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May 18-19 Horse Ownership 101 with Leslie Nalls in Victor, MT - click to learn more/register
Montana: Trending in the Right Direction
When the Sanctuary opened in 2004, there were few horse sanctuaries and rescues in our huge state. For the following 10 years, massive amounts of work were accomplished by very few people. Today there are many more private rescues, nonprofits and individuals rescuing horses, a trend that bodes well for Montana.
And, as the needs of Montana change, so will the sanctuary…
Coral and Joanna - Photographer Roni Hale
Our new mission
Our new mission is to empower more people and groups to take an active role in rescue and prevention of cruelty, thus creating an ever more sustainable rescue network which results in dividing the effort more evenly across Montana. We help horse lovers rescue and help horses in their own communities.
Farrier Josh Bidlack. John Ashley Fine Art Photography
Extending our reach:
Our grants are for horse care necessities.
From the beginning, we provided hay and veterinary grants for horse owners in financial crisis and for law enforcement during cruelty seizures. We have expanded our grants to also include individual rescuers and other nonprofit groups who have a proven record of helping horses.
We continue to increase our assistance in the form of:
Direct one-on-one education: Nutrition, care and rehabilitation of abused/malnourished horses
Horse owners in need of other necessities but can’t afford them are encouraged to contact us. We may be able to provide equipment such as winter blankets, stock tanks, water heaters and other necessities.
Is there something we haven’t thought of that can help you help your horse? Let us know.
What the Future Holds
As a result of our new goals and our expanding network of rescuers, we have decided to sell the ranch. This will provide funds to increase the availability and effectiveness of rescue activity in Montana. This is a little sad, because the ranch has been a symbol of the rescue needs in our state, and it has served the needs of many horses over the years.
However, the profit from the sale will be put into a carefully managed interest-bearing account and allow us to make a major difference with law enforcement when they need to seize abused horses, to horse owners in crisis, and to private and nonprofit rescuers for years.
The Sanctuary no longer has a facility for horses and all of the Sanctuary horses now have forever homes, except Grace. We will continue to honor our adopt-back agreements with adopters and any horses we take back we will board or place with another rescue group until we can find them a new forever home.
We’re also providing more support to Sanctuary adopters
With hands-on assistance and education, as well as care grants, when needed.
Adoptee Zoey hangs out with her family. Jessie Bidlack photographer
In Addition…
We have taught a number of adopters how to assess when to deworm their horses, how to feed healthier foods, bandage wounds and more.
We have transported horses to and from veterinary appointments for adopters and provided winter blankets to adoptees.
We have also begun providing grants of equipment, tack and winter blankets to adopters.
If you are one of our adopters and need assistance, please feel free to contact us.
Help Us Help You Help Horses
If you are involved in horse rescue, tell us how we can support your efforts and be sure to check out our grants page. If you are a horse owner in need of help, let us know.