H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue
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        • 2015 Help A Horse Day
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About Us

The mission of H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue is to rescue, rehabilitate, and provide a safe haven for equines in need. Through the combined efforts of public education, county and state alliances, adoptive families, and caring volunteers we can give these beautiful animals a second chance at healthy, happy, and peaceful lives. We are a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Bonneau, SC providing equine rescue assistance state-wide.

Since we took in our very first horse Obsidian, we have never fostered and have personally overseen the care of every horse on the farm (as many as 24 at any given time) until they're healthy and ready for adoption. We have no paid staff; the rescue is operated entirely by volunteers, including our board members. As volunteers, we find immense personal and spiritual benefit working with these animals and eagerly share that experience with everyone that comes through our gates.

One of our goals is to make our community more aware of equine abuse and neglect—how it is more common than many people realize, what it looks like, and how to prevent it. Through our volunteer program and public outreach, we model proper horse care and advocate for responsible, informed horse ownership. We also want to empower individuals to be better owners, and strongly encourage anyone to come to us with questions about their horses' health and well being. With knowledge, anyone can become an advocate for equine welfare.
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Black and white photo of HOPE board and auxiliary board members' boots in a row, as seen while the members are sitting together on a hitching post. Photo by Jess Schaer.
Photo by Jess Schaer, Schaer Studios.

#TEAMHOPE

H.O.P.E. Leadership

H.O.P.E.'s Board Members are caring, selfless, diligent, focused, reliable and dedicated.  We take pride in our efforts knowing that our entire existence within the organization is to be the voice for our horses.  Since our inception, this team has been comprised entirely of volunteers from many walks of life: parents, executive administrators, customer service representatives and teacher. All of us bring both professional and life experiences together for the benefit of these majestic creatures. Our commitment is  based on the hope that we long to give, the future that we strive to change and the amazing spirits we are blessed to touch. We are fortunate to have help in our endeavors: our veterinarian, Dr. Justin Miller, owner of Charleston Equine Clinic   and our farrier, Kristi Rodgers. Collectively we are focused on each horse's past, present needs, its potential, its spirit and ultimately its future.

Board Members

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Tracey R. Sawyer

President
​Co-Founder and President since 2010. Oversees all areas of business operation, participates in the daily care of the herd, coordinates veterinary and farrier care, and manages comprehensive rehabilitation plans for all intakes. Also supervises social media and on-line presence, coordinates fundraising events and relationships with community businesses, writes grants, and acts as a liaison between the public and the organization. Background in Business Administration, Accounting, Personnel, Customer Service and Management. Lifelong animal advocate.
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Rebecca Strong

Adoption/Intake Coordinator
Adoption/Intake Coordinator, former Volunteer Coordinator. Volunteer with H.O.P.E. from 2012 to present. Serves as a liaison with the public as well as local and state entities for rescue operations and seizures and intakes. Fields inquiries from the public relating to horses in possible need of rescue, individuals wishing to surrender their horses, and individuals wishing to adopt a horse. Processes adoption applications and follows-up with adopters on the progress of each horse. Coordinates training of horses and acts as liaison between the rescue and off-site trainers. B.S. Biology, M.A. Secondary Education. 30-year veteran middle school teacher. Lifelong animal advocate.
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Mandy Hornsby

Secretary
Mandy has been a volunteer with H.O.P.E. since September 2016. From 2018 to spring 2020 she coordinated medical records with her daughter Amber Bowden. She has always loved horses, and has enjoyed expanding her horse knowledge since volunteering with H.O.P.E. 
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Kimberly Lewis

Fundraising Coordinator
Kimberly was born and raised a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan on a 40-acre farm in Knapp Wisconsin. 
In Ft. Lauderdale she worked for The American Cancer Society, which introduced her to the world of non-profits and has been one of the most rewarding jobs of her life. In November 2018 she happened to see a news story on H.O.P.E. Acres. "I was so excited! I had been looking for a way to get back to my 'farm girl' roots and a horse rescue seemed like a fantastic place to start!  I can wholeheartedly say that H.O.P.E. Acres is what my heart was looking for."
 

Kimberly served as the event chair for our first 5k fundraiser, The H.O.P.E. Lope 5k, in February 2020. 

Auxiliary Board Members

Kurt Abel portrait H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue

Kurt Abel

Executive Director
​Auxiliary Board Member

Kurt grew up in Ohio and settled in the Lowcountry after serving in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years. He grew up with animal family members and has always had a soft spot for animals and those in need. Kurt and his wife, Tracey currently share their home with 3 horses, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 2 pigs and a goat. 

Kurt began volunteering with H.O.P.E. in 2012 and has since become a very integral part of our organization.  From transport to facility repairs you will find Kurt taking part in nearly all aspects of the rescue.  He currently serves as an auxiliary board member as our Facility Coordinator. Kurt's favorite thing about H.O.P.E. is "Being part of the beautiful journey from rescue to adoption". 
Amber Bowden portrait H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue

Amber Bowden

Medical Records Coordinator
​Auxiliary Board Member
Amber has been with H.O.P.E. since September 2016. She enjoys observing the horses' natural behavior, and is interested in learning more about barefoot trimming and equine veterinary care. She assists with medical treatments on the farm and observes vet and farrier appointments.
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Lauren Daniels

Volunteer Coordinator​
Auxiliary Board Member

Lauren began volunteering with HOPE in 2014, after she and her husband relocated to SC. Lauren instantly fell in love with the horses and community of volunteers at HOPE. In 2017 she met one of the rescues that she could not let go and adopted her gelding Cobre from HOPE. Cobré joined the clan of two dogs and three cats in the Daniels family.  Additionally she fosters cats/kittens for local shelters and is a Capture/Transporter for the Center for Bird of Prey. Outside of animal rescue, she works in Human Resources, holding Masters degrees in Human Resource Management and Human Resource Development. During her career she has worked for nonprofits including Humane Society of Missouri and MERS/Missouri Goodwill Industries. Both in her career and as HOPE’s volunteer coordinator she enjoys helping people connect to the work that they do and allow people to develop new skills and interests.  
Tori Burroughs portrait H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue

Tori Burroughs

Community Relations Coordinator
​Auxiliary Board Member
Tori has been a volunteer with H.O.P.E. since 2015. She has undergraduate degrees in Graphic Design and English. She currently manages the website and assists with grant writing, fundraising, and some graphic design projects. She is responsible for 99.99% of the typos on this site.
Image of the H.O.P.E. Acres horse logo on a sign resembling a white picket fence.
A group of young volunteers happily grooming Jordie, a dark bay Shetland pony. Photo by Jess Schaer, Schaer Studios
Sasha, a bay mare, prancing in her pasture.
Jaime and Maci, the Belgian mares, stand under a tree full of bright autumn leaves. Photo by Jess Schaer, Schaer Studios
Baby Maya standing next to her mom and sticking her tongue out. Photo by Jess Schaer, Schaer Studios.
Murphy the little donkey and Firefly the mini walking across the pasture with the red barn in the background.
Huckleberry standing by the fence gazing curiously at the camera. Photo by Jess Schaer, Schaer Studios
Becky takes a photo of Tracey standing with Maci, one of the Belgian mares. Photo by Jess Schaer, Schaer Studios

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HOURS OF OPERATION:
We are open by appointment only.
Please call or email to set up an appointment.

H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue
P.O. Box 2037
​Goose Creek, SC 29445
(843) 412-3519
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  • Home
  • About Us
  • Horses
    • Our Horses >
      • In Rehabilitation >
        • Jed
        • Kami
        • Peaches
        • Montana
      • Rideable Horses >
        • Callie
      • Pasture Mates >
        • Lady
        • Seneca
        • Stormy
      • Sanctuary Horses >
        • Ivy
        • Jaime
        • Maci
        • Murphy
        • Skye
    • Adoption Information
    • Transformations
    • Forever Homes
    • Did You Know?
    • Rainbow Bridge
  • Donate Now
    • Building the Barn
    • Honey's Fund
    • Sponsorship
    • Other Ways to Donate
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • HOPE Lope 5k
    • Past Years' Events >
      • 2021 Events
      • 2020 Events >
        • HOPE Lope 5k 2020
      • 2019 Events
      • 2018 Events
      • 2017 Events >
        • Volunteer Appreciation Day 2017
      • 2016 Events
      • 2015 Events >
        • 2015 Help A Horse Day
  • News
  • Volunteer
  • Resources
  • Contact Us