Our mission
Shawn Jayroe performed in rodeo shows as a child and it was there that she recognized the need for horse advocacy and rescue. She later founded RVR Horse Rescue, offering hope and help to the worst of the worst cases of equine abuse and neglect. Shawn retired in 2024 and we are carrying on her legacy in Bradenton, Florida.
Mission Statement: RVR Horse Rescue harnesses the power of volunteers to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home horses that have suffered abuse, neglect, or injury.
25+ Years Rescuing
100% Volunteers
100% $ helps horses
Where do your donations go?
2025 Data
How we save lives every year
Abuse and neglect are unfortunate realities for many equines each year. In the United States, horses don't have the same protections as other family pets. It's up to us to take action to help these horses in need.
Our latest rescues
Jenny
Spike (full size)
Rosie Lynn
Zoe Mae
Ernie
Indiana Jones (Indy)
Spike Turner (mini)
Jitters
Zephyr
Stormy
Become a volunteer and
save horses in need
Change your life by changing the lives of horses who need you! Our volunteers provide the horsepower to allow us to rescue and rehabilitate abused and neglected horses. No experience is required.
How you can help
Donate
Donations help to cover the medical and daily expenses for our horses and to keep the ranch running. Any amount you can offer helps!
Sponsor
Sponsors help defray the costs of caring for our horses. Sponsors choose a horse and provide a monthly contribution toward their care. This program is critical to our mission.
Angel Program Funding
Our Small Grant Angel Program is a critical outreach program to help local horse owners in short-term crisis care for their horses to prevent neglect. Your funding of this program allows us to help more neighbors in need.
Volunteer
Our volunteers make the magic happen! From feeding, bathing, and grooming to providing medical care and running our nonprofit, our volunteers tackle any and every job! Any and all skill sets are appreciated.
Adopt
Without adopters willing to welcome rescued horses into their lives, we aren't able to open our barn doors to more horses who need us. Rescued horses make wonderful lifelong friends. Please adopt!
Foster
Foster homes help us help more horses. If you'd like us to consider your barn for a foster home, please Contact Us to get the conversation started. Must be located within two hours of Bradenton, FL.
Latest sanctuary news
Horses Grieve, Too
Finally proving what horse people already know… Horses grieve too. A new study, “Grief-like distress responses in horses after the death of a conspecific,” discussed…
Saving Smokey – A Perfect Example of Saving a Horse
Smokey’s story is a tragic example of a terminal, elderly owner who was trying his best to care for Smokey, but the little bit of…
Remember Me Series – Little Kitty
Next up in our ‘Remember Me’ Series are The Little Kitty and Bounty. These OTTBs arrived at RVR in 2018 as part of the Thoroughbred…
How to find us
We are not open to the public and do not have enough volunteers to accommodate drop-ins. Any visitors must make an appointment in advance. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
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Bradenton, FL USA 34211
Follow us on FB and IG
Let's connect @rvrhorserescue! Join our mission, meet our horses, and follow along in their journeys to a brighter future!
