Meadowgate - an equine rescue and rehab facility

Two horses' heads Dedicated to the health, healing, and humane treatment of horses, Meadowgate provides rescue, emergency care, and rehabilitation assistance for horses that have been abused or neglected. A full-service equine rescue and rehab facility located in the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York, Meadowgate also works to educate the community about establishing cooperative relationships between humans and horses, including approaches to addressing animal neglect and the basics of proper equine care.

Meadowgate was founded by Pam Watros. Seeing the need to help these magnificent creatures was the inspiration for her to press forward in establishing a facility in the Upstate Finger Lakes Region of New York State. With no other rescue facilities for equine in the area and with several of the best veterinarians and surgeons only 15 miles away in Ithaca, Meadowgate is in a unique position to provide specialized services to meet the medical needs of each individual horse. After many many days of research into rescue facilities and the start-up process, Pam discovered through her search the great need for a facility of this nature. She then began researching funding avenues. In searching for government funding, at both the state and federal level discouragement showed, but Pam knew there must be a way.

Over the next year, Pam sought legal counsel from an attorney who specializes in non-profit organizations. Following the legal advice, a board was formed in October 2004, and Meadowgate became a non-profit corporation on December 2, 2004. During this same period of time, the Community Foundation of Tompkins County set up a fund in hopes that donors would come through with financial support. With this fund in place, several small donations were obtained to meet some of the immediate medical needs.

Meadowgate is now located in a brand new facility that was established in October of 2006. The new barn is able to provide shelter for 30 or more horses. The grounds have been divided into grassy paddocks, and plans to add on to the new barn are in the planning process. Money is needed to adequately complete the vision and to be able to provide much more detailed care to individual needs of the horses coming to the facility. Meadowgate provides safety and comfort as well as restoration. Horses are quarantined until they have received a complete medical exam, and Meadowgate has received Coggins papers, assuring no communicable diseases. Once certified, the horse is then introduced to others based on its condition. Rehab starts once the horse enters Meadowgate. After Pam and her staff assess the medical and nutritional needs, the process of recuperation begins.

Some of the horses are in a “run-in” situation where they can come and go from the shelter area as they want. This is highly recommended for the horses to regain and retain a healthy status. Each horses needs are individual and we treat each one individual as well. We are able to offer them the peace that is required not only for the physical healing but for their mental and emotional healing as well. Our facility is located in a very private and peaceful setting and offers the tranquility needed for all who enter. As of January 2009, we have been notified of over 600 horses that have needed a place to go to to escape the abuse and neglect confines of their lives. With such high numbers the demand for our facility is high and so are the financial obligations for each horse. Since we work with the court systems of several different counties we are responsible for the complete care of each horse until the case has been settled in court. We have never received restitution for any of the horses that have come to us. Although all horses have been awarded to Meadowgate. Therefore we depend on the compassion and concern that people such as you have to meet the daily needs and demands. We have set up several sponsorship options as well as accepting a single one time donations. We are a non profit organization and all monetary donations are tax deductible. Please help us continue our life changing programs and be a part of "where tears disappear". Donate today!

Horses running