A BIT ABOUT US
Here at Horton's Rehab Ranch, we’re committed to investing our expertise and resources in order to further achieve our cause, "Helping People & Animals".
Jewell Horton has been a horse lover her entire life and started showing horses in 1988. In third grade she started her own business making beaded and holiday jewelry to save up enough money to build a facility and buy her own horse. In sixth grade, 1994, that dream became a reality and she bought an abused Chincotegue Pony mare, Clover. The wild pony taught her more horseman ship and they were doing “natural horsemanship” before that was even popular. Horton Farm was established in 1999 where Jewell and her family set out on their new found dreams of raising and selling Appaloosa and Miniature Horses. Horton Farm became a liaison for Pender and surrounding counties for agriculture response, bridging the gap for many counties with no training or facilities for livestock.
Also, in 1999 Hurricane Floyd ravaged the North Carolina coast, including their home county. That was Jewell's first taste in disaster response. Since 1999 Jewell has responded to several of our nations biggest disasters: Hurricane Charley in 2004 in FL, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in MS, Hurricane Matthew in NC in 2016 & Hurricane Florence in NC in 2018. During Hurricanes Matthew & Florence, the shelter she manages - Pender County Animal Shelter, was the lead animal response & sheltering agency in both storms.
Her farm, Horton Farm, has been supporting our community members, agencies & animals in a variety of ways for decades. After continuing to see a need, Jewell decided to start a non-profit to further her efforts. In 2018, that dream became a reality and Horton's Rehab Ranch INC was founded.
Jewell has rehabilitated dozens of equines in her 20+ year career in animal welfare. She spent 16 years in the veterinary industry until she took over managing the Pender County Animal Shelter in 2013. She has rehabilitated injured, malnourished and emotionally challenged horses personally & professionally. She has saved hundreds of animals in the field pre & post disaster response. Through her devotion to saving lives she has helped countless people. She encouraged and brought training for emergency response for Pender County Animal Shelter & Control.
She has also seen the emotional support & comfort animals bring people in times of stress, due to mental or emotional disorders, and in every day life. In many ways this support goes both ways. Jewell wants to help bring accessibility to emotional support animals in the private and public settings.
Jewell's goal is to help increase awareness to disaster mitigation needs for pets & people, to help as many people & pets as possible through training, compassion, and with professional & community collaboration.
Just imagine what we can achieve together!
Meet the Team
The team at HRR is the backbone to it's survival! We do not have a volunteer program at this time due to insurance costs and property limitations, that's why this core group is SO vital to HRR's survival! However, our hundred of supporters are as EQUALLY important as these boots on the ground members!
It's takes a village to save the ones we do!
Jewell Horton - Founder/Director
Jewell is no stranger to this horse community or animal welfare. From Jewell: "I do this because I owe them everything. I was horribly verbally abused as a child due to cleft palate/cleft lip. The emotional damage scarred me well into adult hood. I have just begun to ignore the physical scars. As a child I sought solace in the companionship from animals, mostly horses. I can never repay the people or animals I encounter along the way that carried me through my darkest days... So I do it every day at my job as an animal shelter director, and the 3 equine rescues I am apart of. It is the least I can do after all they have done for me."
Tiffany Hancock - Assistant Director
Tiffany, and her husband Josh, have been incredible supporters of HRR and are dear friend's of Jewell's. Having adopted several rescue horses, after being involved in horses for decades themselves, they decided they wanted to join efforts with HRR and put their passion and personal talents to work! That is what makes an incredible and successful team! Finding dynamic and talented people who share your passion, that can help you grow and build your efforts! This dynamic duo are and incredible addition to our team and I could not be more excited and humbled to have them join! Tiffany is always up for an adventure and I look forward to what we can accomplish together!
Allison Cartwright-Copenhaver
Farm Owner & Herd Associate
There is NO good title for Allison! She is a childhood friend and this rescue is on her family farm! I and blessed and honored have been on this farm for nearly 20 years! The support of the Cartwright family means the world to me! Allison even adopted both her horses! She and her family are a huge help to me at the rescue and every now and then we even get to RIDE together... I can never repay her or her family for the gift they have given me allowing me to carry on Maxine Cartwirght's equine legacy - there is no where else I'd rather be ~ Jewell
Buddy Murray - Ranch Foreman/Trainer
Buddy is our catch all! He welds, mows, mends fences (not just for HRR but at all the rescues Jewell works with). He helps with the vehicles (did we mention he is a certified Diesel mechanic) - working on trucks and tractors! He helps wrangle these wild horses Jewell drags up. He tries his very best to keep this place cleaned up behind Hurricane Horton (LOL). But what he is really great at, is his ability to talk to people and horses... it is truly an art! We are very grateful to have him on the team with is array of talents.
Herd Associate
Archer Horton
Archer is Jewell's son and sidekick. He has been drug along on all kinds of adventures with mom, seen more than most kids twice his age and understands more about life, death and cruelty then he should. He is beyond compassionate and loves to help at the rescue, especially riding and doing events. There are definitely days that are hard, but he understands why we do what we do and loves making a difference.