The Equine Sanctuary

02/04/2025

Rehabilitating traumatized ex-racehorses demands more than patience; it requires unwavering dedication, profound empathy, and a readiness to challenge conventional horsemanship beliefs.

These horses carry histories etched into their very beings—
each flinch, hesitation, and wary glance narrates a story of past hardships.

Rehabilitation transcends teaching new behaviors;
it's about reconstructing a shattered trust in a world that has previously failed them.​

Understanding the Traumatized Horse:

Safety Through Trust: A traumatized horse doesn't become secure by chance.​

- To be safe, they must first feel safe.​

- To feel safe, they need consistent, patient interactions demonstrating human reliability.​

- To build trust, they require repetitive, positive experiences that affirm humans as trustworthy.​

- To build trust, they must be given the permission to say NO so they can assess do you really SEE & HEAR them.

For horses scarred by fear, meeting basic needs isn't sufficient. While environmental enrichment aids, it doesn't erase deep-seated survival instincts.

Meticulous, consistent interaction is essential to allow the to reshape their perception of the world.​

Contrasting Recovery Paths:

- Non-Traumatized Horses: Typically resilient, forgiving, and capable of resuming training after breaks without significant setbacks.​

- Traumatized Horses: An inconsistent day can unravel weeks of progress; an unexpected event can resurrect old fears, necessitating a return to foundational trust-building.​ ( Although we are always working on the trust/bond issue )

Embarking on this rehabilitation journey is fraught with frustration, exhaustion, and moments of doubt indeed.

Yet, the smallest victories—the first unflinching touch, the cessation of avoidance, the initial genuine sign of trust—are monumental achievements.​

These moments are like winning a gold medal for me....when I have reached a true connection with these sentient beings... it is joyful beyond words.

The Reality: Working with traumatized horses isn't for the faint-hearted. However, steadfast commitment and consistency offer these noble beings an invaluable gift: a future where fear no longer dictates their existence.​

06/03/2025

The Horse will teach you the profound depth of trust.

Trust is not something we demand. It is not something we take. It is something we earn—in the quiet spaces, in the moments where words are unnecessary, and presence means everything.

It is not shaped by dominance, but by understanding.
Not by control, but by connection.

It is the soft sigh of a horse choosing to stand beside you. The flicker of an ear, acknowledging your presence. The rhythmic beating of two hearts finding harmony as you simply stand together, breathe together, and exist together.

Horses teach us that trust is a gift—one given freely when we prove ourselves worthy of it. And when that trust is earned, the connection is unbreakable.

What is a quiet moment with your horse that deepened your bond?

Share your story below.

28/02/2025

The Equine Sanctuary is a place of peace for all beings. Today, after the horses grazed in the quiet of the winter fields, a family of deer who were in another pasture made their afternoon rounds to our upper fields.

No fences, no fear, just a shared understanding between sentient beings who seek the same solace in nature.

This land belonged to the wildlife long before we were here. It is their home too... a place where all life is respected, protected, and allowed to simply be.

19/02/2025

And the winter wonderland continues......

24/12/2024

This Christmas, our hearts are filled with gratitude for you—a cherished member of our community who shares our vision of health, harmony, and hope for a brighter world.

The holidays remind us of the sacred responsibility we carry—not only to care for ourselves but to extend compassion to others, uplift those who are struggling, and cherish the lives we are entrusted with, both human and animal.

At The Equine Sanctuary, forgotten racehorses find new purpose as powerful healers, offering comfort and transformation to veterans, children, and families in need. Together, we are part of something extraordinary—a movement of love and compassion that reaches far beyond what we can see.

As you celebrate this sacred season, may you find moments of quiet reflection, meaningful connection, and profound joy. Remember the light you carry within and the incredible difference you make in the world around you. Your kindness, resilience, and hope are gifts this world needs more than ever.

From all of us at The Equine Sanctuary, we wish you and your loved ones—two- and four-legged alike—a Christmas filled with joy, peace, and blessings. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey.

With heartfelt gratitude and love,
The Equine Sanctuary Team

19/12/2024

🌟 A Sacred Bond, A Divine Trust 🌟

Don’t ever believe you truly own a horse.... You never did—and you never will.

They are gifts from God.
God entrusts you with the care of one of His most precious creations, allowing you the honor to be their steward—for joy and solace

At The Equine Sanctuary, we carry this sacred responsibility every day. We rescue unwanted racehorses, offering them not only a second chance at life but a chance to heal and uplift others.

Through their transformation, they become instruments of grace, helping U.S. Veterans, children, and families find hope and peace.

We do our very best to ensure when their time comes...that these beautiful horses are returned to God in better shape than when they were entrusted to us.

The Equine Sanctuary is a journey of stewardship and healing, one horse, one heart, one stride at a time.

14/12/2024

🐾 Be Your Dog’s Hero! 🐾
As a devoted canine steward, your mission is simple: to help your beloved pup live their happiest, healthiest, and most fulfilling life. 🐕💖

Your dog thrives on:
✨ Daily playtime and exercise
✨ Adventures and bonding time with YOU
✨ Feeling safe, loved, and cared for by their pack—aka their favorite human (that’s YOU!)

Dogs are beautifully transparent; their loyalty is limitless, and their love is pure. All they want is YOU and the love you give them—that’s the key to their joy and well-being. 💕

Want to take their health to the next level? Add TerraOceana’s Canine Power for Life to their daily routine. Our products are packed with certified organic nutrients designed to support their vitality, promote longevity, and ensure your furry family member stays happy, healthy, and full of life for years to come.

Because they deserve nothing less than your best.

PS: proceeds from this company are donated to support The Equine Sanctuary and our programs!

03/12/2024

Today, your kindness on Giving Tuesday can make an extraordinary difference.

At The Equine Sanctuary, we give forgotten & unwanted racehorses a second chance. These incredible animals, once discarded, are transformed into powerful therapy partners, offering healing, comfort, and hope to:

🐴 U.S. Veterans navigating the scars of war
🐴 Children in need of solace and connection
🐴 Families searching for emotional healing

Through your generosity, we provide these horses with care, love, and purpose—and they, in turn, transform countless lives.

🌟 How You Can Help 🌟

Every dollar you give today provides critical resources for our horses, from shelter and rehabilitation to therapeutic programs for those in need. Together, we create ripples of healing for humans and animals alike.

Your support doesn’t just save a horse—it creates a lifeline for someone longing to heal. Let’s make this Giving Tuesday a day of transformation and hope.

Thank you for believing in the magic of second chances.

Together, we’re changing lives—one stride at a time.

💖 Donate Today and Be the Difference 💖 link in comments

11/11/2024

To all our Veterans- 2 and four legged… We thank you for your service and sacrifice for this country🇱🇷🐎🙏

27/10/2024

Could not have said it better….

25/09/2024

To risk another chance on connection, to open your heart to
trust again, and maybe even to love again...especially yourself, takes a courage few can truly understand.

After being shattered by betrayal or pain, the thought of vulnerability feels like stepping into the unknown, with no guarantee of safety.

Yet, it's in this very risk, in choosing to trust once more, that real healing begins. To love again, to believe in yourself again, is a radical act of hope.

It’s proof that no matter how deep the scars, the heart has an infinite capacity to heal, to grow, and to embrace the beauty of life again.

24/09/2024

There is a profound bravery in the choice to turn your deepest wounds into triumphs. To rise from the ashes of betrayal, abandonment, abuse, and trauma, and say, "I will not be defined by my pain.”

It takes extraordinary courage to face the darkest parts of your soul, to transform heartbreak into strength, and to rewrite your story. True healing begins when you choose to reclaim your power and rebuild what was broken.

That is the essence of resilience. That is the essence of triumph.

08/09/2024

Jewel - An Unwanted Racehorse's Story: Part 2 - A Divine Date with Destiny

"Hello again... my name is now Jewel, and I want to share more of my story—a story of survival, hope, and the light that finally found me in the end...which has become a new beginning...

I remember the first time I was led into a stall at just two years old. It became my entire world—a small box of 3 walls and a gate, where the only view I had was a never-ending parade of horses and people passing by in the aisle way. Every morning I’d be taken out, groomed, bathed, and trained. There was this machine they called a 'hot walker,' a contraption that made me walk in endless circles. I tried to be patient, I really did. But I always preferred the company of my own thoughts—dreaming of freedom—so I resisted that dang machine and most people...I became known as the difficult one... but, as difficult as I was... I sure could run... and most importantly to them...I would win!

I always knew when Race Days for me were near. The air grew thick with tension, the humans around me buzzing with anxious energy that seeped into my skin. I was jittery & anxious by nature, but on Race Day, I could escape...I could run—run until my legs burned and my chest heaved, until the world blurred, and all the fear and uncertainty faded behind me. Whether I won or not, that night I’d sleep deeply, too tired to let my worries keep me awake.

But then the days after would come—the soreness, the tightness in my muscles, the ache deep in my bones and my hooves throbbed. And just when I thought I might have found some comfort at one track, just as I got used to the rhythm of things, I’d be loaded into a trailer and off we’d go to yet another racetrack, another place that didn’t feel like home. Always moving. Always wondering if I’d see familiar faces, horse or human. Often, I didn’t. Friends would vanish, replaced by new ones who would vanish in their turn.

In that world, it wasn’t easy to trust anyone. People came and went, sometimes kind, sometimes rough, and I learned to guard my heart. I longed for connection, for someone who would stay by my side, someone who could understand the heart that beat wildly beneath my chest. But instead, I found myself growing more aggressive, pushing away those who saw me as a burden. No one wanted to care for me anymore, except I could run... and win for them.... but, I had dreams, though. Oh, I had dreams.

I dreamed of a life where the sun kissed my face, where I could feel the rain without a halter & lead line or bridle holding me back. I dreamed of roaming endless fields of grass, the wind tosseling my mane, and the sound of birds singing their carefree songs.

I dreamed of being free. Not racing, not running for someone else’s thrill, but simply living and running for the sheer joy of being alive. But that dream seemed so distant, like a star too far to ever touch.

Until one day... fate stepped in.

I was taken to a place they called The Equine Sanctuary, and it was there that I finally found what my heart had longed for. The walls fell away, and in their place, there was sky. Instead of machines and trailers, there were open fields and pine trees that whispered in the breeze. And for the first time in what felt like forever, I could just be. I could rest. I could heal. I could learn to trust again.

Now, when I feel the warmth of the sun or the gentle brush of wind, I am reminded that my dreams were not in vain. My journey, long and difficult, led me to the freedom I always believed in, even when the world told me to stop dreaming.

But I need your help to keep this dream alive—not just for me, but for so many others like me. Horses who are still stuck in that endless cycle, who need a sanctuary, a place to rest and heal.

With your support, we can give them the life they deserve—a life of peace, love, and freedom and a second chance.

Will you help us continue this journey of hope?

With gratitude,
Jewel – once an unwanted racehorse, now free and loved."

07/05/2023

Please tell your friends and neighbors
to NOT feed your horses their grass clippings…..

Feeding lawn clippings will dramatically upset the balance of microbes in the hindgut, potentially leading to colic or laminitis, as the amount of highly fermentable carbohydrates in regularly clipped lawns is dangerously high.

18/04/2023

Good to have a best bud

You can always lean on your best friend ❤️

26/12/2022

So worth the read ….

Because of Love...

A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre-Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine, which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years the tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside. The young siblings had fond memories of their childhood here, but the city hustle and bustle added more excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life.

The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day's end.

Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks "Why do you not at least dispose of The Old One? She is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had foals from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"

The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes, scuffed at the barn floor and replied, "Yes, I could use a pair of new boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her ears. He replied softly, "We keep her because of love. Nothing else, just love."

Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley. The old couple shook their heads in sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the peace of the love that filled their hearts?

So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".

In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved horses.. But the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other, they wept at their loss.

By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their grief, huddled together before the barn. They were speechless as they rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to the firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now.

The old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red Bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength and climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most precious gifts that have been taken from us.

And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and withered hand.

The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the incredible beauty before them.

Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.

Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy. Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her forward. There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas gift. Shadows glistening in the night light.

Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd, safe.

At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping cautiously through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new years crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now, she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his wife.

Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift---

Because of love. Only Because of love.

30/05/2022

Sergeant Reckless- a true hero for our country...

As Memorial Day approaches we remember an amazing mare, Sergeant Reckless. This Mongolian chestnut was a Marines war horse during the Korean War. She carried both ammunition and wounded soldiers from the front lines to the return trip. Sergeant Reckless was respected and loved by the Marines she served with. The mare was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant because of her amazing performance throughout the war. She was also given two Purple Hearts along with many other military decorations for her service.

SERGEANT RECKLESS (1948-1968) - today we honor you.