Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue in Hardy will hold its first Derby Day and Barn Dance on May 7 – when incidentally the Kentucky Derby will be run – to raise money for its mission: bringing neglected and abused animals back to good health, then placing them with caring adopted “parents.” RVHR has appeared at feed stores, events like the Dogwood Festival (owner Patricia Muncy will be there again along the parade route this weekend) and at open houses, when they often bring miniature horses and offer children’s rides.

The non-profit RVHR relies on donations in order to operate and gets no governmental subsidies. Derby Day will actually be held elsewhere, at Edge Hill Farm on Rt. 11/460 in Shawsville; it will feature a dance, hat contest, door prizes and a silent auction. Country attire and hats are required. “We try to do a big fundraiser every year,” says Muncy. She and her husband were helping out at a similar rescue farm elsewhere “when we decided that this is what we wanted to do.” Currently they house about 20 or so horses on 21-acre spread in Hardy, which can be visited by appointment on Edwardsville Road (off Hardy Road). RVHR has taken in horses recently from as far away as California. Two came from a wild herd of 450 that had gotten out of control.

RVHR usually conducts several feed drives a year at Holdren’s in Vinton, when people can purchase feed and donate it to the farm. Muncy’s miniature horses are always on hand for rides as well. Holdren’s is donating gift baskets for cats and dogs that will be auctioned off at the Derby Day function. She also hopes to conduct some type of fundraiser or outreach program at the Colonial Downs off track betting parlor soon.

Most horses on the farm are animal relinquishments after the local Animal Control department has ordered changes to be made and “they’ve [the owners] gotten into stuff they can’t handle,” says Muncy. In dire circumstances of abuse, starvation or neglect police will take the animals away. RVHR is a non-profit 501c3 corporation registered with the federal government, which helps act as a pipeline to horses around the country that need help. Muncy is applying for grants but at less than three years old and with little track record so far that is difficult, so private donations keep the operation afloat.

A community service program for youths under a court order and others working on a high school GED means Muncy has volunteer help on a regular basis. Husband Jason “foots the bill when [we] haven’t raised any money,” she chuckles; one of two grown sons helps out quite a bit. The former New Jersey resident moved to Virginia about 10 years ago.

It’s a far cry from her previous job working with as multiple listing coordinator for a real estate board in Roanoke but Muncy has been around horses all her life. She’s attending classes that will earn her an equine investigator’s certificate, hoping that will lend the RVHR some more credibility while allowing her to go out on calls with police and animal control squads.

Muncy gets calls from private citizens and agencies in local counties when they spy a horse that looks like it is in trouble. She is also very grateful that only two horses have been lost of the 36 cared for at RVHR so far. All animals that come in wind up with adoptive or foster owners and Muncy follows up once a quarter. Horses can be tracked via an implanted chip to make sure they stay where they are supposed to be. “We will do whatever we have to do to track that animal down,” says Muncy, adding that adopted horses cannot not be resold or bred – if the new owner loses interest the animal must come back to RVHR in Hardy.

Muncy would like to raise at least $10,000 from the Derby Day event on May 7. “We’re going to try and make this an annual thing. Everyone is excited about it” An open house in September is the other big yearly event right now. “I didn’t expect it to take off quite as quickly as it has,” notes Muncy of her horse rescue operation, “but there is such a big need for it.”

Derby Day & Barn Dance Fundraiser Event: May 7, 3-8 pm. 6247 Roanoke Rd., Rt. 11/460 in Shawsville, VA. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. The Kentucky Derby race will be shown on big screen TV during the event.