Valentine
Valentine’s story began on Sunday, February 12, 2023, in the early evening. RVHR received a message on their Facebook page from an individual who had been riding with a friend who boards her two horses at a farm in Henry County. The rider reported that while returning from their ride, she discovered a skinny horse hidden away from the view of the other boarders, located behind a barn on the property. Concerned for the horse’s well-being, she reached out to RVHR, hoping that the horse could be helped without the owner’s knowledge, due to ongoing issues between the owner and the other boarders at the farm.
On Monday, Pat Muncy contacted Henry County Animal Control to report the situation and requested a wellness check on the horse first thing in the morning. As is often the case, the animal control office had a long call list for the day, and they were unable to check on the horse until Tuesday, February 14. At 7:30 AM on Tuesday, the animal control officers arrived at the farm and, after being escorted by the farm owner to the location of the horse, they assessed its condition. Upon seeing the horse, they determined that an investigation into animal neglect and abuse was necessary. At 8:00 AM, RVHR was contacted to assist in removing the horse from the farm and bringing it to their facility in the hope of saving its life.
When RVHR arrived at the farm, we discovered a mare tied to a wall in a barn, barely able to stand. She was rated a 1 on the Henneke Score, indicating severe malnourishment. The mare was loaded into the trailer and taken to our facility. Upon arrival at RVHR, she was unstable and fell off the trailer during unloading. We placed her in a quarantine stall where she could begin receiving the care she needed.
In honor of the Day she was named Valentine, she was 24 years old and had a fight in her to survive. Her treatment began with small, gradual feedings every few hours. She was provided with unlimited hay and water, as well as a soft place to lie down if she needed to rest. We monitored her closely, checking on her every few hours that evening and into the following morning.
At 6 a.m. on February 14th, while checking in on Valentine, we found her down and unable to get back on her feet. Volunteers and staff were called in to help her up, as we wanted to give her a chance—she had a spark in her eyes that showed her will to live.
After moving our backhoe into the barn and setting up the hoist, the volunteers were able to get her back on her feet. Valentine went right back to eating as if nothing had happened. We were not giving up on her. After the third day of eating every 3 to 4 hours, our veterinarian came to evaluate her. She was given a 50/50 chance of surviving the starvation.
After a challenging start at the rescue, Valentine began to thrive within just six months of care, gaining over 250 pounds. Her previous owner pleaded guilty to inadequate care and neglect. Given her age, we thought she would spend the rest of her life at RVHR. However, we were pleasantly surprised. On July 13, 2024, she found a new home where she now has a little girl who loves her dearly.
On May 1, 2025, Valentine, after enduring so much, is now happily enjoying her life as the best friend of 12-year-old Addie. She has become like a mother to the other horses, showing great nurturing qualities. Bringing home our sweet Valentine last July has been the most rewarding experience, especially knowing that she had been left behind to suffer when she still has so much life ahead of her. We love Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue and are incredibly grateful that they saved our girl.
