Duchess Sanctuary

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Oakland, OR
Duchess Sanctuary

Welcome to the official page of Duchess Sanctuary, owned and operated by The Humane Society of the United States.
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06/13/2024

Donella thoroughly inspecting all the buckets for leftovers.

06/06/2024

Does anyone else love the sound of horses grazing? The squeaky sound when they pull on the grass is just the best. Munch munch munch.

06/05/2024

Excuse me? Why are there no snacks back here? I need to speak to a manager. - Rusty

05/27/2024

05/23/2024

Sunrise + Horses + Fog = Absolute Magic

05/20/2024

The bay brigade! Most of the bay horses in the Light Herd hang out together.

05/18/2024

It was apparently nap time 😴 🐴 when I checked the Big Herd.

05/14/2024

After fifteen years the Big Herd knows the way to the pasture without much help. I just follow along to close gates. Make good choices out there kids.

05/07/2024

Exciting day for the Light Herd as they went out to pasture full time. No more hay until fall kids!

05/06/2024

The Big Herd is employed today, out grazing either side of the ranch road on the top end of the sanctuary. Do a good job my lovelies!

05/01/2024

Excuse me, I’ve finished my morning bucket. It’s time for second breakfast. - Kate, also a hobbit

04/24/2024

How cute is Miss Angel?! 😍

04/22/2024

Spring shedding means the mutual grooming is in overdrive around here! Paloma and Shakey are demonstrating how it’s done.

04/09/2024

The Light Herd started their seasonal mowing job this morning. A couple were late for work but came at a gallop when I hollered.

03/20/2024

Breakfast time for the Upstairs Old Ladies (we also have Downstairs Old Ladies 😂 ). Plus big Nino on the left, a gelding who lives with them!

03/14/2024

Lots of fog this morning but the old ladies still managed to find me (and their alfalfa).

03/12/2024

🆕Exciting news! The Fund for Animals and Humane Society of the United States merger is complete. That won't change our operation at Duchess, but we'll have some new branding shortly. Details in the press release linked below.

WASHINGTON—Today the Fund for Animals and the Humane Society of the United States finalized the merger announced in 2021. The Fund for Animals—which operated Black Beauty Ranch, Duchess Sanctuary and Rural Area Veterinary Services—has been an affiliate of the Humane Society family of organizat...

03/11/2024

Missy checking in for her daily Equioxx snack. A little anti-inflammatory to help her feel her best.

03/04/2024

Luna’s face reflects how we’re all feeling about this weather. Enough winter, it’s March!! 🥶

03/01/2024

Zoomer needed some vet work recently. Here he is sleepy and goofy looking in the stocks! That lower lip… 😂

01/17/2024

Fedora has been a super good patient, eating all her meds and allowing us to change her bandage (with the help of a little dorm gel). For a mare who’s never needed to be in the barn in her entire 18 years of life, she’s adjusted quickly.

01/16/2024

Last week was another busy one with vet day and two days of hoof trimming. Angie got another shockwave treatment, then fancy front shoes to help her tendon healing. Plus dentals for Kaitlin and some others, and hoof trims on more than 50 more. AND an emergency vet call to stitch up Fedora’s leg she sliced open. 😮‍💨 Thanks to Oregon Farrier School, Del Oeste Equine Hospital, and Calapooia Veterinary Center for all their efforts helping us care for the herd.

12/18/2023

Our girl Angie has been dealing with a sore tendon in her right front leg. Rest and anti-inflammatory meds haven’t improved things much, so last week we had her treated with ProStride, followed by shockwave. She’ll have another treatment in a month, and we’re hoping she’ll be much more comfortable! Video of the shockwave treatment in the comments too. Thank you Dr. Connell from Del Oeste Equine Hospital for helping our herd!

12/08/2023

A quick glimpse of the Big Herd in all their filthy winter glory, enjoying the ☀️ for the first time in a few days.

11/30/2023

The Light Herd moseying out to their winter pasture after deworming this week.

11/15/2023

Maxine and Kaitlin enjoying their breakfast. We make and deliver more than 40 individual breakfast buckets for our special needs equines each and every morning!

Address

1515 Shady Oaks Lane
Oakland, OR
97462

Telephone

+15414599914

Website

https://www.humanesociety.org/duchesssanctuary

Alerts

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Videos

Light Herd November

The Light Herd moseying out to their winter pasture after deworming this week.

Favorite tree in the Big Herd’s current pasture.

Light Herd October

Opening the gate to let the Light Herd out onto some grass.

Donkeys

Trying out a new hay net with the donkeys today. If it can survive them, it can probably survive anything!

The belly scratching stump in action.

The belly scratching stump in action! Demonstration by Cosette.

Shakey enjoyed the bale I plunked in the pasture while we do some work on the Downstairs Old Ladies’ feed pad.

The sprinkler is for everyone Paulina! #duchesssanctuary

It’s not really hot today, but they insisted on the sprinkler anyway. 💦🐴🥰

The Big Herd moved to a new pasture this morning. They’re hard at work finding all the best bits. #duchesssanctuary

Sparkle decided she wanted her bucket DoorDashed to her in the pasture this morning rather than her usual feed spot. At your service madam. #duchesssanctuary

The Queen Bees 🐝 enjoy their morning alfalfa under beautiful clear sunshine 🌞. Sound on if you appreciate the sound of horses munching! #duchesssanctuary

Theodore entertaining himself with the gate chain while I feed Roana her afternoon snack. He’s sulking a bit because he doesn’t get anything! “FINE I’ll go amuse myself then meanie” #duchesssanctuary

Ahhhhh nothing like a good roll in the sand. Savannah has been in the barn with a leg issue so she really enjoys her turn out time in the round pen. #duchesssanctuary

Sound on for the complete munching experience.

Spirit and his afternoon popsicle. So entertaining! 😂 #duchesssanctuary

Maybe if we stand here and look mad, she’ll open the gate. #duchesssanctuary

Shortcuts

About Duchess Sanctuary

“No more bad days.”

That’s the promise we make to the rescued horses and donkeys that come to Duchess Sanctuary. Regardless of the abuse, neglect, or other trauma they may have suffered in the past, from the day of their arrival until the end of their life, they won’t ever experience it again. They will never be hungry or scared or lonely, but rather well-fed, loved, and able to socialize in as natural a setting as we can provide.

Our 1120 acre facility provides a lifetime home for around 200 horses and donkeys. Many were rescued from the Pregnant Mare Urine (PMU) industry. Others are mustangs from public lands, horses rescued from feedlots and slaughter, or other neglectful or abusive situations.

While the care of the equines takes priority, the property is also a protected haven for wildlife that choose to live here, and we manage the property to conserve the land as much as possible. This approach has allowed both the rescued domestic animals and wildlife to flourish over the eleven years we have been in operation.

The sanctuary was made possible by a donation from the Ark Watch Foundation that allowed for the purchase of the property in 2008. Ark Watch continues to generously support sanctuary operations. Donors, both local and from across the country (occasionally from around the world!) make it possible for Duchess to provide a high level of care and keep the herd happy and healthy.

Support the Herd!

Since 2008, massive property improvements have been completed, including the installation of more than 17 miles of horse safe fencing, a new water system, upgrading and construction of roads, construction of shelters in every pasture and enclosure, building a “Hospital Barn” for the treatment and care of our special needs horses, and much more.

Our graduated care program follows the life and health changes of each horse – from living in larger general populations, transitioning to “special needs” when supplemental feed, medications, or other daily attention is required, and finally to humane hospice care as they approach the end of their lives. Quality of life is the determining factor in letting a horse go, and each individual is carefully evaluated by our staff on a regular basis.

Thank you for following us, and we invite you to visit the sanctuary and meet our herd in person! We hold periodic open house events during the year, see the Events page for more information. Private tours are also available, message the page to learn more.