Chez Chevaux Thoroughbred Horse Rescue

Chez Chevaux is a tax-exempt 501C-3 non-profit organization formed with the express purpose of rescuing and rehabilitating thoroughbred horses who have been injured, neglected, abused, or are simply unwanted. Our facilities are dedicated to helping these horses escape from negative situations and find them placements with appreciative, respectful and committed homes.

Chez Chevaux's owner, director, and trainer, Melodee C. Shelley-Bolmgren, has had over thirty years of experience as an instructor and competitor. She has facilitated numerous successful horse and human pairings in multiple divisions by focusing on and encouraging positive equine behaviors and educating effective riders.

Chez Chevaux Mission Statement

To rehabilitate and/or retrain injured, neglected and/or abused Thoroughbred horses (with priority given to ex-racehorses) in order to secure their placements with permanent and appropriate homes.

To accept donations of unwanted Thoroughbred horses for adoption in permanent homes.

To improve the lives of Thoroughbred horses throughout the Pacific Northwest.

To educate the public to recognize horse abuse and enlist their aid in stopping it.

To offer assistance to Thoroughbred owners in times of natural or personal disaster.

To engage in fundraising activities to accomplish these objectives.


	This property was purchased in July of 2004. Our first construction project was the outdoor arena. Part of the process of acclimating and retraining a racehorse involves a consistent workspace with safe, level and non-slippery footing. Three hundred and seventy-five tons of washed sand were brought in to cover the 135' by 165' surface. Due to winter weather degradation here in the Northwest, maintenance of this outdoor surface usually requires an additional 24 tons of washed sand per year. We are actively fundraising to build a covered arena to allow for better turnout and consistent winter work. No amount is too small. Thank you in advance for your donations.
	Our sturdy treated post and pillar fencing allows our horses to better learn to socialize while maintaining safe boundaries and perimeters. We have supplemental electric fencing around some of the property perimeters pending replacement of those aging fence lines.

	Our equine rescue residents have come to Chez Chevaux, directly or indirectly, from a racing career, in varying levels of health and condition. However, all ex-racehorses have experienced lives quite different from those of the average pleasure or performance horses. Their training has been intensely focused and competitive. Successfully transitioning these horses into a "normal" equine environment requires time, experience, and an individual retraining regimen. The most difficult retraining cases and pathetic examples of neglect we have seen have resulted from horses who went right from the race track to inexperienced first time horse owners.

		The new barn was completed in the spring of 2006. It was specially designed to allow freedom of movement, airflow, and socialization while still providing safe spaces. Because of the anxiety levels of some of our incoming horses, we avoid installing immobile metal objects such as automatic waterers and feeders. We chose soft rubber feed tubs and large plastic water buckets to minimize the chances of injury. We can also better monitor their water intake. We chose to not pour a concrete slab under the stalls and center aisle as we feel this is too unyielding a surface for their bodies and legs. All stalls are matted with protective 3/4" rubber mats. We want to install the same mats in our 48' by 12' center aisle and would appreciate all donations to that end. The adjacent paddocks remain mud-free due to a sand base overlaid with a cushion of hogs fuel. We do need to replenish these surfaces yearly.

	The tack room is fully insulated and heated. The hay storage area, and the ceiling framing above the tack room permits additional hay storage for the 30 tons of hay we currently require annually.