HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Thirteen horses graze peacefully in the pastures around the Bit O' Luck Ranch in Huntersville.
Life for these horses was not always so good. They are all rescued by the Bit O' Luck Horse Rescue organization.
The founder is Greg McCormack, who said, "We got several horses out of South Carolina. We got a couple of them that are strays.
Like Jane, who is nearly 30 years old and has a bright white blaze. She was found wandering just off Beatties Ford Road in west Charlotte.
"Some owners can no longer care for them anymore for one reason or another and they surrender the horses to us," said McCormack.
It costs about $12 a day to care for each of the horses, and there are vet bills too.
Bit O' Luck is now competing for a chance to win a $10,000 grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Winning that grant would mean a lot.
"We need things like run-ins built in the pastures where we could pet the hay in the winter," said McCormack, who added the money would all go to benefit the horses.
The public can help by coming out to the ranch the weekend of April 25 and 26.
That is National Help a Horse Day and McCormack said it is a chance for the public to show support for the organization and also have some fun.
"We're going to bring some horses out and give people the opportunity to groom them, handle them, and be around them," McCormack said.
The end goal is for each of the horses to get adopted. Unlike some other organizations, Bit O'Luck will take horses that are older or not in the best condition. Animals that will likely live out their day there.
"They have as much right as anybody to having a good life and that is what we try to do for them here," McCormack said.
Bit O' Luck is located at 12007 McCord Road in Huntersville.
On Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the public is invited to come for a "work day." There will be opportunities to experience grooming the horses, stall cleaning and general barn chores. Hot dogs and sodas will be provided.
Then on Sunday the 26th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., there will be opportunities to stroll the grounds and meet more of the rescued horses.
