CJ Donovan Horse Rescue

Hello, We are reaching out to you in support of a friend, mentor and seasoned horsewoman, CJ Donovan. CJ is a fantastic person with a heart of gold who cherishes animals and has lived a life dedicated to the training and rescuing of horses. CJ has done everything: competitive showing, ranching, coaching young riders, training horses, and rescuing as many as she could over the years. 

 Everyone has gone through patches of bad luck, but the last month has been more than a single person should ever have to bear. CJ is a proud individual who would never ask anyone for a handout. She has done all this fantastic work at great personal sacrifice and recently had a heart wrenching situation with a new mother horse that has burdened her with significant veterinary expenses; estimated to cost around $30,000. 

 The critical financial burden came from a situation that should have been the remarkable birth of a rescued foal named Jewel, but turned into a desperate attempt to save two lives. The mother horse, Princess, gave birth to Jewel, prematurely. She was oxygen deprived and required a feeding tube and antibiotics just to make it through the day. Jewel was a fighter from the start, and even managed to find the strength to stand while undergoing her treatment. Her strength inspired CJ to continue fighting for her, but, just as luck seemed to be in her favor, Jewel’s bladder ruptured and shortly after she entered cardiac arrest.

 Princess, the mother, is still in the ICU, so the bills continue to grow. No amount of money can replace a lost foal, but the least we can do is try to ease the stress for a woman who is constantly giving to her community. We have set this goal at $30,000 to cover the worst case scenario. If the vet bills come in below the amount raised by any miracle, the remainder will be donated to a rescue of CJ’s choosing to give someone else the chance to save the life that was not possible for Jewel. 

 Anything you can donate would help. Even if you are unable to donate, we ask that you please share this story with your friends and family. We know this story will resonate with animal lovers, especially those who consider themselves horsemen or horsewomen, and we appreciate your generosity.

The story goes much deeper than these few words and I am happy to talk with anyone who wishes to learn more.