Mary Adams - Providing Homes for Equines in Need at The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run

​Just listening to the excitement and passion of Mary Adams telling me about The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run had me huffing to catch my breath. Bouncing around in her “Kawasaki Mule” checking out each of the “group homes” spread over 200 acres was a love, understanding, and patience. Mary knows each of the equines in her care and there are a lot of them. Make that a LOT of them – 125 as of the day of my visit. 
 
Each equine has an individualized health plan. A veterinarian from Tryon Equine Hospital comes out every week to make regular house calls and is “on call” for any issue whenever needed. This is not an adoption agency. While some are here on request of other rescue groups on a temporary basis, most of these beautiful animals are here for life no matter what health and emotional issues they face. They run the gamut including donkeys, miniature horses, hinnies, mini-mules, and larger horses and mules including three mammoth mules. They live in “group homes” depending on their needs and equine type. 

Mary Adams discussing the plans for the day with some of her staff.

The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run indeed has a red bell.

Every building at The Sanctuary has a name. This one houses some very happy donkeys.

Megan Yocum brushes Phinneas as he dines. Phinneas at 46 years old is the senior member of the equines. He was placed by the Ark Watch Foundation of Los Altos, CA. Phinneas enjoys eating his supper in the feed room and will knock on the door to remind staff that he's waiting.

​The oldest animal here is a standard donkey named Phinneas who is 46 years old. He gets some special care but they all do.  I saw one stall set up with a bed (a real mattress), toys, and a mirror for its equine inhabitant. I met Nick, a 36 year-old donkey with three teeth who had escaped from the Oklahoma City Dog Pound – which is a whole other story. The entire sanctuary is crammed with stories. Each animal could be a book in itself. It’s a remarkable organization.
 
Mary and her amazing staff know how each animal reacts with others and what makes them the most comfortable. And it takes an entire village to run this village. The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run has 25 staff members. Some of those are maintenance, some are primarily in the office, and most are out with the animals taking care of their needs. The animal to equine staff ratio is an impressive 8 to 1. During my visit I saw numerous animals being groomed, walked, talked to, petted. You can see the love in the eyes of each of the staff members and that love was being returned by the equines. Mary’s work starts most days by 5 AM every day of the week all year long. And even when bedtime finally comes, she knows there’s a good chance she might have to go out and check on one of her animals at anytime of the night.

Holly Baucome with Snowy.

Phoebe taking a break from her duties as Assistant Office Manager.

Mary is on constant move around the more than 200 acres making up The Sanctuary.

​Most equines are placed with Red Bell Run by other equine welfare organizations with some coming via law enforcement agencies. Some have been abused, some have been saved from feedlot slaughter, some have come from hoarding situations, many are elderly and weren’t wanted anymore. But all have come to the right place. They are lucky to have found Mary and her dedicated crew at The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run.
 
The Sanctuary at Red Bell is on the property of what was once an orchard run by the Mise family in the Chesnee Road area of Green Creek. Forty acres of the property are still used as a working vineyard with the grapes being sold to area wineries including Biltmore Estate. Mary says it was just lucky that she found this property at the right time. She was running an equine rescue in Winter Haven, Florida but knew she wanted a place with less brutal weather. When she was traveling the region looking for something elsewhere, she passed the for-sale sign for this acreage and in two weeks the property was hers. She had a master plan to start the sanctuary and build it up slowly moving horses up from Florida as the new facilities were readied. But Hurricane Irma in 2017 changed those plans. With the storm taking aim there wasn’t time to wait for every single barn, paddock, and run-in shed to be built. Within three days the remaining 56 equines were moved up to their new home in the North Carolina Foothills. 

Donkeys lined up to be groomed by Anitra Brinson.

​Mary has always had a heart for animals of all kinds. In addition to all the equines, there are also dogs here and there including Phoebe, an 18-year-old Irish wolfhound rescue who serves as assistant farm manager. Phoebe was happy just to sleep on a sofa while Mary did the talking. Mary says her passion for people and animals emanated from her family. She grew up in a home where taking care of others was the most important lesson one could learn. Her dad, Wally Adams, started a foundation that gave to those kinds of causes. Much of the operating income from The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run comes from a division of this foundation but eventually the Sanctuary hopes to make opportunities for “sponsoring” an animal available as well as working toward receiving grants and other gifts. The Ark Watch Foundation of Los Altos, CA provides financial support for the animals it has placed in Mary’s care. Eventually she hopes there will be a formal volunteer program. The Sanctuary is already sponsoring various workshops and in the future plans to start a program in equine agility (kind of like dog agility) and offer “read-to-me” opportunities for local kids to come out to read to an equine that is all ears. 

It's group meeting time inside Longears Lodge.

​Many of these animals are on special diets, special medications, special physical therapy… they get what they need to make them as comfortable as possible. Even the layout of the barns and pastures is with their safety and comfort in mind. The sanctuary uses a “paddock paradise system” which enables equines to move and follow their instincts to travel while having the security of a barn, plenty of water, and food. I loved checking out Longears Manor, which is the group home for several of the donkeys. Every barn has its own special name.

Mary finished our visit by emphasizing, “We are here for the community and here for the animals. If someone has an equine issue or a problem, we’re here and happy to help. We’re not vets and don’t give veterinary advice but we can steer you in the right direction. We’re all in this together. There is a waiting list for placement at Red Bell Run, and they can only accept equines through other equine welfare organizations or law enforcement agencies.
 
The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run is a remarkable place and they’re making a difference.

Mary Adams, founder and director of The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run.

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​More to know
Visitors are welcome and chances are Mary will give you the tour. You need to set up a visit in advance by contacting Sanctuary Manager, Amy Powell at 828/ 863-2017. More info about Mary Adams and the Sanctuary can be found on the website at: www.redbellrun.org.

Click on each photo for an enlarged view and caption.

Mary gives out more than her share of hugs during the day.

This is Millie. She came from Texas where she was raised in a kitchen until she was too big to be convenient. She has come to enjoy being near other donkeys although she declines to take part in herd life. She prefers her private apartment.

This is Shelby Ann. She is the Queen of Red Bell Run and is the sweetest animal on the face of the earth. Shelby Ann is a Belgian draft mule. She'll stand there with her head lowered for ear scratches all day long.

Emily Hill checks over more of the residents.

The "paddock paradise system" allows animals to follow their instincts and travel while having the security of a barn, plenty of water, and food.

This is Mariah, a spotted mammoth donkey rescued by the Ark Watch Foundation of Los Altos, CA and placed with Red Bell Run for permanent sanctuary. Mariah was largely untouchable when she arrived but has now become a staff favorite and is completely affectionate and loving. She suffers from some neurological deficits but other than that enjoys her life with Snowbelle and Winston. She wears a fly mask because like many white or spotted donkeys, her eyes are susceptible to cancer.

Kim DeLane checks over a friend. The animals are, for the most part, free to move in and out of their stalls whenever they feel like it.

A happy donkey, one of dozens finding life to their liking at Red Bell Run.

Enjoying a sunbath outside of Longears Lodge.

Winston.

Group portrait at Red Bell Run.