whether on a horse, or on the ground, time with our horses fosters community, resilience and self confidence. All proceeds go toward supporting the USHWR mission.

    ALL programs
A girl with long blonde hair and glasses leaning on a wooden fence, petting a brown horse on its nose outdoors with green and gray trees in the background.
Three people are petting a horse behind a wooden fence on a snowy day.
A red, vintage-style house with a sloped roof surrounded by green trees and a well-maintained lawn, with a gravel pathway leading up to it.
A brown horse with a white stripe on its face standing behind a wooden fence outdoors.
Three people riding horses on a trail near a wooden fence and trees, with a clear sky and warm lighting.
Two horses share a green ball under a white shelter, with trees in the background.
A woman smiling and holding the bridle of a chestnut horse outdoors with a rural background.
A view of the Nod Hill lawn where weddings and amazing fundraising events happen.
Two girls riding horses inside a wooden riding arena.
Our Miss Emma with a unicorn horn headband on her forehead, standing outside a barn with a person holding its reins.
A young girl sitting on our Miss Emma, a white horse with brown patches and a unicorn horn, being held by another girl on the ground, at an outdoor riding area with trees and a fence in the background.
A woman brushing a large brown horse while others, including children, are nearby under a wooden canopy.
Five children riding horses in an outdoor equestrian arena with a backdrop of trees, some jumping hurdles in the background, and the children wearing helmets and riding gear.
Two women, one in a maroon sweatshirt and the other in a brown jacket, grooming a brown horse inside a wooden barn with open doors.
A group of people gathered around a table under a large tree on a sunny day, with fall foliage in the background. The table has snacks and supplies, and some people are ordering or paying.
Family dressed in costumes standing with a horse in a barnyard.
A group of people practicing yoga outdoors on yoga mats in a sandy arena, with a brown horse standing nearby and trees in the background, under cloudy skies.
Three women smiling outdoors with fall foliage in the background.
Three women riding horses in an outdoor riding arena on a sunny day, with green trees in the background. All women are wearing helmets and riding attire, and each horse is wearing a colorful ear bonnet.
Aerial view of a large residential property surrounded by colorful autumn trees, green lawns, a curved driveway, and a body of water in the background.
Close-up of a horse's face taken from between two black rails, with the horse's nose and eyes prominently visible, background of green trees and a small pink shed.
Children and adults working together to clean an outdoor area, using rakes and wheelbarrows, in a wooded setting.
A woman riding a horse inside an indoor riding arena with wooden walls and large windows revealing trees outside.
Three girls holding paintings at a farm, with horses and a cow in the background.
A girl in a blue jacket and black helmet standing next to a brown horse with a pink ears and head cover, smiling in a park with trees and a pavilion in the background.
Two horses, one larger and one smaller, touch foreheads near a wooden fence on a snowy day, with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.
A person with dark, curly hair wearing a black and white plaid shirt and blue jeans petting a white horse at an outdoor horse farm enclosed by wooden and metal fencing, with trees and a canopy in the background.

Horses and People Living Life in Balance

The connection with a horse is unlike any other experience, whether on the ground or riding the horse. There is no other feeling like it. Our horses are partners. They are never used as tools or overworked. At US Horse Welfare and Rescue, we offer community-based equine wellness and enrichment programs, along with riding lessons for children and adults with all proceeds going toward our mission to support at-risk horses.

Throughout the year USHWR also provides opportunities to join our caring community, from events that get you up close and personal with our horses, to carefully crafted programs designed by credentialed individuals and facilitated by highly skilled instructors. These programs are designed to support the diverse needs of our local community.

At USHWR, we guide individuals in developing deep, meaningful connections with horses—teaching them to listen, understand, and communicate so the horse can become their greatest teacher.

Meet our Horses

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”

- Winston Churchill

  • Great place! My oldest volunteers and I think my little one is on the same track. Everyone there is so nice! Love the horses.

    - Robert F

  • Truly an organization with heart and skill.

    - Deborah P

  • Best kept secret in town! Nonprofit horse rescue with amazing therapeutic and community programs run by volunteers, so you know your money is going to take care of the horses. Fun events and riding lessons that the kids love too.

    - Susan M

  • Beautiful property and all the horses are spoiled. Great mission and you can tell the owner/volunteers all care deeply about giving these precious animals a second chance!

    - Krista R

  • If you have time to volunteer or a small amount of money ($8/month) it really does matter. I spent today mulching the paddocks so the horses wouldn't be mucking about in 8" of mud. Great for the horses and I met a lot of really nice people! Then there's the exercise and fresh air.

    - Chip C

  • When I first met Susan, I was overwhelmingly impressed with her passion and commitment to our equine friends. Her mission and continued tenacity is inspirational. She shares in a vision we can all embrace. If we can all align ourselves to amplify Susan's voice, we can change the world for horses!

    - Rob C

  • I visited the Horse Farm with the Middletown Senior Center and thoroughly enjoyed it. My first time ever petting a horse! Keep up the good work!

    - Toni J.

Tours

Now available for small groups. It is roughly 45 minutes of touring, viewing horses, hearing the history of the organization, each horse, and the important mission we have. During the tour, you will be able to pet, feed, and have lots of photo ops with our horses. Tours are a way for us to educate people on the plight of America’s horses and raise some funds to help us feed our herd.

Donation: $60 per family, up to 5 people.

Two girls, one with brown hair and one with blonde hair, interact with a brown horse through a wooden fence outdoors.

Make an impact today

Donations and proceeds from our programs go to saving abused, neglected, at-risk, & slaughter-bound horses across the country and providing top-notch care for the horses here at our sanctuary and rescue.

DONATE TO HELP
Group of children at a horseback riding lesson, wearing helmets, with an instructor giving guidance, in an outdoor riding arena surrounded by trees.
Two people standing behind a table with baked treats, fundraising and awareness signs, and a display of t-shirts at a charity event for US horses welfare and rescue, with a red barn and colorful wreath in the background.
Two children on a barn loft, passing hay to each other, using a red ladder to reach the loft.