The Rescue
Friesian Legacy Rescue · Lexington, Virginia
A Second Chance
Our rescued Friesians live here on the property, and every guest is invited to meet them firsthand. Spend a quiet moment brushing, walking or simply getting to know them, at their pace.
Rescue, Rehabilitation & Relationship
Friesian Legacy Rescue is a nonprofit Friesian horse rescue and sanctuary at Peony Hill, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. We give Friesians in need a safe home, the care to heal and the time to trust again.
Every rescue begins with one horse.
Vonder's Story
In 2015, Kim rescued her first Friesian, Vonder P. He was 200 pounds underweight and deeply stressed, confined to tight quarters at a boarding facility in Northern Virginia.
The day he arrived at Peony Hill, with its rolling hills and open pasture, everything changed. With full veterinary care, time and patience, his weight returned, his anxious habits faded and his spirit came back. He became Kim's heart horse, following her everywhere, and the whole family fell in love with him.
Vonder was already 16, and with Friesians typically living into their early twenties, every day with him was a gift. He was gentle with children, steady with everyone who knew him and always attuned to the people around him.
On a mild January day in 2021, at 22, he lost a sudden battle with colic. Surrounded by the people who loved him, he lay down one last time in the open pasture of his forever home. A headstone marks where he rests, and we still visit him often.
Friesian Legacy Rescue was founded in 2024 in honor of Vonder P., and that promise now extends to every Friesian who finds a home at Peony Hill.
"I made a promise to him at his burial site that I would save more Friesians like him in his honor." — Kimberly Osborne, Founder
The Herd at Peony Hill
Thane: The Jester
Thane, our newest arrival, joined us in the summer of 2024 after the property he lived on was sold. At ten, he'd had little handling and little time among other horses, and he arrived nearly 100 pounds underweight, with calloused hooves and a sun-bleached coat.
From the first moment, he and Kim chose each other, and he's been first to greet her at the gate ever since. With careful hoof care and patient groundwork, he's learning manners, trust and how to be a horse among horses.
Around the barn he's the Jester, full of playful antics. Beneath them is a sensitive soul: we recently learned he has ulcers, common in stoic horses who carry more than they show. For Thane, love didn't end with rescue. It began there.
Aike: The Silent King
Aike came to us in 2018, a quiet casualty of divorce and neglect. He was so withdrawn he couldn't meet our gaze, and his body carried the years without care: a heavy hay belly and a swayed back.
Months of equine massage, acupressure, chiropractic care and gentle conditioning slowly brought him back. His body softened, his eyes brightened and, without a sound, he became the herd's silent king, its calm and unspoken leader.
It took nearly three years to earn his trust. Today he's our steady soul, greeting every walk to the barn with a soft nicker and a neck hug. That's how he says thank you.
Forever Part of the Herd
Always remembered, and forever in our hearts.
Vonder P.: The Heart Horse (2014–2021)
Kim's first rescue and the reason Friesian Legacy Rescue exists. Gentle with children and steady with everyone who knew him, Vonder lived his last years on open pasture and rests where he loved to graze.
Armani: The Watchman (2023–2026)
Mani came to us in the summer of 2023 from another rescue, retired after years as a lesson horse. With patience and gentle herbal care, he came off daily pain medication entirely and became our quiet watchman, often found at the edge of the hill gazing over the Blue Ridge. Grateful, grounded and home.
Care to Heal
We take in Friesians facing neglect, illness or an uncertain future, and give them the veterinary care, nutrition and rest they need to recover.
A Home for Life
Once they've healed, they stay. Peony Hill is a lifelong home where each horse lives out its days on open pasture in the Blue Ridge, cared for and never put to work.
How Your Stay Gives Back
Every stay gives back to the rescued Friesians who live on property.
- You Book — Reserve the whole house or a suite, just as you normally would.
- 5% Goes to the Herd — Peony Hill donates 5% of every stay to the Friesian Legacy Rescue, helping provide feed, veterinary care, and farrier services for our rescued horses.
- You Hear from Us — Through the year, we'll send a note by email on how the horses are doing and what your stay helped make possible.
Caring for the Herd
Every gift, large or small, goes to the everyday care that keeps our Friesians healthy and at peace.
- Veterinary Care — Checkups, treatment and recovery for horses who arrive in need.
- Hoof Care — Regular farrier visits, essential for a breed as large as the Friesian.
- Feed & Supplements — Quality hay, grain and the nutrition each horse needs to thrive.
- Pasture & Fencing — Safe fencing, shelter and open pasture to graze and rest.
Gifts are made securely online and are tax-deductible. You'll receive a receipt for your year-end records.
Questions about giving? We'd be glad to help.
Friesian Experience
Book a Friesian Experience to meet the herd and learn about our mission. During your stay, spend time with the herd. Brush them, walk them on the lead and get to know each one's personality.
Our horses aren't ridden. They're here to be known and cared for.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to book ahead?: Yes. Let us know when you book your stay, or any time before you arrive, and we'll set a time that suits you and the horses.
- Is there a waiver?: Guests who groom or lead the horses sign a short waiver beforehand. We'll have it ready when you arrive.
- Can I take photos?: Of course. Our team is happy to help you capture the moment.
- Can I bring treats?: Please ask us first. Each horse has its own diet, and we'll gladly share a treat they can enjoy.
- What if the weather turns?: We'll move your visit to the barn or find another time during your stay.
- What if I'm running late?: Just let us know. We'll do our best to adjust, keeping the horses' routine in mind.
Volunteer with the Herd
If you'd love to help with grooming, feeding or caring for the grounds, we'd be glad to hear from you.
Family-Run, Personally Hosted
Peony Hill is family-run, and Kim is your host from your first email to your last morning. Behind her, a small circle of staff and volunteers cares for the herd, the house, the gardens and the grounds. We're deeply grateful to every one of them.
Kimberly Osborne — Executive Director & Founder
To the staff and volunteers who give their time to the horses, the house and the gardens, and to Carolyn Kendall: thank you. Peony Hill is better for every hour you share with us.