Hanson joined us last fall after being rescued from a horse auction suffering from extreme starvation. Nothing of his past life is known but we do know is that his future with us is bright. With a careful re-feeding program, Hanson has gained several hundred pounds since being saved.  He arrived very guarded and defensive; his emaciated body covered with countless wounds told a tale of much suffering.  But slowly Hanson is letting his guard down as he learns that he is safe here at the sanctuary. Hanson is showing himself to be a very playful fellow; he spends hours each day play fighting with his herd mates bringing out the youthfulness even in Mystic who is himself approaching 29 years old!    

Our longest equine resident, Mystic, is a 27 year old Standardbred born into the racing industry. Abandoned by his trainer when he was young, Mystic calls the sanctuary home where he most enjoys a quiet sunny afternoon sunbathing under the apple tree. Mystic is also known as “Mr. Dunk and Bubbles” as he loves to dunk his hay and grain in his water bucket, and don’t think of soaking it for him as he’s an independent boy and wants to do it himself!

Gabriel, Gabby for short!, is Mystic’s best friend. Gabby is a miniature horse who joined the sanctuary in 2003 after we found him shut in a nailed plywood box on his way to slaughter. He had come down on a truck with a herd of sheep, and based on his response when he first met the other horses, we don’t think he had any idea he was a horse! Gabriel has the heart of an angel; he loves everyone and every thing, and especially loves to eat! Gabriel has served in our therapeutic horsemanship program.

Bliss is an elderly gal who lost her life long Nubian companion, and her home this past fall. She has quite a hitch in her step from a front leg deformity that is believed to have resulted from being stepped on by a horse when she was young, and she’s sporting four club feet that we will be slowly working to reshape in hopes of providing her more comfort as she ambles about. Don’t let her challenges fool you! She has no problem keeping up with the spritely OAT’s (Ophelia, Alfalfa and Timothy) and has already established herself as their Mother Hen! We are looking forward to getting to know Bliss, and watching her make her home here at our sanctuary.

Ophelia and her adopted brothers, Timothy and Alfalfa arrived in January of 2018. A survivor of extreme neglect, Ophelia had lost her mother and litter mate before being rescued and bonded closely with Alfalfa and Timothy. Naturally, they came as a trio and are absolutely inseparable! Despite her horrendous start in life, Ophelia is the most gentle, intuitive, and loving girl who doesn’t let a morning pass without making sure she gets her nose kisses!

Timothy, or big Tim, as we call him is the goat herd leader! Like his adopted sister, he is a survivor having been rescued from the same dire circumstances. Tim was a bit more standoffish when he arrived but now he’s the first one leading the charge to greet visitors at the farm. Timothy has a special fondness for children; despite his size, we have found him to be especially careful and kind with the wee ones.

Jesse is a 26 year old big, beautiful blue and gold macaw who was living in isolation in her former owner’s basement. Labeled an aggressive screamer, Jesse suffered through social deprivation for many years before she was rescued. By the time she arrived at the sanctuary, she more closely resembled a blue and grey macaw as she had plucked out most of her gold. Providing Jesse with the mental stimulation she so desperately craved, as well as companionship, allowed her to blossom into the gregarious, friendly, outgoing girl she is today.

Candi is a 40 year old Red Lored Amazon that we rescued from a store where she had spent her first years of life in a parakeet size cage. Candi had sores on her feet from the gravel perch on which she had stood for her lifetime and was extremely territorial of her cage having been confined to it all her life while children taunted her through the bars. Candi has come to trust her primary caretakers but carries the memories of those many painful years preferring to interact with visitors only from a distance. She is happy and content and we could not ask for more.

Annie joined the sanctuary in 2014 at the age of 17 years old! She had lived at a previous rescue for two years prior where she lost over 100lbs and refused to go outside. We took Annie in for hospice care as her health had been rapidly declining. She did very well at the Sanctuary. She liked to spend her days sleeping under her cozy blankets or rooting under her favorite bush. Annie had quite the sweet tooth and loved the donuts (and muffins and crackers and spaghetti and…) that visitors brought for her.