East Texas horse rescue in need of donations amid rising hay prices

PRITCHETT, Texas — The holiday of giving may have just wrapped up, but some nonprofit organizations like Spirit Run Equine Rescue need help to make it into the new year.

Spirit Run Equine Rescue in Upshur County is asking East Texans to help them purchase hay through their most recent fundraiser. This is so they can ensure their rescued horses have plenty of quality food to get them through February. 

Angela Parham, president of Spirit Run Equine Rescue, said people can buy a $40 bale of hay, but right now it probably won’t be good quality. 

“Because what you feed your horse really depicts on the end result,” Parham said. 

Parham said she’s not cutting any corners when caring for the 24 horses on her property. Some of them were surrendered by their owners, neglected or abused. 

“It also keeps horses from going to the kill pins. It keeps them from becoming in a situation to where they have to be euthanized,” Parham said. “They could have been avoided with the correct treatment, or the right feed.”

Food for the horses like hay has become pricey. 

David Powell, owner of East Texas Hay Company, said a lack of rain this year significantly impacted the production of hay. 

“This year was pretty severe. I would say that to make quality hay, it was impacted, probably 50-60%,” Powell said. “From a producer standpoint, let’s say you have 100 acres that you’re growing hay on, well you still have the cost of the land, you still have the cost of labor, the fertilizer that you put out, you have the cost of the weed spray. But due to the drought, your production is substantially reduced.”

Parham said she’s paying $80 a hay roll – a quantity that Powell said should typically cost $40 during a plentiful harvesting season. 

For that to change, Powell said a decrease in input costs and having rain at the right times are needed. 

Although this is out of Parham’s control, she stays committed to making sure her horses live out the rest of their lives not worrying about the burden of money. 

“I think I do it because I’m supposed to. Who else is going to do it right? And we make all of our decisions for the horses first. So that’s why we do it to better the lives,” Parham said. 

Parham said her goal is to reach $2,000 in donations soon so she can purchase enough hay to last through February. So far, she’s received just under $900.

She will take donations through PayPal (srerescue@gmail.com), Venmo or even a check. All people have to do is contact Parham and she said she’ll figure out a way. The phone number for Spirit Run Equine Rescue is (903) 331-4011. All donations are tax deductible. 

People can learn more or contact the rescue through its Facebook page as well.