Equine Connection Center

Equine Connection Center Educational equine sanctuary offering you the opportunity to interact and build connection with rescue horses & donkeys in meaningful ways!

Offering tours, learning sessions in horsemanship, & mental health services for people of all ages/abilities. Rescue horses, donkeys, and mules partnering with people to support mutual wellness, personal growth, and positive relationships. Equine assisted learning and horsemanship lessons where participants learn and grow through true bonds built with our rescue animals.

Equine Connection Center in one photo! As you might know, our donkey Otis had a rough start in life and can be very shy ...
09/08/2025

Equine Connection Center in one photo! As you might know, our donkey Otis had a rough start in life and can be very shy with humans as a result. Every once in a while though, he will be very interested in a visitor. One of our newer student’s here was just giving him the good, safe vibes 🥰 And that’s what we are all about - building bonds and trust for people and animals!

We are booking fall tours and new EAL & horsemanship students now - Come visit us soon to find out what a rescue horse (or donkey) can teach YOU!

Occasionally, Equine Connection Center moonlights as Feline Connection Center 🤷‍♀️ It’s been about a year since our last...
08/25/2025

Occasionally, Equine Connection Center moonlights as Feline Connection Center 🤷‍♀️ It’s been about a year since our last sickly foster kitten, and the worldwide cat distribution system decided it was our turn again!

This little gal is 3-4 weeks old and was found in a rural area by a Good Samaritan. She has a pretty nasty upper respiratory infection and double eye infection. We took her in, got her a tasty meal, and into the vet the very next day. Now, she’s already showing strong signs that she will grow up into quite the house panther! The force is strong with this one!

We are so grateful that agreed to take her into their rescue to cover her costs, so we can simply be her foster until she’s big enough to find her forever home! Stay tuned for updates, she’s going to grow into cutie!

These two are peas in a pod… Vinny and Bravo pretty much insist they’re a package deal at all times! Want to go for a wa...
08/12/2025

These two are peas in a pod… Vinny and Bravo pretty much insist they’re a package deal at all times! Want to go for a walk? Better grab two lead ropes! Got a snack? Hope you can break it in half!

We just never know how things will shake out when a new member joins the herd and watching the bond form between these two over the last year has been fascinating. Although Bravo seems to know he’s a donkey and loves other donkeys, he has more horse-like behaviors similar to a mule, because he’s essentially been raised by a horse. Nature versus nurture? Turns out it’s really both!

Photo credit to for capturing this JCPenney style brothers’ pose of these two!

“To Be Loved Is To Be Changed”, Remi’s VersionI recently came across a piece of art by that truly struck me and knew we...
08/07/2025

“To Be Loved Is To Be Changed”, Remi’s Version

I recently came across a piece of art by that truly struck me and knew we had to ask for our own version! The original depicts the artist’s daughter, the transformation of a rescued heart horse, and this quote, “to be loved is to be changed” (check out her IG to see all her beautiful work). I am not sure there is a more fitting quote to represent rescue and sanctuary.

We’ve posted about Remi’s story and his transformation a few times since he came to ECC in February 2025. The spark of life in this horse is unmatched and we’ve been honored to provide him the care he deserves. And it’s wholly unsurprising, given his somewhat comedically mischievous spirit, that my own daughter was immediately drawn to him.

This work of art captures a moment in time of the two of them as they are today, sharing a message that is ever so timeless 🩵

08/01/2025

We are honored to be recognized in August's edition of Prince William Living! Check out this month's magazine on their website for great Reader's Choice recommendations, including ECC as a must-visit destination! With the cooler shift in the weather, it is the perfect time to schedule a session, tour, or private event!

It is always so special to give someone their first opportunity to take the lead! And you can see how eager River is to ...
07/28/2025

It is always so special to give someone their first opportunity to take the lead! And you can see how eager River is to partner up here, as if to say “where are we heading, friend?”

Working with horses builds confidence that shines beyond the farm and igniting that spark is one of the best parts of what we do!

✨🩵🦄 Book a tour or a learning session to find out what a rescue horse can teach YOU!

Storytime events have been such fun! Thank you to FIT4MOM Bristow/Gainesville/Haymarket for sharing these pictures from ...
06/29/2025

Storytime events have been such fun! Thank you to FIT4MOM Bristow/Gainesville/Haymarket for sharing these pictures from today.
Be on the look out for more ECC preschool programming coming this fall!

The Quarter Horse and the Stall Mat StackOf all the places Cyrus could have picked to wait out the rain, standing on top...
06/27/2025

The Quarter Horse and the Stall Mat Stack

Of all the places Cyrus could have picked to wait out the rain, standing on top of the stack of 10 new stall mats is apparently the best choice. Total Princess and the Pea vibes. I would bet Cyrus would pass any prince test 💯

Who else is guilty of putting themself at the very bottom of their to-do list? 👋 It’s easy to get caught up in deadlines...
06/09/2025

Who else is guilty of putting themself at the very bottom of their to-do list? 👋 It’s easy to get caught up in deadlines and responsibilities! But making time to check in with ourselves is essential to making sure we are active participants in life, not just going through the motions. Our recent wellness workshop, Discover Mindfulness Through Horses, offered participants the opportunity to slow down and rediscover their presence in the calm space of our herd. We all need connection, community, and purpose, and those are the things we strive to create here at ECC!

Thank you to the amazing women who came out to participate in this event with open hearts and minds! Thank you as well to Woodhouse Spa - Gainesville for generously providing self-care swag bags for us to share! Keep an eye out for more to come from that partnership!

Curious what horses might have to offer you? Explore our Horse-Guided Wellness Sessions for a customized, one-on-one experience: https://www.equineconnectioncenter.com/workshops and keep an eye out for our next wellness workshop coming this Fall.

Our annual dental day was a big success this past week! A HUGE thank you to our amazing smile sponsors: Trista Johnson, ...
05/25/2025

Our annual dental day was a big success this past week! A HUGE thank you to our amazing smile sponsors: Trista Johnson, Madeline Walker, Nicole Itz, June Avery, Lara Oliveira, Lindsay Drake, Emily Sergent, Melinda Tomaino, and Lee & Adrienne Johnson! We raised $810 toward the final bill of $880! Contributions toward larger expenses like this make it possible for us to offer the BEST care to our herd, as well as for us to continue to grow as a sanctuary!

Thank you also to Katie with Equine Dental Solutions w/ Katie Herman for providing such skilled and caring service! Having providers you can trust is worth its weight in gold!! Cyrus, Otis, Dylan, Vinny, Huckabee, Hudson, and River all received routine dental maintenance, while Pete and Sullivan needed additional care to treat aged and worn teeth.

(Just in case you are wondering why Coleman, Leo, Remi weren't included, they needed care outside our annual appointment and were already done! And Bravo is not quite old enough yet 😊)

Update: We have met our goal! Our team is incredibly grateful for the generosity of our supporters! We look forward to g...
05/20/2025

Update: We have met our goal! Our team is incredibly grateful for the generosity of our supporters! We look forward to giving all our Smile Sponsors a shoutout when we share dental updates later this week! Fingers crossed for no cavities 😉

Can you believe PETE is still looking for a Smile Sponsor for Thursday's equine dental appointments? 🦷🪥 We are in need of three more Smile Sponsors to help us cover the cost of these important preventative care appointments for our herd. Smile Sponsors are welcome to join in on the fun Thursday to observe!

Updated 5/20: Thank you to our new Smile Sponsors! We are looking for THREE more to have our herd fully supported!The de...
05/12/2025

Updated 5/20: Thank you to our new Smile Sponsors! We are looking for THREE more to have our herd fully supported!

The dentist isn’t usually a favorite appointment, but we sure are excited to have our horses’ dentist visiting soon! And you can be a part of it! Become a Smile Sponsor and help provide this important medical care to a rescue horse or donkey! A contribution of $80 covers the routine dental care for the equine resident of your choice AND gives you the opportunity to observe a procedure on May 22nd!

The following ECC residents still need Smile Sponsors:
🔲 Sullivan
🔲 Hudson
🔲 Pete
✅ Dylan: sponsored by Melinda Tomaino
✅ Huckabee: sponsored by Trista Johnson
✅ River: sponsored by June Avery
✅ Cyrus: sponsored by Emily Sergent
✅ Otis: sponsored by Lee & Adrienne Johnson
✅ Vinny: sponsored by Lee & Adrienne Johnson

Contributions in any amount are greatly appreciated - every dollar counts! Please contribute today: https://buy.stripe.com/cN23dZd7PasG8SIbIP

Address

14420 Owls Nest Road
Nokesville, VA
20181

Telephone

+17039801032

Website

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