Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society

Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society A non-profit equine welfare organization dedicated to helping starved, abused, abandoned and estray

Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society is a nonprofit rescue organization and equine welfare community. We rescue, rehabilitate, retrain, and rehome horses from neglect and abuse cases, horses who have been abandoned, and horses whose owners can no longer keep them. Fueled by a growing community of owners, caretakers, and equine-related specialists, we offer owner assistance programs that help owners ca

re for, and keep, their horses. We also assist with disaster relief efforts and provide educational opportunities to improve the quality of horse care in Texas and beyond.

“A holistic approach to equine care not only improves the health of the horse but also enhances the emotional bond between the animal and its caretaker.”
Dr. John J. Krai, a veterinary behaviorist

“Strong, informed communities are essential for advancing ethical standards and fostering a culture of care within the equine industry.”
The Equine Welfare Alliance

Our community uniquely provides a vital network of empathy, understanding, and encouragement fundamental to fostering a sustainable and joyful relationship with horses and other equines. It has been well documented that when we immerse ourselves in a community that nurtures our interests, we do not merely pursue our goals; we excel in them. And we become more resilient, more dedicated, and ultimately, more successful. Our community is not merely a network of rescuers, horse owners, or equine enthusiasts but instead a sanctuary of compassion, a center of knowledge, and a beacon of holistic support for both horses and their caretakers.

There are so many great horse pages out there. Aside from us, Bluebonnet (feeds), Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse...
05/31/2026

There are so many great horse pages out there. Aside from us, Bluebonnet (feeds), Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse Training Challenge, and all the Training Challenge pages, who should we (and everyone here) be following?

A heartfelt note to the struggling rescues out there:Google alerts popped up with an article about a small rescue who wa...
05/29/2026

A heartfelt note to the struggling rescues out there:

Google alerts popped up with an article about a small rescue who was just a few years old and was struggling, unable to afford their horses and not knowing what to do.

This is a pretty common theme lately: small rescuers who are struggling to care for their animals. And if this is you, my heart goes out to you.

Rescue is really hard, no matter the species, and I think horse rescue is a special kind of hard.

We deal with large animals that a lot of people don’t understand. And they’re expensive to care for if you do it right.

To make things worse, the horse industry is really struggling: there are fewer barns and fewer good, full-time trainers. There aren’t many affordable entry points into horses, either, like they were when I was a kid. It is harder to find lessons for novices, to learn about horsemanship and horse care and husbandry.

And horses have gotten to be so expensive it can be hard to take one on.

Now that the economy is struggling with higher prices, a lot of uncertainty, and fewer jobs, donations are harder to come by.

If you are one of those rescues struggling to stay afloat, I want you to know that it is ok to close down your rescue. It is ok to send your horses to other rescues. If you want to stay involved in rescue, it is ok to volunteer with a rescue. And if you need a break, that’s ok, too.

It isn’t ok to sacrifice yourself. Don’t burn yourself out. Don’t ignore your own health. Don’t ignore your kids or partner or friends. Don’t sell your possessions to fund the rescue. Don’t run yourself into the ground.

You are valuable and important. There are people out there who love you and don’t want to see you break your body and burn yourself out.

If you find yourself in the position of needing to shut down the rescue you run, you can reach out to us. I promise you that we’re compassionate folks who love horses and will do our best for them. And if you want to volunteer, we can also find you a spot.

As someone with a heart to help horses, you don’t have to do the work alone.

Look at this awesome transformation.
05/28/2026

Look at this awesome transformation.

Our Elite Professional competitors for the Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse Training Challenge have been given their...
05/27/2026

Our Elite Professional competitors for the Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse Training Challenge have been given their pages, so they'll start posting progress and updates soon. You can follow them to see how things go for each one of them and to cheer them on!

We've had a couple of professional trainers for the Training Challenge have to withdraw, so we have an OTTB gelding and ...
05/26/2026

We've had a couple of professional trainers for the Training Challenge have to withdraw, so we have an OTTB gelding and a QH mare who need professional trainers for the Challenge.

We also have two gaited geldings who needs experienced gaited horse riders to take them on for the non-pro under saddle division.

And we have an adorable donkey gelding for in hand whose partner had to drop out. He is on meds for Cushings (but eats them happily in his grain) and needs a dry lot or poor pasture so he doesn't founder again, but... he's an awesome guy. He would love to do the in hand division.

If you thought about applying but haven't yet, now is the time - these horses would really love the chance.

For those not familiar with the Training Challenge, it is an event where professional trainers and amateur horse lovers work with a Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society horse for 4-5 months and then come together to show off what the horse knows and help them find an adopter.

We have divisions for kids and adults to work with a horse in hand, a division for amateurs to work with a horse under saddle who is at least green broke to ride, and a division for professionals to start a horse under saddle who either isn't broke to ride or has behavioral problems (we disclose what we know). And we have two youth scholarships!

We offer $12,000 in cash and prizes plus another $12,000 in cash and prizes for our Elite Professionals (those who have served as clinicians in previous Bluebonnet Horse Expos or have placed in the top 3 in the pro division in previous Challenges).

This year assignments are being made now (as we get applications) and the competition is October 3 during the Bluebonnet Horse Expo in Taylor, Texas.

Since I am still in surgery-recovery mode and not allowed anywhere near horses, I need to hear about what you've done h...
05/25/2026

Since I am still in surgery-recovery mode and not allowed anywhere near horses, I need to hear about what you've done horse- wise this weekend. Bonus points for photos. Double bonus points for Bluebonnet horses.

The doors are just about to close on the 2026 Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge, and we would hate for anyone t...
05/21/2026

The doors are just about to close on the 2026 Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge, and we would hate for anyone to miss out on the chance to be part of it!

If you are new to Bluebonnet and wonder what the Challenge is, info on that is below.

Applications close May 31, and we still have room for professional trainer competitors as well as in hand 13 and over. Non Pro Under Saddle and In Hand 12 and under now have a wait list (we'll take folks for the waitlist, it means that we want you to fill out the application but don't pay the fee until we're sure we'll have a horse that fits your needs).

For those not familiar with the Training Challenge, it is an event where professional trainers and amateur horse lovers work with a Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society horse for 4-5 months and then come together to show off what the horse knows and help them find an adopter.

We have divisions for kids and adults to work with a horse in hand, a division for amateurs to work with a horse under saddle who is at least green broke to ride, and a division for professionals to start a horse under saddle who either isn't broke to ride or has behavioral problems (we disclose what we know). And we have two youth scholarships!

We offer $12,000 in cash and prizes plus another $12,000 in cash and prizes for our Elite Professionals (those who have served as clinicians in previous Bluebonnet Horse Expos or have placed in the top 3 in the pro division in previous Challenges).

This year assignments are made in March-May and the competition is October 3 during the Bluebonnet Horse Expo in Taylor, Texas.

This one is for all the ACOs (animal control officers) and LEOs (law enforcement officers) who deal with horse cases – a...
05/20/2026

This one is for all the ACOs (animal control officers) and LEOs (law enforcement officers) who deal with horse cases – and please feel free to share or tag to help me get this into the “hands” (or screens) of officers we could help:

I helped co-found Bluebonnet years ago with the goal of helping neglected, abused, and abandoned horses at least partially because of some horses I knew that I couldn’t help (a story for another time). Working with ACOs and LEOs has always been our first priority, because those horses are in critical need of help. And because I know that the animal control budget is often tiny and you need help stretching it.

We’ve got the experience and education to be of service. I’ve got a Masters and Ph.D. in Animal Science specializing in equine behavior, learning, and welfare from Texas A&M University. I’m also a Certified Humane Investigator, trained by the Law Enforcement Training Institute at the University of Missouri-Columbia. I’ve worked on many seizures and testified in court.

We have a veterinarian who has worked many seizures and testified in court. Many of our volunteers have years of horse rescue experience. We have volunteers who have received neglect investigator training, volunteers who are veterinary technicians, and volunteers who have assisted law enforcement on equine cruelty cases in the past.

Ways we can help:
• Assist investigating reports of neglect
• Educate owners to help them correct neglectful situations.
• Transport seized horses to a holding facility.
• Arrange veterinary assistance when needed – including veterinary assessment of neglected animals, care of the equines during and after seizure, and testimony in court.
• We may be able to house horses for court or provide feed/hay for them at the county holding facility.
• Prepare for court.
• Accept equines into our program for rehabilitation and adoption.

We don’t charge for any of these services if the equines come to Bluebonnet – our goal here is to save your county funds while helping the horses.

I’m also going to make a promise to any agency we work with: we won’t overextend ourselves and put the rescue at risk of becoming one of the problems you have to deal with. The downside of this promise is that if we get slammed, we might not be able to take in horses from your case, but we will network with other rescues to help find placement. We don’t want to leave you – or the horses – hanging.

We want to help the horses. We want to help you. We want to help communities across Texas, so let’s find ways to make that happen.

Anyone have a dirtier horse or does Easter win the prize?
05/20/2026

Anyone have a dirtier horse or does Easter win the prize?

Address

PO Box 632
College Station, TX
77841

Telephone

+18885425163

Website

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